Latest KFF Health News Stories
Your Health Insurance Is Set For An Inflation Jump, Even As Inflation Falls
Labyrinthine economics mean that even as U.S. inflation is “broadly retreating,” as CNBC reports, health insurance costs are set to tick up in October, and again in following months. The Seattle Times says health insurance rates will jump for “thousands.” The Boston Globe warns of rises in Rhode Island.
White House Pushes Insurers For Equal Mental Health Coverage
The Biden administration is “going after” health insurers for flouting federal laws designed to ensure that they provide mental health care on the same terms as other health care. Meanwhile, AI tools are helping doctors diagnose mental health conditions.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: What’s Behind The Shortage Of ADHD Meds?; How To Combat Soaring Health Care Costs
Editorial writers tackle ADHD medications, rising costs of health care, the newest covid booster and more.
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 mental health, Medicaid, aging, toxic cough syrup, polio, and more.
Study: Legionnaires’ Disease Spread From Donor Lungs To Recipients
The new study notes this may be the first time transplanted organs were the likely source of infection, after the organ donor died from drowning in a river — a place where Legionella bacteria are naturally found. In other news, a pig kidney worked for a record two months in a human patient.
Lawsuit Challenges North Dakota’s Ban On Minors’ Gender Care
AP notes this is the latest lawsuit in many states with similar bans. Meanwhile, in Florida, the state is asking an appeals court to allow a new law preventing trans minors from accessing gender care by citing a ruling in a similar case in Alabama last month.
Philadelphia City Council Votes To Ban Most Supervised Injection Sites
The almost-unanimous vote on the contentious issue came, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports, after a meeting that was “raucous at times.” In other news, Appalachian communities are coming together for a Narcan distribution event to help fight the overdose crisis.
ER Visit Times Stretch Longer As Hospitals Face Staffing Crunch
Axios reports that hospitals in Washington, D.C., logged the longest median ER visit times in 2022, clocking in at 5 hours and 29 minutes. Other health care industry news is on union membership, rural nursing home staffing, out-of-network ambulance claims, and more.
Billion-Dollar Effort To Reform Mental Health Care Will Go To Calif. Voters
Among new bills that California lawmakers endorsed this week, a $6.4 billion bond measure to reform California’s mental health care will appear on the March 2024 ballot. Also: a possible $25 minimum wage for local health workers.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Beth Israel Plan New Boston Cancer Center
The newly-announced plans will “reshape” oncology in the region, the Boston Globe reports. Separately, New York’s Mount Sinai Medical Center is set to close its Beth Israel campus in downtown Manhattan after what Bloomberg reports as “years” of financial losses.
New Study Finds ‘Exciting’ Result In MDMA Treatment For PTSD: It’s Safe
Stat says the study adds to a body of evidence supporting MDMA as a treatment for PTSD. The New York Times says the psychedelic is inching toward approval. Also in the news: Magic mushrooms may soon be legal in California, and thousands have signed up for an Oregon psilocybin tea experiment.
New Covid Shots Reaching Health Providers And Pharmacies; Who Will Get One?
Updated covid vaccines are being sent to hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies across the U.S. News outlets report on where patients can get a shot and what’s being done to reach vulnerable populations.
Poisonous Yellow Oleander Found In Alternative Weight-Loss Drugs
Tests in a lab in Oregon showed that in nine out of 10 diet pills and health food products, what was labeled as Tejocote root was yellow oleander, which is poisonous and sometimes deadly. Some products have been withdrawn, but the FDA has warned that other, similarly-labeled ones remain on sale.
House Disarray Before Recess Ups Chances Of Disruptive Shutdown
The federal government will shut down if lawmakers do not reach a spending deal by Sept. 30 — an outcome that would have a big impact on health programs. Yet House members made little progress in the 3 days before their fall recess that were dominated by chaos surrounding leadership and the Biden impeachment inquiry.
Drug Companies, Walgreens Sued Over Cold Meds That Didn’t Work
A flurry of lawsuits were filed this week after an FDA panel concluded the ingredient phenylephrine was essentially ineffective. Meanwhile, the FDA says it will seek public opinion before deciding whether to remove the ingredient from store shelves.
Planned Parenthood To Resume Abortion Services In Wisconsin
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin plans to again offer abortions at clinics in Milwaukee and Madison by next week after a judge ruled that an 1849 law didn’t apply to abortion. The reproductive health organization is also challenging an abortion ban in South Carolina.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers discuss abortion rights and covid.
Viewpoints: One Opioid Treatment Not As Safe As Previously Thought; Doctors Are Not OK
Editorial writers delve into a opioid misuse treatment, doctors’ mental health, “medical assistance in dying,” and more.