Latest KFF Health News Stories
Moderna Says Omicron-Specific Booster Protects Better Than Original
Moderna’s redesigned “bivalent” booster shot provides stronger protection than a fourth shot of its original mRNA covid vaccine, the company said in a news release. It plans to submit the data to the Food and Drug Administration soon with hopes that it could be available by the end of summer.
Democrats Move To Enshrine Abortion, Contraception Rights In California Constitution
California Democrats unveiled a proposed constitutional amendment they want to get on the November ballot that would guarantee abortion protections if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. The measure goes further than other states seeking to bolster reproductive rights by also including contraception.
Arrest Raises Supreme Court Security Concerns Ahead Of Abortion Decision
The armed man arrested near Brett Kavanaugh’s home says he wanted to kill the Supreme Court justice. The incident comes as barricades and other security measures have been added around the court building in anticipation of a controversial ruling that will likely overturn Roe v. Wade.
11-Year-Old Survivor, Families Of Uvalde Victims Testify In Congress
News outlets report on the harrowing testimony of Miah Cerrillo, a survivor of the Uvalde mass shooting who made a 911 call for help using her dead teacher’s phone. The only pediatrician in the town also spoke before Congress, saying that to do nothing would be “neglectful” to his Hippocratic Oath.
House Passes Tougher Gun Controls Following Spate Of Mass Shootings
Among the measures, the bill would prohibit people under 21 from purchasing a semi-automatic rifle and outlaw the sale of ammunition magazines over 15 rounds. The legislation, approved in a 223-204 vote Wednesday, is likely doomed in the Senate despite the latest mass tragedies from gun violence.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health issues.
No Radiological Hazards As Chernobyl Detectors Restart
Reuters reports that for the first time in over 3 months the failed nuclear reactor’s detectors are online, and reporting normal levels. Elsewhere in Ukraine, worries rise over a possible cholera outbreak in Mariupol. Also: dengue in Singapore, China’s worries over covid in North Korea, and more global health news.
Perspectives: Tirzepatide Could Be A Boon For Weight Loss
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Tirzepatide Promising For Weight Loss; Eli Lilly Wins In Product Liability Case
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
‘Dangerous’ Heat Wave Roasting Southwest Raises Health Concerns
Heat waves are deadly, killing about 150 people a year. Health experts remind residents to hydrate, utilize cooling centers, and be careful about exposure to the heat. Other environmental health news stories report on asthma, polluted soil and water, and more.
Federal Bureau Of Prisons Settles Insulin Access Lawsuit
Reports say the Bureau will pay $300,000 to settle with a diabetic prisoner who alleges he wasn’t given access to enough insulin at a supermax facility. The U.S. Indian Health Service, recreational pot in Yellowstone County, DNA tracing in Florida rape cases, and more are also in state health news.
Study Shows Mortality Rate For Republicans Higher Than Democrats
Media outlets cover a study into the gap in mortality rates between counties that lean toward Democratic or Republican politics, showing the gap widening with higher rates among Republicans over the last two decades and accelerating during the pandemic. Cancer treatments, Type 2 diabetes, and how the liver ages are also in the news.
VA Launches Mission To Lower Veteran Suicides
Wyoming Public Radio reports on a new initiative from the Department of Veterans Affairs: Mission Daybreak is a 10-year $20 million program aimed at driving veteran suicide rates lower. Meanwhile, in Massachusetts patients waiting for psychiatric treatment are said to be crowding emergency rooms.
Medical Company Cyberattack May Have Snared Data On 2 Million People
Shields Health Care Group says the identity and medical information, including diagnoses, of patients may have been grabbed by hackers in May. Separately, giant database company Oracle has completed its acquisition of Cerner, an electronics health records company.
FTC To Probe Pharmacy Benefit Managers’ Impact on Access, Price
The Federal Trade Commission is looking into the business practices of the 6 largest PBMs, which negotiate rebates and fees with drug manufacturers for health plans, the agency announced Tuesday. Some independent pharmacies have complained that PBMs’ practices have helped fuel price increases and limit consumers’ choices.
Median Launch Price For A New Drug Was $2,115 In 2008. In 2021? $180K
Boston researchers looked into the soaring cost of launching a new drug in the U.S. between 2008 and 2021: The median price jumped roughly 20% per year through this period. A separate study highlights the risk of lower price transparency when hospitals merge.
Missouri’s New Law Protects Doctors Who Prescribe Ivermectin ‘Off-Label’
Gov. Mike Parson signed the law, which goes into effect in August, protecting pharmacists from questioning prescriptions of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine — unproven as covid treatments. Meanwhile, Molnupiravir is shown to cut the need for high level medical care for covid patients.
Fights Over Release Of Covid Infection Data Play Out At State, National Level
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in favor of state efforts to release records on company covid outbreaks. Meanwhile, consumer groups are pushing back on a Biden administration proposal that would block public access to some hospital safety data.
Nebraska Legislature Nears Super-Majority That Could Ban Abortion
With a recent Senate appointment, Nebraska’s one-chamber legislature is one vote away from passing a constitutional amendment that would automatically outlaw abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Meanwhile, as primaries shape the fall election, voters say the abortion issue will influence their actions.
