Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health topics.
Opinion writers examine abortion and covid.
Missouri Bill To Cut School Water Lead Levels Advances
The legislation, which would force schools to test water and take action if lead is found, is now on its way to the governor’s desk. Meanwhile, efforts to regulate other toxic materials found in schools and elsewhere advance in several states, and lead poisoning in bald and golden eagles is reported.
Covid Now Racing Across North Korea; 6 Dead Already
Like everywhere else, North Korea is now reportedly experiencing the full effects of the pandemic, with nearly 200,000 people quarantined and six officially-reported deaths. The news is a rare admission from the nation. South Korea is said to be offering vaccines to help. The U.S. will not.
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 abortion, sex education, phalloplasty, body issues, opioids, Florence Nightingale, and much more.
Spotlight Falls On Poor Treatment Of Mentally-Ill Inmates In Georgia
125 Georgia inmates have died by suicide over the past five years, and the deaths, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution remarks, are symbolic of a prison system where mentally ill inmates “were neglected, isolated and, in some instances, treated with downright cruelty.” Other mental health matters are also in the news.
Novel Anti-STI Underwear Approved By FDA
The innovative intimate-wear is a first in its type, and was just approved by the Food and Drug Administration — the vanilla-flavored garment protects from sexually-transmitted infections from oral sex. Also: The future of online drug prescribing, CAR-T cancer therapy, and more.
Inspectors Find 1 In 4 Medicare Patients Harmed During Hospital Stays
Before the covid pandemic, hospitals incrementally reduced incidents of temporary harm and more serious “adverse events” among hospitalized patients, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General reports. In 2010, the number was 27%. Other Medicare news is on program reauthorization, safety-net hospitals, and more.
CMS: State Medicaid Programs Can Directly Pay Home Aides’ Benefits
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a final rule Thursday that removes federal barriers from state Medicaid agencies letting home health aides not working with an agency to have employee benefit premiums and union dues deducted from their pay. In more industry news: the number of Americans carrying medical debt dropped in 2021, but could rise again soon; protesters gather for the sentencing of a Tennessee nurse; and more.
NIH Agrees To License Covid Vaccine Tech To WHO
There has been a tussle over whether access to new covid technologies should be made more available to poorer nations through organizations like the World Health Organization, but progress has now been made as the National Institutes of Health agrees to licenses for around 12 medical products. Other vaccine news is on Novavax, Moderna’s effectiveness in children, and more.
Reprieve Over: Covid Cases Marching Back Up, Fueled By Reinfections
Covid infections are yet again surging in many parts of the U.S., with some people contracting the virus for a second or, even third time. News outlets report on reinfection risks and other factors driving the latest trendlines.
Covid Summit Leaders Pledge $3B, Urge World Not To Get Distracted
Also Thursday, President Joe Biden ordered flags to fly at half-staff to honor the 1 million Americans who have died from covid. While NPR reports on a new analysis that looks into how many of those might have lived if vaccine uptake in the U.S. was greater.
Meatpackers Knew Of Covid Outbreaks, Lobbied Trump To Keep Plants Open
A congressional report released Thursday found that the nation’s biggest meatpacking companies disregarded risks to employees and pushed “baseless” claims of beef and pork shortages early in the pandemic. And in Massachusetts, the state will pay $56 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over covid deaths at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.
Survey: Majority Of Americans Support Free Birth Control If Roe Falls
If the Supreme Court does upend abortion protections by overturning Roe v. Wade, a survey reported in The Hill shows a huge majority of Americans think birth control should be free and widely accessible. Other media outlets cover worries that birth control may be more restricted in the future.
Louisiana Backtracks From Linking Abortion To Murder Charges
Louisiana House members voted broadly to revamp currently-proposed legislation that would have made the state among the strictest anti-abortion enforcers — prompting the bill’s sponsor to pull the proposal to subject women who have abortions to murder charges. Meanwhile, the Hill reports many red states are planning new anti-abortion legislation.
Amid Furor Over Abortion Leak, Alito Cautiously Addresses Court’s Status
While The Washington Post reports Justice Samuel Alito seemed “reluctant” to discuss the state of the Supreme Court during the controversy over his leaked anti-abortion opinion, Fox News notes that when asked how the Court was doing, he said, “We’re doing our work,” brushing off the affair. Other news outlets cover the ongoing firestorm that the draft opinion leak has ignited.
Formula Shortage May Linger Despite Latest White House Steps To Alleviate
The Biden administration announced a series of modest measures it can take to increase infant formula supplies, combat price gouging, and boost distribution to more remote locations. But even with these steps, the shortage could last for months.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health issues.
