Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: 340B Issue An Unneeded Distraction For Safety-Net Hospitals
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Alzheimer’s Drug Could Potentially Cost More Than NASA’s Entire Budget
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Different Takes: UC Partnership Will Inhibit Patient Care; Exciting New Cancer-Treatments Announced
Editorial writers tackle these public health issues.
Cuban-Developed Vaccine More Than 92% Effective Against Covid
The Abdala vaccine needs three shots for a complete course, but in last-stage clinical trials it proved 92.28% effective. In other news, Colombia’s covid death toll passes 100,000; Europe worries as delta variant spreads; and North Korea reports it has found no covid cases.
Popular Sepsis-Predicting Algorithm Not As Accurate As Touted, Study Finds
It was advertised as 80% accurate, but the study shows an overall accuracy of about 63%. In other news, cancer-causing toxins may have spread further underground than thought in Indiana; emotions are linked to improved heart health in people with obesity; and “Friends” star James Michael Tyler has revealed he has stage four prostate cancer.
Texas Law Adds Protections Before Charging Parents With Child Abuse
In cases of suspected child abuse, Texan authorities will have to consider additional medical opinions to avoid situations where flawed medical advice spurs legal moves. Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a bill requiring dating violence-prevention lessons in schools.
Biden Addresses Racial Disparity From Sentencing Over Crack, Powder Cocaine
Sentencing disparities over crack and powder cocaine offenses had hit people of color disproportionately. In other news, the Department of Health and Human Services withdrew a drug discount advisory, and a new study shows which state lacks pharmacists the most.
Who Pays For New Alzheimer’s Drug? Medicare’s Own Demo Might Tell Us
Experts are backing an idea to test cost and treatment implications of prescribing Aduhelm through a payment pilot under the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. Separately, an FDA advisor who recently resigned over the drug said there’s “no good evidence” it works.
Supreme Court Deals Blow To Insurers’ Claims For ACA Loss Reimbursement
A group of health insurers had asked the high court to reverse a lower-court ruling only permitting them to recoup a portion of the money they say they’re owed by the government. In other news, Wisconsin’s health systems have filed thousands of lawsuits over unpaid medical bills.
Bishops’ Abortion-Related Communion Vote Fuels Charges Of Politics, Hypocrisy
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki declined to take a position on the recent vote by U.S. Catholic Bishops to deny communion to politicians who support abortion rights, saying President Joe Biden does not view his faith “through a political prism.” Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) spoke out though, calling the bishops “hypocrites” who selectively ignored other political positions.
‘Deeply Alarming’: Military Suicides Far Outpace Combat Deaths Since 9/11
A new report reveals that 30,177 U.S. service members and veterans have died by suicide since 9/11 — four times more than were killed in combat situations. “The increasing rates of suicide for both veterans and active duty personnel are outpacing those of the general population, marking a significant shift,” the report reads. News outlets look at ongoing efforts to reverse the trend.
Medicaid Enrollment Rises To Historic Mark Of 80 Million During Pandemic
Nearly 10 million new people enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program from February 2020 to January 2021.
Deaths Among Medicare Patients In Nursing Homes Jumped 32% Last Year
The report from the HHS inspector general found that about 4 in 10 Medicare recipients in nursing homes had or likely had covid in 2020, and that deaths overall jumped by 169,291 from the previous year, before the coronavirus appeared.
No Shortage Of Work For Moderna
The company has announced it is adding two new production lines at its plant near Boston to tackle production of covid booster shots. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense has ordered 200 million more of its shots, while the E.U. has ordered another 150 million.
“… And Many More!” — Covid Outbreaks Linked To Birthday Parties
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine said households were 31% more likely to test positive for covid within two weeks of someone having held a birthday party. Separately, news outlets report on new hotspots and the fast spread of the delta variant.
MIS-C May Also Be Possible In Adults
A case involving a Canadian man suggests that the multisystem inflammatory syndrome might not be limited to children. Other covid research is on brain function, survivors’ guilt, the “best” way to get immunity from the virus and more.
US Covid Deaths Fall Below 300 A Day For First Time In More Than A Year
And the nation hit another encouraging milestone Monday as 150 million Americans were fully vaccinated. First lady Jill Biden is headed to Nashville today to encourage more people to get the jab.
Michigan Reopens After 15 Months And The Worst Springtime Covid Surge
Meanwhile, the largest union federation, the AFL-CIO, is facing a labor complaint from its own staff over a return-to-work policy compelling office attendance. Amazon’s covid worker safety battle, hospitals requiring staff vaccinations and more are also in the news.
US Vaccine Donations To Fall Short Of 55M June Target; No AstraZeneca Shots
The Biden administration provided more details into its plan for sharing covid vaccine doses with other countries. Logistical challenges in recipient nations and problems at an AstraZeneca production plant mean the next June tranche will be smaller than planned.