Latest KFF Health News Stories
Different Takes: Public Needs More Trust In Drug Companies; Examining The Future of SB 8
Editorial pages weigh in on pharmaceutical companies, advanced practice providers and SB 8.
Industry Groups Push For Extensions To Pandemic Telehealth Provision
More than 230 organizations are seeking support from state governors to extend state medical licenses given to boost telehealth operations during the pandemic, since covid hasn’t faded yet. Hospital operating margin drops, the future of out-of-hospital care and more are also in the news.
Syphilis, Previously Nearly Eradicated In The US, Is Reported Surging Back
ProPublica reports on a dramatic resurgence of syphilis, saying it’s a sign of funding failures in public health. Separately, a report says screen time among teens doubled to nearly eight hours per day during the pandemic. And the salmonella outbreak tied to onions has now hit over 800 people.
Trial Begins Over Basic Health Care Provisions For Arizona Prisoners
Media outlets cover the beginning of a “landmark” trial over allegations of poor provision of health care in Arizona’s privatized prisons. Separately, reports say U.S. prisons are facing a staff crisis as people quit during the pandemic, and in Aroostook County, naloxone is being given to released prisoners.
Judge Rejects California Bid To Hold Drugmakers Liable For Opioid Crisis
Bucking trends in other legal cases, Superior Court Judge Peter Wilson issued a tentative ruling that could free four major pharmaceutical companies from legal responsibility for the painkiller addiction epidemic in parts of California.
Manchin Wants To Pump Brakes On Spending Bill; Dems Say They’ll Keep Moving
Democratic leaders plan to continue pushing forward with the intertwined social spending and infrastructure packages, despite the latest call to slow down from Sen. Joe Manchin.
Judge Ditches Dec. 31 Shots Deadline For Vaccine-Refusing Chicago Police
Cook County Judge Raymond Mitchell did not excuse the police officers who were unvaccinated from twice-weekly testing, however, and pointed out that covid has killed many officers across the U.S. In other news, 9,000 New York City workers are on unpaid leave for refusing to get vaccinated.
Feds To Mandate Shots, Paid Time Off, Sick Leave For Large-Company Workers
News organizations report on upcoming covid vax mandates from the federal government for companies with at least 100 workers. Paid time off to get shots plus sick leave during recovery are part of the package. Vaccine refusal in the military is also in the news.
Despite Turmoil Of 2020, Number Of Uninsured Stayed About The Same
The figures, which were released ahead of the start of open enrollment in the federal health insurance marketplaces, did show that uninsured rates are higher in states that haven’t expanded Medicaid, Axios reported.
Supreme Court Justices Question Unique Provisions Of Texas Abortion Law
The Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in cases related to Texas’ near-total abortion ban. The justices’ questions hinted that they may be inclined to allow abortion providers to challenge the state law in court, but are more skeptical about the Justice Department’s standing.
CDC Says Covid Immunity From Shots, Infections Lasts At Least 6 Months
But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that immunity given by vaccines is more consistent than from an infection, and shots give a “huge boost” of antibodies in people who previously had covid. Separately, a study says three Pfizer shots are 92% more effective than just two.
With Shots Already Being Boxed Up, CDC Expected To OK Covid Vax For Children
Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are meeting today to discuss approving Pfizer-BioNTech’s covid vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, after the FDA’s approval last week. Media outlets cover how the shots will close the Hispanic vaccine gap, plus other matters.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers weigh in on these covid issues.
Different Takes: Examining Racial Bias In eGFR Testing; Could We See The End Of Roe?
Editorial writers tackle these various public health topics.
Though Cigarette Sales Surged With Pandemic, They’re Reported Down Now
A report covered by Fox News says that although U.S. cigarette sales were slightly up for the first time in 20 years during the pandemic, total industry purchases fell 6.5% in the last quarter from 2020’s figures. Separately, reports link Western diet with cognitive decline in a mice-based study.
Unvaxxed Foreign Children Exempt From 7-Day Quarantine, CDC Says
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an amended order to explain the rules after concerns were raised about incoming foreign visitors. In South Africa, an oral covid vaccine from U.S.-listed company Oramed has been given permission for clinical trials on patients.
Understaffing Worries In Georgia Psych Units; Mainers Have ‘Climate Anxiety’
Georgia Health News reports on concerns over patients left “in limbo” for days in an ER because of staffing shortages at state psychiatric units. In Maine, therapists are reporting that more locals have climate-based mental health issues. In Montana, students report the highest-ever depression rates.
Wanted: Used Crutches, Walkers And Canes As Supply Chain Shortages Grow
In Utah, South Carolina, Kentucky and elsewhere, hospitals are requesting donations of gently used medical equipment.
Judge Rules Govt. Wrong For Trying To Force Drugmakers To Discount Prices
The U.S. government had warned a list of manufacturers, including Eli Lilly, that they would be breaking the law by ending discounts to a program sending drugs to facilities in mainly low-income areas — but this was deemed wrong by a federal court judge. CVS, PBMs, Purdue, Aduhelm and Biomet are also in the news.