Latest KFF Health News Content

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Private White House Warnings About Virus’ Threat Inflamed Market Sell-Off

Morning Briefing

The rosy picture the Trump administration painted for the public in the early weeks of the coronavirus outbreak contrasts with the more dire closed-door briefings provided by economists to administration officials and Republican donors and passed along to investors, the New York Times reports. In other administration news: Dr. Deborah Birx’s role in undermining WHO and efforts to halt Nevada from using Chinese-made COVID test kits.

Barrett’s Confirmation To High Court Likely A Sure Thing As Hearings End

Morning Briefing

As she did the previous two days of hearings, Amy Coney Barrett, President Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, spent most of Wednesday parrying senators’ questions rather than answering them, although she was feistier in her responses to Democrats seeking to put her on the spot, Politico reports.

Barron Trump Contracted COVID-19, Now Tests Negative

Morning Briefing

Melania Trump revealed that her son, Barron, did test positive for the coronavirus. The 14-year-old did not show any symptoms, while the first lady says that she experienced mild ones.

In Letter, Scores Of Scientists Strongly Denounce Herd Immunity

Morning Briefing

The letter is a direct rebuttal to reports this week that Trump administration is pushing the controversial approach. “This is a dangerous fallacy unsupported by scientific evidence,” the letter says. “Uncontrolled transmission in younger people risks significant morbidity and mortality across the whole population.”

Sleepless Nights, Hair Loss and Cracked Teeth: Pandemic Stress Takes Its Toll

KFF Health News Original

Reports are on the rise regarding excruciating headaches, stomach upsets for weeks on end, sudden outbreaks of shingles and flare-ups of autoimmune disorders. A common thread among the complaints, one that has been months in the making, is chronic stress.

Outnumbered on High Court Nomination, Democrats Campaign for a Different Vote

KFF Health News Original

Rather than prosecuting their case against Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are refighting the war that won them seats in 2018 — banging on Republicans for trying to eliminate the Affordable Care Act.

COVID Crackdowns at Work Have Saved Black and Latino Lives, LA Officials Say

KFF Health News Original

Strict enforcement of coronavirus protocols at factories and shops where some of the worst outbreaks have occurred has reduced the racial and ethnic disparities in COVID deaths and illness, say public health officials. They want to expand the effort by creating workplace safety councils.

Federal Survey Will Help Evaluate Electronic Health Record Systems

Morning Briefing

Clinicians, pharmacists and hospital information technology staff will be asked to answer questions evaluating the EHR systems’ interoperability, usability, privacy and other factors. In other news, a doctor faces trial after reports that he mistreated patients with unnecessary gynecological surgeries.

Facebook Bans Ads Describing Vaccinations As Unsafe, Useless

Morning Briefing

The tech giant’s head of health initiatives says Facebook wants to help spread information about the efficacy of vaccines. Other coronavirus-related news is on bird songs, glam masks, sports, schools and more.