Latest KFF Health News Stories
Psilocybin, With Therapy, Helps Curb Alcohol Use Disorder: Study
Nearly half of the study participants who got psilocybin stopped drinking entirely, compared with 24% of the control group. The treatment is promising for people who don’t respond to conventional approaches, said the director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Senate To Convene Hearing On White House’s Monkeypox Response
The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing will happen mid-September and is designed to dig into the Biden administration’s health officials’ response to the monkeypox issue. Meanwhile, in San Francisco, there’s quiet confidence the outbreak is slowing.
During The Pandemic, Type 2 Diabetes In Youngsters Rose Dramatically
A study shows that new diagnoses rose 77% during the first year of covid for patients ages 8 to 21, with the average age being 14.4 years. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization reports that covid deaths are falling, down 15% globally in the last week.
Paxlovid Has Little To No Benefit For Younger Adults With Covid: Study
The Israeli study looked at data from 109,000 people, though it confirmed the drug reduced the risk of hospitalization and death for high-risk seniors ages 65 and older. Meanwhile, first lady Jill Biden tested positive for a rebound case of covid after taking Paxlovid.
Reports Reveal Trump-Era Pressure On FDA Over Hydroxychloroquine
Media outlets cover details revealed by a House Oversight subcommittee. Even though hydroxychloroquine was already shown to be ineffective against covid, and possibly dangerous, Trump White House officials pressured the FDA to authorize it. TV personalities also had a role.
Amazon To Shutter Telehealth ‘Care’ Business In Surprise Move
Stat reminds us it’s less than a month since Amazon acquired One Medical, a “blockbuster” deal, but the retail giant will still shut down Amazon Care at the end of the year. The senior vice president of Amazon Health Services said it wasn’t “the right long-term solution” for enterprise customers.
Ballot Box Abortion Debate Could Knock Manchin, Sinema Off Pedestals
The two Democratic senators have repeatedly stood in the way of President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda. But their influence could wane in the next Congress if Democrats perform as strongly in the November elections as they have in recent primaries and special elections.
A Felony With Up To Life In Prison: Texas Abortion Law Takes Effect Today
On Tuesday night, a federal judge blocked Biden administration guidance that requires doctors to provide abortions in emergency medical situations — the same guidance that was upheld by a different judge in Idaho.
In Win For White House, Judge Blocks Part Of Strict Idaho Abortion Ban
The case centered around the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, known as EMTALA. Idaho’s abortion law is still scheduled to take effect Thursday, minus the provision that the federal judge said the state cannot enforce for now.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers delve into these public health topics.
Opinion writers discuss covid and Dr. Fauci.
Across US, Thousands Of Inmates Live In Dangerously Hot Prisons
In Texas, where temperatures regularly climb into the triple digits, two-thirds of the state’s prisons don’t have air conditioning in living areas, The Texas Tribune reports. Inmates in Missouri and Kansas also must cope with scorching heat.
Perspectives: The Inflation Reduction Act Promotes Pharmacoequity; PBMs Create Unnecessary Burden
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Future Of AstraZeneca Not In Vaccines, CEO Says
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Study Links Having A Chronic Condition With Later Money Issues
Axios says the study “cements the connection” between being healthy and financial stability, with financial hardship like medical debts following diagnoses of serious illnesses. Other medical debt news is reported alongside health industry matters.
Biden Administration May Extend Baby Formula Help For WIC Recipients
The current program to aid access to baby formula for low-income parents is due to expire Sept. 30. In other news, experts are pushing the White House to work on lowering policing risks for racial minorities if the Food and Drug Administration bans menthol cigarettes.
Monkeypox Antiviral Drug Tpoxx To Enter Human Testing
The drug has been shown to fight monkeypox, but mainly in animal studies. Now, University of Oxford scientists are planning human trials. CIDRAP notes U.S. officials are involved in trials, too. Meanwhile, USA Today explains the Jynneos vaccine side effects.
More Young People Use Weed Than Ever; Some Opioid Abuse Fell Last Year
Media outlets cover a new study that shows consumption of marijuana and some hallucinogenic drugs hit records in 2021, while narcotic use other than heroin, Vicodin, and OxyContin were all at record low levels among young adults in 2021.
Republicans Try To Get Suit Opposing Wisconsin Abortion Ban Thrown Out
The ban is based on a 173-year-old law, but a lawsuit has challenged it on the grounds it violates a 1985 law permitting abortions before a fetus is viable outside the womb. Other abortion-related news comes from Texas, Indiana, and North Carolina.
