Latest KFF Health News Stories
NIH To Finally Review Tactic For Lowering Cancer Drug Price
Stat, reporting on the news, says it’s taken a year between a petition to the National Institutes of Health on the patent-sidestepping tactic and the start of the review process. A lung cancer drug from Mirati, cancer surgeons saying “got it all,” and cases of silicosis are also in the news.
Some Urgent Care Facilities Requiring Appointments Amid Surge Of Illnesses
Long wait times in ERs and urgent cares have put a strain on facilities and are leading some potential patients to just give up. Other industry news is from UMass Memorial Medical Center, Boone Memorial Hospital in West Virginia, and elsewhere.
Alabama Agrees To Lift Medicaid ‘Sobriety’ Rule On Hepatitis C Drugs
The Department of Justice announced that it had settled a dispute over Alabama’s Medicaid program restriction that would not pay for Hepatitis C medication for beneficiaries who used alcohol or drugs for six months before and during treatment.
After-Effects Of Prolonged Covid Hospitalizations Linger For Patients
Patients sometimes suffer “harrowing” after-effects of treatments given during extended covid ICU stays, Bloomberg says. Meanwhile, a study of young long covid patients finds that symptoms may evolve over time. Forbes reports on a link between long covid and mast cell disease.
Flu Shots Are ‘Very Good Match’; Fewer White Children Are Getting Them
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Monday that this season’s flu shot should offer protection against the strains that are currently circulating. Meanwhile, Indiana’s largest health system is restricting visitors to curb the spread of flu and RSV.
Viewpoints: Children’s Health Care Not A Priority; Vaccine Production Must Be More Widespread
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health issues.
Pfizer Seeks Authorization For Under-5 Bivalent Shots — But There’s A Twist
The company wants the green light from the FDA to add the vaccination not as a booster but as part of kids’ initial series of shots. In other news, Pfizer has countersued Moderna over vaccine patents.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Abortion Rules Based On Lies Must Be Corrected; Should Insurance Cover IVF?
Editorial writers discuss reproductive health care, chronic illness, euthanasia and more.
STDs Surging In Georgia, Hit Highest Levels In A Decade
New cases include gonorrhea and syphilis in particular, and a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says public health officials think many reasons are driving the surge, including falling condom use. Separately, the Ohio measles outbreak is continuing to grow.
Believing Marijuana Helps Your Pain May Make It So: Study
A study finds that people reporting pain relief from marijuana may be benefiting from a placebo effect. Separate research says poison center reports of child marijuana use rose 245% between 2000 and 2020. News on a puzzling medical emergency in a Van Nuys Middle School also continues.
In Military Families, Frequent Moves Can Hinder Kids With Disabilities
A report from the American Homefront Project highlights how frequent moves affect health care and schooling, particularly special education. Also: warnings over skin-whitening creams, better ways to measure skin tone, risks of Brazilian butt lifts, and more.
After Pandemic Pause, Medical Malpractice Suits Hit Hospitals Hard
Rising malpractice suits, delayed by the arrival of the pandemic, are hitting hospitals harder than expected, according to a report in Stat. In other news, a children’s hospital doctor was charged with sex crimes; a Texas man was arrested for threatening a doctor; threats over trans care; and more.
CVS Experiments With Remote Prescription-Filling By Pharmacists
Some 400 of CVS’ 30,000 pharmacists are taking part in a trial where they can prepare prescriptions in locations away from the stores where patients require medications. The goal is to improve store working conditions and patient experience. Other news includes obesity drugs, vitamins, and more.
Ind. Abortion Ban Blocked; Inquiry Into Doctor Who Helped Girl, 10, Will Go On
The same judge ruled in both cases on Friday. The ban was blocked after a challenge by Jewish, Muslim, and other non-Christian women.
As Cases Drop, Mpox Public Emergency Will End In February
The Department of Health and Human Service plans to not renew the public health emergency status of mpox after January 31, now that case numbers have fallen. In other news, a new mRNA vaccine candidate has also been developed. But experts say it’s not “mission accomplished” yet.
Military Covid Vaccine Mandate Could Go; Officials Press For Keeping It
Democratic chair of the House Armed Services Committee is reportedly concerned a rollback of the military vaccine mandate may happen in a new version of the National Defense Authorization Act, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says he wants mandates to stay, to keep protecting troop health.
So You Say You Haven’t Had Covid. You’re Probably Mistaken, Study Finds.
Researchers tested 1,574 people from August 2021 to May 2022, and 44% of them said they had never had covid. But serologic testing found that 42% of them had antibodies that indicated a previous infection. Meanwhile, new research shows that SARS-CoV-2 can live on some groceries for days.
Holiday Season Ushers In Another Unwelcome Covid Surge
It’s not just flu and RSV on the rise: Covid cases also increased following Thanksgiving gatherings, with hospitalizations up to the highest point in three months. Wastewater readings confirm another surge in some U.S. areas.
Flu At ‘High’ Level In Nearly Every State, With Hospitalizations On The Rise
Thanksgiving week saw the number of people admitted to the hospital for flu nearly double. And RSV remains another big contributor to the respiratory illnesses plaguing the U.S.
