Latest KFF Health News Stories
AstraZeneca Vaccine Trial Resumes In UK After Weeklong Pause
The company is working with health authorities to determine if a trial in the U.S. and in other places can resume, as well.
Trump’s New Executive Order Could Cut How Much Medicare Pays For Drugs
President Donald Trump’s latest drug pricing executive order calls for Medicare to test a “most favored nations” pricing scheme for prescription drugs bought by Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D. The pharmaceutical industry strongly opposes the plan.
Trump HHS Appointees Reportedly Tried To Water Down CDC’s COVID Scientific Reports
Emails obtained by Politico show that throughout the summer the politically appointed HHS spokesperson and his team demanded the right to review and revise language in CDC’s scientific reports to health professionals that could undermine President Donald Trump’s messaging about the pandemic.
Aides Defend Trump As Book Revelations Shake Campaign, Public Views
White House officials try to control the damage from President Donald Trump’s recorded interviews for Bob Woodward’s new book, which reveal he was aware of the severity COVID-19 in early the months but didn’t tell the public. Health and science experts voice their alarm over the president’s actions.
Firefighters Exhausted, More People Flee As Winds Fuel Deadly Wildfires
California, Oregon and Washington battle raging fires that are burning huge stretches of those states, forcing more residents to evacuate to hotels and other shelters. President Donald Trump will survey the damage in California today.
West Faces ‘Airpocalypse’ As Smoke Makes It Hazardous To Breathe
Air quality in the West plummets as smoke filled with ash and burning chemicals pollutes the region creating dangerous health risks for many residents even living far beyond the immediate fire zones.
‘We Are All Paying The Price’: Global Leaders Did Not Heed Pandemic Warnings
An international panel finds that world leaders had “been so clearly forewarned of the dangers of a devastating pandemic” but failed to take adequate action. Meanwhile, global cases surge to another record mark.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
‘Terrible Role-Modeling’: California Lawmakers Flout Pandemic Etiquette
As California workers and schoolchildren struggled to work from home, state lawmakers met in person. And as their legislative session came to a close in late August, they broke COVID rules: They huddled, let their masks slip below their noses, removed their masks to drink coffee — and required a new mom to vote in person while toting her hungry newborn.
Readers and Tweeters Grapple With COVID Therapies and Forecasts
Kaiser Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
With No Legal Guardrails for Patients, Ambulances Drive Surprise Medical Billing
Studies show that at least half of ground ambulance rides across the nation leave patients with “surprise” medical bills. And a $300-a-mile ride is not unusual. Yet federal legislation to stem what’s known as balance billing has largely ignored ambulance costs.
Different Takes: Doubts About Vaccines; Inequities Among Vulnerable Kids; Non-Maskers
Editorial pages focus on these public health issues and others.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KHN finds longer stories for you to sit back and enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on the human brain, PPE, ventilation, the heart, dieting, palliative care, MTV and more.
Viewpoints: Is Woodward’s ‘Rage’ Revelatory About Trump’s Incompetence Or Just More Nonsense?
Editorial pages express views about President Trump’s handling of the pandemic as described in Bob Woodward’s new book “Rage’.
Perspectives: Public Health Toll Of Wildfires, Hurricanes, Climate Change And COVID
Opinion pages focus on public health issues emerging from the wildfires in the West and hurricane season — during a pandemic.
Researchers Find Early Hints Of Virus In California
Some patients were complaining of coughs and respiratory problems as early as December, but the study says those reports do not prove that the coronavirus arrived that early.
How The World Is Faring: Guatemala To Reopen Borders
Developments in the global pandemic are also reported out of Peru, the United Kingdom, the Philippines and elsewhere.
Schools Defy Orders On In-Person Schooling And COVID Reporting
In Des Moines, Iowa, teachers find themselves in a battle that “kind of feels like science versus politics,” schools superintendent Thomas Ahart said. And in Florida, some school districts are still reporting virus statistics despite the state health department trying to stop the effort.
Multiple Jobs: Workers From Nursing Homes Likely To Be Spreaders
Public health news is on safer gyms, costly COVID tests, missed lead tests, anti-vax Facebook messages and fear of the COVID vaccine prior to the election, as well.
Suicide Prevention Starts With Recognizing Risks
On World Suicide Prevention Day, CNN looks at how to address a mental health issue leading to 800,000 deaths a year. Public health news is on addiction medicines, safe drinking water and football during COVID, as well.