Latest KFF Health News Stories
Case Numbers In Nursing Homes See 40% Increase
Shortage of PPE and staff are impacting many care facilities, as well as staff who unknowingly transport the virus in parts of the country where spread is accelerating.
Data Breaches Fewer Than September’s High, But Nearly 60 Reported
Hacking and IT incidents accounted for 70% of the events, according to Modern Healthcare. News is on United Healthcare, a health information exchange and more.
Mental Health-Related Emergencies Increase 31% For Teens
The CDC analyzed data from 47 states and noted that visits for girls were higher. Other public health news is on online shopping, testing, prostate cancer, Thanksgiving gatherings and more.
Ivy League Cancels Winter Sports; Cruise Ship Reports More Positive Tests
In other sports and recreational news: Hawaiian Airlines will let you swap miles for COVID test kits; 80% of Japanese people think the Tokyo Olympics shouldn’t be held at all; and more.
Drugs For Multiple Sclerosis And OCD Studied As Possible COVID Treatments
Both may help prevent patients from getting worse. In other news: The Trump administration has reached a deal with pharmacies across the nation to distribute a coronavirus vaccine for free; Pfizer says vaccine volunteers who received a placebo will eventually receive the real vaccine; and more.
California Approves Ballot Measure on Stem-Cell Research
Following Thursday’s vote count update, Proposition 14 had a 325,000-vote lead and 51% of the votes. It was the narrowest margin of victory for any of this year’s 12 ballot questions, AP reports.
‘AARF’ Bill Aims To Prevent Use Of Dogs In Pharmaceutical Research
In certain cases, the FDA won’t allow companies to pursue alternatives that do not require animal testing. The bill, known as the Alternatives to Animals for Regulatory Fairness Act, or AARF, would change that.
Biden Team Says Transition Delays Hurt Efforts To Battle Virus Surge
Democrats allege that the Trump administration is endangering lives by denying President-elect Joe Biden access to transition resources needed to put his coronavirus response plan in place.
Alito Calls Pandemic ‘Constitutional Stress Test’ In Provocative Speech
“The pandemic has resulted in previously unimaginable restrictions on individual liberty,” Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said during remarks to the Federalist Society in which he also discussed religious freedom and gay rights.
More States Add Restrictions As COVID Cases Shoot Past 160,000 In One Day
Daily infections have nearly doubled in less than three weeks. Some city and state governments are scrambling to combat the out-of-control increase, shuttering schools and reimposing other restrictions. The rapid deterioration “should frighten all of us,” a health care system CEO told the AP.
Trump Absent From Coronavirus Fight At Emergency’s Worst Moment Yet
Since the election results he disputes, President Donald Trump has remained silent about the alarming virus surge and taken no new actions to combat it.
Testing, ICU Beds And Health Workers Are Once Again In Short Supply
Months into the pandemic, there are worries that the U.S. health care system still does not have the capacity to test and care for the latest flood of coronavirus patients.
Prayers and Grief Counseling After COVID: Trying to Aid Healing in Long-Term Care
With employees emotionally drained and residents suffering from loss, many nursing homes and assisted living centers are working with chaplains, social workers and mental health professionals to help people deal with the effects of the coronavirus.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Black Hair Matters: How Going Natural Made Me Visible
How do we as Black people protect ourselves from racism? In our household, my decision to let my hair go natural forced my father and me to have a conversation about personal safety, the police and my desire to feel free. He viewed my permed hair and weave as a protective shield that increased my chances of making it home safely. But, in reality, my haircut — long or short — can’t protect me from racism.
‘Breakthrough Finding’ Reveals Why Certain COVID Patients Die
Scientists have found that some people have antibodies against parts of their own immune system, allowing viruses to multiply rapidly.
KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Stanford vs. Harvard: Two Famous Biz Schools’ Opposing Tactics on COVID
While the Harvard Business School gently chided returnees to be on their best behavior, Stanford deployed green-vested enforcers and campus police who sometimes threatened students if they violated the rules. Both, apparently, succeeded.
Clots, Strokes and Rashes: Is COVID a Disease of the Blood Vessels?
COVID-19 can cause symptoms that go well beyond the lungs, from strokes to organ failure. To explain these widespread injuries, researchers are studying how the virus affects the vascular system.
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Transition Interrupted
Former Vice President Joe Biden is now the president-elect nearly everywhere but inside the Trump administration, where the president refuses to concede and has ordered officials not to begin a formal transition. That is a particular problem for health care as the COVID-19 pandemic surges. Meanwhile, there’s good news on the vaccine front, but it’s unlikely one will arrive by winter. And the ACA was back before the Supreme Court — again. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal and Shefali Luthra of the 19th News join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health stories of the week they think you should read, too.