Latest KFF Health News Stories
Editorial writers discuss these public health issues.
Study: More With Breast Cancer Can Skip Post-Surgery Radiation Therapy
A new study shows that more older women with low-risk breast cancer can skip radiation treatments after surgery, lowering both costs and also risky, painful side effects: data show the radiation didn’t impact overall survival rates. Meanwhile, the WHO says it will maintain the mpox global emergency.
Several Health Facilities Accused Of Being Unsanitary, Unsafe, Neglectful
In Illinois, a state-run facility for people with mental illnesses and developmental disabilities was accused of shocking instances of cruelty and abuse, ProPublica reported. In Florida, problems at HCA Florida Bayonet Point led to, among other problems, anesthesiology errors that resulted in patients waking up during surgery, NBC News said. Other complaints concern hospitals in D.C. and Maine.
As Violence Grows, 63% Of Americans Want Gun Laws To Change, Poll Finds
The cycle of violence is so pervasive that some parts of the country are now coping with repeated shootings. In El Paso on Wednesday, one person was killed and three were injured in a shooting at a mall located steps away from the site of a 2019 Walmart rampage that left 23 dead.
South Carolina Lawmakers Again Pass ‘Near-Total’ Abortion Ban
AP reports that the South Carolina House, ruled by a Republican supermajority, “shows no sign of budging” from its efforts to totally ban abortion. But in Kentucky, Republicans pushed back against a bill introduced by Rep. Emily Callaway, also Republican, to raise illegal abortion to homicide status.
Moderna Says It Won’t Charge Americans For Its Covid Shots
Earlier reports said Moderna was planning a price of $110 to $130 per dose in a pivot to commercial distribution, but the company now says it’s committed to enabling access for all. Separately, the DOJ says the government should face a patent lawsuit over covid shots — not Moderna.
Biden’s Annual Physical Takes Place In Spotlight Of Possible 2024 Campaign
President Joe Biden heads to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Thursday for yearly physical exams. The White House promises transparency on the outcome in the shadow of an expected presidential campaign in which Biden’s age is already an issue raised by opponents.
Federal Spending On Medicare, Social Security Will Outstrip Revenues: CBO
The Congressional Budget Office has new estimates about federal spending on Social Security and Medicare over the next decade, warning it may rise faster than revenues and the whole economy. Funds for Social Security would hit a shortfall in 2032 — a year earlier than expected.
Narcan Moves Closer To Being Sold Over The Counter
Two panels of addiction experts recommended Wednesday that the FDA allow naloxone, an overdose-reversing nasal spray, to be sold without a prescription. Doctors and other advocacy groups have also pressed the Biden administration to make such a move to combat the opioid epidemic.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Medicaid Bill Targets Private Firms Offering Trans Care In Tennessee
Republican lawmakers are behind a new effort to target trans health care in Tennessee, AP reports, with a new bill that would ban private companies from TennCare contracts if they cover gender-transitioning medical care. Meanwhile, in Idaho, a bill banning gender care for minors was passed.
Experimental Marburg Virus Vaccine May Be Deployed In Equatorial Guinea
News outlets report on a concerning outbreak of Marburg fever in Equatorial Guinea, which has prompted the World Health Organization to consider an experimental vaccine. No current vaccine or antiviral treatment is approved. Chikungunya and malaria are also in global health news.
Residents Told To Drink Bottled Water Near Ohio Train Incident
News outlets shine a spotlight on the health and environmental impact of toxic chemicals from the train derailment in Ohio, as locals’ and experts’ concerns continue. Officials told residents Tuesday to drink bottled water until testing shows local water supplies are safe.
Viewpoints: America Has Failed Its Gun-Scarred Youth
Opinion writers weigh in on the shootings at Michigan State and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High.
Perspectives: It’s Absurd That Our Judicial System Allows 1 Judge To Undo Decades Of FDA Science
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Factory Inspection May Be To Blame In Biocon’s Recent FDA Rejection
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Study Shows Penis Length Has Increased, But Experts Are Concerned
USA Today covers a startling piece of data from a global multi-decade meta study of average erect penis size: It’s grown 24% over 30 years. But experts say the implications for fertility are complex, as are the reasons behind the change. Separately, a study says a pill could “curb” binge drinking.
Centura, One Of Colorado’s Largest Hospital Systems, To Break Up
Centura Health has long operated as a partnership between CommonSpirit Health and AdventHealth, but an announcement Tuesday said the Catholic- and Seventh-day Adventist-aligned partners would split. Cedars-Sinai, Outcome Health, Ben Taub Hospital, and more are also in the news.
A Novel Male Birth Control Method Shows Promise — In Mice
While previous medication-based efforts at developing male birth control sometimes used hormonal methods, the new injection targets sperm motility and rendered mice “temporarily infertile” after one shot. Testing shows it also works on human sperm, in a petri dish — human testing is likely a few years away.
Tennessee Moves To Add Limited Exemptions To Strict Abortion Ban
Tennessee’s abortion ban, one of the strictest in the country, AP reports, may be slightly loosened thanks to a new bill that adds “narrow” exemptions despite reported “threats” from anti-abortion advocates. Meanwhile, in Utah, abortion clinics would be forced to shut in 2024 if a new bill is passed.
