Latest KFF Health News Stories
Hospital Financial Performance Squeezed As Medicaid Unwinds: Report
A summertime drop in outpatient business and ongoing Medicaid redeterminations are hitting hospital financial performance, according to an industry report. The Hill, meanwhile, reports that Medicaid-eligible people who are not actually enrolled are far more likely to delay care.
Canada Now Warns Its LGBTQ+ Travelers Of US Laws Targeting Them
Our friendly neighbors to the north are being warned of potentially unfriendly state and local laws that target LGBTQ+ people as part of an update to the travel advisory for the U.S. In other global health news, Danaher is buying a British bio reagents company that’s labeled “the Amazon of antibodies.”
Perspectives: The Drug Pricing War Rages On
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Major Antibiotic Overprescribing For Children Reported
Read recent pharmaceutical developments in KFF Health News’ Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Medicare And Pharma May Not See Big Impact At First From Drug Negotiations
After CMS released its list of selected medications for which it will negotiate prices, pharmaceutical companies denounced the process and news outlets report on the potential savings for Medicare and its beneficiaries.
Biden NIH Head Nominee Has Pledged To Not Work For Big Pharma Later On
The move, Politico says, is a major concession from the White House to Sen. Elizabeth Warren over ethics. Monica Bertagnolli, who was nominated to lead NIH months ago, agreed to limit her post-role employment options for 4 years. Also: generics patents, the No Surprises act, and more.
Pay Attention To ‘Pirola’ Covid Variant, Health Experts Warn
“It’s drastically different” from the dominant strains that are currently circulating, said one scientific adviser to the CDC. Meanwhile, Dr. Deborah Birx, who served as former President Donald Trump’s covid response coordinator, says not enough people are taking the newest surge seriously and that the new vaccine is coming weeks too late.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. For the long holiday weekend, we’ve included stories on cancer, aging, parenting, conservatorships, and more.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations. Note to readers: KFF Health News’ First Edition will not be published Aug. 31 through Sept. 4. Look for it again in your inbox on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
Asian Americans Have The Highest Exposure To Forever Chemicals: Study
A new study found different racial and socioeconomic groups are exposed to varying amounts of PFAS across the U.S., but Asian Americans are the most at risk. Health impacts from wildfire smoke are also in the news, with a report showing exposure in California may be reducing life expectancy.
Viewpoints: Jails Don’t Provide Any Addiction Assistance; Emotional Abuse Is Also Domestic Violence
Editorial writers discuss drug withdrawal in jail, emotional abuse, AI in healthcare and more.
Diabetes Drugs, Blood Thinner On Medicare’s List Of 10 Meds To Negotiate Prices
HHS released its list of 10 drugs that will be on the table for the first-ever price negotiations between Medicare and drugmakers. Included in the mix are medications that treat diabetes, autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and heart failure. The process is facing multiple court challenges.
Pressure Rises On Biden As Millions, Including Kids, Lose Medicaid
Congressional Democrats and health advocates are urging the Biden administration to do more to ensure people are protected as nearly 5.5 million are purged from Medicaid rolls, including about 1.1 million kids who have lost health coverage.
More Details Released On Florida Gunman’s Mental Health Past
Black residents in Jacksonville demanded accountability from Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who they say has stoked a “war on our community” by pushing for major changes in how African American history is taught and declaring that Florida “is where woke goes to die.”
Ohio Abortion-Rights Group Sues Over ‘Blatant Inaccuracies’ In Ballot Text
The lawsuit asks the Ohio Supreme Court either to order the state ballot board to use the full text of a proposed abortion-rights amendment or to fix what they say is intentionally misleading text used in a summary. Other abortion news is from Michigan, Texas, Kentucky, and elsewhere.
To Cut Costs, Hospital Systems Are Selling Non-Core Businesses
Modern Healthcare reports on shrinking hospital systems’ portfolios, contrasting an acquisitive trend over the past two decades. Meanwhile, Oregon’s third-largest city is set to lose its only hospital demonstrating the “fallout of pressured health-care systems across the country,” as Bloomberg says.
Pfizer’s Tornado-Damaged Plant Likely To Reopen In A Few Months
The pharmaceutical giant said it has started releasing products from the Rocky Mount, North Carolina, facility that weren’t affected by the July 19 storm. Some of the products Pfizer makes at the plant include anesthesia, painkillers, and anti-infective medicines for use in hospitals.
Vaccine Skepticism Grows As More People Question Rabies Shots For Pets
Also, CNN reports on changing immunity to covid, and CIDRAP reports that a few more BA.2.86 subvariant detections have been detected and that omicron may be less likely to lead to long covid.
Michigan’s Governor Presses To Protect Key ACA Provisions In Law
Michigan’s Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is set to call on state lawmakers to protect the Affordable Care Act, including provisions for no-cost preventive services. In California, the attorney general filed a lawsuit against a Southern California school district over its parental notification policy for gender issues.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.