Latest KFF Health News Stories
Lawsuit Raises Energy Drink Safety Questions After Death Of 21-Year-Old
The lawsuit was filed last week after the death of a 21-year-old who suffered a heart condition. In other news, a new study linked race factors to depression among college students who are minorities at both predominantly white and Black institutions.
8 Opioid Overdoses In 3 Weeks Hit A Single Virginia High School
The overdoses among students at a high school in Sterling, Virginia, show how dramatic the opioid crisis has become — all of them required medical intervention of some sort. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has been asked for the first time to block anti-trans youth care laws in Tennessee.
Idaho Mom, Son Kidnapped Girl To Get Her An Abortion: Prosecutors
The complex case unfolded amid Idaho’s strict anti-abortion laws, which include a ban on helping minors without their parents’ consent, and centers around a young girl who was living with her boyfriend’s family and then taken out of state to get an abortion.
‘Buyer Beware’ Also Applies To ACA Insurance Coverage: Experts
Now that it’s time to pick health coverage for 2024 on the ACA’s marketplaces, experts are reminding buyers to research which plans they’re choosing to avoid expensive surprises.
‘Pharmageddon’ Staff Walkout Had Low Impact, Say CVS And Walgreens
Most stores remained open during the three-day walkout action among some pharmacists, the companies said. In other pharma news, Nostrum Laboratories will pay up to $50 million to settle allegations of underpaid Medicaid rebates; Apple’s long-term plans to revolutionize health care; and more.
American Cancer Society Updates Guidelines For Lung Cancer Screenings
People ages 50 to 80 who smoke now or used to smoke and have at least a “20 pack-year” history of smoking should get an annual low-dose CT scan, the group says. A “pack-year” is defined as equal to smoking one pack of cigarettes per day for a year.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers tackle climate change, social media, medical-assisted suicide and more.
Read recent commentaries about pharmaceutical issues.
A Majority Of Doctors Worry Over AI’s Role In Diagnoses, Treatments
Only 36% of physicians surveyed by Medscape said they weren’t “very” or “at all” concerned about the influence of AI on diagnoses and treatment decisions. In other news, Eli Lilly is buying gene-editing tech from Beam Therapeutics; strong sales of RSV vaccines lift GSK’s profits; and more.
Ban On Businesses’ Covid Shot Mandates Heads To Texas Governor
Under the law, private companies that punish workers for refusing a covid shot could get a $50,000 fine. Meanwhile, Houston Independent School District nurses are voicing their anger at a plan to have them staff two covid clinics without extra pay. Other news is from California, Florida, Long Island, and elsewhere.
Public Isn’t Taking AMR Seriously; Protein That Causes Clotting After Covid Vaccine Identified
Read recent pharmaceutical developments in KFF Health News’ Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Teens’ Internet Use Is More Worrying Than Drugs To Parents: Survey
The risks of cyberbullying and addiction are more worrying to parents of teen children than the notion the youngsters will abuse drugs. Separately, millions of people say they’ve used the 988 mental health crisis line but the majority say they won’t use it again.
Hospitals Brace For Influx Of Kids With RSV, With Drug In Short Supply
Widespread access to a new antibody drug is currently lacking, which may mean a surge of children with RSV. Among other news, a focus on the sugar content of popular Halloween candy; a study into coulrophobia — the fear of clowns; the high U.S. gun violence rate; and more.
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.