Latest KFF Health News Stories
FDA Stays Order Banning Juul, For Now
The Food and Drug Administration said the hold is temporary as it conducts further review. Meanwhile, another West Virginia case against opioid distributors was postponed.
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Colorado Funeral Home Operator Guilty Of Selling Body Parts
The operator pled guilty to an illegal body part selling scheme Tuesday. In other news, health insurers in Michigan are reported to be planning rate boosts next year by an average of 5.8% for small group policies. Also: St. Louis’ inefficient 911 system, giant African land snails in Florida and more.
Study Links More Nursing Homes, Doctors To Fewer Readmissions
The Health Affairs study looked at hospital readmission rates for Medicare patients and found that communities with more nursing home beds and physicians benefitted. Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare reports on questions over CMS’ covid quality plan.
Monkeypox Found On Multiple Hospital Surfaces, Patient’s Cellphone
Researchers in Germany studied the surfaces of two rooms holding hospitalized monkeypox patients. The scientists found the highest viral loads on the surfaces of the patients’ bathrooms and on cabinet door handles, Newsweek reported. And in the U.S., Connecticut and Arkansas report their first cases.
‘National Insecurity’: Gun Violence Driving American Anxiety Higher
Public health experts worry that converging crises around shootings, anger over the political landscape, and pandemic isolation are leaving Americans feeling more vulnerable and jittery than ever. Meanwhile, state and federal lawmakers make — or debate — moves on guns in uncertain times.
Researchers Find 2 To 3 Vaccine Shots Lower Long Covid Risk
The study looked at Italian health care workers, with long covid found in nearly 42% of unvaxxed workers but in only 16% of those with three shots. Stat reports on how to understand “startlingly” large percentages of people with long covid. Also: A new vaccine may protect against future covid variants.
BA.5 Now Dominates The US; Covid Reinfections Raise Risk Of Other Illness
According to CNN, a study based on the health records of nearly 6 million people treated in the VA Health System found that those with two or more covid infections had higher risks for lung and heart problems, fatigue, digestive and kidney disorders, diabetes, and neurologic problems.
Stay Lifted On Florida’s 15-Week Abortion Ban; Last Mississippi Clinic’s Appeal Denied
Legal wrangling over state abortion laws continued in courtrooms across the South Tuesday. And in Montana, one provider will no longer provide medication abortions to out-of-state patients.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health topics.
Viewpoints: The Punishment Phase Of Ending Roe Has Begun; Post Roe, Don’t Assume Online Privacy
Opinion writers discuss abortion care in post Roe America.
UK Health Service Will Try Drone Drug, Medical Equipment Delivery
Bloomberg says the U.K.’s National Health Service will trial using drones to deliver key medicines like chemotherapy drugs to speed up access. Separately, AP says covid cases are rising across the U.K., up more than 30% in the last week, with new omicron subvariants blamed for the surge.
CDC Advises Disposing Of Florida Ice Cream Linked To Listeria Outbreak
At least 24 people have been sickened by listeria, with one death, in a recent outbreak that is now linked to Florida ice cream brand Big Olaf Creamery by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Care for adults with Down syndrome, salmonella in ground chicken products and more are also in the news.
Covid, Drugs Are Behind Slip in Colorado’s Life Expectancy
The fall in life expectancy through 2021 was the second in two years, according to state health department data. Meanwhile, Iowa has detected its first probable case of monkeypox, and New York is working toward fixing its public restroom crisis.
CMS Works To Tighten Rules In Nursing Homes, Rural Hospitals
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced last week that it will use payroll data to make sure nursing homes have enough staff. CMS also proposed that hospitals participating in the new “Rural Emergency Hospital” model must meet similar criteria to critical-access hospitals.
With Covid Killing Hundreds Of Americans Daily, Focus Falls On BA.5
Media outlets cover the ever-expanding death toll of covid in the U.S. The San Francisco Chronicle draws particular attention to the highly infectious omicron subvariant BA.5, which one expert calls a “different beast.” Reports say subvariants are driving the spread of the virus across California.
Kansas Will Vote On Abortion Constitutional Amendment During Primary
Kansas will be the first state to put the issue in voters’ hands since the Supreme Court empowered states to determine abortion rights. But critics question the timing of the vote, which will be held during the August primary instead of the November general election, when more people would turn out.
Ohio Six-Week Abortion Ban Forces Some To Bulk-Buy Plan B
The Columbus Dispatch reports on how Ohioans are considering reproductive care options under the new abortion ban, with some stocking up on Plan B, and one woman describes how she’s considering sterilization as an option. Also: more on Plan B, employer abortion aid, and impacts on doctors.
