Latest KFF Health News Stories
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 covid, kidney disease, antipsychotics, “poppers,” the war in Ukraine, and more.
Cancer Rates Among Black People Drop, But Gap Remains
In 2019, the highest cancer death rates were in Black men — 294 deaths per 100,000 — almost double the lowest rate in Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The rate for white men was 249 deaths per 100,000. For Hispanic men, it was 177 deaths per 100,000 and 255 deaths per 100,000 among Native American men.
AMA-Led Program Will Try To Boost Equity, Quality In Health Care
The new mentorship initiative, Advancing Equity through Quality and Safety Peer Network, is designed to boost health outcomes for marginalized patients and tackle racism. Other news includes worries over hospital inspection results in Detroit and a reinsurance program in Virginia.
Court: Patient Doesn’t Have To Pay Gigantic Surprise Bill
The Colorado Supreme Court ruling said internal hospital chargemaster rates “have become increasingly arbitrary and, over time, have lost any direct connection to hospitals’ actual costs, reflecting, instead, inflated rates set to produce a targeted amount of profit for the hospitals.”
CDC Advises Covid Boosters For 5- To 11-Year-Olds
A key advisory panel at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has thrown its weight behind a third covid vaccine shot for children between 5 and 11. CDC director Rochelle Walensky approved the recommendation and also encouraged parents whose children have yet to get first shots to do so.
Unusual Monkeypox Is Spreading
Media outlets report a possible case in New York, likely related to travel to Canada. Meanwhile in Montreal, 17 suspected cases were reported. Sweden, Italy, and Australia have also joined the list of nations with cases of the rare disease, which can be spread by close or intimate contact. The risk to the public remains low.
FDA Won’t Totally Ban Phthalates Used In Fast-Food Packaging
The Hill reports the decision on the use of phthalates rebuffs advice of some scientists and environmental groups who say the chemicals, commonly used in fast-food packaging, are dangerous to health and can disrupt hormones. Meanwhile, a report covers how puberty is arriving earlier, baffling experts.
Lawmakers Blame FDA, ‘Corporate Greed’ For Baby Formula Shortage
During a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, lawmakers said a lack of action by the Food and Drug Administration and corporate greed played a large role in the serious and ongoing national shortage of baby formula. Politico notes the FDA refused to explain its slow responses.
Oklahoma House Passes Anti-Abortion Bill Like Texas’, Only Stricter
Under the new law, “fertilization” is defined as the moment egg and sperm meet, and it also prohibits medicine-induced abortions (beyond when Plan B pills work). The bill moved to the desk of Gov. Kevin Stitt, who is expected to sign it. For more longer-read stories about abortion and the current threat to reproductive health in the U.S., scroll down to our Weekend Reading section.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers weigh in on these various public health topics.
Viewpoints: What’s Causing Hepatitis In Kids?; Banning Abortion Will Have Adverse Effect On Military
Opinion writers tackle hepatitis in children, abortion, formula shortages, and covid.
Research Roundup: MRSA; Covid; Fragile X; Influenza-Like Illness
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Missouri Now Tracking Drug Overdoses On Public Dashboard
State officials say the leading cause of death among Missouri adults ages 18 to 44 is by drug overdose, with more than 70% of the deaths involving opioids.
Request Made To Review Florida Medicaid Cost-Shifting Case
A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had rejected arguments that the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association should be shielded from the whistleblower lawsuit because of sovereign immunity. The group wants the full panel to review it.
Congo Ebola Outbreak Fuels Worry Over More Virulent Strain
Meanwhile, in Spain, a proposal for expanding reproductive rights includes paid menstrual leave. In England, a surge in of bulimia hospital admissions, including among boys, is reported. And an analysis of the U.K.’s National Health Service found nearly 100 cases of objects left inside patients.
Officials Spotlight Abuses Of Medicare Advantage Coding
The coding process in private Medicare plan options need to be reformed, former and current officials have said, noting that health insurers’ use of coding to get higher payments is a problem. Also: Cerebral replaces its CEO, patient risks from ransomware attacks, and more.
Pharma Industry Wins Case Over Patient Financial Assistance Payments
A Stat report notes the case is a win for the industry, which under a contested HHS rule would have had to pay higher rebates to Medicaid. In other pharma industry news, infamous “Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli has been released early from prison, and the FDA is considering a “healthy” food label.
Study: Vaccines Might Help Long Covid
A first vaccine dose after catching covid was associated with a 13% decline in the odds of having long covid, according to a British study published Wednesday in BMJ. Other news is on the effectiveness of covid vaccines and plans for the fall for a vaccine campaign.
Aftermath Of Buffalo Shooting Highlights Black Americans’ Poor Mental Health Care
Media outlets cover the race and mental health aspects of the recent shooting in Buffalo, New York, which underlines the lack of mental health care options for Black Americans. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on how the shooting itself increased stress and trauma among Black communities.
