Latest KFF Health News Stories
Toxin Exposure Found In Nearly Half Of Veterans Screened So Far
Of the 5 million veterans screened so far by the Department of Veterans Affairs under the PACT Act, 2.1 million have been found to have been exposed to at least one toxic substance during their military service.
Spotlight Falls On All-Male Lawyers As Arizona High Court Considers Abortion
The Arizona Republic notes that as six justices from the state Supreme Court began to question attorneys, all four lawyers were men. Meanwhile in New Mexico, the Supreme Court examined whether to strike down local abortion restrictions.
Study: You Sent Your Kids Back To School Too Soon After They Had Covid
A new study shows 40% of children are still at risk for spreading a covid infection in the day after their symptoms have resolved — it also showed rapid tests were often negative in early covid infection, so aren’t reliable for excluding infection risks. Also in the news: Covid and flu are surging in places.
SmileDirectClub Customers Lose Support After Abrupt Shutdown
Axios reports on the problems facing people who’ve bought teeth-alignment systems from SmileDirectClub, which suddenly collapsed. Separately, Medicare Advantage beneficiaries filed a class-action suit against Humana over alleged use of an algorithm to cut off rehabilitation care payments.
Preventive Services Task Force Advises Counseling From Age 6 For Obese Kids
A recommendation from the government-backed USPSTF said the goal is promoting healthier eating and exercise habits: Research shows the impact of such early behavioral interventions. In other news, millennial women are facing a decline in well-being compared with previous generations.
North Carolina Extends Medicaid For Children For Another Year
North Carolina Health News says the state paused Medicaid unwinding for children for another year, earning praise from health experts. Also in the news: Federal officials investigate Legionella bacteria at a building in Detroit; a Florida school was fined for allowing a trans girl to play volleyball; and more.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Advocates Say Texas Gun Suicide Data Show New Laws Are Needed
Easy access to guns is a problem in Texas, say gun safety and mental health advocates. CDC data show the number of Texans who took their life with a gun last year was at a level not seen since 1999. Other reports say rising suicide among older men is worrying: It’s a group hard to reach with support.
Portland Officials Consider Public Use Ban To Battle Drugs, Overdoses
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said that state and city officials are considering rolling back some of the nation’s most wide-ranging drug decriminalization effort, because Portland was troubled and needed reviving, the New York Times says. Also in the news; pollution permitting; free naloxone kits; more.
American Humanitarian Kate Forbes Is The Red Cross’ New President
Reuters says the election for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies came after an “acrimonious” and “extraordinary” General Assembly meeting, but Forbes — a businesswoman who began working with the IFRC four decades ago — prevailed. In other news from across the world: infectious diseases are spreading in Gaza; anthrax in Zambia; and more.
Editorial writers discuss the new sickle cell treatment, the farce of abortion ban exemptions, LGBTQ+ health and more.
States Are ‘Pulling All The Levers They Can’ To Stop Medicaid Enrollment Slide
Under increased scrutiny from the White House, state Medicaid officials are trying harder to prevent eligible people from losing coverage. One of the biggest challenges is simply finding them, and states are having to get more creative in their efforts.
Justices Refuse Challenge To Washington ‘Conversion Therapy’ Ban
The Supreme Court refused, by majority, to take up a challenge to a Washington state law that protects LGBTQ+ youngsters from so-called “conversion therapy.” The challenge came from a Christian marriage and family counselor who argued it infringed free speech rights.
Arizona High Court To Consider Reinstating Abortion Ban From 1864
The ban is from when Arizona was still a territory, and it would essentially ban abortion in the state. The current ban is for abortions at 15 weeks or later. News outlets cover the case, which starts today, and consider its impact on U.S. reproductive rights battles and 2024’s election race.
Kroger Pilots In-Store Clinics For Primary Care For Seniors
Eight of the Little Clinic sites in Atlanta are transitioned to focus on primary care for seniors, as well as their regular services — a test of a strategic shift for the company. Also in the news: a Best Buy Health, Biobeat partnership; a Norton Healthcare data breach; and more.
Supreme Court Throws Out Cases On Covid Shot Mandates For Troops
The federal employee vaccine requirement was rescinded by President Joe Biden in May, and the Pentagon similarly withdrew a mandate for troops, but cases challenging the mandate for executive branch employees and military service members had rumbled on.
CRISPR Sickle Cell Treatment To Be Offered At 9 Hospitals
Now that the FDA has approved the first use of a CRISPR gene-editing therapy to treat sickle cell disease, the company has announced 9 facilities that will initially offer it.
House Passes Health Package With PBM Reforms, Site-Neutral Policy
The Lower Costs More Transparency Act of 2023, passed by the House 320-71 on Monday, would institute new transparency and pricing rules on PBMs and hospitals, and spare hospitals from some funding cuts while likely imposing others. The measure is unlikely to pass the Senate as currently written but signals bipartisan openness to the policies.
Big Pharmacy Chains Give Customers’ Records To Police Despite No Warrants
The Washington Post reported that officials with America’s eight biggest pharmacy giants — Walgreens Boots Alliance, CVS, Walmart, Rite Aid, Kroger, Cigna, Optum Rx, and Amazon Pharmacy — told congressional investigators they required only a subpoena to share the records. Investigators began probing the practice in the aftermath of the Dobbs abortion decision.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.