Latest KFF Health News Stories
Senate Moves To Sidestep Tuberville’s Military Holds Over Abortion Policy
The Senate Rules Committee is expected to mark up a resolution Tuesday that aims to confirm more than 350 senior military promotions to get around a blanket hold by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, that he’s put in place for the last 9 months to object to the Pentagon’s abortion policy.
AMA Argues Weight-Loss Drugs Should Be Covered By Insurers
Fear of the treatments’ costs is preventing insurers, employers, and government programs from covering obesity treatments, Stat says. Also in the news: Elevance Health, Cigna Group, psychedelic drug startup Filament, and more.
Dems’ Opposition To Shutdown Plan Softens; Hard-Line Republicans Dig In
A proposal to avert a government shutdown floated by House Speaker Mike Johnson is gaining support among Democrats, whose support will be needed to pass the House since right-leaning members’ opposition to the measure grows.
Upbeat Study Into Lung Cancer Found Survival Rates Are Rising
The five-year rate rose 22% between 2015 to 2019. NPR notes the findings are a “bright note” amid deepening racial disparities in many health care areas since rates are rising in communities of color, too. Separately, Midwestern states are found to have a mixed record in fighting lung cancer.
Marine Corps Has Highest Suicide Rate Of All Military Branches
In the active Marine Corps, the rate rose from 23.9 deaths by suicide per 100,000 service members in 2021 to 34.9 deaths in 2022. Separately, reports say AI is now being used as part of an effort to combat military suicides.
105,000 People Who Were Cut From Pa. Medicaid Rolls Get Coverage Back
Those involved lost their insurance benefits because of missing a form or for procedural reasons, but now the state is returning coverage retroactively to the termination dates. Separately, the Biden administration is criticized for being slow to act as millions of other people lose Medicaid.
Care Denials By UnitedHealth Were Driven By Algorithms, Staff Allege
The denials, including cutting off care for older and disabled Americans, came as the health insurer’s profits soared, Stat found. In other news, ex-employees allege the head of the VA Prosthetics Department in Colorado canceled some vets’ orders to beat a backlog.
White House Launches Its First-Ever Initiative On Women’s Health Research
The effort will be led by First Lady Jill Biden and the White House Gender Policy Council, and will bring in members of executive departments from across government to work out how to boost research. Also in the news: questions over the oversight of a senior nutrition program, and more.
Life Expectancy For American Males Has Plummeted
New research found that men now live, on average, nearly six years less than women — partly because of covid and drug overdoses. The life expectancy gender gap is now at its widest in nearly 30 years. In other research, young kids who read are found to have better mental health later.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: What Are Dr. Fauci’s Thoughts On Post-Viral Illnesses?; Nurses Are Not Alright
Editorial writers examine long covid, the nursing crisis, kidney donation and more.
EPA Worries Thousands In Minnesota May Be Drinking Contaminated Water
Over 9,000 Minnesotans may be drinking water that is contaminated with agricultural chemicals that could have health impacts, CBS News reports. Meanwhile: in Southern California, a first case of St. Louis Encephalitis, a mosquito-born virus, is confirmed; infant mortality rises in Missouri; and more.
Amid Conflict, Controversy, Gaza’s Largest Hospital Not Able To Function
The WHO said Sunday that the largest hospital in Gaza has ceased to function, and patient fatalities are rising amid the fighting outside the gates and power outages. Thousands of people have reportedly fled the facility, though hundreds of patients remain inside.
Salmonella Alert: Dry Pet Food Recalled After Infants Are Sickened
According to the CDC alert, “This means that people likely got sick by touching this dog food, touching things like dog bowls that contained this dog food, or touching the poop or saliva of dogs that were fed this dog food.” Other public health news is on tuberculosis, loneliness, kratom, and more.
Promising Research Reported On Cancer ‘Kill Switch,’ High Cholesterol
Scientists have identified a specific protein that can “program” cancer cells to die, potentially opening up new ways to combat cancer. Separately, a new gene-editing treatment showed great promise against dangerous cholesterol. Also, a new toothpaste may help battle peanut allergies.
Wegovy Cuts Heart Attack And Stroke Risks In Clinical Study
The results of a large clinical trial, presented by Novo Nordisk A/S at an American Heart Association meeting this weekend, suggest that Wegovy and other drugs in its class can improve heart health independent of the benefits of weight loss, which could lead to a massive shift in cardiovascular care.
FDA OKs First Vaccine For Mosquito-Born Chikungunya Virus
Chikungunya virus infects more than 300,000 people across the globe each year and is seen as posing a greater risk to Americans due to climate change. The vaccine, Ixchiq, will be available for adults who have recently traveled to places with infected mosquito populations and those with predisposed risks.
Researchers Narrow In On Brain Effects To Explain Long Covid
Scientists are trying to find out why some people experience long-term covid symptoms while others do not. Also, new research examines a lost sense of smell after covid. Also in the news: prenatal covid shots are shown to help infants, even as anti-vaccine efforts tick up.
AstraZeneca Says It Will Prioritize RSV Drug Doses For US As Infections Soar
Beyfortus, the therapy in question, was approved for use against the disease in infants and toddlers in July, and a surge of cases in the U.S. has seen it in short supply. Separately, AstraZeneca is also looking at markets for cheap Ozempic-like weight-loss drugs aimed at more modest weight-losses.
Ohio GOP Lawmakers Want Courts Blocked From Implementing Abortion Measure
Four Republican state lawmakers are proposing to strip judges of the authority to interpret cases surrounding the newly passed Issue 1 abortion amendment.