Latest KFF Health News Stories
Wear a Mask. If Only It Were That Simple.
Health experts agree masks are the cheapest, best weapon against the coronavirus pandemic. But how should mask-wearing be enforced? Mandates? Fines? Polite requests? It’s hard to figure out what works as President Donald Trump’s behavior keeps the debate alive over whether they should be worn at all.
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 COVID, dyslexia, selective mutism and mysterious ankle pain.
Viewpoints: Lessons On Trump’s Positive Test For COVID; Be Wary Of Family Gatherings, As Well
Editorial pages focus on the news of President Trump announcing he tested positive and other health issues, as well.
Bob Murray Files For Black Lung Benefits — After Years Of Fighting Mine Safety Regulations
Murray is the former CEO and president of the now-bankrupt Murray Energy. Other state news comes from Indiana, South Dakota, Utah, Oklahoma, California, North Carolina, Maryland and New York.
Egypt Targets Gays, Lesbians With Arrests, Torture, Rights Group Says
Human Rights Watch says police and security officers routinely pick up suspected LGBT people off the streets and detain them in “inhuman conditions.” In other news, some Russian journalists are getting a new COVID vaccine there and an Irish court isn’t impressed with Subway’s bread.
HHS Releases $20B More For Providers In Relief Funding
The agency said to apply soon because the money will go fast. News is on additional funding for HIV care, cyberattacks, unequal pay for female physicians and more.
Nearly 20,000 Amazon Employees Have Contracted COVID Since March
Documents on Amazon’s injury rates among the company’s warehouse workers are also revealed. Other news on public health focuses on body fat and longevity; salmonella and hedgehogs; and job loss among moms during the pandemic.
Lawyers Claim Police Did Not Obstruct Breathing Of Prude
The medical examiner ruled Daniel Prude’s death a homicide. Lawyers say his interpretation was a medical one not a legal one. News is also on poverty and racism and Black physicians on the front lines.
Supplies Of Remdesivir Will Be Sold To Hospitals, Not Through HHS
Media reports are on treatments, vaccine trials and more.
PhRMA Knocks President On Diversity Training
The powerful trade group very publicly attacks President Trump’s order to end diversity training. In other pharmaceutical industry news: Congress looks at a “cash cow” drug; and how the FDA should regulate artificial intelligence used in health care.
More Of Barrett’s Thoughts on Roe v Wade, Obamacare Revealed
Various reports on Amy Coney Barrett’s past statements reflect on her potential future Supreme Court decisions.
Traces Of Virus Detected In Water; Rapid Spit Tests Slow In Coming
There is no evidence water can spread the virus, but researchers say knowing where to look for the virus is key in dealing with future infections. News is on testing, contact tracing and more, as well.
Medicare Advantage Plans Expanding
A number of health insurers are pitching more expansive Medicare Advantage plans. It’s a lucrative line of business.
House Passes $2.2 Trillion Stimulus Bill That’s Likely DOA
“Today’s package is another partisan exercise that will never become law,” said Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat from Virginia who voted no. Of the
Republicans, none voted for the plan.
An Unexpected Non-Perishable: Signed Trump Letter Inside Food-Aid Boxes
The letters are sparking outrage among advocates, and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is removing the letters. Other health news about the Trump administration is on visitors at federal prisons; the Navy SEAL ethos; and checking the facts on President Donald Trump’s COVID program for those who are uninsured.
What’s Next? Expect A Strange Election To Get Stranger
Concerns are raised that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and others at this week’s debate could have been exposed to the virus. But the news of President Donald Trump’s COVID-19 infection will shake up the 2020 race in many other ways as well.
Campaign Strategies Evolve With COVID
COVID continues to affect the presidential campaign in many ways as candidates and their political parties adjust their strategies.
Trump’s Words On Masks, Risks Carried Weight During The Pandemic
In the face of President’s Donald Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis, news outlets revisit the guidance he has delivered over the past months.
Well Wishes, Prayers Flow In For Trumps From Leaders Across US, World
As President Donald Trump joins the list of world leaders who have contracted COVID, sympathy and hopes for a quick recovery were expressed by U.S. lawmakers from both sides of the aisle as well as global heads of state and other public figures.
The President’s Health And His Control of Government Explained
The White House physician says that President Donald Trump will be able to carry out his duties in isolation. But if he were to become severely sick, attention will focus on the role of Vice President Mike Pence — who tested negative for COVID-19 Friday morning — as well as administration officials and national security advisers.