Latest KFF Health News Stories
Viewpoints: How Worried Should We Be About New Variants?; US Needs More Sports To Help With Anxiety
Editorial writers discuss covid variants, anxiety, stroke, and more.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Study Will Examine If Psychedelic Can Help In Quitting Smoking
The National Institutes of Health grant to Johns Hopkins University marks the first time in 50 years that a federal grant has gone to study a psychedelic drug as a treatment, NBC News says. Meanwhile, the health care impact of words and labels related to addiction is discussed, among other news.
Firm Aims To Revamp Radiotherapy; Help Ahead For Balding People?
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Centene’s Medicare Advantage Quality Scores Missed Their Targets
The scores were worse than executives expected. Modern Healthcare reports that the insurer is hiring a chief quality officer as a result. Separately, Cigna’s Express Scripts reportedly won Centene’s pharmacy benefit manager contract.
Task Force: Courts Must Direct More Cases To Mental Health Care
A task force from the National Center for State Courts advised that courts should try harder to divert people needing mental health care to treatment instead of jail. The impact of vitality on mental, physical health; states opting out of teen mental health tracking; and more are also in the news.
Study Suggests Not All Breast Cancer Patients Need Surgery
Usually surgery to remove a tumor in breast tissue is deemed critical, but new research suggests that chemotherapy may be enough for some patients. Also: benzene in consumer products, rising uterine cancer cases, the high cost of an old cancer drug, and more.
Judge Says NYC Must Reinstate Workers Fired Over Vaccine Mandate
Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, officials are offering jobs back to roughly 50 state employees who were fired or quit over the covid vaccine mandate. Other news on vaccines covers boosters, shots for kids, inhalable vaccines, and more.
Few US Labs Able To Test For Ebola Strain Breaking Out In Uganda
A CDC spokesperson says the agency is quickly ramping up the number of labs authorized to test for Sudan Ebolavirus, a strain that is driving the outbreak in Uganda and that international health officials worry could spread. As of Tuesday, 22 labs in the U.S. can conduct tests.
Researchers Say A Dramatic Covid Winter Surge May Not Happen
The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation says it’s unlikely that there will be the dramatic spikes in covid hospitalizations and deaths seen in the first two winters of the pandemic. Separately, Walgreens will offer free delivery of covid treatment Paxlovid in underserved communities.
Abortion, Covid Shots At Heart Of Midterm Debates
In a debate with Democratic Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz said he opposed federal abortion bans. In the New York governor debate, abortion and crime were key discussion points. Elsewhere, fentanyl “candy” conspiracies and confidence in science were in the news.
Alito Discusses Court Legitimacy, Safety After Abortion Decision Leak
In the wake of his majority opinion going prematurely public in the controversial case that overturned Roe v. Wade, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito says that panel members became “targets for assassination.” He also waded into the debate over whether the legitimacy of the court is at risk.
Lawsuit Expands To Challenge All Of ACA’s Preventive Care Coverage
Plaintiffs in Kelley v. Becerra filed a motion asking U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor to set aside all requirements under the Affordable Care Act that force insurers to fully cover preventive care like cancer screenings. O’Connor previously ruled in their favor when the cases challenged HIV preventive medication.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Scientists Find Genetic Links To Dyslexia
Media outlets cover what’s said to be the largest genetic study of dyslexia ever made, which has uncovered 42 genetic variants linked to dyslexia and established a link between it and ambidexterity. Other research news includes positive impacts from video gaming on kids’ brains.
Junk Food Maker Money Tied To Academy Of Nutrition And Dietetics
The Academy has serious influence on the public’s eating habits, The Washington Post says, but also notes freshly-released documents reveal financial ties to big food companies that produce junk food. Also in the news, dietary impacts on the planet, rising deadly fungal infections, and more.
Viewpoints: Are Cancer Tests Worth The Cost?; Worries Over Concussions In Youngest Football Players
Editorial writers discuss cancer screening, concussions, covid, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Juul Looks At Investor Bailout After FDA’s Sales Ban Effort
The e-cigarette maker is trying to stave off bankruptcy, the Wall Street Journal reports, by talking with major investors about bailout money in the wake of legal battles over sales bans of its vaping products. Also: Abbott Nutrition, online prescribing, a dry shampoo recall, and more.
Some JPMorgan Chase Employees Can Get Medical Care Right There At Work
Modern Healthcare reports on a pilot program that will allow more than 20,000 Chase employees in the Columbus, Ohio, area to visit advanced primary care centers at three offices staffed by providers from Seattle-based Vera Whole Health and Central Ohio Primary Care of Westerville. In other news, Philips and Cerebral announce layoffs.
Abortion Access In Question In Several State Elections
The Hill reports on how some state elections will influence whether abortion remains legal. In California, a ballot question on protecting abortion rights drives debate over what fetal “viability” really means. Other reproductive health news is from Georgia, Mississippi, and North Carolina.
