Latest KFF Health News Stories
Mozart Sonata Helps Treat Epilepsy; Pufferfish Toxin May Help Lazy Eye
A study revives some older ideas about the therapeutic benefits of Mozart’s music, this time as a potential aid for epilepsy sufferers. A separate study suggests the chemistry of pufferfish nerve toxin could help treat the visual impairment from amblyopia–also called lazy eye.
White House Takes Heat Over Law On Payoffs For Sickened Nuclear Workers
The AP reports on pushback over Biden administration efforts to challenge a law which made it easier for workers who fell ill at a former nuclear weapons factory to get compensation. Meanwhile, Texas officials and residents are resisting a plan to build a nuclear waste site in the state.
Inmate Deaths, Medical Care Shortages Reported In Rikers Island Jail Chaos
News outlets report on what some have called an “absolute humanitarian crisis” at the Rikers Island Jail complex near New York City. Also: food contamination in Houston markets, recovering Louisiana hospitals, female genital mutilation, a police shooting during a mental health crisis, and more.
DOJ Appeals Settlement That Would Shield Sacklers From Opioid Liability
Deeming it “unlawful,” a watchdog within the Department of Justice moved to block a bankruptcy deal that includes protections for Purdue Pharma from future lawsuits over its role in the opioid epidemic.
Texas Cancer Clinic Forced To Shut Down IT Systems In Cyberattack
Around 36,000 patients may have been victims of a data breach at Austin Cancer Centers. Non-covid health visits, uninsured dentistry patients, an Intermountain/SCL merger, high-tech voice assistants in clinical care and Baltimore’s health commissioner are also in the news.
Public Health Order Can’t Be Used To Expel Migrant Families, Judge Rules
A federal judge tells the Biden administration that it has two weeks to halt the practice of expelling migrants with children apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border under the public health edict, known as Title 42.
Gov. Beshear Says Anti-Mask Kentucky School Leaders ‘Endangering Children’
Meanwhile, in Oregon, 900 students and staff were quarantined after four covid cases hit one high school. In Oklahoma, reports say schools can opt into a program for free in-school covid testing, and in California, the declining number of pediatric covid cases coincided with school openings.
House Democrats Aim To Boost Aid For Unemployed In Spending Package
House Democrats, led by Cori Bush and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have been leading the effort to improve unemployment aid, saying the system particularly impacts Black and brown communities. Separately, California is at risk of losing out on hundreds of millions of dollars of rental aid.
As Covid Misinformation Spreads, Pelosi Calls GOP A ‘Cult’
Webster’s Dictionary defines “cult” as “great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement or work.”
DeSantis Pledges To Fight Biden’s Redistribution Of Antibody Treatments
As the federal government seeks to even out distribution of monoclonal antibody treatments for covid, allotments to some states, like Florida, will be cut. Other states are reporting imminent shortages under the federal shift.
A Covid Vaccine Denier Won A Seat On An Idaho Regional Health Board
Meanwhile, a poll shows that the number of vaccine-hesitant Kentuckians has fallen since March. News outlets also cover efforts to reach the unvaccinated, fake covid vaccine cards, and evidence proving no link between covid vaccines and risk of damaging fertility.
FDA Vaccine Advisers OK Pfizer Booster For People Over 65 But Reject For Rest
Who needs a third shot of Pfizer’s covid vaccine was debated by the influential Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee during today’s open session. While the FDA does not have to follow the panel’s recommendations, the meeting is expected to largely shape future American booster policy.
Death Toll Climbs In South, Midwest As US Nears Milestone Of 1918 Pandemic
The 1918 flu pandemic killed 675,000 people. The U.S. is on pace to reach that many covid deaths by early next week, according to The Washington Post.
12-Year-Old’s Appendix Burst While Waiting In A Covid-Overwhelmed ER
ProPublica covers the terrifying situation that happened in a crowded Florida emergency room. Meanwhile, a Texas children’s hospital is postponing all elective surgeries due to a covid surge, Oregon hospitals delay cancer care, and other facilities report being overwhelmed due to covid.
Viewpoints: Kids Struggling With Mental Health Need Schools’ Help; HPV Vaccination Rates Have Fallen
Editorial writers delve into these public health topics.
Judge Denies Justice Department Bid To Expedite Texas Abortion Law Challenge
The Justice Department’s motion for the restrictive law to be temporarily suspended while the case is litigated will be heard as scheduled on Oct. 1, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman decided.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers tackle these covid and vaccine issues.
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health issues.