Latest KFF Health News Stories
Viewpoints: Despite Claims, Noom Is Just Another Diet; Climate Change Is Killing People
Editorial writers consider the weight-loss app Noom, heat wave deaths, and other issues.
Opinion writers weigh in on mental health issues and pandemic consequences.
Judge Rules Oklahoma’s Controversial Lethal Injections Are Permitted
The three-drug protocol used for executions in Oklahoman was challenged by allegations it causes “impermissible pain and suffering,” but after a complex legal case involving many medical opinions, it has been ruled constitutional. Meanwhile, in Ohio a transgender sports bans may lead to genital checks.
Adding High Fence To Florida Bridge Has Dramatically Reduced Suicides
Before the nearly 11-foot-high fence was added June 23, 2021, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge averaged between 12 and 15 suicides a year. But in the past year, just four people have jumped and died. Meanwhile, a new nationwide suicide hotline struggles for funding ahead of its launch on July 16.
Connecticut Will Try Criminal Case Against Sacklers Over Opioid Crisis
The state’s top prosecutor will be asked by Attorney General William Tong to consider criminal charges against Sackler family members over the marketing of OxyContin. Separately, Kentucky is forming a group to oversee how the state’s $483 million opioid payout will be distributed.
Newly-Approved Diabetes Drug Found To Also Boost Weight Loss
Tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat type 2 diabetes but a study shows it can also help with weight loss, quite dramatically. Dramatic remissions of some B-cell lymphomas are also reported in an early study of Adicet Bio’s CAR-T treatment.
Bill Would Make New York Safe Haven For Out-Of-Staters Seeking Abortion
The package of bills, which is awaiting Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature, would ensure legal protections for abortion providers and prevent law enforcement from cooperating with out-of-state agencies, as well as prohibit medical malpractice insurance companies from taking adverse actions against providers who care for nonresidents, Stateline reports. Meanwhile, abortion opponents and supporters are gearing up for a decision from the Supreme Court this month.
Supreme Court Rules Florida Can Claw Medicaid Costs From Legal Damages
A legal case the Miami Herald says “drew attention” from officials across the U.S. has concluded with a ruling that Florida’s Medicaid program is entitled to some of the cash from a settlement payout made after a young girl was injured by a truck. Separately, Medicaid doula services increase.
Biden Administration Will Now Allow Nationwide WIC Waivers For Formula
The Agriculture Department, which runs the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutritional program, will offer nationwide waivers so that families can access infant formula that’s not normally approved for use in the program. The USDA has already provided waivers to states to give to parents; North Carolina and Ohio are among the first states to put those to use.
Embattled Biden Nominee For ATF Gets Boost From Health Care Providers
Many health care providers are urging that the nation consider gun violence a public health issue, and one group representing doctors, nurses and hospitals called for the Senate to confirm Steve Dettlebach as the head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. At the same time, negotiations in the Senate on new gun safety restrictions continue slowly.
Florida May Have Hurt Covid Response By Undercounting Cases, Deaths: Audit
A review by Florida’s Auditor General found that severe case misreporting early in the pandemic may have hampered the state government’s response to the effectiveness of its covid precautions. Meanwhile, a study shows Republican counties saw more covid deaths than Democratic ones.
US Limits On Monkeypox Testing May Squander Window To Control Outbreak
Some public health experts say the U.S. must expand the 74 labs currently authorized to test suspected monkeypox samples. Meanwhile, HHS orders more vaccine to bolster the national stockpile, while the CDC raised its monkeypox alert to level 2 as global cases surpass 1,000.
FDA Advisers To Consider More ‘Traditional’ Covid Shot From Novavax
A federal advisory committee will meet today to discuss authorization of the U.S.’s fourth covid vaccine. News outlets examine whether this more old-fashioned vaccine tech will tempt some hold-outs. Covid booster shots, vaccination data privacy, and more are also reported.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: Why Is There So Much Confusion Over Boosters?; Everyone Is At Risk Of Long Covid
Editorial writers delve into these covid issues.
Viewpoints: Let’s Re-Label Abortion Using Woman-Centered Words; Will Psychiatrists Save Abortion?
Opinion writers weigh in on these reproductive health issues.
Cancer Screenings And Vision Checks Have Taken A Dive
In the first year of the pandemic, cervical cancer screenings fell 11% and breast cancer checks fell 6%, data show. Meanwhile, fewer kids were getting their vision checked before the pandemic hit — and things only got worse when most schools went remote and halted vision screenings.
Health Worker Hiring Dipped Slightly In May, But Strong Overall
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the health care sector added about 28,300 jobs in May, down from 36,800 in April. Even so, Modern Healthcare reports the hiring figures are still “strong.” A separate report covers worker layoffs in digital health unicorns, including at Cerebral.
America Has Thrown Away More Than 1 In 10 Of Its Covid Shots
NBC News says a new 82.1 million unused covid shot count covers December 2020 until mid-May, representing about 11% of doses distributed. Meanwhile, Florida threatened to fine the Special Olympics, whose athletes have intellectual and physical disabilities, over its vaccine mandate policy.
Covid Rises Across US Despite Abundant Vaccines, Treatments
The case count, The Hill notes, is likely much higher than the official 100,000 per day as many home-tested cases go unreported. With abundant treatments and vaccines, the situation is different now (and in potential upcoming summer waves), but experts underline the risks of long covid.
