Latest KFF Health News Stories
Texas Supreme Court Rules 1925 Abortion Ban Stands
The court’s decision overruled a district judge in Houston who had temporarily blocked the nearly century-old law from going into force. Other reports cover a “flood” of calls from Texas to a New Mexico abortion clinic, abortion rights groups suing over Oklahoman abortion bans, and more.
Opioid Distributors Win In West Virginia Lawsuit Over Pill Epidemic
In a bench trial lawsuit, a federal judge ruled that McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen did not create a public nuisance in a West Virginia county where 81 million opioid pills were distributed over 8 years.
‘Uniquely American Plague’: Gun Violence Wrecks July 4 Celebrations
A gunman targeted an Independence Day parade in Illinois, where an obstetrician rushed to help the wounded. And two police officers were shot at a fireworks event in Philadelphia.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: The Effects Of Overturning Roe Have Begun; US Should Follow France On Abortion
Editorial writers weigh in on abortion rights, cancer, and gun control.
Opinion writers break down issues regarding covid, quarantine, pollution, and trauma.
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 fall of Roe v. Wade, IVF, covid, the mental health crisis, and more. Plus, The New York Times takes a deeper dive into McKinsey’s unknown work for opioid makers.
Ohio Law Requires Insurers To Cover Extra Breast Cancer Screenings
The increased screenings are designed to help beat difficulties presented by dense breast tissue, which can complicate standard screening techniques. The Pearl Harbor fuel-water contamination matter, free care from military medical staff in Southern Missouri, and more are also in the news.
California Covers Free Health Care For Low-Income Immigrants
In covering the news, AP notes California is the first state to make such a move for all low-income immigrants living in the country illegally. The bill will extend coverage to around 764,000 people. Separately, California lawmakers approved a bill allowing Los Angeles, Oakland and San Francisco to create legal drug injection sites.
Officials Link 23 Listeria Cases, 1 Death To Florida
Though federal health officials have linked the multi-state outbreak, which has led to a death and the loss of a pregnancy, to Florida, the exact source of the infections is still unknown. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is saying the number of child hepatitis cases has hit 320.
Monkeypox ‘Way Worse’ Than Having Covid Twice, US Patient Says
As news outlets report on the increasing number of cases around the world, CBS News has a perspective on what it’s like to experience an infection from a U.S. patient still in isolation. In Africa, researchers looking at a surge in the Democratic Republic of Congo are puzzled by the way the virus is spreading.
FDA Said To Plan Expanding Clinical Trials Of Pig Organ Transplants
Reports say the Food and Drug Administration is planning to expand efforts to transplant pig organs into humans. A treatment from Celldex Therapeutics to tackle chronic hives, questions about fish oil medications said to tackle heart attacks, and other matters are also in the news.
Your Booster Shot This Fall Will Target Omicron Variants
The Washington Post and AP report on plans for tailoring future covid shots to better combat the highly infectious omicron variant, and its worrying new subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. Reports also say that Pfizer is planning on testing universal covid shots offering “durable variant protection” later in the year.
Senate Democrats Try Again With Plan To Let Medicare Negotiate Drug Prices
The proposal builds on a plan negotiated by moderate Democrats in November, which would have required the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate prices within certain limits for up to 20 of the highest-cost drugs — plus insulin — in the Part B outpatient program and the Part D drug program, Roll Call reported.
Supreme Court Upholds NY Vaccine Mandate For Health Care Workers
The covid vaccine requirement in New York was contested over a lack of a religious exemption. The National Guard, Massachusetts state police and Pittsburgh police are also in the news on vaccine mandates.
Will States Try To Ban Women From Traveling At All To Abortion-Rights States?
In a post-Roe future, could women living in an anti-abortion state like South Dakota be stopped from crossing borders to places like California or New York that allow abortion? Their governor anticipates such a debate, as some activists push state lawmakers to enact bans — though the constitutionality of such a move may have a key Supreme Court skeptic. News outlets report on other coming consequences and battles around looming abortion laws.
Protections For Reproductive Health Data Begin To Click In
Planned Parenthood’s website had contained marketing trackers, but the organization will remove them over concerns that users’ health data could be compromised. Period tracking app Flo is also preparing an anonymous mode to better cover user privacy. The Health and Human Services Department separately clarified how HIPAA should and shouldn’t play into patient data disclosures to law enforcement.
Connecticut Abortion Law Goes Into Effect; New York Mulls Constitutional Amendment
Connecticut’s new law aims to protect abortion doctors and patients from other state’s bans. Meanwhile, private companies wrestle with the thorny issue for their employees.
Judge To Block Florida’s 15-Week Abortion Ban; Kentucky Trigger Law Put On Hold
State laws restricting abortion access continue to play out in the courts. And clinics and abortion providers are left to muddle their way through the uncertainty.
Biden Supports Filibuster Carve-Out To Codify Abortion Rights
In a position shift, President Joe Biden endorsed Thursday an exception to Senate filibuster rules that would allow the chamber to pass abortion protections into federal law. Democrats would have to pick up additional seats in the midterm election in order to make such a change, as Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona oppose the move.
