Latest KFF Health News Stories
Mpox Vaccines Administered In Africa For The First Time
Several hundred high-risk individuals were inoculated in Rwanda. Meanwhile, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warned that the outbreak in Africa is still not under control, with cases rising in several countries.
LA County Public Health Announces 2 More Cases In Dengue Cluster
The two new locally acquired cases are from the same area where the first case was reported last week. In other state news: vaccine hesitancy and the Minnesota measles outbreak; an “epidemic” of antipsychotic drugs in Mississippi nursing homes; and more.
Cigna Scaling Back Medicare Advantage Offerings In 8 States In 2025
Modern Healthcare reports that the move by group’s health insurance unit will affect members of certain health plans in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. Meanwhile, Atrium Health cancels many past medical debt judgments.
Ex-Outcome Health Executive Gets 7 Months In Prison For Role In $1B Fraud
Ashik Desai was the star witness against his bosses in a trial last year, the Chicago Tribune reports. Other news is on Optum layoffs, Allina Health, the Mayo Clinic, and more.
FDA Catches Indian Drugmaker Destroying Crucial Inspection Papers
The documents were needed to verify testing and manufacturing practices at Granules, a company in Telangana, India, that supplies generic medications to the U.S., officials say. More pharmaceutical news is on migraine meds, HIV supplies, inhalers, and more.
Florida Accused Of Overreach As It Uses Taxpayer Cash To Fight Abortion Issue
Even as Republican leaders seek to preserve the state’s six-week abortion ban, Florida health officials are warning providers that they face regulatory actions if they don’t offer life-saving care to pregnant women in emergency situations.
Scientists Pinpoint Which Animals May Have Spread Covid At Wuhan Market
The list of animals included the raccoon dog, hoary bamboo rat, dog, European rabbit, Amur hedgehog, Malayan porcupine, Reeves’s muntjac, Himalayan marmot, and masked palm civet. The new research doesn’t prove that the animals were infected by the virus, CNN explains, but that their DNA was found very near the virus, creating a strong possibility the animals were infected at the market. NPR takes an even deeper dive into the market’s “Stall A.”
Congress OKs $3 Billion Stopgap For VA
The appropriations measure comes with a stipulation that the department explain why it has a budget shortfall. Also, veterans at five facilities in the Pacific Northwest and Ohio are being alerted that prescription drug copayments soon will be required once again.
First Edition: Friday, Sept. 20, 2024
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Research Roundup: Diabetes Drugs; Covid; Cardiometabolic Diseases
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of health policy studies and briefs.
Editorial writers examine these public health issues.
CDC Reports 22 More Oropouche Virus Cases
The total number of Oropouche cases has now reached 74 across five states, mostly in Florida. In other news, a study found that cancer patients who are overweight are more likely to receive a second cancer diagnosis later.
Gov. Beshear Halts Conversion Therapy For Minors In Kentucky
The Democratic governor’s executive order that outlaws the disproved practice, which is intended to change a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation, goes into effect immediately. Plus: news from Indiana, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Alabama, California, and elsewhere.
Insurers Begin To Tackle Complex Mental Health Compliance Rules
The industry is tasked with bringing mental health services in line with medical benefits in an effort to make it easier for Americans to find the care they need. Elsewhere, St. Paul plans to streamline its 911 services, and 988 counselors contend with “bogus sex calls.”
Neuralink ‘Blindsight’ Brain Implant Gets FDA ‘Breakthrough Device’ Nod
The device is a variant of Neuralink’s brain implant technology, in this case designed to “enable even those who have lost both eyes” to see, according to owner Elon Musk. Separately, progress is reported in a gene therapy program to beat macular degeneration.
Ascension Suffered $1.3 Billion Hit From Cyberattack, Analysis Finds
The attack happened in May, forcing Ascension to close access to its electronic health records, and now financial data analyzed by STAT shows how much impact the hack had on the nonprofit hospital system. Separately, critics say the federal response to health industry cyberattacks is weak.
House Bill To Extend Pediatric Rare Disease Aid Clears Committee
Passage of the measure would tee it up to be added to government funding legislation. It also would ensure the voucher program would be in place another five years. Meanwhile, the House rejected the stopgap spending bill as the deadline to avert a government shutdown nears.
Report: US Ranks Worst In Health Care Among 10 Developed Nations
NBC News reports on the new data from The Commonwealth Fund, which found that Americans die the youngest and experience the most preventable deaths, despite that the U.S. spends nearly double what the other nine countries do. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Francis Collins are also in the news.
First Edition: Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Read recent commentary about pharmaceutical issues.
