Latest KFF Health News Stories
Miami Becoming New ‘Epicenter Of The Pandemic’
More than 2,000 people are hospitalized the in South Florida city. In the past 13 days, Miami-Dade County has reported increases in Covid-19 hospitalizations (68%), in the number of ICU beds being used (69%) and in the use of ventilators (109%). News outlets look at the situation in Miami and elsewhere in Florida, as well as rising cases in Texas and other states.
FDA Deals Setback To CytoDyn’s HIV Drug; Gilead Reprimanded By British Firms For HIV Drug Claims
The Food and Drug Administration’s refusal to accept CytoDyn’s drug application could cause a lengthy setback for the drug. Meanwhile, Britain’s pharmaceutical trade group spoke out against Gilead for disseminating information that unfairly compared one of its HIV drugs with a rival medicine sold by ViiV Healthcare, which is working toward an injectable medicine that prevents AIDS.
Coronavirus hits the NBA; meanwhile, the first Major League Baseball player who tested positive has rejoined teammates.
Air-Quality Warning Issued In San Diego Amid Navy Ship Fire
Other public health news is on a memory care unit, prisons, college health centers, health care workers, mask-wearing and more.
Dallas Officials Take COVID Testing Into Own Hands
Also: Quest Diagnostics works on turnaround times; testing in Montana and California; former Trump aide Mick Mulvaney now says testing snafus are inexcusable.
Dramatic Increase In Drug-Resistant Infections Reported
News outlets also cover the latest research on diabetes, strokes, sexually transmitted infections and rabies.
Researchers Salvage Damaged Lungs For Transplants By Attaching Them To Live Pigs
The scientists from Vanderbilt and Columbia connected lungs deemed too damaged to be used for transplants to a large vein in the neck of a live pig, so that its blood flowed through the vessels. In one case, that circulation allowed the human lung to heal enough to meet transplant requirements.
Scientists See Vaccine Progress — And Encounter Roadblocks
Many problems loom, such as congressional funding and a potential shortage of glass vials.
Inflammatory Syndrome Seen More Widely
Doctors are seeing a COVID-related syndrome, first seen only in children, in adults.
‘Shocking’: One-Third Of Young Adults May Face Severe COVID-19 Risks, Especially If Smoking
“I think most young adults don’t think they’re at risk,” author Dr. Charles Irwin Jr., director of the UCSF Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, told The San Francisco Chronicle. “To me, that was shocking to find that smoking contributed so much to being at risk. ” Research-related news is on strokes, rheumatoid arthritis drugs, cardiac injuries, and dengue fever, as well.
Consumer Group Estimates 5.4M Workers Lost Health Insurance Following Economic Downturn
The study by Families USA found that the increase in uninsured workers from February to May was nearly 40 percent higher than the highest previous increase, which occurred during the recession of 2008 and 2009. Other researchers have projected the coverage loss to be even higher when factoring in workers’ families.
Funding Bill Advancing In House Has $24B In COVID Emergency Money
The emergency funding, that is part of a larger spending bill, was approved by the House Appropriations Committee Monday. Continued pandemic response is expected to be at the center of fierce congressional debate over the next few weeks.
For-Profit Providers Must Pay Taxes On Coronavirus Grants, IRS Says
Also in the news: Universal Health Services settles dispute with Massachusetts over improper billing and electronic health record companies team up with Big Tech.
Hospitals, Insurers Unhappy With Medicare’s Proposed Change To Severity Payments
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ proposed Inpatient Prospective Payment System regulation is at issue.
Supreme Court Hearing On Obamacare Unlikely Before November Election
The Supreme Court announced that justices will not hear in October the challenge to the Affordable Care Act, supported by the Trump administration. The case, and its implications for Americans’ health care coverage, is a top campaign issue this year. Meanwhile, HHS Secretary Alex Azar’s comments on preexisting conditions is fact checked.
Federal Judges Knock Down ‘Heartbeat’ Abortion Bans In Georgia, Tennessee
A temporary hold on Georgia’s 2019 “heartbeat” abortion law was ruled permanent by a federal judge Monday. In a separate case, another federal judge put a temporary block on a similar measure, just signed by Tennessee’s governor. Both state laws would have effectively prohibited the procedure at six weeks of pregnancy.
Rule Requiring In-Person Doctor Visit To Get Abortion Pill Suspended
A federal judge’s decision allows health care providers to mail or deliver mifepristone, the FDA-approved medication that induces an abortion, to a patient during the U.S.-declared public health emergency due to COVID-19.
For First Time In 17 Years, US Executes Federal Inmate
Daniel Lewis Lee was put to death by lethal injection early Tuesday at the Federal Correctional Institution in Terre Haute, Indiana, after the Supreme Court cleared the way.
Fauci Returns To White House Amid Swipes At His Reputation
President Donald Trump’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, met with the White House chief of staff after an internal memo surfaced that tried to undermine the doctor’s reputation. Despite the swirl of controversy, Fauci continues to sound the alarm about the pandemic.
California Again Shutters Many Indoor Businesses To Combat Virus Surge
The strictest orders will be put back in place in the hardest-hit counties, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced Monday. Included in the shutdown orders are restaurants, bars, churches, theaters, gyms, hair stylists and more.