Latest KFF Health News Stories
Walking Between 3,800 And 9,800 Steps A Day Reduces Dementia Risk: Study
Other health and wellness news reports tackle wearable devices and mobility; nutrition labels; older adults and economic insecurity; and the infant formula crisis.
Opioid Trial Of Big-Name Pharmacies Begins In New Mexico
Walgreens, Walmart and Kroger were accused of failing to act as a “dam” against illegitimate opioid prescriptions. In other news, part of California’s aid-in-dying law has been struck down, a third case of West Nile virus has been found in Massachusetts, and more.
In Unusual Move, EU Blocks $7B Merger Of 2 American Biotech Firms
A U.S. judge had already approved the merger of Illumina, headquartered in San Diego, and Grail, which is based in Menlo Park, California. The European Union says the deal would stifle innovation in an emerging market for early cancer-detection blood tests, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Doctors Step Up Lobbying Against Looming Medicare Payment Cuts
As they’ve successfully done the past two years, doctor groups like the American Medical Association and Surgical Care Coalition are pressing lawmakers to allocate additional Medicare funds to avoid payment cuts scheduled to go into effect in January.
Baylor Medicine Wins Possibly First Covid Insurance Case, Against Lloyds
Reuters notes that the insurance industry has generally won covid-related cases relating to business interruption. But now Baylor College of Medicine has won a case against some Lloyds underwriters. The CVS-Signify deal is also in the news, along with other matters.
Juul Will Pay $439 Million To Settle Teen Marketing Case
Media outlets report on the settlement made with 33 states and one territory over how the maker marketed its e-cigarettes to teens. The company has not admitted wrongdoing, but now faces restrictions on how it can market and distribute its products.
Over 10 Million Children Lost Parents, Caregivers During Covid
Excess mortality data from the World Health Organization shows that around 7.5 million children worldwide were orphaned through covid, and 3 million more lost a primary caregiver. In other news, there’s mystery over why new covid variants have seemingly stalled in growth.
Health Startup Choix To Sell Abortion Pills To Non-Pregnant People
The plan, reported in Bloomberg, is so the abortion pills can be stockpiled for future use. It’s only offering the drugs in states where it’s licensed, in all of which abortion is legal. Other abortion news is reported across the country, along with news on the new U.K. Health Secretary’s stance.
HHS Announces More Locations Will Open To Get Monkeypox Vaccine
A new $20 billion contract with AmerisourceBergen will allow the Department of Health and Human Services to expand its distribution rate to 2,500 locations across the country.
Future Of Covid Shots? Likely To Be Annual Jabs, Like Flu Vaccine
After a patient gets the recently approved omicron-tailored booster, their covid vaccine cadence will likely shift to once a year under a plan still in development by the White House.
How To Make Sure You Are Getting The Updated Covid Booster
The cap and label colors on the old and new Pfizer and Moderna boosters are largely similar, NBC News reports, which could create confusion for health workers. But pharmacists at Walgreens and CVS say that the all shots for people over 12 who have received a previous booster would be the new version.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
California May Be First State To Rank Heat Emergencies
The San Francisco Chronicle reports on bill AB2238, which would make the state’s Environmental Protection Agency create a new ranking system for heat waves, to boost public awareness about dangerous heat. Other news includes the death of Lori McClintock, the 988 hotline and more.
Opinion writers discuss polio, covid vaccines, the nursing shortage, and more.
Different Takes: Is Working From Home Bad For Us?; We Can Stop The Decline In Life Expectancy
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health topics.
E. Coli Outbreak Spreads To New York, Kentucky
The outbreak may be linked to Wendy’s and initially was a Midwest problem. At least 97 people have been sickened. Separately, E. coli has been detected in the Baltimore water supply, and arsenic has been found in the water at a public housing complex in New York City.
While Travel Nurse Costs Impact Hospitals, Health Hiring Rises
The effects of ongoing staffing crises on Alaska’s hospitals is reported, with worries about the cost of travel nurses and the impact on permanent staff. Modern Healthcare also reports on how some hospitals are being forced to reduce their services over staff woes.
Program Could Prevent Half Of Postpartum Depression Cases: Study
An NIH mental health study, covered in the Boston Globe, examines the Reach Out, Stay Strong, Essentials for mothers of newborns (ROSE) program, which shows promise in preventing postnatal depression.
WHO Encouraged By Monkeypox Case Trends
Monkeypox infection numbers are down in North America and Europe, and the World Health Organization says that the numbers show the outbreak can be halted. Public health officials urge continued vigilance, though.
CMS Proposes Rules To Ease Enrollment In Medicaid, CHIP
The changes aim to make it easier for qualified people to apply for Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program and to retain their benefits in redeterminations.