Latest KFF Health News Stories
Funding For Health Measures Still In Limbo Amid Spending Deal Talks
Such programs were not a part of the stopgap funding measure passed by Congress yesterday, that will keep the government operating further into March. Providers and hospitals hope that extended money for community health centers or a reduction of the Medicare physician pay cut could still make a final spending deal.
RSV Shots: Health Officials Investigate Rare Cases Of Guillain-Barré Syndrome
The numbers are small, around two cases per 100,000 people who’ve been given the vaccine, and more data is required to properly quantify the risk. Meanwhile, Pfizer says its RSV single dose vaccine Abrysvo protects against the illness through two years.
Staff Shortages, Employee Burnout Are At Crisis Levels In Nursing Homes
Although the worst of the covid pandemic is over, problems it caused in the U.S. nursing home industry persist. CMS, meanwhile, reports that during the pandemic in 2021, health systems saw deepened racial disparities and worse care outcomes affect their quality measures.
FDA Found Quality-Control Issues In California Neuralink Lab
The brain implant company was cited for problems with record-keeping and quality controls for animal experiments, Reuters says. The company’s Texas facility was found problem-free. Also in the news, biotech companies worry about government oversight of biosecurity as it pertains to China.
Deaths Linked To Excess Alcohol Hit 488 Per Day During Pandemic: CDC
Excessive alcohol consumption drove a spike in deaths at the height of the pandemic, new CDC data show. Separately, the WHO is warning that effective anti-obesity medication isn’t going to be enough to solve a problem that affects over a billion people around the world.
Rural Emergency Hospital Program Gets Go-Ahead From Florida Senate
The goal is to ensure health care access in rural areas by creating a new type of health facility. Also in the news, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles launched a new Small Baby Unit; a shigellosis outbreak hits unhoused people in Santa Cruz; a Michigan study of marijuana health benefits; more.
Health Providers Struggle To Get Paid As Ransomware Attack Stretches On
Hospitals, health systems, and pharmacies that work with the UnitedHealth subsidiary are now feeling the effects of the cyberattack on Change Healthcare as payments are frozen. More patients are also experiencing difficulty in getting their medical prescriptions filled amid reports that the ransomware outage could last several more weeks.
Alabama Lawmakers Advance Bills To Shield IVF Clinics
Alabama’s House and Senate both passed similar bills Thursday that will be swapped and debated next week. The measures aim to address fallout from the state’s Supreme Court ruling granting “personhood” to frozen embryos. News outlets also examine the reverberations from that case outside of Alabama.
Judge Strikes Down 3 Montana Anti-Abortion Laws As Unconstitutional
Laws that included banning abortions after 20 weeks were struck down by District Court Judge Kurt Krueger. Meanwhile, Missouri accused Planned Parenthood of “trafficking” minors for abortions. The death of a pregnant Amish woman is among other news.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers discuss a deadly pesticide, hospital boarding, self-defense laws, and more.
Alarm Raised About Quality, Services From Health Providers Amazon Bought
Patients are voicing concerns about changes to health service quality and offerings from providers that Amazon bought, such as Iora Health clinics’ parent company One Medical. Meanwhile, construction of a new Kaiser Permanente hospital in San Jose is set for 2025.
Novo Nordisk Pursuing Vaccine-Like Yearly Dose Weight-Loss Drug
The pharma company behind runaway success weight-loss drug Wegovy is looking into future obesity drug technology. Separately, a long-term study shows that exercise can help people keep from gaining weight after they’ve been taking a weight-loss drug.
Concerned About Microplastics In Your Tap Water? Consider Boiling It
The Hill reports on new research suggesting that at least 80% of the three most common plastic compounds found in tap water are destroyed when the water is boiled. Other public health news is on PFAS in food packaging, ultra-processed foods, and the “fasting-mimicking diet.”
San Francisco Might Test Welfare Recipients For Drug Use
Two law-and-order ballot measures will, if passed, represent a new tack against public drug use and property crime in the famously progressive city, the Wall Street Journal says. Meanwhile, California is reacting to White House prompts, and may tighten gun storage rules.
Doctors Told To Conserve Tetanus Shots; Has Your Measles Vax Worn Off?
The CDC is urging physicians to switch from the Td vaccine to the Tdap vaccine whenever possible because of a shortage risk prompted by MassBiologics’ decision to discontinue production of its Td vaccine, CBS News reported. Also: updates on the measles, chikungunya, and flu vaccines.
Research Roundup: Cancer; Covid; Obesity; Marijuana; Preemies
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Congress Reaches Deal To Buy More Time To Finalize Spending Agreement
Congressional leaders have reached agreement on a stopgap bill that will extend two-tier federal funding deadlines to March 8 and March 22, in an effort to secure enough time to finalize the spending deal that’s been secured “in principle.”
Republican Senator Blocks Bill To Protect IVF Nationwide
A bill introduced by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, was blocked Wednesday by Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, a Republican from Mississippi. The legislation would have provided federal protections for in vitro fertilization treatments. The Biden campaign linked the move to former President Donald Trump, arguing that he would have urged Republicans to pass it if he truly supported IVF access.
Biden’s Physical Didn’t Include A Cognitive Test
The latest physical evaluating President Joe Biden’s health reportedly drew on 20 doctors’ expertise, but did not involve a cognitive exam of the 81 year-old politician. Also in the news, protections for disabled travelers; a challenge to the bump stock device weapons ban; and more.