Latest KFF Health News Stories
Utah Bans Gender-Affirming Care For Trans Youth
CBS News notes this makes Utah the first state to limit health care for transgender youth in 2023. In Wyoming, a Senate committee advanced a bill that would criminalize gender care for people under 18. Also: smoking in Florida, efforts to retain doctors on staff in Nevada, and more.
13-Year-Olds Shouldn’t Be On Social Media: Surgeon General
Vivek Murthy, speaking on CNN Newsroom, said, “Their relationships and the skewed and often distorted environment of social media often does a disservice to many of those children.” Meanwhile, USA Today reports on expectations of surging teen and child diabetes rates.
Big Pharmacies Move To Reduce Employee Hours Amid Staff Shortages
CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens are set to reduce the hours for their employees across the U.S. Separately, the FDA is said to fall behind in its review of heavy metals in baby food.
Medics Scrutinized For Not Doing More To Help Tyre Nichols After Beating
The New York Times reports that medical workers who arrived first to tend to Nichols, a Black man who died after being beaten by Memphis police officers, mostly looked on as he suffered, at one point not touching him for nearly seven minutes. The two medics appeared to be Memphis Fire Department EMTs. Also: more details on the mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, California.
Minnesota To Guarantee Abortion Rights: Bill Heads To Governor
The state Senate voted 34-33 to pass a measure guaranteeing some reproductive health care rights on Saturday. Meanwhile, a small Ohio city has agreed to rewrite its strict abortion ban after pressure from advocacy groups and social workers. Abortion ban exceptions are also in the news.
Covid Antibodies From Infection, Shots In Nearly Every American Child
The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show an estimated 96% of children ages 6 months to 17 years have covid antibodies — the CDC thinks nearly 66 million were infected with the virus. Also, the rate of Americans reporting long covid symptoms is slowing.
Extra SNAP Benefits Will End Nationwide In February
The emergency increases for food assistance, put in place during the pandemic, have already ended in 17 states, Axios reports. Local food pantries across the U.S. are bracing for an increase in demand. In other news, the White House on Sunday blasted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s intention to “strengthen” Medicare and Social Security, arguing that it was coded language to slash funding.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Some California Prisoners Can Get Limited Medicaid Care, CMS Says
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Thursday that for the first time ever, some people in prisons, jails, or juvenile detention centers can access limited services 90 days before being released. In other news, disability rights activists have sued to block the CARE Court program.
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 covid tests, Damar Hamlin, how to live to be 100, cooking help for people with disabilities, and more.
Federal Judge Limits Probe Into Providers Offering Trans Care In Fla.
The judge partly limited the state’s effort to subpoena information from medical and mental health groups in Florida. The groups had opposed the state’s prohibition on Medicaid spending for gender-affirming care. Also, Obamacare enrollment in Michigan, heat deaths in Texas, and more.
Viewpoints: Leqembi May Not Be All It’s Cracked Up To Be; Can A State Ban Federally Approved Pills?
Editorial writers examine these public health topics.
FDA Will Ease Blood Donation Ban For Gay Men — If They’re Monogamous
Also in the news, why inventing a vaccine for HIV is more difficult than covid, pressure for FTC scrutiny over two pharma mergers, how Congress may focus on drug company “middlemen” and pricing, heavy metals in baby food, biosimilars, and more.
Ransomware Gang That Targeted Hospitals Is Shut Down By FBI
The group, called Hive, attacked hospitals, school districts, financial firms, and other organizations and is accused of extorting over $100 million to decrypt its ransomware. Efforts by the FBI, Justice Department, and European law enforcement have now shut Hive down.
Virginia Democrats Block Bills Limiting Abortion, Including 15-Week Ban
The Thursday votes saw several bills defeated — including a 15-week abortion ban that is a priority for Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican. Other news relating to abortion and maternal health comes from North Carolina, South Carolina, California, and other states.
At Least 102 Million US Covid Cases In The 3 Years Since The First
That’s 102 million reported cases — more than any other nation — CNN reports. Nearly 1.1 million Americans have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. Both figures are likely undercounts. Meanwhile, CIDRAP says global deaths are on the rise.
House Speaker Says Medicare Cuts Off The Table In Debt Ceiling Negotiations
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has assured that Medicare and Social Security will no longer be Republican targets in talks to strike a debt ceiling deal. In related news, a Republican study group eyes potential Medicare changes. And secret audits found millions in Medicare Advantage plan overpayments.
CBD Products Need More Regulation, FDA Says
The agency will formally ask Congress for help on how to regulate the industry. Also Thursday, the agency denied petitions to market CBD products as dietary supplements.
Ineffective Against Current Variants, Evusheld’s FDA Authorization Revoked
The FDA withdrew authorization Thursday for use of AstraZeneca’s antibody drug Evusheld to treat covid as new strains have evolved past the therapy’s efficacy. If those variants subside, approval could be reconsidered the FDA said.
Vaccine Advisers Vote To Update And Simplify Future Covid Vaccines
By a 21-0 vote, members of the FDA’s vaccine advisory committee recommended that U.S. covid vaccine strategy move toward a single covid shot. All manufacturers would update their formulas to match, making primary and booster shots interchangeable. The panel also supported the plan for annual vaccines, like the flu shot.
