Latest KFF Health News Stories
Pfizer’s New Booster Is ‘Substantially’ Better Than Original In Older Adults
Pfizer reports that one month after getting its new bivalent booster, trial participants ages 55 and older had antibody levels almost four times as high as those who received the original booster. But the test group was small, involving just 76 adults, and it’s unclear what effect the vaccine will have on a possible winter surge.
Manchin Urges Bipartisan Deal To Protect Medicare, Medicaid
The West Virginia Democrat, who sank President Joe Biden’s ambitious $3 trillion Build Back Better agenda last year, suggests both federal health care programs are “going bankrupt” and have “tremendous problems.”
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 lying, “biology’s century,” embalming, nightmares, the astronaut microbiome, and more.
CDC Relaxes Opioid Guidelines, Giving Doctors More Flexibility To Treat Pain
The CDC is updating and clarifying its 2016 guidance on opioid prescribing that many doctors and patients say led to untreated or undertreated pain. The new 100-page roadmap emphasizes greater flexibility for physicians in handling acute or post-surgical care as well as for treating chronic pain.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Has Covid Finally Hit A Plateau?; Low Vaccine Rates Not Always Due To Hesitancy
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health topics.
Inspection Of Wisconsin Veterans Home Uncovers Multiple Violations
The state-run home was cited for six violations in its yearly inspection, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports, with past violations including infection control issues and medication mistakes. In Columbus, Ohio, officials pointed toward successes from an alternative 911 response scheme.
Providers Of Methadone For Addiction Treatment Warn About Expansion
Stat reports providers are warning advocates who favor expanded access to methadone to be careful — while the drug is effective for opioid addiction, expansion could backfire and even drive overdoses of methadone. Separately, Walgreens, CVS will pay a more than $10 billion opioid settlement.
Nonunion Strike Hits ACA Call Centers As Open Enrollment Starts
Also: doctors dropping patients off their lists, health tech care for underserved populations, rising cancer drug prices, and more.
Huge Fall In Abortion Numbers In Texas After Strict Ban: Studies
The Texas Tribune reports that the number of abortions in Texas fell from a “few thousand” to less than 10 after the near-total state ban came into place. Meanwhile, abortion rights protesters briefly interrupted arguments in the Supreme Court, and some providers turn to mobile units.
Bubbles In Covid Booster Vials Prompt Investigation In Switzerland
The country’s drug regulator Swissmedic said it was looking into risks from bubbles in vials of new omicron-targeting booster shots. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists FAQ says small air bubbles can be ignored, but larger ones can lead to underdosing.
Research Roundup: Diabetes and Alzheimer’s; Taxifolin; More
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Physicians Prep Massive Lobby To Again Fend Off Medicare Payment Cut
Medicare is scheduled to cut physician payments by 4.5% in 2023. In previous years, lobbying efforts have averted such reductions required by previous laws. Now doctors plan to fight hard for Congress to pass short and long-term fixes. Other Medicare news reports on drug payments, false marketing, quality rules, and more.
Wegovy Injection Shown To Help Tackle Adolescents’ Obesity
Stat reports that the weight-loss drug had “dramatic” effects for young people diagnosed with obesity. NBC News says the weekly injections led to loss of an average of 14.7% of starting bodyweight. The drug is in short supply, but maker Novo Nordisk said broad availability is coming soon.
Child Respiratory Illness Surge Drives Shortage Of Amoxycillin
News outlets cover a supply crunch of one of the most commonly used antibiotics caused by high demand during a surge of respiratory syncytial virus infections in children. Separately, worries deepen over what could be the worst U.S. flu season in a decade.
Single Dose Of Psilocybin Improved Depression, New Study Finds
The study, called “the largest of its kind,” tested 233 adults in the U.S., Europe, and Canada. The patients entered a “waking dream-like” state that lasted four to six hours, Reuters reported.
Monkeypox Virus Can Be Spread Up To 4 Days Before Symptoms Begin: Study
Researchers have found the first evidence of “considerable” pre-symptomatic transmission of monkeypox — up to 53% of infections may take place during that window. Meanwhile, HHS renewed the national public health emergency for monkeypox.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Dobbs Decision Drove Two Big Spikes In Medication Abortion Requests
Data from Aid Access, a nonprofit online telemedicine service that provides medication for a self-managed abortion, shows that before the Supreme Court’s abortion decision leaked that requests averaged around 83 a day. After the leak, that number jumped to 137. And since the court decision was formally announced, the daily average has increased to nearly 214.
CMS Aims To Kickstart Rural ACOs With Medicare Payment Changes
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized updates Tuesday to the Medicare Shared Savings Program that include upfront payments to health providers in rural or underserved areas that join. Participation in the program has stalled since 2018.
