Latest KFF Health News Stories
Concerns Rise Over Health Startups Sharing Patient Data With Big Tech
Stat and The Markup report on what’s said to be “out of control” health data sharing. Separately, AP reports that it’s actually hard to reach New Mexico’s Medicaid providers by phone to schedule appointments.
White House Set To Tackle Ambulance Ride Surprise Bills
News outlets report on efforts to tackle unpredictable bills after taking an ambulance ride. The Biden administration is set as of January to kick off the work of a new advisory committee aimed at stopping the practice.
Maternal, Infant Death Rates Were Already Higher In States That Now Ban Abortion
An analysis of 2020 data finds overlap between the states with the high maternal and infant death rates with ones that have banned or restricted abortion since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June.
Covid Cases Among Veterans Have Nearly Doubled In Past Month
In other pandemic news, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, said he is requesting a grand jury investigation into alleged “crimes and wrongdoing” related to the covid vaccine and is also forming a state committee to counter policy recommendations from the CDC.
Biden Signs Respect For Marriage Act, Supporting Same-Sex Rights
The bill mandates federal recognition for same-sex marriages and stops states from denying the validity of out-of-state marriages based on sex, race, or ethnicity. The Salt Lake Tribune says Church of Latter-day Saints leaders were at the signing event, praising the law’s religious exemptions.
CDC: Long Covid Played A Part In More Than 3,500 Deaths
The research from the CDC is the first of its kind in the U.S. But one expert tells Stat that “the challenge is that the data they have provides only a floor of an estimate of the mortality burden of long covid.”
HHS Moves To Make Permanent Pandemic-Driven Opioid Treatment Options
The Department of Health and Human Services proposed a rule that would maintain opioid treatment flexibilities instituted during the covid emergency, including easier access to drugs like methadone for home use and for providers to prescribe them via telehealth.
In A First, MRNA Vaccine Effective Against Melanoma, Study Finds
The experimental skin cancer vaccine from Moderna, combined with Merck’s Keytruda, cut the risk of death or recurrence by 44%, the companies said Tuesday.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers examine these public health topics.
Supreme Court Says California’s Flavored Tobacco Ban Stands
CNBC notes that voters “overwhelmingly” approved of the ban, but the tobacco industry tried to block it — unsuccessfully now that the Supreme Court has ruled. Meanwhile, vape retailer Avail has lost its challenge to the FDA’s denial of approval to sell its products.
Don’t Soothe A Kid’s Tantrum With Screen Time, Study Warns
CNN reports on a new study showing that soothing with digital devices can lead to later issues with emotional reactivity. Separately, the Washington Post says schools are turning to telehealth solutions to tackle student mental health crises. Also: extreme weather and heart disease, flu shots, more.
Cambodia Blocks Exports Of Primates Used In Drug Research
Stat says the decision to halt the export of “non-human primates,” driven by problems with monkey smuggling, could hit drug discovery efforts. Also: FDA approval for a lung cancer drug, “natural killer cells” for Hodgkin lymphoma, and a gene editing treatment for leukemia.
CMS Wants To Limit Non-Standard Policies On Insurance Exchanges
Modern Healthcare says the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is proposing changes to ACA network adequacy and standardized plan rules, boosting the number of standardized plans offered.
Overdoses Surging Because Of Fentanyl ‘Hidden’ In Other Drugs
A Bloomberg report shines a light on “hidden” fentanyl in drugs such as Adderall and cocaine. Fox News warns that fentanyl and a “more dangerous” type of meth are driving homelessness. Other news outlets cover drug use in California youths, Milwaukee, and elsewhere.
Iowa Judge Quashes Attempt To Ban Most Abortions In The State
A 2019 decision placed a permanent injunction on Iowa’s strict abortion law, and now a state judge says there’s no process to reverse it. Separately, in Pueblo City, Colorado, efforts by a Texas anti-abortion group to push an abortion ban were rejected by the city council.
White House, Medical Community Call Out Musk’s ‘Dangerous’ Fauci Tweets
The Biden administration and other medical professionals worry that Twitter owner Elon Musk’s words could further inflame possible physical threats against Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Covid Linked To Serious Heart Condition POTS: Research
New research finds evidence of a connection between cases of POTS, or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, and a covid infection — and to a lesser extent, covid vaccinations.
3.2 Million More Americans Would’ve Died Without Covid Vaccines: Study
In what is viewed as a conservative estimate, a new study says that covid vaccines averted at least 3.2 million deaths and kept over 18.5 million patients out of the hospital.
More Ambitious Care Standards Set By American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is urging a more modern and aggressive approach to treating patients with diabetes. Recommendations include losing 15% of weight instead of 5%, a greater use of statins to control cholesterol, and tackling racial disparities in care.
