Latest KFF Health News Stories
EPA Poised To Limit Levels Of ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Water
AP reports that the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to restrict levels of chemicals like PFAS after finding “they are dangerous in amounts so small as to be undetectable.” Separately, lead levels in schools’ water supplies are still a concern in some places.
51% Of People Alive In 2035 Will Be Obese Or Overweight: Report
A new World Obesity Federation report says the economic impact of this situation could hit $4 trillion a year. Separately, a survey finds the bulk of big food brands’ products are unhealthy.
DEA’s In-Person Rules For Controlled Substance Prescriptions Cause Concern
The federal effort to limit the overprescription of controlled substances via telehealth is causing “confusion and consternation” in the behavioral health community, Axios says, because of how it affects patients with opioid use disorder. Insulin, an Alzheimer’s vaccine, and more are also in the news.
Mental Health Provider Fined $7.8M For Sharing Data With Advertisers
The FTC says BetterHelp provided consumers’ email addresses, IP addresses, and health questionnaire information to Facebook, Snapchat, and other companies, Modern Healthcare reported. The FTC also says the company wrongly used HIPAA certification seals on its website.
FDA Says No Flu And Covid Combination Shots This Year
The FDA’s top vaccines official, Dr. Peter Marks, said this week the effort to produce a combo shot for late this year has proved “too heavy a lift.” The federal Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, meanwhile, expects commercial vaccine sales alongside the next covid strain.
Editorial writers tackle these public health topics.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KHN finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on hospital food, endovascular thrombectomy, aphasia, peptide injections, medical tourism, and more.
Medicaid Expansion Deal Struck By North Carolina Lawmakers
After months of negotiations, North Carolina Senate and House leaders announced the deal Thursday. The expansion is expected to make an additional 600,000 in the state eligible for Medicaid.
Walmart Health To Nearly Double Its In-Store Clinics In 2024
The big retailer is “eyeing more Medicare Advantage business,” Axios says, with 28 additional health clinics to go into select Walmart stores — including in Missouri and Arizona. Reuters reports that electronics retailer Best Buy also has its eye on the health care market.
Walgreens Says It Will Stop Selling Abortion Pills In Many Red States
The pharmacy chain, under pressure from nearly two dozen Republican state attorneys general, says it won’t dispense abortion pills either by mail or at their physical stores in those states. The list includes Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, and Montana, where abortion is still legal.
Republicans Lay Groundwork To Go On Offense Over Medicare Cuts
Axios reports that a group aligned with House Republican leadership will spend over $2 million to push messaging that paints President Joe Biden as the one who is eyeing Medicare cuts.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
LA Students’ Medical, Mental Health Records Leaked By Hackers
The data, including sensitive personal information, are appearing on the dark web via a ransomware group that has been targeting academic institutions, Bloomberg reports. California’s plan to detain more people with mental illnesses is among other news from the state.
Research Roundup: Lewy Body Dementia; Osteoporosis; Kidney Stones; Covid
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Viewpoints: Naloxone Needs To Be Widely Available; Steps Needed To Clear Up Surprise Medical Bills
Editorial writers examine these public health topics.
Workers At Ohio Train Incident Scene Report Illnesses
Some workers who cleaned up the aftermath of the toxic train incident in Ohio reported migraines and nausea, the Hill reports. Meanwhile, some Pennsylvania residents near the site say they are left out of recovery efforts, and the Biden administration expanded door-to-door health surveys there.
Black Americans Twice As Likely To Use ER Facilities For Mental Care
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report says Black Americans are nearly twice as likely to go to hospital emergency departments for mental health care than white Americans; Axios links this to which groups face extra barriers to finding care. Meanwhile, a push to ban TikTok advances.
Estimates Say 300,000 In Massachusetts Will Fall Off MassHealth Rolls
The Boston Globe says around 2.3 million people were enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program in February, up 25% from before the pandemic, but as the normal eligibility process restarts in April, the figure may fall. Among other news, efforts to restrict gender-affirming care advance in some states.
In First-Of-Its-Kind Case, Health Care CEO Charged With Insider Trading
Terren Peizer, chairman and CEO of Ontrak, a telehealth provider, is accused of selling millions of dollars worth of company stock just before his company disclosed the loss of Cigna as a major customer, news outlets report. A lawyer for Peizer insisted the CEO is innocent and said “the government has clearly overreached in this case.”
White House Funds Push To Capture Covid Relief Fraudsters, Reclaim Money
The Biden administration announced Thursday that it will earmark $1.6 billion for law enforcement “strike forces” to track down and prosecute scammers who misused covid relief funds.
