Latest KFF Health News Stories
Biden Shifts Gears, Pushes Democrats To Pass Smaller Health Care Bill
Sen. Joe Manchin (D.-W.Va.) has torpedoed the president’s once-vast economic package, but President Joe Biden says even a smaller package that focuses on health care costs would provide financial relief to families. Also in the news: the abortion fight on Capitol Hill, the Keep Kids Fed Act, and Anthony Fauci’s looming retirement.
White House Says Covid Still Evolving, Older People Should Stay Boosted
The Biden administration’s covid coordinator, Ashish Jha, warned that covid is still evolving and that we’re still in the middle of the pandemic. Jha also stressed the importance of everyone — including older people — keeping up to date with booster shots to resist newer, more infectious variants.
LGBTQ+ Rights Protections Temporarily Blocked By Federal Judge
News outlets report on the decision by U.S. District Judge Charles Atchley Jr. in a case made by 20 state attorneys general. The AGs argued federal protections for LGBTQ+ rights infringed on their rights to enact laws, including those that target LGBTQ+ rights, and Atchley agreed.
Doctor Asks Indiana AG To Cease False Statements In Child Abortion Case
In the flashpoint case of a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio who received an abortion in Indiana: The doctor’s lawyer is asking Indiana Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita to “cease and desist” with false statements alleging wrongdoing.
House-Passed Abortion Rights Bills Doomed In Senate
For the second time, the House passed a bill that would restore nationwide abortion rights. Another bill protecting women who cross state borders for care was also approved. But neither are expected to progress through a divided Senate.
CDC Says Demand For Monkeypox Vaccine Exceeding US Supply
U.S. health officials acknowledge that vaccine supplies are running short in places like California, New York and Washington, D.C. Another 100,000 doses will be delivered to states over the next few days.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers examine these public health topics.
Opinion writers discuss monkeypox, abortion, and covid.
Study Finds American Men’s Health Falling Behind Foreigners’
The Commonwealth Fund’s study found higher rates of avoidable deaths, chronic illnesses, and mental health issues in U.S. men compared with a number of other developed nations. Meanwhile, the U.N. warned the pandemic caused 25 million kids worldwide to fall behind on regular vaccinations.
In particular, cases are being seen more often in women and in babies, says the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. California’s public health tax, a fertility treatment suit against a Kentucky doctor, and more are also in the news.
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 the Space Force, adults who “fail to thrive,” TikTok doctor Will Flanary, abortion, and more.
Supreme Court To Consider Review Of Key Pharma Patent Discovery Process
The decision, Stat reports, has the pharmaceutical industry on “edge” because it could impact how they have to specify replication processes for new medicines. Other reports cover worries over the rising strength of infectious diseases even as Big Pharma is less interested in antibiotics.
Kids’ Hepatitis Linked To Adenovirus, But Scientists Aren’t Sure How Much
Two studies have pinpointed adenovirus in the vast majority of unexplained cases. But, the researchers wrote, “if human adenovirus was causative, this was not an outbreak driven by a single strain.” Other health news is on salmonella, PFAS, breastfeeding at work, Y chromosomes, and more.
Final Preparations For National 988 Suicide Hotline Rollout
Saturday sees a big change for the nationwide system, with news outlets covering final preparations for the change and some of the potential benefits and impacts, including worries over increased demand. Separately, Colorado mental health counselors express dismay over rule changes.
Three Doctors Appointed To President’s Cancer Panel
The White House announced President Joe Biden’s choices, with the panel’s goal being to advise him about reducing the impact of cancer. In other news, cancer cells are found to sense “sweet spots” to hide in the body, and a link between charcuterie and colon cancer is confirmed.
Michigan Governor Blocks Budget Sections That Limit Abortion Access
The vetoes were aimed at parts of the $22.2 billion education budget that hurt abortion access for college students. Items that restricted embryonic stem cells were also vetoed. Meanwhile, Missouri’s governor is refusing to call a special session for legislation to protect access to contraceptives and treating ectopic pregnancies.
Indiana AG Investigating Doctor Who Gave 10-Year-Old An Abortion
Attorney General Todd Rokita says he is looking into whether the doctor filed the necessary reports about the abortion, but the doctor’s lawyer says she did. The case continues to reverberate across the political spectrum; some officials of antiabortion groups say the child — who had to travel from Ohio because of its strict abortion laws — should have continued her pregnancy, and some Republicans are backing off earlier statements casting doubt on whether the case was legitimate.
House To Vote Again On Bill Guaranteeing Abortion Access
The bill is highly unlikely to pass the Senate, which Thursday failed to advance legislation that would protect people crossing state lines for an abortion. Meanwhile, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WVa.), who has thrown cold water on earlier attempts to implement Democratic initiatives, told party leaders that he will support Medicare drug pricing legislation and enhanced premium subsidies for people buying coverage on the ACA marketplaces.
BA.5 Covid Subvariant Four Times More Resistant To Vaccines
BA.5 is the most prevalent strain of covid in the U.S., and it’s now deemed “hypercontagious” since it’s shown to be even more resistant to covid shots. As reports cover ongoing infections, CBS News notes over half of Americans now live in a place where masking against covid is recommended.
