Latest KFF Health News Stories
Effort To Reduce Military Suicides Doesn’t Include Gun Purchase Limits
The AP explains a “number of improvements” for mental health care access ordered by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin do not include controversial moves to limit gun or ammunition purchases by young troops. Stateline, meanwhile, shows how some states are trying to combat rates of gun suicide.
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 TikTok, nursing homes, sandwiches, physician-rating websites, and doctors who make a difference.
Medicaid Officials Put Pressure On States To Auto-Enroll Recipients
A coverage cliff is looming, but many people likely won’t reapply for coverage because state Medicaid agencies have lost track of their addresses. “If you can … match up against IRS or other data, you don’t even need to send them a form,” says Medicaid chief Daniel Tsai.
Cases Of Tick-Borne Babesiosis Rising Fast In Northeastern States
The disease can lead to flu-like symptoms and can be severe or even fatal, which is concerning as cases doubled between 2011 and 2019 in some Northeastern states. Other public health stories in the news cover school nutrition, pets’ impact on sleep quality, allergies, mpox and more.
LGBTQ+ Rights Boosted In Michigan; Kentucky Targets Youth Trans Care
In Michigan, LGBTQ+ protections are now part of the state’s civil rights law. On the other side of the issue: Kentucky lawmakers passed a ban on gender care for minors, and a ban on such care went into effect in Florida.
Key Treatment Shortages Impacting Care Of Those With Cancer
CIDRAP notes that three generic drugs used widely for treating common cancers in adults, children are in short supply and driving physicians’ concerns that they may have to swap to less effective meds. CBS News reports on shortages of Pluvicto, a drug used against advanced prostate cancer.
10 Charged In Man’s Asphyxiation Death At Va. Mental Health Facility
Three former employees of Central State Hospital in Petersburg, Virginia, were charged with second-degree murder on Thursday; seven sheriff’s deputies were arrested and charged earlier this week. Irvo Otieno, 28, died March 6 while being admitted to the hospital. Otieno’s mother, who was shown video of the incident, said, “My son was treated like a dog, worse than a dog.”
Financial Woes Leave 600 Rural Hospitals At Risk Of Closure
Hundreds of rural hospitals are at either immediate or high risk of closure because of consistent financial difficulties. An organizational restructure at Crozer Health, high demand for pediatric hospital beds, financial pressures at Bright Health, and more are also in the news.
Focus On Paxlovid’s Effectiveness Against Covid With FDA Endorsement
News outlets cover developments about covid treatment Paxlovid, as a study shows it’s 80% effective against severe covid if taken inside the first five days. A panel of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration also endorsed the drug as an option for adults at high risk for severe covid.
North Dakota Supreme Court Upholds Injunction On Abortion Ban; 6-Week Ban Advances In Florida
Efforts to restrict or protect abortion access are reported from North Dakota, Florida, Nevada, California, New Mexico and elsewhere in the U.S.
Sanofi Joins Competitors In Capping Out-Of-Pocket Insulin Costs
Sanofi announced Thursday that it will cap out-of-pockets insulin costs at $35 a month for consumers with private insurance, following in the footsteps of the other two biggest insulin makers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. Sanofi will also lower list prices of its most prescribed insulin, Lantus, and its fast-acting insulin, Apidra.
Genetic Samples From 2020 May Link Covid Start To Wuhan Market Animals
Swabs taken from the Chinese market in January 2020 provide the strongest evidence to date that the pandemic originated in animals, according to the genetic data analysis done by an international team of virus experts, first reported in The Atlantic.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Research Roundup: Covid; Autism; Infection Control; Time Perception
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Viewpoints: Ending Roe Is Making Women Forgo Pregnancy Altogether; Total Abortion Bans Are Deadly
Editorial writers examine these public health topics.
Mississippi To Decriminalize Fentanyl Testing Kits
Gov. Tate Reeves signed a new House bill Monday that will decriminalize illegal-drug testing kits effective July 1. Meanwhile, in Texas, the Senate passed a bill allowing fentanyl distributors to be charged with murder, and in Mexico, the president suggested a ban on using fentanyl in medicine.
Industrial Trichloroethylene Possibly Linked To Parkinson’s Disease
New research identifies risks from trichloroethylene, which is widely used to degrease aviation components and heavy machinery. It could be linked to Parkinson’s. CNN, separately, reports on pesticide contaminant levels in fruits and vegetables.
Unwinding Of Medicaid Coverage Will Affect Millions
Various news outlets discuss the reenrollment of Medicaid beneficiaries as the end of the public health emergency ends. Also various report from across the country on gender identity.
Northwestern Medicine Succeeds With Novel Double Lung Transplants
News outlets report on a new treatment for certain late-stage lunch cancers, with successful procedures carried out on two patients at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. In other news, a push to subject medical devices to placebo tests in the same way drugs are investigated for effectiveness.
Analysis: 30% Of Patients Get Care Without Seeing Primary Provider
A FAIR Health analysis, reported by Axios, shows that of all patients who received medical services between 2016 and 2022 nearly 30% did not see a primary care physician. The Texas Tribune, meanwhile, reports on how rural Texans must travel long distances for basic health needs.
