Latest KFF Health News Stories
California Lawmakers Kill Landmark Single-Payer Health Care Bill
Bill 1400, a proposal by Assemblyman Ash Kalra (D., San Jose), would’ve created the U.S.’s first single-payer health system, but it didn’t even get put to a vote due to a lack of support. In other California news, moves to toughen nursing home oversight and plans to shut death row go forward.
Seeking To Save Nomination To Head FDA, Califf Takes ‘Ethics Pledge’
Some Democratic senators have expressed concerns about Robert Califf, President Joe Biden’s choice to lead the agency. He sought to win the support of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) by vowing to not work for any drug firm for four years after leaving the FDA job. And in other news, White House officials are reportedly unhappy with Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
Wash. Lawsuit Says An Ill. Covid Tester Lied To Patients, Stored Samples Poorly
Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s suit alleges the Center for COVID Control, which had about 300 U.S. locations, sometimes even faked, delayed or failed to provide results to patients at all. Other news outlets cover developments in covid testing across the nation.
Near Biden, Nobody Removes Masks … And Other Efforts To Keep Him Healthy
If you’re meeting with the president and you get thirsty, you’re out of luck — as a covid precaution, President Joe Biden is the only one who gets a glass of water. Other news about masks is from Colorado, California, the not-so-friendly skies and elsewhere.
As Wave Of GOP Leadership Rolls Into Virginia, Colleges Cut Vax Mandates
The Washington Post reports that covid vaccine mandates seem “on the way out” at Virginia’s public universities in line with an opinion from the new Republican attorney general. Across the U.S., health worker mandates, National Guard vax rules and more continue to stir controversy.
Covid-Stressed Pennsylvania Hospitals Get Help From Overflow Facilities
Four regional support sites, located in existing skilled nursing facilities, will be set up to help local hospitals struggling with an influx of patients infected with omicron. Other covid news, regional surges, rising deaths and ticking-up numbers of the BA.2 omicron sub-variant are also reported.
Subvariant BA.2 Found To Be More Contagious Than Original Omicron
Danish researchers also found that vaccinated people were less likely to transmit the virus than unvaccinated people. Other studies look at reinfection risks and natural immunity vs. vaccine-driven immunity.
Moderna’s Covid Vaccine Granted Full FDA Approval
Moderna’s two-shot mRNA covid vaccine, now branded Spikevax, is no longer being administered under emergency use authorization after the FDA fully approved it Monday for use in all 18 and older.
Novavax Applies For FDA Authorization Of Its Protein-Based Covid Shot
The Food and Drug Administration will next review the company’s data. Already in use in 170 other countries, Novavax’s covid vaccine is protein-based, rather than mRNA-based, and could give unvaccinated people who have been hesitant another option.
Kids Under 5 Could Start Getting Pfizer Vaccine By End Of This Month
Sources spoke to news outlets about a plan that could lead to FDA and CDC authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech covid vaccine for kids under 5 by the end of February.
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Covid Also Hurts The Environment, Thanks To Lazy Mask Disposal
WGCU reports on the “worldwide problem” of careless covid mask disposal, which is not only unsightly but also threatens wildlife and can block sewers. Meanwhile, in Hawaii the Navy continues to clean up a fuel spill that contaminated tap water, and military-used toxic foam worries rise.
14 People Hospitalized In Serious Carbon Monoxide Leak At Ohio Hotel
The source of the life-threatening gas leak is being investigated, but police responded to reports of people lying unconscious around the pool. In other news, data show the pandemic worsened San Francisco’s overdose epidemic, and a “litany” of mental health issues are found at a Vermont prison.
Drinking Alcohol Can Cause Cancer Directly, Study Says
A recent large-scale, gene-centric study found a direct link between alcohol consumption and “several kinds” of cancer. Also in the news, a link between Alzheimer’s and microglial cells; cognitive impairment from cannabis; bed rest is linked to poor recovery for older patients in the hospital; and more.
Analysis Shows Drugmakers Lifted Prices 6.6% So Far This Year
According to the Wall Street Journal, a survey of drugs for diseases like cancer and diabetes showed average price rises of 6.6% in 2022 — a “moderate” amount. Meanwhile, some senators are pressing to have the shelf life of short-supply prescription meds raised.
Varying Hospital Readmission Rates Not Explained By Socioeconomic Status
According to new research reported at Modern Healthcare, some of the issues “often” blamed for poor readmission rates to hospitals actually aren’t correlated: Socioeconomic status, care access and insurance coverage differences can’t explain why some hospitals have higher rates.
