Latest KFF Health News Stories
Editorial pages focus on these pandemic topics and others.
Alabama Apologizes To ‘Fifth Girl’ In 1963 Church Bombing For Inflicting Pain, Suffering
Sarah Collins Rudolph, 69, was 12 when a bomb planted by the KKK tore through 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. Her sister and three other young girls were killed. Rudolph survived but lost an eye. She says medical bills and trauma have haunted her ever since.
Putin Plans To Take Russian Vaccine; Brazil Cancels Carnival Parade
Russian President Vladimir Putin says he plans to take the vaccine before he travels to Seoul. Global health news also comes from Brazil, Spain, India and China.
Pennsylvania School Officials Accused Of Covering Up Lead, Asbestos Contamination
The Associated Press reports that starting in 2016, officials in the Scranton School District were repeatedly told about dangerous lead levels in drinking water in at least 10 schools but didn’t disconnect tainted water fountains, according to a grand jury presentment released Wednesday.
Chilling Out: Breathing Exercises Go Mainstream Amid Spike In Anxiety
Doctors tell physicians and patients that a kind of deep breathing called “box breathing” is known to reduce stress. Other COVID reports are on deafness and missionaries. Also, in the news: the passing of an HIV hero, the loss of a baby, breast cancer, exercise routines and a documentary on dementia, as well.
Mississippi Drops Mask Mandate; NYC Imposes Fines For Maskless
Also, the Maine pastor who refused to wear a mask at a wedding linked to a superspreader event and eight deaths is told to wear a mask at his son’s wedding.
Generic Drugs, Antibiotics Get A Boost
Ro plans to supply generics of Lipitor and Norvasc through its virtual mail-order company. Also in the news: Lawmakers want to create a new payment model to encourage drugmakers to create antibiotics; and biotech firm G1 Therapeutics announces a CEO change.
Wisconsin Hospitals Are Wait-Listing Patients Before Trump Rally
Other business updates are from Northwell Health, United Health Group, Sanford Health and the states of California and Texas.
Feds Charge 345 People With Health Care Fraud
The medical professionals are accused of submitting a total of $6 billion in bad claims for telehealth and substance abuse treatment, among other services. Also in the news: Clear View Behavioral Health in Colorado will lose its license; Anthem settles a cyberattack case; and hospitals are warned about Ryuk ransomware.
California Bill Gives Nurse Practitioners Green Light To Work Independently
Twenty-eight states provide access to primary care by letting nurse practitioners offer services normally reserved for doctors. News is from Missouri, Indianapolis, Maine and Washington, as well.
AstraZeneca, Moderna Hit Speed Bumps In Vaccine Race; Pfizer Watched Closely
News outlets report the latest on rapid coronavirus vaccine development efforts by pharmaceutical companies that could secure U.S. emergency use approval, and the push from President Donald Trump to reach that goal before Election Day.
New Treatments Hold Promise To Help COVID Patients, Make Big Money
News outlets report the latest efforts to develop ways to treat the coronavirus.
Trump Fueled 38% Of Pandemic Misinformation, Conspiracies: Study
“We conclude that the President of the United States was likely the largest driver of the COVID-19 misinformation ‘infodemic,'” said Cornell University researchers after analyzing 38 million English-language online articles about the pandemic. Other reports of President Donald Trump twisting the facts are also in the news.
Cheap As Water? Insulin Users, Pricing Experts Question Trump’s Claim
During the first presidential debate, Donald Trump highlighted his efforts to lower the costs of prescription drugs like insulin. His statement is fact checked.
Veterans Affairs Set To Unveil New Electronic Health Record System
The rollout was originally intended for July but was postponed because of the pandemic. The first site — Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Washington — will go live on the new Cerner Corp. system on Oct. 24.
Mnuchin Makes $1.6T Counteroffer In Last-Ditch Stimulus Push With Pelosi
House Democrats delayed a planned vote on their latest $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill, to allow more time for talks between the White House and House negotiators.
Medicaid, CHIP Enrollment Jumped Nearly 6% In Pandemic’s Early Months
As the U.S. experienced historic job-loss rates between February and June, over 4 million Americans enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, CMS reports.
Drugmakers Jacked Up Prices To Inflate Profits, House Probe Finds
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee began releasing two investigation reports that cite internal company documents on the day the CEOs of Teva, Celgene and Bristol Myers Squibb testified before the panel. Amgen, Mallinckrodt and Novartis executives are scheduled to appear Thursday.
Cumplimos reglas con el cinturón de seguridad o el cigarillo. ¿Por qué no con las máscaras?
Treinta y cuatro estados y Washington, D.C., tienen algún tipo de mandato sobre el uso de máscara, pero muchos ciudadanos y agencias del orden los ignoran descaradamente.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.