Latest KFF Health News Stories
Last Day For The Mississippi Clinic At Center Of Supreme Court Case
Jackson Women’s Health Organization shuttered Wednesday. News outlets cover other providers’ plans following the dismantling of Roe v. Wade.
Republicans Mull Federal Abortion Restrictions Ahead Of Midterms
In anticipation of retaking the majority in November, House Republicans are internally discussing whether to pursue a national-level abortion ban or to leave restrictions to the states.
FDA Says State-Licensed Pharmacists Can Prescribe Paxlovid
The Food and Drug Administration’s Wednesday statement specified certain limitations to make sure the treatment is appropriate. Stat reports on how doctors were “clamoring” for clarity on prescribing guidelines for the drug, used for treating high-risk covid patients. Separately, a study found a cancer drug can cut the risk of covid death.
Louisiana Supreme Court Maintains Hold On Abortion Ban For Now
The high court said the case should first go through district and appellate courts. In Kentucky, two abortion clinics head to court to try to block that state’s near-total ban.
North Carolina, Colorado Governors Issue Orders To Protect Abortion Access
The executive orders signed by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, take steps to stop state officials from helping in other states’ prosecutions of abortion providers or patients seeking legal reproductive health care services.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: We’re Ready For Monkeypox Thanks To Vaccines; Constitution Must Protect Health Care
Opinion writers weigh in on monkeypox and abortion issues.
Editorial writers delve into these public health topics.
Perspectives: States Can’t Ban Mailing Of FDA-Approved Drugs; Kansans Struggle To Afford Medications
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
FDA Stays Order Banning Juul, For Now
The Food and Drug Administration said the hold is temporary as it conducts further review. Meanwhile, another West Virginia case against opioid distributors was postponed.
Postmortem Finds Former NFL Player Demaryius Thomas Suffered CTE
The player’s family announced the news Tuesday. Thomas was found dead at his Georgia home in December. The pandemic’s toll on the behavior and emotional development of students, black children dying by suicide, a 7-year-old saving a classmate’s life with the Heimlich maneuver and more are also in the news.
Study Links More Nursing Homes, Doctors To Fewer Readmissions
The Health Affairs study looked at hospital readmission rates for Medicare patients and found that communities with more nursing home beds and physicians benefitted. Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare reports on questions over CMS’ covid quality plan.
Colorado Funeral Home Operator Guilty Of Selling Body Parts
The operator pled guilty to an illegal body part selling scheme Tuesday. In other news, health insurers in Michigan are reported to be planning rate boosts next year by an average of 5.8% for small group policies. Also: St. Louis’ inefficient 911 system, giant African land snails in Florida and more.
‘National Insecurity’: Gun Violence Driving American Anxiety Higher
Public health experts worry that converging crises around shootings, anger over the political landscape, and pandemic isolation are leaving Americans feeling more vulnerable and jittery than ever. Meanwhile, state and federal lawmakers make — or debate — moves on guns in uncertain times.
Monkeypox Found On Multiple Hospital Surfaces, Patient’s Cellphone
Researchers in Germany studied the surfaces of two rooms holding hospitalized monkeypox patients. The scientists found the highest viral loads on the surfaces of the patients’ bathrooms and on cabinet door handles, Newsweek reported. And in the U.S., Connecticut and Arkansas report their first cases.
Stay Lifted On Florida’s 15-Week Abortion Ban; Last Mississippi Clinic’s Appeal Denied
Legal wrangling over state abortion laws continued in courtrooms across the South Tuesday. And in Montana, one provider will no longer provide medication abortions to out-of-state patients.
BA.5 Now Dominates The US; Covid Reinfections Raise Risk Of Other Illness
According to CNN, a study based on the health records of nearly 6 million people treated in the VA Health System found that those with two or more covid infections had higher risks for lung and heart problems, fatigue, digestive and kidney disorders, diabetes, and neurologic problems.
Researchers Find 2 To 3 Vaccine Shots Lower Long Covid Risk
The study looked at Italian health care workers, with long covid found in nearly 42% of unvaxxed workers but in only 16% of those with three shots. Stat reports on how to understand “startlingly” large percentages of people with long covid. Also: A new vaccine may protect against future covid variants.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.