Latest KFF Health News Stories
Covid Is Still Killing Americans, Though Racial Trends Are Shifting
The U.S. “dodged” a major covid surge this winter, the Wall Street Journal reports, but still kills at a rate of several hundred a day — mainly older people with underlying conditions. And while early in the pandemic more Black and Latino people died, an analysis for The Boston Globe finds that now more white people in Massachusetts are dying.
LGBTQ+ Youth Conversion Therapy Set To Be Banned In Utah, Minnesota
The Utah Senate voted unanimously Friday to approve a ban on certain health providers from practicing “conversion therapy” on minors. In Minnesota, a separate vote banned mental health professionals from the same practice for LGBTQ+ youth and “vulnerable adults.”
Jimmy Carter Transitions From Treatment To Hospice Care
Former President Jimmy Carter has decided to “spend his remaining time at home with his family,” forgoing further medical treatment for ongoing health issues, the Carter Center announced.
5th Cured HIV Case Confirmed Following Stem Cell Transplant
A man in Germany has no detectable virus in his body, even after stopping his HIV medication four years ago. Stem cell transplants are typically only performed in cancer patients who don’t have any other options.
First Edition: February 21, 2023
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Federal Medical Experts Will Help At Ohio Train Toxic Incident Scene
Health-monitoring concerns and wild speculation as to the environmental and health impacts of the train derailment in Ohio are in the news. Also: Florida kids losing Medicaid coverage, norovirus outbreaks, a paid sick leave mandate in Minnesota, and more.
Survey: Doctors Don’t Yet Trust Biosimilars
A survey reported in FiercePharma shows while more biosimilars are hitting the U.S. market, some doctors are hesitant to trust the lower-cost drugs the same way they trust the originals. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration has called the Philips respiratory machine recall “most serious.”
Scientists Narrow In On Genes Linked To Obesity Complications
“Hundreds” of genes are thought to be linked with obesity, Stat says, but a new study show progress is being made in linking specific genes to downstream obesity complications like diabetes. Wider side effects from long covid, mixed results for Moderna’s flu vaccine, and more are also in the news.
Animal Tranquilizer Xylazine Found In San Francisco Overdose Deaths
Xylazine, commonly known as “tranq,” was detected in the bodies of four people who died of drug overdoses in San Francisco recently. In other public health news: avian flu, the lack of vegetables in the diet of American children, and the obituary of a doctor who championed children’s health in Harlem.
Viewpoints: American Kids Are Struggling With Mental Health. Here’s How We Can Help
Editorial writers discuss the mental health of our youth, patient safety and ending the covid emergency.
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 the Marburg virus, coronavirus, the Great Epizootic, psychedelics, and more.
Sen. Fetterman Admitted To Hospital For Depression Treatment
His chief of staff said John Fetterman checked himself in for inpatient treatment of clinical depression Thursday. The Pennsylvania senator has previously experienced depression, but it has worsened during Fetterman’s recovery from a stroke. Meanwhile, actor Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
Senate Panel Launches Push To Tackle Alarming Shortage Of Health Workers
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held a hearing Thursday on the health personnel crisis that worsened during the covid pandemic. Among the measures discussed, panel chairman Bernie Sanders called for expanded medical school access.
Research Finds Catching Covid Offers Protection Like Vaccines Do
“Natural immunity” from a covid infection provides strong, lasting protection against severe outcomes, new research says — on a par with two doses of an mRNA vaccine. Separately, a study showed that for adults hospitalized with omicron, the death rate is 1.5 times that of influenza A or B.
Kentucky Supreme Court Won’t Halt Abortion Bans During Litigation
Kentucky Supreme Court justices Thursday sent challenges to the state’s abortion trigger law and six-week ban back down to lower courts for further consideration of constitutional issues, and refused the request by providers to lift the measures while the case plays out in court.
Biden’s Doctor Deems Him ‘Fit For Duty’ With No New Health Issues
Following President Joe Biden’s annual physical Thursday, his personal physician wrote that Biden is “a healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male who is fit to successfully execute duties of the presidency.” Biden’s health has been under scrutiny in the spotlight of the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
First Edition: February 17, 2023
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Research Roundup: Antibiotics; Breast Cancer; Diabetes; Asthma
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Residents Search For Reassurance After Ohio Toxic Train Derailment
Hundreds of residents in East Palestine, Ohio, met with officials Wednesday to express worries and seek answers in the aftermath of the train derailment and subsequent toxic chemical problem. Staff members from railroad operator Norfolk Southern didn’t show up. Train length and plastic chemical safety are in the media spotlight.
New Technique Extends Heart Transplant Window
The new method “revolutionizes” heart transplants, CBS News says. It works by maintaining beats and blood flow in the donor heart during transport. Separately, a Boston Globe report says a local biotech startup has secured $10 million in funding to study techniques for regrowing lost limbs.
