Latest KFF Health News Stories
Editorial writers tackle these public health issues.
North Carolina Republican Lawmakers Push Medicaid Expansion To 2023
Meanwhile, in South Dakota, voters approved Medicaid expansion but a KHN report notes that as in other conservative states, exactly when and how politicians and administrators will move forward with the process is unclear. Other news is from Colorado, Idaho, California, Texas, and elsewhere.
Duration Of Addiction Treatment Shorter For Black, Hispanic Patients: Study
New data published in JAMA Psychiatry show that when Black and Hispanic patients are prescribed buprenorphine, the typical duration is shorter than for white patients. In other news, a different study shows relaxed prostate cancer screening guidelines may preferentially serve white patients.
Study Shows Meditation May Work As Well As Standard Anxiety Drug
A study into the impact of mindfulness meditation on anxiety, compared with taking the generic version of the drug Lexapro, finds that an eight-week intensive program of meditation worked equally well. Separately, Eli Lilly was ordered to pay $176.5 million to Teva Pharmaceuticals for patent infringement issues.
Blood Made In A Lab Was Just Injected Into People For The First Time
The trial could be a major advance for people living with blood disorders. Cells used were grown from stem cells taken from adult donor blood. Also: Infantile Pompe disease, young life scientists leaving academia, and more.
CDC Says Listeria Outbreak In 6 States Linked To Deli Meats, Cheeses
The outbreak killed 1 person and sickened more than a dozen others from April 2021 to September 2022. In other updates, the World Health Organization says the number of global monkeypox cases rose slightly last week.
Worldwide Covid Deaths Down 90% In Last 9 Months: WHO
With 10,000 deaths a week due to covid still reported globally, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urges continued vigilance, while saying: “We have come a long way, and this is definitely cause for optimism.”
High Turnout By Abortion Rights Supporters Swayed The Midterms
Political prognosticators anticipated a Republican “red wave” in this week’s midterm elections. Instead, the known results were far more mixed due in large part to voters who back abortion access. Congressional balance of power is still up in the air.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations. Note to readers: KHN’s First Edition is off Friday in honor of Veterans Day. Look for it in your inbox Monday.
South Dakota Votes To Expand Medicaid Cover
Forbes says a “wide margin” of South Dakotans voted to approve a ballot measure to extend Medicaid cover to over 40,000 low-income adults. Vox notes that this is now the seventh time in a row nationwide in which voters have approved such a measure.
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Viewpoints: Telehealth Access Should Become Permanent; Polio Vaccination Rates Must Increase
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health topics.
Paralyzed Man Can Type Over 1,000 Words Using Brain Implant
ScienceAlert, AFP and Stat report on the fascinating progress of an experiment to give a paralyzed man the ability to communicate using a brainwave-reading implant and computer system — it’s now expanded the number of words he can spell out to more than 1,100. Other brain research includes CTE and binge-eating care.
Staff Issues Prompt 1 In 2 Nurses To Think Of Quitting Profession: Survey
The significant ratio of nursing staff who’ve considered leaving the profession is reported in Healthcare Dive. Nurses cited staffing shortages as the main reason, then poor work-life balance and mental health impacts. Other news reports examine nurses’ stress levels, Corewell Health, rural health systems, and more.
Medicare Advantage Insurers Boosting Marketing Efforts
A report in Modern Healthcare says that insurers are stepping up their marketing to attract more enrollment. Separately, Oscar Health has “all but abandoned” that market after attracting too few policyholders. USA Today explains why private Medicare plans are set to pass traditional ones.
Rare Heart Issues May Be More Likely After Moderna Covid Shots Than Pfizer
A study reported in CIDRAP says that although myocarditis and pericarditis remain rare side effects after covid shots, they may be more likely after a second dose of Moderna’s vaccine than Pfizer’s. And a report in the LA Times reminds us that covid is still a leading cause of death in Los Angeles County.
Supreme Court Hears Indiana Nursing Home Case That Could Shake Medicaid
In the case of Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County v. Talevski, the Supreme Court justices appeared reluctant to side with the defendants who argued that Medicaid recipients did not have the right to sue for benefits. The court ruling in favor would largely gut rights within safety net programs like Medicaid and CHIP.
Voters Have Their Say On Medical Debt, Pot, Mushrooms, Human Rights, More
In Arizona, voters overwhelmingly voted to decrease interest rates on medical debt. In Massachusetts, dental costs were front and center. In Pennsylvania, former heart surgeon and TV celebrity Dr. Mehmet Oz, a Republican, lost his bid for governor.
Californians Defeat Dialysis Clinic Proposition, Ban Flavored Tobacco
California voted “no” on Proposition 29, which would have required more doctor staffing at dialysis clinics. Voters said “yes,” though, to Proposition 31, a measure that bans most flavored tobacco products in the most populous state.
1.3 Million People With Diabetes Rationed Insulin In The Last Year
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
