Latest KFF Health News Stories
Key Health Measures Make Cut Of Surprise Spending Package Deal
Sens. Chuck Schumer and Joe Manchin have reached agreement on a long-stalled economic package to raise taxes and address domestic spending goals. Health items include prescription drug pricing reforms that would allow Medicare to negotiate prices and cap out-of-pocket costs at $2,000. Tax credits that help lower health insurance costs would also be extended another three years.
Biden, Negative For Covid, Tells Americans To Get Their Shots
Meanwhile, media outlets report on standards at the Food and Drug Administration concerning covid vaccines and accusations the BA.5 booster strategy may be flawed. Separately, warnings that millions of school kids remain unvaxxed, and a reminder many people still can’t smell after covid infections.
Bacteria That Causes Melioidosis Found In US Soil, Water For The First Time
The bacteria, Burkholderia pseudomallei, was discovered in Southern Mississippi, leading the CDC to put U.S. doctors on alert. “This is a big deal because clinicians generally speaking only consider melioidosis in patients who have recent travel to an endemic area like Thailand, South Asia, Australia,” Julia Petras, an epidemic intelligence service officer with CDC’s bacterial special pathogens branch, told STAT.
HHS: Nearly 800,000 Monkeypox Shots Available From Today
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said the release of the shots was part of a plan to “aggressively” tackle monkeypox. Separately, the Food and Drug Administration cleared an extra facility in Denmark to make still more shots, but one senator wants more.
Conservatives Divided On Exceptions To Abortion Bans
As many Republican-controlled legislatures draft abortion bans, fissures are emerging over questions like whether exceptions should be included in cases of rape or incest, or to save the life of a mother. Other abortion stories focus on VA services and deadly infections.
Birth Control Access Bill Blocked In Senate By Republican
A request to pass by unanimous consent a bill codifying federal rights to contraception was blocked by Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa. Democrats warn that some states will start restricting birth control and those measures could be held up by the currently constituted Supreme Court.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: More Focus Needed On Antibiotic Resistance; The Risks Of Criminalizing Meds
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Viewpoints: Will Congress Pass Medicaid Expansion?; The Time To Reign In Monkeypox Is Now
Editorial writers discuss Medicaid, monkeypox, covid vaccines and DEI.
Monkeypox Vaccine Gains European Approval; Enhertu Shows Promise Treating HER2-Low Breast Cancer
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Pacific Northwest Scorches, And It’ll Last For Days
Seattle and Portland are under heat advisories, with the region expected to suffer extreme heat until the weekend. Meanwhile, in Massachusetts some operating rooms are having to close due to hospital staff shortages, and in Virginia staffing issues have hit air ambulance services.
To Resolve Veteran Hearing Loss Lawsuit, 3M Sets Aside $1B
NBC News reports on how a lawsuit centering on earplug protection for U.S. service makers has impacted maker 3M. The high income of health care CEOs, sales of new heart drugs, GSK’s profits, Biogen’s ALS therapy, health insurance pricing data, and more are also in industry news.
Study: Some Prescription Meds Can Impact Driving As Much As Drinking
Health News Florida reports on a new national survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, which highlights the risk of taking some prescription and over-the-counter meds before driving. Meanwhile, other research found air pollution likely contributes to higher disease risks, including dementia.
Biden Done With Paxlovid, Symptoms ‘Almost Completely Resolved’
President Joe Biden’s doctor says he’s “well enough to resume his physical exercise regimen.” Separately, Biden’s administration unveils heat.gov and extends postpartum care in three additional states. Also in the news: same-sex marriage, LGBTQ nondiscrimination, another opioid maker heads toward a deal, and more.
White House: It Could Take $7B To Combat Monkeypox
The nearly $7 billion estimate was presented to President Joe Biden as one of a number of different options to fund federal mitigation efforts. Meanwhile, the U.S. now has more monkeypox cases than anywhere else, and the first case in a pregnant woman has been reported.
Vice President Calls Doctor At Heart Of Ohio Rape Victim Abortion Case
Vice President Kamala Harris called Dr. Caitlin Bernard to thank her for her “courage, professionalism, and dedication to her patients.” Dr. Bernard has also been speaking to news outlets about the real-world implications of anti-abortion laws. Meanwhile, Indiana’s attorney general, a Republican, is reported to be carrying through with his threat of investigating Bernard.
Seattle Votes To Become Sanctuary City For Abortion Doctors, Patients
As some states see an influx of patients, most others have become legal and political battlegrounds over existing and new legislation. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court files its official judgment in the Dobbs case, starting a countdown on some states’ trigger laws.
Pregnancy Dangers Almost Doubled For Texans Since Abortion Ban Took Effect
Researchers find that the risks of serious complications have increased sharply since laws that all-but ban abortion in Texas were enacted. Doctors’ uncertainty in the new legal landscape about what constitutes a danger to the health of a mother is a large factor.
FDA May Aim To Speed The Availability Of Updated Fall Covid Boosters
NPR reports that the FDA may shift focus away from second boosters for those under 50 and toward a faster delivery of the “next generation of boosters.” Additional news on covid includes the omicron surge, misinformation, mask mandates and more.
Future Vision Of Covid Vaccines Charted At White House Summit
Cheap, accessible vaccines. And ones delivered by nasal spray or patch. Those are among the possible future paths for covid vaccinations discussed. New outlets note the absence though of FDA and CDC officials on the panels and that the question of funding was largely avoided.
