Latest KFF Health News Stories
Califf’s FDA Nomination Next Faces Full Senate Vote
The Senate narrowly advanced Robert Califf’s nomination. The formal vote on whether to confirm him to lead the Food and Drug Administration is expected as early as Tuesday.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: US Mental Health Care Woefully Inadequate; Congress Must Fix Cracks In ACA
Editorial writers examine these public health issues.
Viewpoints: What Covid Taught Us About Future Pandemics; It’s Too Hard To Get Covid Drugs
Opinion writers delve into these covid topics.
WHO Tracking 4 Omicron Subvariants As Global Death Rates Fall
The pandemic situation may be improving globally, thanks to treatments and vaccines, and news outlets report the overall effect seems to be falling death rates. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has said preventing all infections is impossible as it tracks four omicron variants.
For Valentine’s Day: Free STD Tests From Nashua
The event is organized by the city’s division of public health and community services. Meanwhile, in Boston, Gov. Charlie Baker signed a $101 million supplemental budget that includes support for paid covid sick leave, and in Maine, a group organizes an amateur radio-based emergency service.
Drowning Experts Say How To Revive A Victim During Pandemic
Covid poses a dilemma for reviving people who are drowning, but now an international group of experts have shown how PPE and bag-valve masks can be used as a proxy for mouth-to-mouth. The war on opioids is also in the news, with a call to pay more attention to addiction.
PBM’s Influence On Drug Prices May Be In FTC Spotlight
News outlets cover the upcoming vote at the Federal Trade Commission over a potential probe into how pharmacy benefit managers affect the prescription drug industry. Separately, health workers exposed to formaldehyde have a higher risk of developing cognitive impairment later.
Kaiser Permanente Reports 2021 Most Profitable Year Yet
The health system’s net income grew over 27% versus 2020’s figures despite higher demands on its services during this phase of the pandemic. Medical school enrollments, health system joint ventures, the unknown impact of telehealth on costs, and more are also in the news.
Hospitals’ Tabs Are Due For Excess Federal Payments To Nursing Schools
A government error resulted in $310 million in overpayments to hospitals that run nursing schools, and federal officials said they would collect that money by taking it out of Medicare reimbursements this summer. In news about a different federal program, Georgia looks to expand Medicaid coverage for new moms, and states brace for confusion when the pandemic ends and millions of people are likely to be pushed out of the health program for people with low-incomes.
Poll: 56% Of Americans Want Indoor Mask Mandates To Continue
Meanwhile, Walmart announces that it will drop its mask mandate for fully-vaxxed workers. And in California, some lawmakers want businesses to require that their employees get a covid shot.
Shifting Pandemic Landscape Puts Pressure On White House To Adjust
A group of Republican lawmakers argues that it’s time for the nation’s “public health emergency” designation to be lifted. And while more states and cities end mask mandates, President Joe Biden says it may be to too soon to do so. Other federal pandemic measures and debates are also in the news.
Antiviral Drugs Arrive In Pharmacies, But Few Seem To Want Them
Stat and CIDRAP report on the arrival of oral antiviral meds at pharmacies and the new authorization of an infused medication, Eli Lilly’s monoclonal drug bebtelovimab to treat covid. Yet many patients don’t know about the drugs or don’t want to take them. Meanwhile, research finds that antihistamines may help tackle long covid.
Omicron Isn’t Over Yet: Military Teams Bring Hospitals Some Relief
Covid cases may be dropping in some parts of the country, but hospitals in Oklahoma, Utah, and Connecticut are still reeling from a crush of patients. In Ohio, where cases are improving, National Guard members are leaving their posts at hospitals.
Effectiveness Of Pfizer Booster Drops After 4 Months But Still Protects Well
Its protection against hospitalization fell from 91% at two months to 78% by the fourth month, a study found. In related news, the CDC now recommends that immunocompromised Americans get a booster three months after the initial series of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna shots, rather than the current five months.
Covid Shots For Young Kids Now Months Away After FDA Reverses Review Plan
The FDA’s irregular proposal to fast-track its review of Pfizer-BioNTech’s covid vaccine for kids under 5 were abruptly tabled in order to gather more data on the efficacy of a third low-dose shot. That pushes the timetable out to at least April.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Olympic Figure Skating’s Dark Side; Action Plan For Preventing Drug Overdoses
Editorial writers tackle these public health issues.
Different Takes: Mexico City’s Ivermectin Mistake; How To Manage Next Pandemic
Opinion writers examine these covid topics.
At Least Half Of Humanity Is Now Fully Vaccinated
The Washington Post reports the passing of this milestone, but notes that the global rollout is very uneven, and poorer nations remain with lower vaccination rates. Other reports say though the U.S. brokered a J&J vaccine deal for refugees in Thailand, the shots have yet to be delivered.
