Latest KFF Health News Stories
Around 13% Of High School Students Use Tobacco Products
A study of U.S. smoking habits found over 1 in 8 high school students are users of a tobacco product of some type, and around 4% of middle school students are, too. Separately, in Florida, the state Supreme Court issued a ruling that could make it harder to sue tobacco companies.
Finland Tops World Happiness Report List — Again — As US Rises To No. 16
Scandinavian nations topped the list, self-reported by citizens, but the U.S. moved up from 19th place to 16th. Meanwhile, new research shows infants who experience trauma (of all sorts, from war to house fires) can suffer lifelong health impacts.
Justice Clarence Thomas Hospitalized With Infection
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is improving, court officials reported, and is expected to be released soon. Meanwhile, in other public health news, officials warn about a resurgence of flu this spring and how the disturbing lack of concern among the public for the impact of the disease may portend covid’s future course.
Credit Agencies Pledge To Drop Most Medical Debt From Consumers’ Reports
The move by the three large credit reporting agencies comes after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said errors related to medical debt are common on credit reports, and consumers often have difficulty clearing up the problems. Also, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra says he is interested in finding ways to keep expanded telehealth options after the covid emergency ends.
Preparation, Not Panic: Health Officials Address Next Possible Covid Surge
With another potential covid spike on the horizon, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says the U.S. has tools in place to weather the coming months of covid ebbs and surges. And Dr. Anthony Fauci says the BA.2 omicron strain will likely become dominant but does not appear to cause more severe disease.
AstraZeneca Treatment, Vaccines Said To Be Effective Against Omicron Subvariants
AstraZeneca released lab results that shows its antibody cocktail Evusheld effectively prevents and treats against the omicron subvariants. Separate research finds that vaccine protection also held up during the omicron surge and that people who were boosted fared better than those who weren’t.
Kids’ Antibodies Start To Fade 7 Months After Covid Infections
Natural antibodies developed after childhood covid infections last for at least 7 months, according to a new study, but then decline. A different study shows that most recovering covid patients who are in comas do wake up, even after weeks of unconsciousness.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Will China’s Latest Lockdown Halt Omicron?; Scolding The Unmasked Is Ineffective
Opinion writers examine these covid related issues.
Different Takes: Changing How We View Opioid Addiction; Ideas For Safeguarding Kids’ Mental Health
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health issues.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KHN finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on mental health care, weight discrimination, senior home care, and more.
Census Data: Texas’ Uninsured Rate Is Twice National Average
According to newly released census data, while the nation’s uninsured rate fell to 8.7% in 2020 (from a figure of 15% in 2013), Texas fell badly behind the national average figure. Meanwhile, Biden admin officials met with LGBTQ+ students from Florida to talk about the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Generic Pfizer Covid Pill Will Be Made By 35 Companies
After negotiations to allow third parties to produce Pfizer’s covid pill Paxlovid, companies around the world will start manufacturing it to boost access to the drug. Separately, the vaccination rate in Africa is picking up after a slow start.
Calif. House Moves To End Health Plans’ Out-Of-Pocket Abortion Costs
California already requires insurers to cover abortion, but health plan members often must still pay for co-pays and deductibles, which can total hundreds of dollars. This would eliminate those fees. In other state abortion news, Tennessee’s Senate speaker says he won’t support legislation modeled on a Texas law that bans abortions after six weeks and allows private citizens to enforce the measure. He says it would complicate a legal case on Tennessee’s efforts to restrict abortion.
As Covid Started To Soar, US Smokers Stopped Puffing
As the respiratory virus covid-19 spread quickly around the world in 2020, U.S. cigarette smoking fell to an all-time low with just 1 in 8 adults saying they were smokers. E-cigarette use fell, too. Separately, daytime napping among older people is linked to Alzheimer’s risks by a new study.
Special Report: El Paso Police Dept. Struggles With Overdose Drug Narcan
El Paso Matters reports on the use of overdose-stopping drug Narcan, noting that El Paso Police Department officers don’t carry doses routinely, even though evidence from other police departments shows its effectiveness in saving lives. Media outlets cover other drug crisis news.
VA Watchdog Finds Serious Patient Safety Issues With EHR System
Just weeks before a scheduled rollout to a second hospital, the Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general released three reports Thursday that identify unresolved problems with the agency’s $16 billion update to its massive digital health records system. The safety issues range from medication errors to a lack of safeguards for veterans at high danger of suicide.
Cancer Diagnosis Costs A Quarter Of Patients All Their Savings
An Axios report says that half of cancer patients in the U.S. are in medical debt. In other drug pricing news, Medicare premiums are soon to decrease based on a decision over the Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm, and Ohio is targeting pharmacy benefit managers over potential illegal price hikes.
A Covid Mystery: Why Are Some People Good At Avoiding Infection?
Even though the covid virus is highly transmissible, experts believe that taking proper precautions — especially getting vaccinated — and being careful about where you socialize helps many people from getting infected with covid. Genetics may also play a role. And a radio reporter describes the unexpectedly long road to recovery.
Why Hasn’t Biden Taken Another Covid Test This Week?
President Joe Biden has not had a covid test since “last Sunday,” the White House said, despite having close calls this week with two people who have tested positive for covid. As Politico reports, the White House has been vague about whether the president is tested just once a week, or if it varies.