Latest KFF Health News Stories
In Oregon, Heat Wave Mainly Killed The Old; In General, Heat Hits The Poor
Data from Oregon’s Multnomah County shows a majority of recent heat wave victims were elderly men living alone with no central AC. And a study in the journal Earth’s Future shows extreme heat is usually worse for low-income, non-white Americans.
Oscar Health Adds Inclusive Identity Options For LGBTQ+ Community
Oscar Health’s user interface tool, called MyIdentity, now allows all members to add their first and last name, pronouns and identified gender. Meanwhile, reports in Modern Healthcare cover providers vowing to fight this year’s Medicare pay freeze.
Apple Inches Back Curtain On Health Tech In Its Walking Steadiness System
Stat reports on Apple’s upcoming system aimed at preventing falls in older people. Progeria and CRISPR, DNA source testing of E. coli, expanding gene therapy to more patients and rising numbers of Black patients in cancer clinical trials are also in the news.
Implant Reads Paralyzed Man’s Thoughts, Lets Him ‘Speak’ Again
News outlets cover a feat of medical science and machine learning, where a man who suffered a brain stem stroke that paralyzed him and left him unable to speak can now (slowly) communicate with words on computer screen merely by thinking.
Acting FDA Chief Says Agency May Have Mishandled Aduhelm Approval
Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock was emphatic in her defense of the drug, and the Food and Drug Administration’s approval, but admitted possible poor handling during the process. Separately, reports say some outlets won’t administer Aduhelm.
Undervaccinated Areas Fall Behind In ‘Race Against Time’ To Halt Delta
While 47 states report week-over-week increases in new covid cases, the hardest-hit regions are primarily — wait for it — ones with low vaccination rates. The schism between vaccinated and unvaccinated Americans is also on display in hospitalizations. Meanwhile, nursing homes are again reporting spikes again.
Some Republicans Swing Pro-Vax, But Anti-Vaxxer Rhetoric Is Rising
According to The New York Times, some elected Republicans are feeling pressure from health advocates and are speaking out to boost vaccinations. But The Hill reports on a rise in anti-vaccination rhetoric among other elected officials and the right-wing media.
Schumer Releases Bill To Decriminalize Pot; Viewed As A Long Shot
The proposed legislation would legalize marijuana, treating the drug like alcohol or tobacco. It would also expunge related federal sentences. Despite the clout of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the measure faces a long road in Congress. And the White House is not backing it.
Democrats Float Drug-Pricing Changes To Help Pay For Massive Budget Bill
President Joe Biden met with Senate Democrats yesterday to rally support for the recently announced deal on a $3.5 trillion spending package that aims to boost the nation’s so-called human infrastructure. News outlets dive into details of the draft plan, which includes drug-pricing policies to offset costs and expands Medicare to include dental, vision and hearing coverage.
Biden Administration Walks Back Stricter Safety Rules For Public Housing
NBC reports that the original HUD proposal, released in July 2020, required at least one fire extinguisher per floor, calling it a “life-threatening issue.” The agency has since eliminated the requirement and will only consider fire extinguishers to be missing if there is “evidence of prior installation,” such as a bracket on the wall.
‘Staggering Loss’: Drug Overdose Deaths Hit Record 93,000 Last Year
Compounded by the covid pandemic, America’s drug epidemic killed more people in 2020 than any other year, with deaths jumping nearly 30% over the previous year. Public health experts call the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “historic,” “unprecedented” and “a complete shame.”
ACA Special Enrollment Signups Top 2 Million: HHS
Total enrollment has reached all-time highs since the Biden administration reopened the Affordable Care Act marketplaces on Feb. 15. About 1.2 million enrolled through healthcare.gov while 600,000 signed up on state exchanges.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers tackle covid-19 and the coronavirus vaccine.
Pharmaceutical Industry Sees Pros, Cons Of Biden’s New Executive Order
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Perspectives: Congress Needs To Get Serious, Make Competition A Priority
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Arlington, Virginia Is America’s Fittest City — And Oklahoma City The Least
It’s the fourth straight win for Arlington in the annual American Fitness Index from the American College of Sports and Medicine and the Anthem Foundation. Separately, critics oppose a $641 million settlement over the lead water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
French President’s Push Gets 1 Million To Rush For Vaccines
After President Emmanuel Macron urged immediate vaccination to save the summer vacation season and economy, over 1 million people booked shots in less than a day. Meanwhile, London’s mayor says masks will remain mandatory on public transport after unlocking.
Purdue Bankruptcy Opposed By West Virginia Over Settlement Cash
The state’s attorney general said he’d oppose a plan for Purdue Pharma to enter bankruptcy because it might lead to lower settlement payments from the opioid crisis. Meanwhile, Maine’s governor will host another summit about the epidemic.
17 Million Gallons Of Sewage Spilled Into California Bay; Public Alerted Late
The untreated sewage was discharged into the ocean off Los Angeles’ beaches, but officials waited hours before warning the public not to swim in affected water. Texas’ cold wave, wildfire smoke and toxins from fireworks are also in the news.