Latest KFF Health News Stories
Democrats Want $28 Million To Boost Baby Formula Supplies
Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House Energy and Commerce Committee will seek answers from executives of Abbott Nutrition and other formula makers as to why the U.S. is experiencing such a crippling shortage. Lawmakers have warned criminal charges may be in play.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers examine these public health issues.
Viewpoints: Ignoring Long Covid Is Dangerous; Omicron Infection Does Not Protect Against Variants
Opinion writers delve into these covid-related issues.
British Study of Hepatitis In Children Near Completion
Progress on the child hepatitis outbreak may come from the U.K., and monkeypox infects four men in London who had not traveled to Africa. Meanwhile, in North Korea, the military is deployed to fight the covid pandemic.
Despite A Mandated Psych Eval, Accused Buffalo Shooter Bought A Gun
The Buffalo shooting suspect bought a gun just a few months after a police-mandated psychiatric evaluation that followed a shooting threat. Separately, Illinois will cover funeral expenses for child gun violence victims.
Cerebral Stops Prescribing Most Controlled Substances
The online mental health company was under scrutiny for stimulants prescribed for attention-deficit disorders. Other news is about research on cancer, Parkinson’s and memory loss.
Employer Plans Pay Hospitals At More Than Double Medicare Rates
A report in Modern Healthcare shows disparities between payments for the same services depending on whether costs are met by Medicare or private employer health plans. Also: a simmering dispute over the federal drug discount program, a ransomware attack at Christus Health, and more.
Impact of Hospitals’ Covid Relief Funds Assessed
Federal relief money to hospitals during the earlier stages of the pandemic bolstered the finances of most hospitals. But four studies found that the temporary federal funding may have made many rural hospitals appear more financially stable than they really are.
Studies: Omicron Infection Protects As Well As Booster Shot
An omicron covid infection might leave you with more protection than a second booster, say two new studies. German biotechnology company BioNTech and the University of Washington in collaboration with Vir Biotechnology placed the results on a preprint server. And in other covid vaccination news, an Ohio university approved 94% of its vaccine exemption requests.
Starbucks Joins List Of Companies Covering Abortion Travel Costs
The coffee company said it will pay for travel expenses for U.S. employees seeking abortions if they’re unavailable within 100 miles of home. It will pay, similarly, for access to gender-confirmation procedures. Payments extend to dependents of employees on the company health care plan.
Scientists Say Yes, You Can Catch Covid Many Times; It May Become Normal
A somewhat bleak report in The New York Times covers scientific opinion on the future of covid: Covid shows no sign of just fading away. It’s adept at reinfecting people, and it’s likely numerous infection waves will be a recurring pattern every year. Meanwhile, covid cases are surging.
FDA OKs At-Home Combined Test For Covid, Flu, And RSV
The new tests, made by Labcorp, are the first non-prescription tests permitted to test for covid, influenza A and B, and respiratory syncytial virus. Meanwhile, in a somewhat surprising move, the White House again offered a round of free regular at-home tests for covid.
Now It’s Tragically Official: A Million Americans Have Died From Covid
The number is hard to imagine: AP says it’s equal to a 9/11 attack every day for 336 days. The Wall Street Journal notes that disproportionately many of the dead are in some nonwhite groups.
Biden Signs Law Banning Baby Sleep Products Linked To Deaths
Inclined sleepers and crib bumpers, linked to more than 200 infant deaths, are no longer allowed to be manufactured or sold in the U.S. thanks to the Safe Sleep for Babies Act. The Bay Area News Group tackles the complex issue of whether babies sleeping in car seats, strollers, or slings are similarly at risk.
Baby Formula Import Rules Eased; Abbott Steps Up US Production
Media outlets cover the Biden administration’s efforts to ease the crunch in the U.S. baby formula supply, which followed a closure of an Abbott factory because of concerns about contamination. Import rules for foreign-sourced formula were eased. Abbott and other makers are boosting U.S. production.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers delve into covid vaccines and variants as well as nursing issues.
Viewpoints: Menstrual Stigma Prevents Women From Receiving Proper Care
Editorial writers examine these public health topics.
Kim Jong Un: North Korean Covid Outbreak Is Officials’ Fault
The North Korean leader said experts didn’t carry out his orders relating to public health. Meanwhile in Shanghai, authorities plan to ease restrictions as a recent covid surge comes under control, but in New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, lauded for early pandemic successes, now has covid.
