Latest KFF Health News Stories
Biden Picks Nominees For Drug Czar, USAID Jobs
As a former top health official in West Virginia, Dr. Rahul Gupta has a lot of experience dealing with the opioid epidemic — a top issues facing the nation’s next head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Separately, President Joe Biden is expected to nominate Atul Gawande as assistant administrator of USAID’s Bureau for Global Health.
CDC Advisory Panel To Discuss Vaccine Safety, Guillain-Barré Syndrome
The announcement came a day after federal regulators added a warning to Johnson & Johnson’s covid vaccine about a link to the rare syndrome. Other reports say the CDC is also “keenly interested” in whether vaccine boosters have a higher risk of side effects.
Montana’s Home Care Workers Push For Higher Pay Rates
The Billings Gazette reports Montana’s home health workers earn $10.77 an hour, below the $12 national average. Meanwhile, a new study highlights the gender pay gaps for internal medicine specialists, with women paid 90% of men’s median annual salary.
Norwegian, Carnival Cruise Lines Fight For Right To Keep Ships Healthy
Norwegian is suing Florida’s surgeon general over the state’s ban on vaccine passports; Carnival is requiring unvaccinated passengers to buy travel insurance, which will increase the price of a cruise by up to $200 per person.
Tennessee No Longer Encouraging Vaccines Of Any Kind For Minors
The state Department of Health is stopping all of its vaccine outreach, not just for covid-19 vaccines, internal documents show, amid pressure from Republican state lawmakers. The decision comes directly from Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey, the internal report states.
Where Is Covid Again Taking Root? Follow The Ventilators And Traveling Nurses
Exhausted public officials and health workers in states like Missouri, Arkansas, Georgia, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming and California are regrouping to treat a surge of new covid patients.
Clarence Thomas Upholds Federal Mask Mandate For Public Transit
The Supreme Court justice rejected a “long shot” case from a man who argued his generalized anxiety disorder prevented him wearing a mask. Separately, the largest union of registered nurses asked the CDC to again recommend that everyone wear masks in public.
Worries For Kids Heighten As Delta Spreads; 7 Mississippi Kids In ICU
Mississippi’s health officer said Tuesday that two of seven hospitalized children were on ventilators. He urged all people 12 and older to get vaccinated — a message being repeated by public officials across the nation as the highly transmissible delta variant drives up new U.S. covid cases.
Covid Trend Line Quickly Curving Up: New Cases Double In Just 3 Weeks
Stagnating vaccination rates, the domination of the delta variant and summer festivities are blamed for the troubling trend. Increasing hospitalizations are following, with some facilities in hot spots already struggling.
Senate Democrats Agree On $3.5T Spending Deal That Would Boost Medicare
If it passes — a huge if, since it is entwined with the companion infrastructure package and depends on Democrats remaining unified — the reconciliation package would expand dental, vision and hearing coverage for seniors. The budget also includes many other measures aimed at improving so-called “human infrastructure.”
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: Anti-Vaxxers, Unusual Covid Cases, Childbirth Complications, Vaping
Editorial writers take on these various public health topics.
Medicare Examines Whether To Cover Pricey Alzheimer’s Drug Aduhelm
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services doesn’t expect to make a final decision on the $56,000-a-year drug until next year. And some Democratic lawmakers want to review the FDA’s controversial approval process for the treatment.
France, Greece Mandate Covid Vaccines For Health Care Workers
As Europe struggles with covid hotspots related to the delta variant, two nations are requiring all health care workers to be vaccinated. France boosted restrictions for non-vaccinated citizens, prompting a rush to get shots. Germany, Turkey and Israel are also in the news.
Decision On Remedial Plan For Mississippi Mental Health System Near
Meanwhile, North Carolina has a bipartisan bill to make medical marijuana legal with limits; California’s new covid rules in schools stoke controversy; a lawsuit alleges that pesticides led to brain damage in kids; and more.
Covid Deepens Inequality, As Global Hunger Rises To 768 Million People
The new data on food insecurity came from the United Nations on Monday. Meanwhile, Biden administration monthly payments are set to begin heading to families with children and California plans a new $100 billion recovery plan that includes rent relief.
Pandemic Era Telehealth Boom Reined-In By States, Insurers
Stat reports that though telehealth is here to stay, some state-issued emergency rules and insurer policies that were applied during the pandemic are being rolled back. The Houston Chronicle reports on calls for tech to also enable more in-person care.
Medicine, Vaccine Access Impacted By Biden Executive Order
Stat News reports on President Joe Biden’s little-noticed move related to “march-in rights.” Meanwhile, hospital groups raise concerns about another just-released order. And the federal government faces a challenge in keeping up with China on scientific research.
WHO Advises Against Unscrupulous Human Gene Editing Experiments
The World Health Organization has moved to curb experiments that might result in the birth of more gene-edited humans. An advisory panel released new standards, and urged the WHO to stand by a 2019 statement from its director-general to halt dangerous experiments.
Clorox Partnered With Two Health Nonprofits During The Pandemic
Undark reports on the “curious union” between surface disinfectant maker Clorox and Cleveland Clinic and the CDC Foundation. Other reports note the gender disparity in getting a vaccine and dying from covid, and a study showing vaccines protect at-risk patients.