Latest KFF Health News Stories
2021 Covid Birth Rate ‘Bump’ Reversed Decline Seen In Recent Years
News outlets report on fresh data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which show a “bump” in the U.S. birth rate in 2021. ABC News says it’s the first uptick in seven years. CNN argues the rate has been declining since 2008. The Hill notes the average age for first pregnancy also rose.
US Health System Most Expensive, Yet Worse For Outcomes Than Peers
News outlets report new data from The Commonwealth Fund research group that found that while the U.S. spends more on health care than any other high-income country, it has the lowest life expectancy at birth and the highest rate of people with multiple health complications.
CMS Sets Tougher Penalties For Improper Medicare Advantage Charges
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimates that it could claw back $4.7 billion over 10 years from pending audits of private Medicare Advantage insurers’ charges. The companies didn’t get the leniency they sought for diagnostic errors, which could set up court challenges. Insurers did a major reprieve from returning overpayments from 2011 to 2017.
RNC Pressures GOP To Pass Strictest Anti-Abortion Legislation Possible
The Republican National Committee wants all lawmakers and candidates to “go on offense” in the 2024 election cycle. Other abortion news is from South Carolina, Tennessee, Massachusetts, and elsewhere.
Biden Administration Moves To Expand Coverage Of Birth Control Under ACA
Three federal agencies proposed a new rule to bolster the Affordable Care Act’s contraception protections. It would roll back a Trump-era regulation that allows employers’ moral objections to block insurance coverage to birth control. And it creates an independent pathway for individuals who work for a company that denies coverage on religious grounds.
Pandemic Emergency Will End May 11; Expect To Pay More For Covid Costs
Among the changes likely to occur: The cost of covid vaccinations may skyrocket, the government will no longer give out free covid tests, and hospitals won’t get extra payments for treating covid patients, AP reported. Medicaid benefits, student loan payments, and Title 42 are also affected.
Viewpoints: Physical Pain Has Many Negative Effects On Patients; Why Didn’t EMTs Save Tyre Nichols?
Editorial writers discuss these public health topics.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: We Are Failing Postpartum Families; Lifesaving Reforms Needed For Organ Donation System
Editorial writers tackle these public health topics.
Utah Bans Gender-Affirming Care For Trans Youth
CBS News notes this makes Utah the first state to limit health care for transgender youth in 2023. In Wyoming, a Senate committee advanced a bill that would criminalize gender care for people under 18. Also: smoking in Florida, efforts to retain doctors on staff in Nevada, and more.
13-Year-Olds Shouldn’t Be On Social Media: Surgeon General
Vivek Murthy, speaking on CNN Newsroom, said, “Their relationships and the skewed and often distorted environment of social media often does a disservice to many of those children.” Meanwhile, USA Today reports on expectations of surging teen and child diabetes rates.
Big Pharmacies Move To Reduce Employee Hours Amid Staff Shortages
CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens are set to reduce the hours for their employees across the U.S. Separately, the FDA is said to fall behind in its review of heavy metals in baby food.
Medics Scrutinized For Not Doing More To Help Tyre Nichols After Beating
The New York Times reports that medical workers who arrived first to tend to Nichols, a Black man who died after being beaten by Memphis police officers, mostly looked on as he suffered, at one point not touching him for nearly seven minutes. The two medics appeared to be Memphis Fire Department EMTs. Also: more details on the mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, California.
Minnesota To Guarantee Abortion Rights: Bill Heads To Governor
The state Senate voted 34-33 to pass a measure guaranteeing some reproductive health care rights on Saturday. Meanwhile, a small Ohio city has agreed to rewrite its strict abortion ban after pressure from advocacy groups and social workers. Abortion ban exceptions are also in the news.
Covid Antibodies From Infection, Shots In Nearly Every American Child
The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show an estimated 96% of children ages 6 months to 17 years have covid antibodies — the CDC thinks nearly 66 million were infected with the virus. Also, the rate of Americans reporting long covid symptoms is slowing.
Extra SNAP Benefits Will End Nationwide In February
The emergency increases for food assistance, put in place during the pandemic, have already ended in 17 states, Axios reports. Local food pantries across the U.S. are bracing for an increase in demand. In other news, the White House on Sunday blasted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s intention to “strengthen” Medicare and Social Security, arguing that it was coded language to slash funding.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Some California Prisoners Can Get Limited Medicaid Care, CMS Says
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Thursday that for the first time ever, some people in prisons, jails, or juvenile detention centers can access limited services 90 days before being released. In other news, disability rights activists have sued to block the CARE Court program.
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 covid tests, Damar Hamlin, how to live to be 100, cooking help for people with disabilities, and more.
Federal Judge Limits Probe Into Providers Offering Trans Care In Fla.
The judge partly limited the state’s effort to subpoena information from medical and mental health groups in Florida. The groups had opposed the state’s prohibition on Medicaid spending for gender-affirming care. Also, Obamacare enrollment in Michigan, heat deaths in Texas, and more.
