Latest KFF Health News Stories
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 covid, aspirin, the health care supply chain, home DNA tests and more.
Research Roundup: Covid; End-Of-Life Care; Endometriosis; Pneumonia; More
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
States Warn Parents To Check For THC Candy In Trick-Or-Treat Bags
Some marijuana edibles can easily pass as regular candy, several attorneys general warned. Meanwhile, a human case of West Nile virus has been detected in Vermont for the first time since 2017. Mental health, racism in health care, medical marijuana in Florida and more are also reported.
Other Nations Get OK To Produce Merck’s Covid Treatment Pill
Merck agreed to license its covid treatment molnupiravir for production by third-party drugmakers so that it can be accessed more easily in 105 low- and middle-income countries. Separately, Novavax has applied for U.K. authorization of its covid vaccine, the first protein-based shot in Europe.
Gene Therapies Given Boost In NIH-FDA Partnership, New Aetna Network
Aetna’s Gene-based Cellular and Other Innovative Therapies network is aimed at curbing million-dollar costs of the gene therapy market. Separately, the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration launched a public-private partnership to speed up gene treatments.
Justice Dept., Others Warn Texas’ Abortion Law Is Constitutional Threat
News outlets cover fresh moves in the legal battle over Texas’ strict abortion law, including warnings that the model the state used to make the law work could spread to other states, and threaten other constitutional rights too. Abortion news also comes from Oregon and Ohio.
First American Passport With No Gender-Identity Marker Issued
The passport has an “X” for its gender section, indicating the passport-bearer does not identify their gender in line with binary male/female types. Fast food from Domino’s, McDonald’s and other outlets has been shown to contain plastic phthalate contaminants, which have been linked to health issues.
UnitedHealthcare Accuses Emergency Care Provider TeamHealth Of Fraud
TeamHealth is accused of tricking the health insurer into paying over $100 million in fraudulent claims. Among other corporate health care news, St. Francis-Emory Hospital in Columbus, Georgia, is getting a new owner, and Kosair Charities gifted $6.4 million to a children’s spinal injury program.
Biden Tries To Seal Spending Deal With Paid Family Leave On Chopping Block
After meeting with House Democrats on Thursday morning, President Joe Biden is expected to outline a new framework for the social spending bill. Whether health measures like paid family leave and Medicare expansion will make the cut — and if progressives can support the plan drastically scaled back to satisfy two Senate moderates — is still a big unknown.
21 GOP Attorneys General Pressure Biden To Halt Vaccination Mandate
Meanwhile, the White House indicated it might be more flexible in enforcing the requirements for federal workers. In other news, New Orleans lifts its requirement for wearing masks in public spaces.
Judge Refuses Mandate Block Request, So NYC Cops Must Get Covid Shot
State Supreme Court Judge Lizette Colon denied a request from New York City’s largest police union to block Mayor Bill de Blasio’s mandate that all municipal workers get at least one covid shot by Monday. Meanwhile, the head of the city’s firefighter union said members should defy the mandate.
People With Mood Disorders Eligible For Booster With CDC High-Risk Designation
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added mental illnesses to the list of health conditions that can put a person at risk for developing severe covid. That classification makes millions of Americans eligible to get a booster shot, under federal guidelines.
Survey Says Most Parents Reluctant Over Young Kids’ Shots, Despite Crisis
News outlets cover states’ preparations for the next stage of combatting covid — shots for children ages 5 to 11 — but a new survey shows that a majority of parents are reluctant to give their children the vaccine, at least at first. Dr. Anthony Fauci is quoted as saying he’d give kids shots “in a second.”
Breast Implant Risks Must Be Better Detailed To Patients, FDA Orders
The Food and Drug Administration finalized new regulations that include “black box” warnings on implant packaging and that plastic surgeons must run patients through a checklist of possible complications, including scarring, pain, rupture and a rare form of cancer.
Widely Accessible Antidepressant May Cut Danger Of Developing Severe Covid
Results from a clinical trial in Brazil indicate that fluvoxamine — a low-cost antidepressant that is commonly available in many countries — reduces the chances of hospitalization in patients with covid-19.
Memo Reveals Covid Tore Like A Fire Through Meat-Packing Plants
Through January 2021, at least 59,000 workers were infected with covid and 269 workers died at Tyson Foods, JBS USA, Cargill, National Beef and Smithfield Foods. Those figures are three times higher than previously thought.
Editorial writers delve into these public health issues.
Different Takes: Is Delta On Its Way Out?; Examining Hybrid Immunity
Opinion writers weigh in on delta and hybrid immunity.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: Why Getting Rid Of Old Prescriptions Is A Critical Part Of Fighting Drug Addiction
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.