Latest KFF Health News Stories
Poll Finds Vast Divide Among Parties’ Acceptance Of COVID Death Toll
Republicans are much more likely to say the number of deaths is acceptable when considering how the U.S. is responding to the pandemic and more likely to believe the number is inflated, according to a USA Today survey.
DIY Home Tests Can Lead To Abrupt Turn Around In Nation’s Health
Scientists argue the FDA places such strict limits on the tests that few will be approved. News is on India’s problems with fast tests, Michigan’s contract with a company under scrutiny, and more, as well.
Republicans’ 336 Delegates Enter Convention Semi-Bubble
Testing, temperature checks and digital tracking tools are in use at the Republican National Convention physical site in Charlotte, North Carolina, to try to control coronavirus spread. President Donald Trump will make his case for reelection virtually, due to the pandemic.
As Stalemate On Relief Efforts Persists, GOP And Democrats Exchange Barbs
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows over the weekend criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the lack of progress and she returned the favor. Meanwhile, millions of Americans are facing dire economic realities. In other news, The New York Times reports that administration officials have suggested to congressional leaders that a vaccine may be approved even before Phase 3 trials are complete. The administration denies that.
Virus May Be Spreading More Easily In Hospitals As Staff Is Spread Thin
Because of the crush of work in the pandemic, less attention is being devoted to the usual infection control priorities, experts suggest to Modern Healthcare. Reports on a variety of health workforce issues, include a profile of a nurse in Miami who has taken on a mission of helping the dying, Florida’s hollowed out public health infrastructure, care cubes and an amateur epidemiologist who saw the need for face masks early.
CDC Drops 14-Day Quarantine For Travelers But Not Social Distancing, Masking Wearing
Other news on travel affected by COVID includes longer wait times at the border and a new surface coating for airliner interiors that works for 7 days.
Biden: Obamacare Is Under Attack Again, Public Health Officials Will Get My Backing
Also, the presidential candidate issues a ”Watch Me” warning to President Donald Trump over his “Sleepy Joe” attacks, and more as well.
Twitter Flags Trump Tweet For ‘Making Misleading Health Claims’
Twitter’s action was in response to President Donald Trump claiming that mail drop boxes for voting “are not Covid sanitized,” and a “voter security disaster.” In other election news, Trump’s chief of staff weighs in on security at polling places and the House passes a bill to delay changes at the Postal Service until after the election.
Trump’s ‘Deep State’ Claim Puts More Pressure On FDA; Experts Call It ‘Baseless’
President Donald Trump accused the FDA of delaying coronavirus vaccine approval until after the election. His unsubstantiated charge, delivered via Twitter on Saturday, even took some of his own administration officials by surprise and drew outrage and criticism from Democrats, drug companies and fact checkers.
HHS Tied Hospitals’ Relief To Mandate To Report Cases To Private Firm
In April, the administration told hospitals that they must share information with TeleTracking Technologies, a company whose government contract has drawn scrutiny on Capitol Hill.
FDA Gives Emergency OK To Convalescent Plasma As COVID Treatment
Calling the move a “breakthrough,” President Donald Trump announced that the Food and Drug Administration is issuing emergency authorization to treat COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma. Experts caution that the treatment shouldn’t be oversold.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
‘An Arm and a Leg’: How to Fight Bogus Medical Bills Like a Bulldog
When a colleague brings a medical billing problem to human resources director Steve Benasso — he goes to battle. “I am a bulldog on this stuff,” he said. In this episode, Benasso tells how he does it.
Florida’s Cautionary Tale: How Gutting and Muzzling Public Health Fueled COVID Fire
As the nation hollowed out its public health infrastructure for decades, staffing and funding fell faster and further in Florida. Then the coronavirus ran roughshod, infecting more than half a million people and killing thousands.
Inside the Race to Build a Better $500 Emergency Ventilator
Inspired to help during the COVID pandemic, a volunteer SWAT team of engineering and medical talent combines old-fashioned problem-solving and advanced 3D printing — but will it actually help?
Trump Is Sending Fast, Cheap COVID Tests to Nursing Homes — But There’s a Hitch
Experts say the administration’s approach with antigen tests could add cost and risk for the most vulnerable patients.
One College’s Pop-Up COVID Test: Stop and ‘Smell the Roses’ (Or the Coffee)
Forget those thermometers. Researchers, finding a surer link between the loss of the sense of smell and a coronavirus infection, suggest the symptom may be an easy and less expensive method for screening.
Democratic Convention, Night 4: ‘Facts Over Fiction’ in Biden’s Speech
The impact of the novel coronavirus, and the current administration’s response to it, were central themes in Joe Biden’s presidential nomination acceptance speech.
Viewpoints: Lessons On Flawed Government Responses To Viruses; Plan Now For A Possible Second Wave
Editorial pages address presidents’ public health responses to dangerous viruses and other public health issues.
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 dry eyes, bisexuality, adolescent health care, parenting, COVID and a mystery illness.