Latest KFF Health News Stories
Despite FDA’s Request, Company Says It Won’t Pull Premature Birth Drug
The FDA says evidence doesn’t show that Makena is effective for its approved use, but AMAG Pharmaceuticals wants a hearing to review its rationale. Other companies in the news include Evotec, Eli Lilly, Disarm Therapeutics, AstraZeneca and more.
After a surge of early voting across the country, election officials now brace for Election Day and in-person voting altered by the coronavirus.
Odds Of A Stimulus Bill Remain Slim
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate will vote on a $500 billion coronavirus relief package, but Nancy Pelosi says it is unlikely to happen before Election Day.
Issues Of Violence And The Pandemic Command Trump’s Trip To Michigan
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer — recently the target of a kidnapping plot related to her coronavirus lockdown orders — charged that President Donald Trump is “inciting this kind of domestic terrorism” after he seemingly encouraged chants of “lock her up” at a Saturday campaign rally in the state.
Trump, Biden Paint Dire Pictures Of Pandemic’s Future If The Other Is Elected
Donald Trump tells his supporters that more lockdowns are in store if Joe Biden wins the White House. Meanwhile, Biden says the situation will get even worse under Trump who “continues to lie to us about the circumstances.”
Conflict Rife Among Trump’s COVID Advisers
Dissension among the White House coronavirus advisers is hampering efforts to fight the pandemic. Much of the blame is placed on Scott Atlas, who advocates for a passive herd immunity response and no masks.
CMS To Penalize Labs Taking More Than Two Days To Process COVID Tests
In an effort to speed up the delivery of COVID-19 test results, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says it will pay less to labs that take longer than 2 days.
Judge Stops Trump Administration From Stripping Food Stamps At Time When So Many Are Hungry
A Department of Agriculture rule would have slashed benefits for as many as 700,000 Americans. A federal judge struck it down Sunday, saying that the Trump administration failed to provide adequate justification or acknowledge the impact of such a change during the pandemic.
No Vaccine Yet, But States Organize Distribution Plans
They also want $8.4 billion from Congress to pay for the rollout.
No Vaccine Application From Pfizer Before The Election, CEO Says
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla says his company’s mid-October target to apply for FDA emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate has shifted to mid-November, at the earliest.
CVS and Walgreens To Distribute Vaccine to Nursing Homes
Two large national pharmacy chains, CVS and Walgreens, have agreed to distribute COVID vaccine to nursing homes at no cost. Meanwhile, CVS says it will hire 15,000 people, 10,000 of them pharmacy technicians.
‘Third Wave’ Set To Swamp US; Planet Hits 40M COVID Cases
Health care professionals brace for the fall resurgence’s influx of new coronavirus patients — and worry that the winter will be even worse. Meanwhile, the global tally of infections passes 40 million.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
UVA Health Still Squeezing Money From Patients — By Seizing Their Home Equity
The University of Virginia promised reforms but has stopped short of announcing them, while hospital giant VCU Health has freed tens of thousands from property liens.
Health Care Groups Dive Into Property Tax Ballot Fight, Eyeing Public Health Money
Health care leaders say Proposition 15, a ballot initiative that would raise property taxes for large-business owners, could help boost revenue for chronically underfunded public health departments.
‘An Arm and a Leg’: Vetting TikTok Mom’s Advice for Dealing With Debt Collectors
We first learned about Shaunna Burns when her tips on medical bills went viral. In part two of our conversation with the so-called TikTok mom, we’re back for guidance about dealing with debt collectors. Then we fact-checked her advice with a legal expert, who said: Most of Burns’ advice totally checks out.
Al sopesar los temas de salud, la mayoría de los votantes se inclinan hacia Biden
Los hallazgos de una nueva encuesta indican que los votantes no confían en las garantías del presidente de que protegerá a las personas con condiciones preexistentes.
Editorial writers focus on these health care topics and others.
Different Takes: Magical Thinking, Fear, Self-Promotion Won’t Save Lives
Opinion writers express views about these approaches to the pandemic and others as well.
Longer Looks, Part 2: Even More You Might Have Missed
This week’s selections include stories on smallpox, Subway bread, the importance of plants in medicine, cancer, gun deaths and NASA. Also, The Marshall Project takes a deep dive into why police dogs in Indianapolis are biting people at a rate unseen in the other largest 19 U.S. cities.