Latest KFF Health News Stories
Despite Governor’s Veto, Kentucky Enacts Strict Abortion Ban
Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, had vetoed the bill that includes a 15-week ban and which opponents said could shut down abortion access in the state. But in Louisville, reports say the police are now enforcing the anti-harassment “safety zone” around an abortion clinic to protect access.
CMS Aims To Improve Maternal Health With ‘Birthing-Friendly’ Hospital Rating
The designation would be granted to hospitals that implement certain safety practices and participate in a perinatal quality improvement collaborative program, Modern Healthcare reports.
Travel Mask Requirement Extended Until At Least May 3
Set to expire on April 18, the Biden administration pushed out the travel masking rules on flights, trains, and other public transportation to buy more time to see which way the covid virus is trending. Covid’s impact on the travel industry is reported in other news stories.
HHS Renews Covid Public Health Emergency For Another 3 Months
While it could be the last time, the extension allows federal policies like free covid testing and vaccinations — and expanded Medicaid coverage — to stay in place until at least the summer. HHS has told states it would provide a 60-day notice before ending the pandemic emergency declaration.
US Life Expectancy Fell In 2020; Healthy Lifestyle Linked To Longer Life
News outlets cover a sharp drop in U.S. life expectancy during 2020, with a near two-year fall to around 77 years — and the pandemic is blamed. Meanwhile, a separate study links longer lifespans without experiencing Alzheimer’s for both men and women to living a healthier life.
McKinsey Reported To Double-Deal With FDA, Drugmakers On Opioids
A congressional report alleges that consulting firm McKinsey advised the federal government on issues related to the opioid epidemic while at the same time working for opioid manufacturers, including OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma. “Who we know and what we know” was part of their sales pitch.
Grassley Asserts That GOP Won’t Repeal ACA If Back In Power
During a town hall in his home state of Iowa, Sen. Charles Grassley told a voter that his fellow Republicans have no plans to again target the Affordable Care Act if they win back House and Senate majorities this fall.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: PASTEUR Act Vital To Fight Superbugs; Texas Adds Murder Charges Into Abortion Debate
Editorial writers examine these various public health issues.
Different Takes: Is A Second Booster Safe?; Covid Antivaxxers’ Goal Is To Intimidate
Opinion writers weigh in on these covid topics, as well prescription drug issues.
Covid Forced 77 Million People Into Extreme Poverty, UN Says
In other news, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid a fine for breaking covid lockdown restrictions; Germany’s most vaccinated city is one of its poorest; a World Health Organization expert group endorsed a one-shot HPV vaccine; drug launches will speed up in Europe; and more.
Record Number Of Texans Get ACA Premium Aid That May Soon Lapse
Increased health insurance subsidies — set to expire with the American Rescue Plan Act at the end of the year — drove about 500,000 more Texas residents to sign up for a marketplace plan, according to new analysis. Other news out of the states relates to hunger, meningococcal disease, smoking, and more.
Threat Of Strike Looms Over Connecticut Nursing Homes
The state’s largest health care workers served notice to five nursing homes of a potential work stoppage. Other health industry news relates to treatment turf wars, mergers, and court cases.
Report: Routine Suicide Screening Of Young People Doesn’t Help
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released a draft report that says it can’t recommend routinely screening young people who have no obvious signs of suicidal thoughts. Critics of the report say screening can’t cause harm. The same task force did suggest anxiety screening should start at age 8.
Study Highlights Opioids As Culprit Behind Soaring Teen Overdose Deaths
Media outlets cover data on overdose deaths among young people in 2019 to 2020, showing the rate was up — nearly doubling — for the first time in a decade and also rose into 2021. The main factor wasn’t a surge in drug-taking, but rather pills laced with fentanyl or other opioids.
Pandemic Closures Contributed To Rise In Cases Of STDs
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the number of cases of syphilis and gonorrhea rose in 2020, continuing an increase that has been concerning public health officials. Part of the issue, CDC says, was the closure of screening clinics and people putting off visits to doctors because of concerns about the spread of covid, as well as a public health focus on the pandemic efforts.
Oklahoma Enacts Strict Abortion Ban That Would Prosecute Providers
Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, signed a bill to outlaw most abortions in Oklahoma and punish providers severely if they perform them. The New York Times notes 30 states have introduced near-total abortion bans this year.
Studies Confirm Covid Shots Have Low Heart Health Risks
A report in the Wall Street Journal covers studies into whether covid vaccinations bring a risk of developing inflammatory heart conditions: In short, they do not, with risks no more elevated than for other vaccines. The Guardian looks at one of those studies that found myocarditis cases after a covid infection were rare.
Researchers Link Inflammation From Covid Virus To Loss Of Smell
The study, led by Johns Hopkins scientists, found that inflammation caused by the virus damages neurons in the olfactory bulb at the base of the brain. Also, drugmaker Moderna — after its success developing a covid vaccination — is turning its sights to a flu shot.
Global Covid Tally Passes 500,000,000. And That’s Likely An Undercount.
As the Johns Hopkins University tracker tops half a billion covid infections worldwide, experts worry about the pace — known cases jumped from 300 million in January to 400 million in February — and that testing deficiencies are likely not counting many new infections. News outlets also report on BA.2 spread in the U.S. as well as other subvariants.
