Latest KFF Health News Stories
FDA Receives First Application For Over-The-Counter Birth Control Pill
The Opill, from French company HRA Pharma, is a progestin-only pill that has already been available with a prescription since it was approved by the FDA in 1973. Approval for OTC sales wouldn’t be expected until next year.
Biden Says He Is Weighing Health Emergency To Provide Abortion Access
Advocates have urged the president to declare a public health emergency so that some federal resources would become available to women seeking abortion, but administration officials have raised doubts about whether such an order would be legal or effective.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers weigh in on these abortion issues.
Opinion writers examine monkeypox, covid, and more public health topics.
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 baby formula, abortion, liver transplants, pancreatitis, prosopagnosia, brain health. and more.
North Carolina Law Prevents Billing For Sexual Assault Forensic Tests
Among a slew of new legislation, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, signed a measure saying hospitals can’t bill victims or their insurance companies for the tests, with payment coming from a special state fund. Separately, in Ohio, health advocates push to extend insurance purchasing subsidies.
Shinzo Abe Assassination Rocks Japan, Where Gun Violence Is Rare
The former prime minister was shot and killed Friday in broad daylight by a man carrying what apparently was a homemade gun. Unlike in the U.S., residents of Japan must jump through many difficult hoops to own a gun. Meanwhile, ABC reports that the New York City Police Department said Thursday that murders and shootings are down in the city, despite three people being killed within an hour the night before.
The Heat Is On: 70 Million Americans Under Temperature Alerts
CNN labeled the current hot weather surge the “third heat wave” of the summer, and the New York Times notes 70 million people (about one in five) are under heat warnings or advisories. Meanwhile, the mysterious child hepatitis surge grows, with 12 new cases reported.
Second Theranos Executive Found Guilty Of Fraud
Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani was convicted on 12 charges. Meanwhile, in California a whistleblower physician was reinstated at a Los Angeles Veterans Affairs hospital; the surgeon general addressed health worker burnout; concerns raised over digital mental health companies; and more.
Omicron Subvariants Mean Outdoor Covid Risk Is Different Now
Media outlets report on the rise of omicron BA.5, and how subvariants like this are leading to new covid surges and have potentially increased the risk of catching covid in some outdoor situations which had previously been considered less risky.
Covid Shot Tally For Under-5s Slowly Rises: 300,000 With At Least 1 Dose
Media outlets report that the pace of covid vaccinations for the youngest age group is slow, but now around 300,000 under 5 years old have had at least one shot. This is, however, only around 1.5% of the roughly 19.5 million youngsters in this cohort.
Concerns Over Response Grow As US Monkeypox Cases Reach 700
The Department of Health and Human Services said it will distribute an extra 144,000 doses of the two-shot Jynneos monkeypox/smallpox vaccine starting Monday. But reports draw concerning parallels between the monkeypox response and the early failures of the covid-19 pandemic.
Hurdles Would Make It Difficult For Patients To Seek An Abortion In Canada
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, has written to the Department of Homeland Security asking for protections for Americans who cross the Canadian border for abortion care. Distance and finances would make the option unviable for most in the U.S. though.
Biden To Issue Executive Order Preserving Elements Of Abortion Access
Under increasing pressure from his own party, President Joe Biden is expected Friday to sign the abortion rights order, directing the Department of Health and Human Services to shore up access to abortion medication, reach out to doctors on patient protections, and review possible updates to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. The order will also beef up enforcement of birth control measures in the Affordable Care Act.
California To Manufacture Its Own ‘Low Cost’ Insulin
“Nothing epitomizes market failures more than the cost of insulin,” Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said in announcing the plan. California’s budget allocates just over $100 million for the development and production of the medication. Meanwhile, Republican senators call for hearings on a national plan to tackle the high costs of insulin.
Democrats Aim To Shore Up Medicare By Raising Taxes On Some High Earners
Senate Democrats are expected to soon submit legislative language to the parliamentarian for review. The proposal would raise an estimated $203 billion over ten years in order to push out the start of Medicare insolvency from 2028 until 2031.
Study Suggests Younger Black Leukemia Patients Die Earlier
In other research news, people with Down syndrome are sought to help with Alzheimer’s studies; a smartphone-based device to diagnose ear problems; the difficulties of combating Leishmaniasis for HIV patients; and a study finds that being “hangry” may be a real thing.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Congress Could Learn From Mark Cuban’s Drug Company; US Health Insurance Is Absurd
Editorial writers examine these public health issues.
