Latest KFF Health News Stories
Using Brain Implant, Fully Paralyzed Man Spells Out His Thoughts
The patient, 34, had been diagnosed a few years earlier with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and is now in a “locked-in” state. What did he ask for? Letter by letter, he made a request in German. Translated, he said: “For food I want to have curry with potato then Bolognese and potato soup.”
The Pandemic Drove US Alcohol-Related Deaths Up 25% In 2020
Meanwhile, a separate study from Boston Children’s Hospital showed referrals for intimate partner violence also increased during the pandemic. Suicide rates on the Golden Gate Bridge are part of another study, and Fox News covers the recently reauthorized Violence Against Women Act.
Nursing License Delays Frustrate Would-Be Health Workers
NPR covers the impact that delays on issuing nursing licenses have on the workforce. Meanwhile, Connecticut Public reports on how hard it is to attract new physicians to the area. Other health care personnel news includes Black therapists on TikTok, students training for abortions, and more.
FDA: Baby Formula Factory Had Cleanliness Problems Before Recall
Media outlets cover the Food and Drink Administration’s uncovering of unsanitary conditions at the Abbott factory five months before a recall of baby formula was prompted by a cluster of illnesses and two deaths. Separately, Pfizer is recalling a blood pressure drug because of potential carcinogenic impurities.
St. Jude Uses Donations To Cultivate Bequests, Challenge Wills
ProPublica reports on tactics St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital employs to build one of the most lucrative charitable bequest programs in the U.S. “Think of all the fees for lawyers that didn’t go to St. Jude, not one child, not one cancer patient. Where is the sanity in all this?” said one person who won a court battle with St. Jude over a family member’s estate.
Supreme Court Nominee Defends Her Record On Handling Child Sex Abusers
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson weathered some intense questioning from Republicans, who challenged her sentences for people convicted of child sex abuse as well as several hot button issues such as critical race theory and transgender rights.
Travel Industry Reps Urge Biden Administration To Drop Mask Mandate
The U.S. Travel Association and a union for Texas-based Southwest Airlines flight attendants ask the Biden administration to lift the federal requirement for masked travel.
White House Spokesperson Reinfected By Covid; Hillary Clinton Tests Positive
A positive covid test is keeping White House press secretary Jen Psaki from another international presidential trip. Announcing her second infection, Psaki said she had two recent “socially distanced meetings” with President Joe Biden — who tested negative Tuesday. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also has covid.
Program That Funds Covid Testing And Treatment For The Uninsured Runs Dry
The provider relief fund, which was created to help hospitals and community health centers seeing decreased revenue or increased expenses because of the pandemic, was launched with more than $100 billion in 2020, and later legislation added about $78 billion.
Fast-Moving Subvariant BA.2 Advancing Toward Dominance In US
A genomics company says that its data shows that “stealth omicron” is already responsible for most new covid infections, while the CDC says it accounts for 1 in 3 cases. As those trends indicate that the highly transmissible subvariant is gaining traction, experts urge the U.S. to prepare.
US Out Of Money For Buying Second Covid Booster Shots, Official Says
Federal officials have secured enough doses to cover a fourth shot for Americans age 65 and older as well as the initial regimen for children under 5, if authorized by regulators, officials told The Washington Post. But the lack of new covid money in the spending bill passed this month by Congress is undermining efforts to stockpile more vaccine doses.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Tennessee Should Remove APRN Restrictions; Vaccine Mandates Are Lawful
Editorial writers examine these public health topics.
Different Takes: Most People Shouldn’t Fret About BA.2; How To Plan For The Next Covid Wave
Opinion writers tackle these covid issues.
Billions Of People Breathe Dirty Air As Every Nation Flunks Health Guideline
A new report says no country has met the World Health Organization’s Air Quality Standard. Meanwhile, Ukraine is set to receive 50 ventilators donated from Maryland, Hong Kong lifts its flight bans, and more.
Overriding Governor’s Veto, Ky. GOP Doubles Down On Cutting Food Stamps
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has called the legislation to end the covid emergency — which would result in a large decrease in monthly SNAP benefits — a “cruel bill” that would significantly hurt residents of rural counties. But Republicans in charge instead furthered the myth that welfare recipients don’t want to work. “Help wanted signs are up everywhere,” GOP Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer said in a floor speech. “If you are an able-bodied, healthy Kentuckian, there is no excuse for you to not have a job.”
Court Again Blocks Trans Youth Health Investigations In Texas
Texas’ Third Court of Appeals ruled on a motion filed by the ACLU and Lambda Legal on behalf of a trans teen’s parents who were being investigated under Texas’ controversial new legal push. Meanwhile, reports say the children’s mental health crisis precedes the pandemic arriving in the U.S.
Autonomous Surgical Robot Under Development At Johns Hopkins
Reports say engineers at Johns Hopkins University have been developing a robot that can perform some procedures like blood vessel reattachments without a doctor at the controls. Separately, another Alzheimer’s drug may stretch the FDA’s approval process.
Insurers Increasingly Cut Payment For Consultation Codes
Modern Healthcare reports that more insurers are adopting a policy of denying providers’ claims that include a consultation code. The pandemic’s toll on the medical support community, a shortage of primary care physicians in Michigan and more are also in health industry news.
Judge Says DC Kids Can’t Get Vaxxed Without Parents’ Knowledge
Meanwhile, The New York Times reports that the booster campaign has stalled, with about half of eligible U.S. adults still not boosted as of Monday.
