Latest KFF Health News Stories
Supreme Court Rules Florida Can Claw Medicaid Costs From Legal Damages
A legal case the Miami Herald says “drew attention” from officials across the U.S. has concluded with a ruling that Florida’s Medicaid program is entitled to some of the cash from a settlement payout made after a young girl was injured by a truck. Separately, Medicaid doula services increase.
Biden Administration Will Now Allow Nationwide WIC Waivers For Formula
The Agriculture Department, which runs the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutritional program, will offer nationwide waivers so that families can access infant formula that’s not normally approved for use in the program. The USDA has already provided waivers to states to give to parents; North Carolina and Ohio are among the first states to put those to use.
Embattled Biden Nominee For ATF Gets Boost From Health Care Providers
Many health care providers are urging that the nation consider gun violence a public health issue, and one group representing doctors, nurses and hospitals called for the Senate to confirm Steve Dettlebach as the head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. At the same time, negotiations in the Senate on new gun safety restrictions continue slowly.
Florida May Have Hurt Covid Response By Undercounting Cases, Deaths: Audit
A review by Florida’s Auditor General found that severe case misreporting early in the pandemic may have hampered the state government’s response to the effectiveness of its covid precautions. Meanwhile, a study shows Republican counties saw more covid deaths than Democratic ones.
US Limits On Monkeypox Testing May Squander Window To Control Outbreak
Some public health experts say the U.S. must expand the 74 labs currently authorized to test suspected monkeypox samples. Meanwhile, HHS orders more vaccine to bolster the national stockpile, while the CDC raised its monkeypox alert to level 2 as global cases surpass 1,000.
FDA Advisers To Consider More ‘Traditional’ Covid Shot From Novavax
A federal advisory committee will meet today to discuss authorization of the U.S.’s fourth covid vaccine. News outlets examine whether this more old-fashioned vaccine tech will tempt some hold-outs. Covid booster shots, vaccination data privacy, and more are also reported.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: Why Is There So Much Confusion Over Boosters?; Everyone Is At Risk Of Long Covid
Editorial writers delve into these covid issues.
Viewpoints: Let’s Re-Label Abortion Using Woman-Centered Words; Will Psychiatrists Save Abortion?
Opinion writers weigh in on these reproductive health issues.
Cancer Screenings And Vision Checks Have Taken A Dive
In the first year of the pandemic, cervical cancer screenings fell 11% and breast cancer checks fell 6%, data show. Meanwhile, fewer kids were getting their vision checked before the pandemic hit — and things only got worse when most schools went remote and halted vision screenings.
Health Worker Hiring Dipped Slightly In May, But Strong Overall
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the health care sector added about 28,300 jobs in May, down from 36,800 in April. Even so, Modern Healthcare reports the hiring figures are still “strong.” A separate report covers worker layoffs in digital health unicorns, including at Cerebral.
America Has Thrown Away More Than 1 In 10 Of Its Covid Shots
NBC News says a new 82.1 million unused covid shot count covers December 2020 until mid-May, representing about 11% of doses distributed. Meanwhile, Florida threatened to fine the Special Olympics, whose athletes have intellectual and physical disabilities, over its vaccine mandate policy.
Covid Rises Across US Despite Abundant Vaccines, Treatments
The case count, The Hill notes, is likely much higher than the official 100,000 per day as many home-tested cases go unreported. With abundant treatments and vaccines, the situation is different now (and in potential upcoming summer waves), but experts underline the risks of long covid.
Miss. Official Had No Say In Abortion Case, But It Carries His Name
Dr. Thomas Dobbs, Mississippi’s top public health official, is named in the case before the Supreme Court, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which could lead the justices to overturn their landmark decision in Roe v. Wade. But Dobbs has not said what his views are on abortion, and it is the state attorney general who brought the suit. Also, how overturning Roe could affect IVF services; what corporate leaders are doing to prepare; and how Texas — where the Roe case originated — is still the center of the argument over abortion.
Gun Talks Progress But Will Exclude ‘Comprehensive’ Background Checks
The slow Senate negotiation process is “inching forward,” according to Bloomberg. But Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy says any agreement on a bill will omit comprehensive background checks for gun buyers and any ban on assault-style weapons. Mental health funding is proposed, but media reports highlight that mental health issues aren’t necessarily a leading factor in mass shootings.
Pushback At Medicare Plan To Limit Hospital Medical Complication Reports
Consumer groups and employers, USA Today reports, are resisting a plan by Medicare to limit public reporting of certain often-preventable complications that happen during hospital stays. Separately, Medicare Advantage insurance firms are accused of data mining patient records to make false bills.
‘Astonishing’ Results In Small Cancer Drug Study
All 18 of the participating patients with rectal cancer went into complete remission: “I believe this is the first time this has happened in the history of cancer,” said Dr. Luis A. Diaz Jr. of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and author of the paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
CDC Genetic Analysis Identifies 2 Monkeypox Strains In US
The findings suggest longer global circulation of the virus than previously believed and that community-level transmission could be taking place undetected.
Restarted Abbott Plant Prioritizing Formula For Babies With Digestive Issues
Abbott Nutrition resumed production Saturday at its Sturgis, Michigan, facility, after the Food and Drug Administration said that “initial requirements” were met in addressing sanitary violations. Elecare, a specialty formula for infants with severe allergies or digestive issues, is the first product on the line and should start shipping June 20.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
