Latest KFF Health News Stories
Study: In First 8 Months, Covid Shots Saved 2.4 Million People Globally
The working paper from University of Southern California and Brown University estimates that another 670,000 people wouldn’t have died if vaccines had been distributed equitably. Meanwhile, researchers show that covid vaccines are not linked to miscarriages.
Second Person To Receive Pig Heart Transplant Dies
News outlets report that the patient, Lawrence Faucette, of Frederick, Md., began to show initial signs of organ rejection. Faucette, who died six weeks after his transplant, was the second patient at the University of Maryland Medical Center to receive a transplanted pig heart. The first recipient, David Bennett, died two months after receiving his transplant last year.
CDC Plan To Tackle Health Worker Burnout Focuses On Mental Health
A big part of the CDC campaign focuses on hospitals and health care managers, challenging them to institute systemic changes to support employees.
FDA Panel Says Innovative Sickle Cell Gene Therapy Is Safe Enough For Use
The advisory committee’s review may lead to the FDA’s first approval of a treatment for humans that uses the CRISPR gene-editing system.
Missouri Appeals Court Says Language In Abortion Ballot Was Misleading
A panel of the Western District Court of Appeals upheld revised ballot titles in a blow to the original writer, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, whose words describing “dangerous” abortions were “replete” with partisan language. Meanwhile in Idaho, restrictive anti-abortion laws fuel an OB-GYN exodus.
Infant Mortality Rate Rose 3% Last Year, Reversing Trend Of Last 20 Years
CDC data show that the rate of babies dying was higher between 2021 and 2022 than in the two decades prior, when mortality rates consistently dropped. The U.S. rate is double that of many developed countries.
First Edition: November 1, 2023
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
In ‘Tokelahoma,’ Once-Booming Medical Pot Industry Is Dwindling
At its peak, Oklahoma had nearly 14,000 licensed medical marijuana businesses. But one veteran says the industry is “struggling” and predicted two-thirds of current businesses could soon shut down.
Editorial writers tackle cancer, nursing homes, and gun violence.
FDA Panel Meeting Today To Review Proposal For Sickle Cell Gene Therapy
A FDA advisory panel will hear proposals Tuesday from Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics in an all-day meeting. USA Today examines the potential and high cost of using gene therapy to treat diseases.
Hold That Sneeze — This Year’s Flu Season May Not Hit So Hard
Doctors and scientists note that positive signs from the Southern Hemisphere’s flu season point to a potentially milder season in the North, too. Also in the news, the Biden administration has acknowledged problems with the transition from government to private control over the covid vaccine program.
Trump: ‘Mental Institutions’ Should Return — To Tackle Homelessness
The kind of state-run psychiatric hospital that former President Donald Trump called for faded in the mid-1900s, and they were associated with inhumane practices. Their return, Trump said, would “get the homeless off our streets.” Also in the news: dementia and slow-wave sleep loss; your Halloween haikus, and more.
Maine Gunman’s Mental Health Issues More Serious Than First Disclosed
Law enforcement was explicitly warned about the declining mental health of Robert Card many months ahead of the Maine shooting, news outlets report.
Kansas Judge Blocks New Abortion Pill Law, 24-Hour Abortion Waits
A 2022 statewide vote in Kansas affirmed support for abortion access under the state constitution, AP reports, and the new ruling supports this by also blocking older abortion restrictions, including a forced 24-hour wait window. Other abortion news is from Arizona, Tennessee, and elsewhere.
Biden Uses Executive Order To Push For AI Health Care Standards
President Joe Biden’s executive order invoked the Defense Production Act to establish standards on using artificial intelligence in health care and other industries — while trying not to stifle innovation in the field. Other news includes HHS digital info blocking rules, GSK and 23andMe, and more.
Study Finds How Dramatically Health Plan Rates Vary County To County
One of the first studies of insurer price data shines a sharp spotlight onto health care pricing and how where you live in the U.S. impacts how much you pay. Among other news, Healthpeak Properties is set to buy Physicians Realty Trust; a report on costs of unnecessary stents; and more.
3-Day ‘Pharmageddon’ Pharmacist Walkout Begins
Organizers have estimated that about 4,500 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are participating from several store chains, including CVS and Walgreens. The impact of the walkout on pharmacy services is currently unclear.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
This Week, Private Insurers Take Over Paying For Covid Drugs
The transition begins Nov. 1, marking a shift from the government paying for covid treatments to private insurers and drugmakers. Notably, the uninsured and those on Medicare or Medicaid will be able to access Paxlovid for free until the end of 2024. Meanwhile, a new covid variant — HV.1 — is spreading.
FDA Warns 26 Eye Drop Products Could Cause Dangerous Infections
People are being urged to stop using the over-the-counter items on the FDA’s list because of the worry that they could lead to vision loss. Among other news, an active tuberculosis case in California; rising cases of strep throat; and worries that STDs, including syphilis, are on the rise, too.