Latest KFF Health News Stories
Insurer Investigating After $10,984 Bill For COVID Antibody Test
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
How The States Are Faring: Halloween Ban, High-Risk Residents
News from California, the District of Columbia, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Hawaii, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts.
England To Reduce Size Of Gatherings To 6 As Cases Sharply Increase
Global news is from England, Italy, Jordan, Denmark, Sweden, France, Japan, and Switzerland.
Salt Lake City Police Shoot Autistic Boy, 13, During Outburst At His Home
The teen’s mom, Golda Barton, had called 911 in an effort to have her son hospitalized for help during a “mental crisis.” Instead, a police officer repeatedly shot the boy after he ran away. He’s now in serious condition with injuries to his intestines, bladder, shoulder and ankles.
Mask Threat: Another Passenger Is Removed From A Flight; Arlington Cemetery Reopens
An airline ejects a passenger for asking a flight attendant to wear a mask; Arlington cemetery limits opening, protections for workers, sneezing during COVID and more COVID-related health news.
Unprepared?: Technical Snafus Foul Opening Day For Many Schools
For students who returned to school, plans were in place for temperature checks and more. School news is on children’s symptoms, vaccination schedules, future income risk and internet bills, as well.
More Leaders Realize College Kids Will Get COVID
At colleges across the country, school and state officials are recognizing that the coronavirus spreads among students. And a football player dies of COVID.
Sturgis Biker Rally Linked To 260,000 COVID cases
South Dakota officials, who allowed the annual event to proceed, dispute the findings.
Study: 46% Of Hospitalized COVID Patients Have Acute Kidney Injury
Risk factors associated with developing AKI include older age, being a man, and having chronic kidney disease, hypertension, congestive heart failure or diabetes, according to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
Report: Financial Ties Between Device Makers, Teaching Hospitals
One of the authors said, “Normalizing marketing as a source of information on new drugs and devices risks teaching trainees to count on an information source that has a vested financial interest in their prescribing decisions.”
Pfizer, BioNTech Vaccine On Track For Mid-October Approval Review: CEO
Calling the experimental vaccine his company is developing with Pfizer “near perfect,” BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin said the pharmaceutical companies could be ready to apply for U.S. approval next month.
Drop In Disciplinary Action Against Doctors Worries Safety Advocates
Patient advocates and plaintiff lawyers also blame a combination of state budget pressures and health care workers’ “hero status” amid COVID-19, USA Today reports.
Study: Tylenol Makes You More Willing To Take Risks
Other health science news includes a Merck cough medicine and Google linking with the U.S. military for an artificial intelligence study in clinics.
US Doing 21M COVID Tests A Month But Should Be Doing 200M, Experts Say
In other testing news, researchers say stool samples might be the best way to test infants and children for the coronavirus.
Glitch Silences Public On Georgia’s Plan To Cut Off Obamacare Exchange
With only a week left for the public comment period, Georgians encounter technical website issues. In other health law news: Cigna will expand in 300 more counties; and only 3 Obamacare co-ops remain.
Congress Still At Odds Over Limited Stimulus Bill
Republicans want a “skinny” package of economic stimulus; Democratic leadership in the House calls that a “non-starter.”
Health Care Issues Heat Up On Campaign Trail
While the coronavirus crisis dominates national attention, 2020 candidates are highlighting broader health care policy messages on the trail and in ads.
AstraZeneca’s Vaccine Trial Paused After Suspected Adverse Reaction
Late-stage trials of one of the front-running coronavirus vaccine candidates are on hold after a serious illness from one participant, Stat first reported. AstraZeneca said the “standard review process triggered a pause to vaccination to allow review of safety data.”
New Cases Trend In Wrong Direction In Midwest, Northeast
Nationally, death rates are dropping and new cases seem to be plateauing. Public health officials urge continued caution in behavior as the fall and winter approach.
‘Your State Should Be Open,’ Trump Tells North Carolina Supporters
During a campaign rally in Winston-Salem, North Carolina — with few masks in sight, despite a state mandate — President Donald Trump accused Gov. Roy Cooper (D-N.C.) of playing politics with the pandemic.