Latest KFF Health News Stories
FDA Official In Charge Of Food Safety Resigns
Frank Yiannas, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for the office of food policy and response, will step down next month. On the heels of the baby formula shortage, Yiannas in his resignation letter called for a new, “fully empowered” deputy commissioner for foods position, in order to avoid such future crises.
ACA Enrollment Hits Record High Of 16.3 Million Insured
HHS released final numbers Wednesday from the 2023 open enrollment period for the federal exchange. 3 million of those who signed up this year are new to Obamacare. A few state exchanges remain open until the end of the month.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers delve into these public health issues.
Hawaiians’ Long Life Expectancy Tied To Low Rates For Smoking, Obesity
In addition, Hawaii was No. 1 in state health care system performance in 2022, according to a study from the Commonwealth Fund. Other news is from Massachusetts, North Carolina, Florida, California, and Georgia.
Experts Monitor Bird Flu Spread Amid Concerns It May Jump To Humans
Experts say the risk of any such jump of H5N1 from birds to humans is low, Axios notes. But the global spread of the illness, plus the fact it’s jumped to some other species, is raising concern. Meanwhile, a new study into rising sleep medication use highlights which groups are using the meds.
Data: Cassava Sciences Alzheimer’s Drug Only As Effective As Placebo
Stat says the experimental drug, called simufilam, has long been claimed to be capable of improving patients’ cognition. But a mid-stage study shows its results only compare with a placebo. Separately, the FDA denied marketing orders for two menthol vape products.
3 More Top Medical Schools Withdraw From US News Rankings
Following Harvard University, three more top-10 medical schools — at the University of Pennsylvania and at Columbia and Stanford universities — have now also withdrawn their data from the U.S. News list. Audits of Medicare Advantage insurers, clawbacks, and price transparency are also in the news.
CDC Revamp To Include A New Office For Public Health Data, Tech
The new office for data, surveillance, and technology, Bloomberg reports, is aimed at boosting monitoring for potential public health threats. Another new office, set to be part of a CDC shake-up, will tackle equity in health care. Meanwhile, the WHO criticizes U.S. plans for yearly covid shots.
Florida Supreme Court Upholds State’s 15-Week Abortion Ban
In the legal to-and-fro battle concerning Florida’s abortion ban, the state Supreme Court just declined requests from seven abortion clinics and a doctor to halt the ban. Meanwhile in New York, the state Assembly and Senate voted to codify abortion rights in the state constitution.
Mass Shootings Boost Calls For Federal Gun Safety Measures
California Gov. Gavin Newsom “angrily” denounced Republican opposition to such changes. As news outlets release more data on the suspects, research show such shootings can be contagious.
Millions Likely To Lose Medicaid When ‘Continuous Coverage’ Ends
HHS estimates that 6.8 million who qualify for Medicaid may soon lose coverage because of paperwork hurdles or a lack of awareness about the end of a pandemic-era policy on March 31 that will lead states to require re-enrollment. The FCC is allowing states and managed care plans to text beneficiaries in order to spread the word.
Perspectives: Leqembi Not All It’s Cracked Up To Be; What Is Preventing Naloxone From Being OTC?
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
New Drug Cocktail For Cystic Fibrosis Being Tested; Action Needed To Tackle Antibiotic Shortages
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Republicans Get More Explicit About Cuts They’re Eyeing For Medicare
As health programs remain in the negotiation mix of the debt ceiling debate, a group of Republican lawmakers are also calling for greater changes to entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security.
FDA Moves To Reduce Lead In Food Manufactured For Babies And Toddlers
The FDA estimates that its proposed limits could result in a 24% to 27% reduction in lead exposure for children 2 and under — a key developmental period when lead can contribute to learning disabilities, lowered IQ, and behavioral problems.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Here’s The One Thing That All Shootings Have In Common, And It’s Pretty Simple
Editorial writers tackle gun violence, covid, suicide, and other public health topics.
Rape Kit Training Bill Passed In West Virginia Senate
To lower victims’ burdens, the new bill would require all hospitals in the state with an emergency room to always have trained staff available to conduct forensic rape kit evaluations. Meanwhile, in Connecticut, a shortage of health care workers lends legal urgency to recruitment efforts.
Opioid Use Disorder Costs Hospitals $95 Billion A Year
Axios reports that the cost of treating opioid misuse amounts to about 8% of all hospital expenditures, according to data from Premier Inc. AI Applied Sciences. In Kentucky, the governor promoted a program to help fight the drug epidemic. Meanwhile, USA Today covers the rise of xylazine in the illicit drug supply.
