Latest KFF Health News Stories
Viewpoints: Doctors Deserve Mental Health Care Without Judgment; Do Ovarian Stem Cells Exist?
Editorial writers tackle physician mental health, ovarian stem cells and gender affirming care.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Different Takes: Virus Causes More Problems Than Just Long Covid; Who Should Get The Second Booster?
Opinion writers weigh in on these covid related issues.
Wholesale Pharmaceutical Prices Fall, Adding To Hot Debate Over Drug Costs
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Worries Grow About A Looming Global Food Crisis
The head of the U.N.’s World Food Program and the president of the African Development Bank warn that supply chain disruptions from the Russian invasion of Ukraine could have dire effects on food supplies.
Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico Have The Most-Stressed Populations
A study by personal finance site WalletHub measured 41 key stress indicators, leading to a list of where people experience the most and least stress. In other news, Florida’s governor signed a law for schools to create “individualized” plans for students with epilepsy.
States Move To Fix Gaps In Medical Insurance Coverage For Ride-Shares
Stateline covers a complexity in legal coverage for ride-share passengers who are injured during incidents. Meanwhile, researchers have found that eating avocados can dramatically reduce the risk of heart attacks in both men and women when the avocados replace some other foods.
Rising Temperatures Are Making Pollen Season Longer, Worse
The Washington Post reports on how pollen season is getting worse and longer, which impacts the health of people with allergies or asthma. Meanwhile, the Houston Chronicle reports on how people switching to using electric vehicles could lead to fewer asthma cases.
UnitedHealth Buying In-Home Health Provider LHC For $5.4 Billion
The deal by Optum — UnitedHealth’s health-services arm — is to purchase LHC Group, one of the largest home-health companies. Fraud in California’s hospice industry, a $5 million fine for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Black-owned health care centers in Indianapolis and more are also in the news.
Ky. Lawmakers Send Governor Bill With New Abortion Restrictions
The bill would ban abortions after 15 weeks and require women seeking medical abortions to see a physician in person. Meanwhile, in Maryland where Democrats control the Statehouse, lawmakers voted to expand access to abortion.
Covid Striking Black Communities Worse
News outlets cover reports on how the pandemic is impacting Black Americans on an ongoing basis with high hospitalization rates, and how Black cancer patients were significantly more likely than white peers to have severe outcomes regardless of other factors.
21 States Sue To End Federal Mask Rules For Public Transit
The transportation mandate is in effect until April 18, but federal officials have indicated they are weighing scaling back the rules for a more targeted approach.
Contagious Omicron BA.2 Now Dominates US Covid Infections
CDC data reveals that the subvariant dubbed “stealth omicron” is responsible for 55% of new covid cases, making it the most common strain in the U.S. Other CDC research finds nearly every American now has some form of covid antibodies, which may protect the nation from another severe surge.
People 50 And Older Can Get Second Covid Booster
The CDC updated its vaccination guidance Tuesday to match FDA authorization announced earlier in the day. A fourth shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines is framed as an option for people 50 or older four months after the first booster. News outlets examine who should get another dose.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Change Needed To Bring Equity To Health Care Payments For Lower-Income Americans
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health topics.
Different Takes: Congress Must Approve Covid Response Money; Are Vaccines For Kids Effective?
Opinion writers examine these covid related issues.
Russian Covid Shot Is First Proven To Work For People With HIV
A new study published in The Lancet shows that Sputnik V is the world’s first covid vaccine that is efficacious for people living with HIV, achieving 79% efficiency. Separately, the invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions against Russia are complicating Russia’s vaccine effort.
Florida’s Governor Signs Bill Limiting Education Of Gender Identity
HB 1557, nicknamed “Don’t Say Gay,” was signed into law Monday. The bill has faced stiff opposition and criticism, and after it was signed the Walt Disney Co. condemned it and vowed to work with those already working toward its repeal. The Miami Herald breaks down the language of the bill.
Oregon’s Assisted Suicide Law Now Extends To Residents Of Other States
Opponents said the change in the law would lead to “suicide tourism,” but advocates stressed that safeguards in the law make that extremely unlikely. The lawsuit had been filed on behalf of a Portland physician who had been unable to write terminal prescriptions for patients who live just across the Columbia River in Washington state.
