Latest KFF Health News Stories
CDC Adjusts Lead Poisoning Criteria For Young Kids; Numbers May Double
AP reports on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention moves to lower cutoff measures for lead poisoning in children, which may more than double the number of kids ages 1 to 5 counted as having high levels of the toxin in their blood. News outlets also cover cancer drugs from Merck and Rafael.
Doctors In Georgia Accused Of Spreading Covid Misinformation
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports health care practitioners in Georgia have been accused of spreading misinformation about covid, vaccines and unapproved treatments like ivermectin. Separately, you’re 18 times more likely to die of covid in Wisconsin if unvaccinated.
Louisiana Abortion Law For Minors Challenged; Ohio Senate Passes Doctor Restrictions
News outlets report on the latest state abortion law developments and look ahead to what the U.S. landscape would look like if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Meanwhile, against the backdrop of an escalating abortion debate, President Joe Biden meets with Pope Francis.
UnitedHealthcare Will Offer Its Plans On 7 More States’ ACA Exchanges
It’s coming to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan and Texas.
Military Vax Mandate Holdouts May Get More Time; DC Court Halts Terminations
Roll Call reports that military officials may be reversing plans to immediately fire unvaccinated troops once deadlines pass. Separately, a district court judge issued a temporary restraining order Thursday that prevents both civilian and active-duty military plaintiffs from being terminated after they sued the Biden administration over religious exemptions to covid-19 vaccines.
Florida Sues Biden Over Vaccine Mandate; Other States Move To Thwart Rules
Florida is challenging the federal vaccine mandate for government contractors in court. In Missouri, Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, issued an executive order targeting federal covid vaccine mandates. In Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds, a Republican, plans to sign a bill protecting exemptions. In Tennessee, Republican lawmakers plan to limit mask rules and vaccine passports.
Being Over 12 And Unvaxxed May Get You Dropped From School In Oakland
The district’s Board of Education approved plans that say children over 12 still unvaccinated in January will be transferred to independent study schools or dropped from public school enrollment. News outlets report on other matters relating to children and covid, including the rollout of vaccines.
All Drug Pricing Measures Dropped From Latest Spending Bill Framework
In a big win for the pharmaceutical lobby, the White House is abandoning all proposals aimed at lowering prescription drug costs in the scaled back social spending bill framework unveiled Thursday. Additional Medicare and paid family leave measures were also eliminated, while some Medicaid changes made the cut.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
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.