Latest KFF Health News Stories
Nevada Joins Low-Cost Northwest Prescription Drug Consortium
A low-cost prescription drug effort advances in Nevada. In New Mexico, a bill allows broad access to fentanyl test strips to combat drug deaths. In Missouri, $25 million went to a construction company to aid hospitals during covid. Other news comes from, Ohio, Florida, Utah, and North Carolina.
Virginia Republicans Delay Legal Pot Sales
A House of Delegates subcommittee voted along party lines to push a recreational marijuana sales bill until next year’s legislative session. In South Dakota, lawmakers also thwarted efforts toward recreational weed. Meanwhile, smokable legal medical marijuana is on sale in Minnesota starting today.
You Can Now Ask Alexa Some Telehealth Questions
Some virtual health services from Teladoc Health are now available over the Amazon voice assistant. In other news, Mayo Clinic reported a large operating surplus in 2021; a study links higher anesthetic costs to private equity-backed physician management companies; and more.
EpiPen Maker Agrees To $264 Million Antitrust Settlement
The settlement was for a class-action lawsuit alleging Viatris, formerly Mylan, acted illegally to monopolize the epinephrine auto-injector market. Meanwhile, UC Berkeley lost a patent case as the Patent and Trademark Office said CRISPR tech belongs to the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT.
Oregon Wrestles With High Drug Costs In Medicaid Program
Oregon withdrew its federal request to restrict the range of medications that the state’s Medicaid program has to cover, but says it is still looking for ways to lower costs. Other Medicaid news is reported from Ohio, Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina and Colorado.
Study Shows Overdiagnosis Of 1 In 7 Breast Cancer Cases
Research from Duke University shows the potential paradox in over-diagnosing small breast cancer tumors. Progress in treating multiple myeloma using new drugs from makers Johnson & Johnson, and Janssen and Legend Biotech is also reported.
Life On Earth Will Be Hotter, Deadlier Sooner Than Thought, Report Warns
The report released Monday by a panel of U.N. experts says countries aren’t doing nearly enough to save the planet from climate hazards that will create unparalleled human suffering.
Concerns, Misinfo Swirl Online After CDC Tweaks Developmental Milestones
Some social media users are misleadingly saying that face masks are to blame for the new guidelines from the CDC. But some speech pathologists are also expressing skepticism over the updated guidelines, which delayed some speech and language goals to older ages.
Pandemic Suppressed US Birth Rates In Early 2021
The new 2021 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a 2% decline from the 1.78 million births reported for the first six months of 2020. Separately, the Abbott infant formula recall expands after another child fell ill and died after apparently consuming the formula.
Democrats’ Abortion Rights Bill Fails To Pass Senate
As anticipated, Senate Republicans blocked legislation, in a 46-48 vote, backed by Democrats that would have codified abortion rights into federal law ahead of an expected Supreme Court decision that could limit access to the procedure.
Some School, Indoor Mask Mandates Eased
News outlets cover the lowering of mask rules in California, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Michigan in different ways — some for most indoor places, some in schools. And in New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul said choices over masks and vaccines should shift from the state to individuals.
CDC Estimate: Nearly Twice As Many Had Covid Than US Case Counts Reveal
Based on antibody blood tests, the CDC says that 140 million Americans have likely contracted covid-19. And that estimate may be low because the analyzed samples were only through late January, when the highly contagious omicron variant was still surging. The data also indicates that a majority of kids have likely been infected.
Pfizer’s Covid Shots Less Effective For 5- To 11-Year-Olds: Study
The new data hints Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccine may not work as well against preventing infection and hospitalization in younger children. Separately, a book explains the difficulties of rolling out Pfizer’s shots under Operation Warp Speed, and Moderna faces a lawsuit over its covid vaccine.
Unpredictability Of Virus Restrains Biden From Declaring Covid ‘Victory’
News outlets explore the White House debates over how to characterize this phase of the pandemic during tonight’s State of the Union speech, acknowledging that a “mission accomplished” moment could still be premature but that Americans are eager for some good news after two years.
Biden To Propose Nursing Home Safety Measures During State Of The Union
In the wake of nursing home struggles to protect residents and staff from covid-19, President Joe Biden will announce changes to improve care quality at those facilities and to crack down on ones with poor records.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers delve into these public health issues.
Different Takes: Preparing For A Variant That Evades Vaccines; CDC Says It’s Time To Unmask
Opinion writers examine the latest on covid and abortion care.
WHO Warns Of Oxygen Shortage In Ukraine’s Hospitals
Citing risks in trucking fresh oxygen across the country, the World Health Organization called for safe passage for emergency oxygen around Ukraine. Meanwhile, in Sweden an inquiry into the government’s response to covid, controversially hands-off at first, found it was slow and misguided.
Legal Fight Over Maine Hotels Used To House Homeless People
In state homelessness news: controversy over housing people in Main hotels after neighbors’ complaints, and in Montana there were warnings over frostbite risks for homeless people during a record-breaking cold snap. In Albuquerque a new homeless shelter will only cater for women.
