Latest KFF Health News Stories
Archdiocese Of Los Angeles Settles Childhood Sex Abuse Claims For $880M
“My hope is that this settlement will provide some measure of healing for what these men and women have suffered,” Archbishop José H. Gomez said. News from around the nation also includes psychiatric hospital changes in Maryland, meningococcal disease in Texas, and more.
Chemo-Radiation-Chemo Combo For Cervical Cancer Cuts Death Risk By 40%
Researchers found that a quick blast of chemotherapy ahead of standard treatment not only improves survival chances but also reduces the chance of the cancer returning.
FDA Can Approve Cheaper Copycat Of Heart-Failure Drug Entresto, Judge Says
Novartis, which made more than $6 billion in revenue from the drug last year, says it will appeal the ruling. In other news: A study shows that people with HIV can safely receive donated kidneys from deceased donors who also had HIV.
Oropouche Virus Spreads; CDC Warns It Might Be Sexually Transmissible
CIDRAP reports that federal health officials know of 90 cases of Oropouche virus from five states, mostly from Florida, although none of the cases is known to have been sexually transmitted. Plus: Novavax’s trial of its covid-flu shot stalls after one of the participants reported nerve damage.
Viewpoints: The Sad Reality Of Abortion Care In America; Abortion Bans Causing Doctors To Flee
Editorial writers discuss these public health topics.
‘Big 3’ Medicare Advantage Insurer Algorithms Deny 1 in 4 Post-Acute Care Requests: Probe
A Senate investigation found the three largest Medicare Advantage insurers have been increasingly denying seniors claims since adopting AI and algorithms to help streamline the approval process, reaching a nearly 1 in 4 denial rate since 2022.
Not Satisfied With ‘Concepts,’ Doctors Want Full Health Plan From Trump
Over 1,500 physicians from the Committee to Protect Health Care PAC, which has endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris for president, are calling on Republican Donald Trump to release a concrete health care policy plan before the election. Separately, some Republican operatives aren’t happy with doctors who are urging their patients to vote.
Kansas, Idaho, And Missouri Taking Steps To Limit Mifepristone Access
In the legal filing, made in Texas, the states lay out their case for bringing back restrictions on the medication used in abortions, arguing that easing those restrictions “undermine state abortion laws and frustrate state law enforcement.”
CDC: Drug Overdose Deaths Drop By Record Amount Over Past Year
Provisional data from the CDC indicates a 15% drop from the prior 12-month period. Separately, accidental overdoses of fentanyl in San Francisco dropped to a four-year low in September.
First Edition: Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Teen Mental Health Lawsuits Against Meta Allowed To Proceed, Judge Rules
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the social media company Meta must face lawsuits brought against it by U.S. states, claiming the company’s addictive algorithms contribute to mental health problems in teens. Meanwhile, California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, mandates menstrual health education for middle and high school students.
Editorial writers tackle these public health topics.
GLP-1 Drugs Linked With Lower Risk Of Suicidal Thoughts Among Juveniles
Researchers found that 1.4% of adolescents on weight loss medications had a suicide attempt or ideation, compared with 2.3% of children who weren’t taking the medicines. Separately, anxiety is found to be more likely in firstborn and only children.
Experts May Have Found A ‘Smoking Gun’ Underlying Long Covid
The Boston Globe reports on findings from researchers at Mass General Brigham who examined “reservoirs” of the covid virus that hide inside people after their acute infections have ended. Also in the news: the KP.3.1.1 variant, more dengue cases in Los Angeles County, an enoki mushroom recall, and more.
Walgreens Has A Prescription For Its Struggling Drug Store Chain
The retailer joins CVS and Rite-Aid in closing stores and making other changes as it shores up its business model after a shift in customer habits.
Epic’s AI Early-Warning Health Tool Found Lacking: Yale Study
In a study published Tuesday, researchers found that AI algorithms used to predict the decline of patients are largely untested and don’t always perform as well as expected. Included in this study was Epic Systems’ algorithm, used widely during the covid pandemic, which did not fare well.
The latest story in Stat’s investigation of UnitedHealth’s influence looks at the company’s strategy to enlist its doctors to pile moneymaking diagnoses onto patients covered by Medicare Advantage, using incentive tools like $10,000 bonuses and a doctor leaderboard. Other Medicare news is on low-cost drugs, value-based care, and more.
Court Appears Open To Fired Trucker Who Sued Over THC-Tainted Product
The driver claims Medical Marijuana Inc. injured his “business or property” under federal racketeering laws when it shipped the product to him, after he was assured it had none of the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. Justices will hear arguments about VA disability claims today.
Senators from Pennsylvania and Texas jabbed and dodged their way through debates Tuesday. Plus: Why a district race in Tennessee could play a pivotal role for Democrats in the November election.
Biden Invokes Wartime Powers To Speed Rebuilding Of IV Fluid Factory
The North Carolina factory, run by medical supplier Baxter, was badly damaged during Helene. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. IV supplies had relied on the plant’s production. Separately, the Pentagon is changing the discharge records for 820 veterans who had been dismissed from the military for their sexual orientation.
