Latest KFF Health News Stories
Lawmakers Urge Federal Worker Protections During Extreme Heat
Over 100 congressional Democrats are urging President Joe Biden to task OSHA with establishing stronger heat safety regulations for people who work both indoors and outside as the nation wrestles with record heat. Separately, new research links heat and pollution to higher heart attack risks.
Abortion Politics Fuel Messaging Ahead Of Ohio’s August Ballot Measure Vote
Next month’s vote that could make it harder for initiatives to make Ohio ballots is entwined with abortion politics. And a new survey finds that such a measure on abortion rights would be supported by voters. Meanwhile, another survey shows shifting national attitudes on state abortion laws.
Poll Finds Majority Support Universal Background Checks For Gun Owners
A survey finds that 86% of American adults support Congress mandating background checks for all firearms sales and transfers. A majority also support gun license test-taking and an assault weapons ban. Meanwhile, a new study reports that Black Americans are more likely to be mass shooting victims.
Researchers Link Adult Depression To Higher Dementia Risk Later
News outlets cover a new study that suggests a depression diagnosis in adulthood could more than double your risk of developing dementia in older age. Meanwhile, Stat covers the race to develop ways to detect Alzheimer’s earlier. Also in the news: aspirin, alcohol addiction, gene therapy, and more.
Pfizer Warns Some Drug Supplies May Be Affected By Tornado Strike
Though the tornado that hit the company’s plant in North Carolina last week mainly affected warehousing, some drug supplies — including lidocaine, morphine, and fentanyl injectables — may be disrupted. Also in health industry news: a huge deal with Roche, new investments in blood testing tech, and more.
Trans Advocates Say Florida Consent Forms Are Inaccurate, Transphobic
New Florida Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine consent forms required for access to gender affirming care are inaccurate, intentionally vague, and have transphobic language, critics say. Meanwhile, in California Republicans push to end a tax on health savings accounts.
Editorial writers delve into these public health topics.
Lower Covid Vaccine Uptake Linked To Excess Republican Deaths In Florida, Ohio: Study
Researchers have found that in the months after the covid vaccine was released that Republicans in Florida and Ohio experienced “significantly higher” excess death rates than Democrats, when compared to the rates before vaccines were available.
Biden Administration Pushes Insurers For Better Mental Health Coverage
New regulations, to be proposed today, require insurers to investigate if their customers have equal access to medical and mental health benefits, and to fix imbalances. Also in the news: a suit against Cigna’s claims denials, a grant to help schools remove lead from drinking water, and more.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
3 Killed, 5 Sickened Overall In Washington State Listeria Outbreak
News outlets report on a spate of deaths in Washington over recent months from food-borne listeria infections. Though genetic testing on bacteria from all five patients revealed they were likely infected from the same source, that source remains unidentified.
Palo Alto VA Medical Center To Become First Full-5G Enabled Hospital In US
5G could bring many benefits, Axios reports, including enabling more smart technology in and around hospitals. In other research news: statin use for people with HIV; a finger prick that could detect Alzheimer’s; how TV watching as a child could hurt later health; AI; and more.
Gilead Accused Of ‘Slow-Walking’ HIV Therapy For More Profit
A New York Times report highlights an alleged plan at Gilead to delay the release of a promising new HIV drug to maximize profits. Separately, GSK was given marketing authorization for an HIV prevention drug in Europe. Other industry news concerns cosmetics research, industry deals and more.
2-Year-Old Killed By Brain-Eating Amoeba In Nevada
The child died after a visit to a natural hot spring where he could have been exposed to Naegleria fowleri. Also in state health news, a hack in Texas exposed patients’ health information, Medicaid redeterminations, heat-related illnesses, and more.
Viewpoints: Tech Can Help Alleviate Health Care Burnout; Drug Production Needs Manufacturing Changes
Editorial writers discuss burnout, drug manufacturing, heat deaths and more.
Drug Supply Chain Mostly Safe As Tornado-Hit Pfizer Plant Is Assessed
News outlets report that despite concerns over possible disruption to national and global supply chains caused by a tornado impact in North Carolina, the impact on a Pfizer plant that sustained damage was mostly to warehousing, not drug manufacturing facilities. Some drugs are affected but efforts to return production to full speed are already underway.
White House Opens Permanent Pandemic Preparedness Office
The Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy launched on Friday with retired Major General Paul Friedrichs at the helm. The new effort will take over the federal response to covid and mpox and look ahead to future health crises.
FTC Signals Growing Appetite For Greater PBM Oversight
The Federal Trade Commission is reviewing “outdated” agency statements and policies when in comes to regulation of pharmacy benefit manager practices. In other drug pricing news, pharmaceutical companies ratchet up their efforts to halt Medicare negotiations, and a bill capping insulin prices hits hurdles in Congress.
Texas Has Worst Maternal Mortality Rate; Births Among Over-30s Slip
The Houston Chronicle reports on data that show maternal death rates in Texas rose from 10 per 100,000 births in 1999 to nearly 22 deaths in 2019. The Boston Globe, meanwhile, reports that births among people over 30 fell for the first time in 10 years during 2020.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.