Latest KFF Health News Stories
DCF Mismanaged Health Care Of Kids, Massachusetts’ State Audit Finds
Thirty-five percent of cases reviewed show signs of lack of care for kids with serious mental health conditions, including missed therapy sessions, missing information on file, and, in some cases, improperly prescribed antipsychotics. Almost a quarter of all kids in protective custody had a prescription for at least one psychotropic medication.
FDA Aims To Yank From The Market A Common But Ineffective Decongestant
The ingredient, called oral phenylephrine, is commonly used in cough and cold medicines. Also: Monkeys are on the loose from a South Carolina research facility; a North Carolina hospital files for bankruptcy; a Maine hospital ends labor and delivery services; a historic fetal surgery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; and more.
ACA, Abortion Rights Among Health Care Priorities Of New Senate Dems
Roll Call lays out what newly elected members have championed in the past and what perspective they might bring to the GOP-controlled Senate. Meanwhile, one more government spending battle looms in Congress.
Bird Flu Cases Among Dairy Workers Flew Under The Radar, Study Finds
As a result, the CDC recommends all workers on farms with infected animals be tested and offered treatment.
4 Million Americans Could Lose Health Insurance In 2026 Under GOP, Trump
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that if subsidies are allowed to expire next year, nearly 4 million people will lose their coverage in 2026 because they won’t be able to afford it, NBC News reports. In other policy news: vaccines’ future; fluoride in the water; and more.
Trump’s Campaign Guru, A Tobacco Lobbyist, Will Be His Chief Of Staff
Susie Wiles, who also helped Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to victory in 2018, will be the first woman in the role. Wiles also worked as a tobacco lobbyist for Swisher International during the 2024 campaign, and her firm, Mercury Public Affairs, also has “large lobbying contracts with several junk food companies,” the investigative outlet Sludge reported.
First Edition: Friday, Nov. 8, 2024
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations. Note to readers: The First Edition will not be published Monday in observance of Veterans Day. Look for it again in your inbox on Tuesday.
Opinion writers tackle these public health topics.
4 Cases Of New Mpox Variant ID’d In The UK, A First Outside Of Africa
AP reports on the new U.K. cluster, noting that scientists say public risk remains low. Other global health news is on cigarettes in the U.K., a social media ban in Australia, the future of cancer disparities, and more.
Nebraska Allows Medical Marijuana; Colorado Springs Likely To Ban Recreational Pot
After voters rejected ballot measures in three states, recreational cannabis advocates are shifting their focus to state legislatures and the federal government. Also, Jelly Roll weighs in on how a little weed keeps him sober.
Depression And Anxiety Increased By Over 2.5% Post Pandemic, Study Finds
The number of American adults experiencing depression went up by 2.9%, while those experiencing anxiety increased by 2.6% in relation to data from 2019. Other news includes teen caffeine overdoses, cheese recalls, and more.
Novo Nordisk CEO Flags 10 Deaths That Might Be Related To Compounded Semaglutide
The pharmaceutical company says data on 10 deaths and more than 100 hospitalizations comes from the FDA’s adverse event reporting database for semaglutide — the key ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, which are manufactured by Novo Nordisk. Compounded versions of the drug are made by other companies in times of shortages. FDA adverse event reports aren’t verified and don’t mean the drugs have caused the harms documented.
Ban Overturned, Missouri’s Abortion Fight Enters Tricky Legal Territory
Residents voted to undo the state’s strict abortion ban, but they also voted to stack the state government with Republicans who oppose abortion. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood workers on Wednesday filed paperwork to begin the process of invalidating the state’s ban.
LGBTQ+ Crisis Hotlines See Huge Increase In Calls, Texts
All across the country, LGBTQ+ hotlines, focused on the mental health and well-being of the community, have received an extraordinary influx of calls and texts in the days leading up to and since the election.
Patchwork Of State Abortion Laws Gets Even More Complex After Elections
Despite historic results in Tuesday’s elections, abortion-rights advocates are warning that opportunities for more ballot measures might be dwindling.
Abortion Rights Are Not Certain Under Trump, Despite Wins At State Level
Although the president-elect has said he won’t sign a federal abortion ban, Donald Trump’s second administration has the will and the tools to undo reproductive health policies. News outlets offer a preview of what could happen and how quickly things could change.
Under Trump, Privately Run Health Care Plans Favored Over ACA And Medicaid
In the aftermath of the election, health care companies that offer federally funded plans, like ACA and Medicaid, are likely to suffer, while private ones, like Medicare Advantage, will likely benefit from the Republican win. Also, more about what to expect from the Trump presidency.
RFK Jr. Says Parts Of FDA Will ‘Go’; DeSantis Urges Ladapo For HHS Chief
Donald Trump’s confidante Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who will likely play a large role in the next administration, has pledged to gut “cronyism” and corruption in the public health bureaucracy. On Wednesday, he said “entire departments” will likely be cut from the FDA.
In Trump’s Health Care Agenda, No Policy Will Likely Remain Untouched
News outlets explore what the next administration could do — or undo — to programs such as the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, and Medicare, as well as hot-button issues such as abortion and prescription drug costs.
First Edition: Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
