Latest KFF Health News Stories
Food Supplies Threatened In Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine
AP reports that the invasion is threatening food supply chains to Europe, Africa, and Asia. Reuters reports on Chinese plans for aid supplies to Ukraine. Separately, Hong Kong’s covid death rate is the highest in the world, and China’s daily case rate is higher than it’s been since the pandemic began.
Medical Examiners in Mass. Often Use Photos, Not Bodies, To Do Autopsies
Nearly 1,200 times last fiscal year — or roughly 1 in 7 cases — a medical examiner did not examine a body in person before identifying a cause of death, The Boston Globe reported. That nearly doubled the number of so-called chart reviews from the previous year, the newspaper said. It’s all part of an effort to work faster and reduce a backlog of cases.
Investors Push Unilever To Better Report Its Foods’ Nutritional Values
In other news, a study has shown that a weekly short muscle-strengthening exercise session could add years to your lifespan. And a report details the increased risks pregnant people will experience due to climate change — including exposure to extreme temperatures.
New Bill Would Fund Mental Health Staff In Schools
The plan by Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) would cover 90% of mental health service costs to children enrolled in Medicaid. Other reports say firearms killed 12.6 million Americans between 2009 and 2018. Suicides in Kansas and mental health responses to 911 calls are also in the news.
Addiction Doctors Want Patients To Keep Easy Access To Telehealth
Temporary pandemic emergency changes have made addiction care via telehealth easier, and Medill News Service reports that there’s pressure to maintain this type of access. Also: Amazon and Teladoc, a data breach at Ascension Michigan, a rapid test for African swine fever, and more.
$55M Fine Levied On LA County Health Plan For Delayed Treatments
L.A. Care, the nation’s largest publicly operated health plan, is under fire for delaying care for lots of poor and at-risk members. Meanwhile, Microsoft is nearing a purchase of AI and speech recognition firm Nuance; the nursing home industry is pressing for staff agency regulations; and more.
Health Care Employment Soared In February
Hiring rose across nearly all sectors by around 63,500 jobs last month. Media outlets, on the other hand, cover the ongoing health worker shortage, including difficulties in finding therapists. Medical supply shortages of different types are also reported.
California Omicron Deaths Surprisingly High Among Vaccinated Patients
An analysis by the Bay Area News Group of the four deadliest weeks of the delta and omicron surges finds that three times more vaccinated people died in the state during the omicron peak than during delta’s heyday. And public health officials in Philadelphia are concerned that vaccination efforts are not reaching enough children.
Second Day Of Mandate Protests Will Continue Today On Capital Beltway
The plan comes after a demonstration Sunday, where the “People’s Convoy” looped the Beltway twice. In other news, the Georgia Senate on Friday passed legislation that would ban any state, local agency or school from requiring anyone to get a covid vaccination.
Patient Returns Home After Being Hospitalized For 550 Days Due To Covid
A Roswell, New Mexico, man received a police escort back home after spending over 1.5 years in the hospital after a covid diagnosis — much of it on a ventilator. Other virus news reports on animal transmission, variants, and more.
‘We’re Not Going To Normal 2019’: Experts Offer Roadmap For Next Covid Steps
A group of public health experts released a report for pandemic-weary Americans suggesting the next course. While advocating for treating covid like other high-risk respiratory illnesses, they outline scenarios for how that shift could play out. Other news outlets take stock after two years of the coronavirus.
GOP Demands Accounting Of Covid Funds Before Approving New Money
Group of Republican senators vow to not support new virus relief measures until the Biden administration provides more transparency on where past funds have been spent. The White House says efforts to fight the pandemic are about to run out of money.
Most Texans Barred From An Abortion In State Had One Elsewhere: Studies
Two studies find that Texas’ restrictive law kept about 10 percent of patients seeking abortion access from getting it. The rest went out of state for the procedure or were prescribed medication online.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages weigh in on these public health topics.
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 Facebook, wood-burning stoves, covid, genital mutilation, and more.
Opinion writers tackle these covid topics.
White House Will Share Some Covid Tech With WHO
Dr. Anthony Fauci explained the plan to journalists, with the goal being to help tackle covid around the globe. Meanwhile, new evidence from an international science team strongly points to a seafood market in Wuhan, China, as the source of covid, where the virus jumped from animals to people.
Fire Extinguished After Russians Strike Ukrainian Nuclear Plant
Media outlets cover the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on nuclear infrastructure — including strikes on a power plant that started a fire, sparking worry over radioactive leaks. The site was determined to be a training facility. Also, experts worry over disturbing the debris at the Chernobyl disaster site.
California Unveils ‘CARE Court’ To Help The Unhoused Get Mental Health Care
For the first time, the state would require counties to provide comprehensive treatment to people suffering from debilitating psychosis — and risk sanctions if they don’t, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
