Latest KFF Health News Stories
Research Roundup: Covid; Prostate Cancer; Racial Inequity
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Worries Political Fallout From Spy Balloon Will Hit Medical Supply Chain
CIDRAP outlines how the Chinese spy balloon incident may influence critical supply chains that deliver important drugs into the U.S. system, including FDA inspections of overseas manufacturing plants. Also: Centene, infections from eyedrops, kidney disease tech startups, and more.
Study Shows Algorithm Can Detect Signs Of Autism In Month-Old Babies
The breakthrough, reported by USA Today, involved using children’s health records to train an algorithm: infants who were later diagnosed with autism tended to have particular health care needs early. The research could benefit groups of children that are typically overlooked for such diagnoses.
Biden Takes Flak For Barely Mentioning Abortion Rights In Speech
Abortion rights supporters say the State of the Union speech was a “missed opportunity” for the president, The New York Times reported. The Guardian noted just one mention of abortion happened in the speech. The 19th points out that historically, abortion is an uncommon topic in State of the Union addresses.
Fears Of New Covid Strains From China So Far Unfounded
A study in The Lancet says the surge in cases after China lifted its zero-covid policy did not lead to new variants. And on Capitol Hill, the acting director of the NIH slammed Republican assertions that a lab leak stemming from taxpayer-funded research may have caused the pandemic.
Covid Antiviral Cuts Hospitalizations In Half — But FDA Won’t Let You Have It
A shot of interferon lambda prevented 51% of hospitalizations among vaccinated people, according to a study Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine. The findings support FDA clearance, said Jeffrey Glenn, a senior author on the interferon study who said it could have saved millions of lives if it had been available earlier, Bloomberg reported. The FDA wouldn’t comment.
President’s Call For More Criminal Fentanyl Penalties Met With Criticism
President Joe Biden addressed the growing fentanyl crisis during his speech, citing a recent law change making it easier for doctors to prescribe buprenorphine and urging stronger criminal penalties. Some Republicans responded that blame for the problem rests on the Biden administration’s border policies, while some harm reduction advocates worry that tackling the problem through the criminal justice system could make it worse.
Biden Leans Into Medicare Turbulence With Republicans On Road Trip
Following heated reactions to his State of the Union assertion that some Republicans want to make big cuts to Medicare and Social Security, President Joe Biden touted the exchange with Republicans as a “deal” and promised to preserve the federal programs. “They sure didn’t like me calling them on it,” he told a Wisconsin crowd during his post-speech road trip.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Could Our Fitness Trackers Have The Opposite Effect?; Future Of Mifepristone In Jeopardy
Editorial writers discuss fitness trackers, medication abortion, and more.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Drug-Resistant Pathogens Are Growing Problem; Covid Linked To Antibiotic Overuse
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
In Washington, DC, Pandemic Drove Up HIV Diagnoses
The Washington Post reports that new HIV cases remain well below historic highs, but in 2021 the District of Columbia saw an uptick in diagnoses. Separately, the D.C. Council passed emergency legislation to spend $850,000 to design suicide barriers for the William Howard Taft Bridge.
Study Claims Baby Formula Companies Prey On Parents’ Fears To Boost Sales
News outlets report on an analysis from Professor Nigel Rollins of the World Health Organization alleging that formula makers exploit parents’ emotions and manipulate scientific data to boost sales. Aggressive lobbying tactics used by the industry are also called out.
Federal Judge Rules Cheaper Drugs Can Be Imported From Canada
A lawsuit had tried to prevent state governments from importing meds from Canada in an effort to lower drug prices for consumers, but U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly said drugmakers failed to prove “concrete” harm. Also, curbing pharma pollution is needed to battle superbugs.
Centene Likely To Lose 2.2 Million Medicaid Members Over 18 Months
The redetermination process will significantly impact the insurer’s pandemic-era growth, Modern Healthcare reports. Meanwhile, a federal judge’s ruling issued another win to providers against surprise billing regulation, related to the arbitration process.
Before Covid Shots Arrived, Over 600 US Doctors Died Early
Stanford University researchers found that early in the pandemic, 622 more U.S. physicians died than expected, but no excess deaths happened after April 2021 after vaccines became broadly available. Meanwhile, in the Bay Area, sewage data show a new covid wave is underway.
Texas Files Suit To Prevent HHS Pharmacy Guidance On Abortion Medications
Texas is challenging guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services that asserts that federal law requires pharmacies dispense reproductive health prescriptions, including those that could end pregnancies.
President Renews Push To End Cancer And To Help People Stop Smoking
Current funding for the “cancer moonshot” will expire in September. President Joe Biden has also talked about goals to reduce smoking in the U.S. as another route to tackle cancer.
On Gun, Police Violence, ‘We Have To Do Better,’ Biden Says
Family members of Tyre Nichols were watching as President Joe Biden spoke passionately on the issues of gun violence and police killings. “Let’s come together and finish the job on police reform,” Biden argued. He also called for a new assault weapons ban.
