Latest KFF Health News Stories
Paper Charting, Hand-Delivered Orders: How Ascension Hack Disrupts Care In 19 States
As fallout from the cyberattack on the Ascension health system is ongoing, staff at some of the 140 affected hospitals voice concerns for patient safety. Health workers are having to take notes by hand and don’t have access to previous patient records.
HPV Shot Linked To Reduction In Head, Neck Cancer Risk In Men
New research shows the benefits for men of getting an HPV vaccination, but reports ponder why so few people are actually embracing the shots. In other news, researchers find that two doses of the mpox vaccine offer almost complete protection.
FDA Advisers Recommend Approval Of Colon Cancer Blood Test
The FDA’s advisory panel of outside experts expressed some concerns that Guardant Health’s blood-based colon cancer screening is not as accurate as a colonoscopy but determined the benefits outweigh the risks. Approval by this group is a requirement for winning CMS coverage.
Florida’s Abortion Ban Drove Up Wait Times In East Coast Clinics
Florida’s strict abortion ban went into effect May 1. Meanwhile, reports highlight that Florida law does not define rape, which worries doctors when it comes to considering abortion ban exemptions.
Dairy Farms Are Slow To Dole Out PPE To Its Workers As Bird Flu Spreads
In an effort to respond to the growing bird flu threat, the USDA will provide financial support to farms so that they may launch biosecurity plans and complete other required measures.
Louisiana Senate Passes Bill To Ban Unprescribed Abortion Pill Possession
Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, is expected to sign the measure that would classify mifepristone and misoprostol as controlled substances. Meanwhile, California has granted Arizona doctors emergency licenses so they may tend to Arizonans who now must travel out of state for abortion care.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations. Please note: First Edition will not be published Monday, May 27, in honor of Memorial Day. See you Tuesday!
Research Roundup: Ancient Viral DNA; Long Covid; Bacterial Priority Pathogens List; Flu Vaccines
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of health policy studies and briefs.
‘Expanding Public Health Concern’: 1 in 9 US Kids Has ADHD Diagnosis
According to a new report from the CDC, more than 7 million American kids ages 3 to 17 received a diagnosis of ADHD in 2022, an increase of 1 million from 2016. Other health and wellness news is on ADHD medications in adulthood, ultraprocessed foods, fish oil supplements, and more.
Wyoming Dept. Of Corrections Switches To New Medical Services Provider
Wyoming Public Radio explains that the change comes after years of working with the same “embattled” medical company. Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, the governor is reportedly at odds with hospitals over proposed changes to state Medicaid payments.
Editorial writers examine CRISPR, health care worker burnout, Havana Syndrome, and more.
Bankruptcy Filing Is A Farce, J&J Litigants Contend In Latest Lawsuit
The plantiffs argue J&J’s efforts put money out of reach in a settlement over talc-based products; the company says that isn’t so. In other news, a long-acting insulin product from Novo Nordisk was linked to safety risks; gene splicing might be key to long-lasting obesity drugs; and more.
Miami Now US Epicenter Of Surge In Dengue Fever Infections
Cases of dengue fever have more than doubled versus the same period last year. Separately, a mosquito sample in Houston has tested positive for West Nile virus, and experts say more kinds of ticks are hitting Illinois in a longer season.
Companies Illegally Making Millions Off Veterans Filing For PACT Benefits
Federal law prohibits charging veterans for help in applying for restitution for wartime injuries. Even so, a Washington Post review found that as many as 100 unaccredited companies are charging vets anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 for help filing claims.
Democrats Want Contraception Rights Vote To Expose GOP Policies
The Senate will vote in June on legislation designed to protect contraception access, expecting Republicans to block the bill and show their cards on what’s expected to be a key campaign issue. Meanwhile, in Texas, an anti-abortion doctor was appointed to the state maternity committee.
Record Number Of Teens Are Obtaining And Dying From Fentanyl
Fatal opioid overdoses among youth ages 12 to 17 has doubled since the start of the covid pandemic, according to The Washington Post’s analysis of CDC data. Pediatricians have been startled by the spike and say that treatment options for patients that young are limited.
More Americans Prefer Daily Dose Of Weed Over Alcohol, Analysis Finds
In other news, cannabis-using teens are a greater risk of developing a psychotic disorder, study says. Meanwhile, a former drug czar sounds the alarm on the cannabis industry, likening it to Big Tobacco.
Vaccines Largely Did Their Job In Warding Off Long Covid, Study Finds
In another study, scientists are looking at a new antiviral to help ailing covid patients, but the high level of immunity in the population is complicating efforts to test obeldesivir in humans.
Michigan Dairy Worker Is Second Human In US Infected With Bird Flu
Meanwhile, wastewater surveillance monitoring will pick up nationally in the coming weeks. And clues from Texas identify the state as the likely ground zero for the H5N1 spread.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
