Latest KFF Health News Stories
Snap Closure Of Largest Nursing Home In St. Louis Forces Out Residents
Northview Village Nursing Home, the largest skilled nursing home in the city, closed abruptly after workers were told they may not be paid and walked out of the facility. About 170 residents were forced to find other care. Also in the news: California’s sober living homes; AI in hospice care decisions; and more.
Study: It’s Official — More US Kids Are Obese
A new study defeats some earlier hopes that kids in government food programs were bucking a trend in obesity rates. The data says no: severe obesity is actually becoming more common in U.S. children. Meanwhile, other research underlines the brain’s role in obesity.
HHS Warns 9 States Where ‘Alarming’ Number Of Kids Have Lost Medicaid
Those states are responsible for 60% of children in the U.S. losing Medicaid coverage between March and September. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra sent letters urging their Republican governors to take advantage of CMS tools to make it easier for families to reenroll.
Viewpoints: This Is Why People Are Skipping Covid Boosters; Soldiers’ Own Weapons Are Hurting Them
Editorial writers tackle covid boosters, brain injury in soldiers, sickle cell, and more.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Ketamine In Public Spotlight After Its Role In Actor Matthew Perry’s Death
Actor Matthew Perry’s death — now revealed to be a result of “acute effects” of ketamine — is renewing scrutiny on the “booming” business of clinics prescribing the anesthetic drug for depression and anxiety.
WHO Says It’s ‘Appalled’ By Destruction Of Northern Gaza Hospital
The Kamal Adwan Hospital has been effectively destroyed, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, with the WHO now concerned about diarrhea, jaundice, and respiratory infections. Meanwhile, UN officials called for an investigation into the Israeli military raid targeting the hospital.
Opinion writers focus on women’s health care issues in America.
Editorial writers examine wars effects on health care, caregivers, patient advocacy and more.
GOP Looks To Thwart 2024 Abortion Ballot Measures; Dems Lean Into Issue
Abortion politics are helping to shape the 2024 elections landscape. Politico reports that some conservative Republicans are testing a new strategy to keep abortion-related referendums off of state ballots. On the other side, The Hill examines Democrats’ plans to seize on the high-profile case of a Texas woman blocked from terminating a pregnancy by the state’s Supreme Court.
CMS Offering States Millions To Create Holistic Approach To Maternal Health
Modern Healthcare reported that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will give up to $17 million over 10 years to as many as 15 states to create initiatives designed to tackle the maternal health crisis. Medicaid covers about 40% of childbirths, it noted.
Wandering Assisted-Living Residents Dying In ‘Alarming Numbers’: Report
An investigation by The Washington Post shines a spotlight on to the number of people dying after they wander away from assisted-living care facilities. In other health industry news: a call for life science postdocs to get a pay hike; the merger of Elevance Health and Blue Cross of Louisiana; and more.
‘Nightmare For A Pharmacist’: Current Conditions Set Stage For Mistakes
CNN takes a deeper look at the current situation facing pharmacists across the country, where staff shortages and increased demand stretch pharmacists thin, and where mistakes can have legal and deadly consequences. Other pharma news is on weight-loss drugs, gender-affirming care, and more.
Girls More Than Twice As Likely To Contract HIV, UNICEF Study Finds
The problem, the agency says, is gender inequality, limited access to health care, and poor educational programs that put girls at particular risk for HIV worldwide. Conversely, reports say an effort to boost health care for the homeless in Boston led to a drop in HIV rates among drug users.
Missouri Becomes Last State In US To Start Prescription Monitoring Service
The goal is to block drug-seeking behavior by some patients and to prevent cross-medication interactions. Professionals who dispense controlled substances now have to log patient and prescription data. Meanwhile, in New York City, efforts progress toward banning solitary confinement in prison.
Covid, Flu On Rise In Heart Of Holiday Season; RSV Likely Past Peak, CDC Says
With covid hospitalizations — a closely watched indicator of the state of transmissions — rising for the 5th straight week, some regions’ hospitals are starting to have capacity concerns. CDC data also shows an increase in flu activity.
First Edition: December 18, 2023
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on bias, the Smithsonian’s brain collection, Pfizer’s future, and more.
Editorial writers tackle issues including reproductive rights, obesity, drug prices, and more.
Attorneys Push For Judge To Rule On Abortion Pill Ban In Wyoming
AP explains that attorneys for both sides in a challenge to Wyoming’s abortion restrictions are pressing a judge to rule on the law without holding a trial. The restrictions include the United States’ first explicit ban on abortion medications. Meanwhile, in Idaho, a controversy unfolds over medical exemptions for abortion bans.