Latest KFF Health News Stories
California Governor Vetoes Effort To Boost Student Mental Health Care
Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has been an advocate for mental health in schools, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. But in this case, he cited high costs for vetoing more private insurance access to care. Other news is from Colorado, Massachusetts, Montana, Michigan, and North Carolina.
Being A Late-To-Bed Person May Mean Higher Health Risks
Type 2 diabetes and heart disease risks go up if you are a night owl, a report in CNN says. Meanwhile, a different report says high blood pressure can be lowered by breath training, and a study asks if donating blood can harm blood donors. CBD foods and a Colgate recall are also in the news.
Medicaid Fraud Case Costs Centene $166 Million Settlement In Texas
The health insurance company was facing claims it overcharged Texas’ Medicaid program for pharmacy services. Also in the news: care gaps exposed in NCQA health plan quality ratings and Medicare solutions for issues with the kidney dialysis system.
Experts: Hurricane Fiona Won’t Impact US Medical Supply Chain
A report in Axios says that while Puerto Rico has been ravaged by Fiona, experts expect medical supplies from plants on the island won’t be impacted like they were by 2017’s Hurricane Maria. Other news includes links between air pollution and cognitive decline, PCB contamination, and more.
Sterigenics’ Ethylene Oxide Emissions Lead To $363M Cancer Payment
Media outlets report on the court-ordered settlement after the medical sterilization company was found liable in a case brought by a woman who developed cancer. Johnson & Johnson is also in the news as cancer victims pressure the company over talc damages and its bankruptcy maneuvers.
UnitedHealth’s Change Healthcare Acquisition Approved By Judge
The Justice Department had been challenging the $13 billion acquisition on antitrust grounds, but a federal judge disagreed, on the condition UnitedHealth divest Change’s claims editing subsidiary, ClaimsXten. Separate reports say Ascension is losing almost $2 billion a year as expenses climb.
Study: Moderna’s Bivalent Booster More Protective Than Previous Shot
After 28 days, the new shot triggered a stronger antibody response against the omicron variant than the booster that came before it. And the new boosters from both Moderna and Pfizer appear to have side effects similar to the original set of vaccines, research shows.
4 In 5 Maternal Deaths In 2017-19 Were Preventable, Analysis Finds
The analysis, released Monday, showed that the deaths disproportionately occurred among women of color, including Black and Indigenous mothers, USA Today reported. Other news on reproductive health and abortion is from Indiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, Texas, and elsewhere.
Covid Death Rate Too High For Pandemic To Be Over, Fauci Suggests
On Monday, Dr. Anthony Fauci tried to temper President Joe Biden’s statement that the pandemic was “over.” Fauci also said it was “unlikely” that the United States would be able to eliminate the virus. Other experts noted that some people have a “magical thinking that the only way the pandemic is over is if we reset to what it was like in 2019.”
STDs Rose Sharply Last Year, With Syphilis Rate The Highest In 30 Years
The CDC data resulted in calls for more action on the STD prevention front. Other news is on pediatric monkeypox infections and the fight to eradicate polio.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: What Is Biden’s ARPA-H?; How To Help Kids Battling With Their Mental Health
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health topics.
Viewpoints: Girls Are Woefully Undereducated About Periods
Opinion writers delve into monkeypox, reproductive rights, and more public health issues.
Through The Pandemic, More Adults Sought Mental Health Care
Fresh data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that the percentage of U.S. adults getting mental health care rose from 19.2% in 2019 to 21.6% in 2021. In other news, mounting evidence shows tea drinking is linked to lower diabetes risks, a beef product recall, and more.
Judge Finds Some Michigan Baby Blood Sample Tests Unconstitutional
The newborn blood-testing program has been in the spotlight for privacy and consent concerns, and now a judge ruled some of the program is unconstitutional. Separate news reports cover a new burial option in California, Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, and more.
Rally Near White House Highlights Opioid Deaths
Families whose lives have been destroyed by fentanyl rallied near the White House Saturday to draw attention to the ongoing opioid crisis, the Washington Post reports. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports drugmaker Endo is blamed for Tennessee’s opioid crisis.
Study Links Medical Debt To Threats To Health And Housing
Medical debt is hitting more Americans, driving bad health outcomes regardless of insurance or income, a study finds. NBC News reports that 1 in 5 U.S. households suffers medical debt, including those with private insurance. Other news covers rising health costs, staffing issues, and private equity.
Monkeypox Cases Decline, But White House Warns Funding Needed
The White House says lawmakers should approve a multibillion-dollar request to combat the ongoing crisis, even as case rates decline. NPR explains the odds of catching monkeypox, Dallas Morning News covers a case at a high school in Fort Worth, among other news on the virus.
Graham Abortion Ban Bill Divides Republican Party
Media outlets cover the political consternation stirred up by Sen. Lindsey Graham’s proposed 15-week abortion ban, with some Republican senators signaling opposition. Other news stories cover how the issue of abortion’s legality are impacting midterm elections.
In Utah, GOP Lawmakers Backpedal Over Abortion Cease And Desist Letters
The letters, which were printed on Utah House of Representatives letterhead, were sent out Thursday to the Planned Parenthood Association, the ACLU, and others and said that anyone who violates the ban during a district court-ordered pause on the trigger law will be prosecuted in the future, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. On Friday, however, the lawmakers said the letters were only “our opinion.”
