Latest KFF Health News Stories
Swift, Fiery Reaction On Display In Demonstrations, Global Attention
Protests erupted across the nation after the Supreme Court leak, including outside the court itself. The news also echoed around the world, spurring alarm and criticism. In Canada, the prime minister went as far as emphasizing the rights of Canadian woman to choose.
Poor, Minorities, People With Higher-Risk Pregnancies Imperiled In Post-Roe World
Media outlets look at the maternal health impacts of overturning of Roe v. Wade, highlighting that minority women have the most to lose, that more births will occur in a nation where pregnancy itself is getting riskier, and that the costs associated with abortions will rise.
Contraception, Other Privacy Issues At Risk, Legal Experts Warn
The privacy language framed in the Supreme Court draft abortion opinion raised red flags for lawyers and Democratic lawmakers, who warn that the same arguments could be used to roll back access to birth control, gay marriage and other such protections.
Jumble Of State Abortion Laws About To Get Even More Complicated
Existing state abortion laws are already a conflicting patchwork of restrictions and protections. That’s about to get worse as lawmakers vow to take further actions on surgical and medication abortions. Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s governor signs a 6-week ban into law.
Biden, Democrats Condemn ‘Radical’ Supreme Court Abortion Draft Opinion
Fallout in the nation’s capital was swift to news that the Supreme Court is poised to strike down Roe v. Wade. Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed the authenticity of the draft opinion and launched an investigation into how it was leaked. President Joe Biden and Democratic lawmakers blasted the majority decision, while Republicans’ reaction was more muted. The future of legislative action is unclear though, especially with the upcoming midterm elections.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers examine these public health topics.
Different Takes: Can The CDC Regain Public Trust?; Covid Is Still A Pandemic For Young Kids
Opinion writers weigh in on these covid issues.
Denmark To Destroy A Million Unused, Expiring Covid Shots
Danish health officials said Monday that efforts to donate the unused shots — around 81% of Danes have had two shots already — had failed. Meanwhile, in South Africa a surge of covid cases is worrying experts who suggest the pattern may be repeated in the U.S. soon.
California’s Population Decline Continued In 2021
The pandemic was partly to blame for California’s population declining for the second year in a row. Developmental issues in pandemic babies in Wisconsin, Kansas expanding postpartum care and more are also in the news.
Major Insurer Restricts Coverage Of Aduhelm
UnitedHealthcare says the drug is “unproven and not medically necessary.” In other news on the health care industry, large not-for-profit health systems are recording windfalls from their investments that are offsetting significant operating losses.
New Alzheimer’s Vaccine To Get FDA Fast-Track Approval Process
Vaxxinity, a biotech company from Texas, announced its candidate Alzheimer’s vaccine was designated “fast-track” by the Food and Drug Administration. Meanwhile, the FDA suspended a study of a diabetes stem-cell therapy due to “insufficient information” in support of higher dosing.
Becerra Wants More Money For Mental Health Treatment
The secretary of Health and Human Services said he wants Congress to appropriate more money to bring mental health treatment up to the level of physical ailments. Other news on mental health includes updates of the suicides on a berthed Navy ship, Naomi Judd’s death and climate-change anxiety.
Texas AG Criticized For Inaccurate Medical Claims On Trans Health Care
Meanwhile, in 18 states lawmakers are planning “refuge” bills to help transgender youths and their families who have been displaced by anti-trans laws passed in conservative states. Also: a push to reduce toxic chemicals in Boston schools, avian flu outbreaks in Alaska, Oklahoma, and more.
Vice President Harris Returns To The Office After Covid
Vice President Kamala Harris is resuming her regular routine today and will deliver remarks at a conference tonight of abortion-rights supporters. In other Washington news, concerns about Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s ability to represent California are growing louder.
Many States Limit Pharmacies’ Ability To Give Young Children Covid Shots
In other news, the White House has said it will nearly double the amount of Paxlovid available but is struggling to do so. And a Minnesota company found giving people $1,000 to get a covid shot works as an inducement.
Covid Climbing Yet Again Throughout US
The new BA.2.12.1 variant was responsible for 29% of new coronavirus infections and they are on the rise across the country.
Abortion Bans Would ‘Trigger’ In 13 States As Soon As Roe Overturned
Abortion access will immediately end or be curtailed in a handful of states with “trigger laws” already on the books, while as many as 26 are expected to ban the procedure when Roe v. Wade is no longer in effect. Other states take steps on the opposite track to increase abortion protections.
Midterm Stakes Rise: Republicans Eye National Abortion Ban, Democrats Say They’ll Fight
The explosive Supreme Court leak again exposed the deep partisan divide over the issue of abortion. Some Republicans are already looking ahead to passing a nationwide ban, if they regain a congressional majority this fall. Democrats vow to challenge those efforts at the state and national level and hope the court decision could spur passion from their base.
Rare Leak Reveals Supreme Court Ready To Strike Down Roe V. Wade
Politico obtained an internal draft of the majority opinion, authored by Justice Samuel Alito, which takes the position that precedent cases of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey “must be overruled.” In the preliminary version — which could still be modified and has not been verified by other news outlets — Alito also writes that “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start” and says abortion law should be determined by the states.
