Latest KFF Health News Stories
Perspectives: PBMs Should Publicize The Discounts They Negotiate
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Your Medicare Costs May Go Up In 2022
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Covid Outbreak Spreading To Local Civilians From US Bases In Japan
An outbreak of covid traced to U.S. military bases may prompt the declaration of an emergency on the island of Okinawa. Meanwhile, the British government says it can “ride out” the omicron wave with no strict lockdowns, and in South Africa the omicron wave may have peaked.
Faulty Drug Tests Led To Unjust Penalties For 1,600 NY Prisoners
In other news, when the recreational cannabis market opened in Montana, over $1.5 million in sales happened on the first weekend. But other reports say medical marijuana shortages may be expected due to the recreational market’s opening.
Sex Abuse Survivors Reject Boy Scouts’ $2.7B Payout Offer
Seventy-five percent of the nearly 54,000 claimants in the case needed to approve the payout, but just 73% did. Meanwhile, as the surprise medical billing law comes into effect, some lawmakers are already pushing for changes to the process, to “line up” with what they say was Congress’ intent.
3 Major Drugmakers Donating Again To Lawmakers Who Denied Biden’s Election
A report in Stat says Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer gave tens of thousands of dollars to Republican members of Congress who voted against certifying the 2020 election, despite pledges to cut off funds. Among other industry news: a tussle between Applied Therapeutics and short sellers and how telehealth companies cut costs.
Colorado Hospital Shuttered Because Of Wildfire Smoke Damage
The Marshall fire has forced the closure of Centura-Avista Adventist (the only full-service hospital in Louisville, Colorado) for the “foreseeable future.” Separately, a hospital in Philadelphia closes its birthing unit, HCA Healthcare is buying the largest urgent care network in Florida and more.
Chicago Teachers Union Vote Prompts Schools To Cancel In-Person Classes
The Chicago Teachers Union alleged that conditions were “unsafe” for in-person lessons, which resumed Monday. Meanwhile, Florida experienced thousands of absences of staff and students due to covid infections, and testing in California found hundreds of student cases before school reopening.
Police, Local Governments Step In As Testing Sites Careen Out Of Control
To combat line-cutting, fights, traffic jams and shortages, some cities are setting up security at covid testing locations while others are limiting the number of tests available. In other news, Walmart and Kroger are upping the price of BinaxNOW tests.
Texas Governor Sues Over Federal Vaccine Mandate For National Guard
Pockets of the U.S. military and National Guard are continuing to fight against the Biden administration’s requirement that they receive the covid vaccine in order to serve.
No Testing Added As CDC Tries To Clarify Shorter Isolation Guidelines
There had been signals that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would layer in a negative test to its recommendations for when someone with covid can stop isolating. The agency stopped short of making that change and instead laid out the science behind its guidance of 5 days of isolation followed by 5 days of masking — for all, including kids.
CDC Reduces Booster Shot Gap To Five Months For Pfizer Vaccine
On Monday the Food and Drug Administration authorized the change to 5 months from 6, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention quickly agreed. An Israeli study, meanwhile, shows a fourth dose of Pfizer’s covid vaccine causes a fivefold rise in antibodies a week after the shot.
Biden Admin Buying More Of Pfizer’s Covid Pill As Hospitals Clamor For It
The goal is to have enough courses of Paxlovid for 20 million people. Still, Pfizer says it will take months to ramp up supply because of the complexity involved in making the pill.
Study: Infants Born In Early Pandemic Have Slight Lag In Motor, Social Skills
The study, in JAMA Pediatrics, followed 255 babies born from March to December 2020 in New York City, NBC News reports. The authors stressed that the results may not indicate long-term delays in development.
As Omicron Dominates New Cases, Strain On Some ICUs May Be Easing
While covid infections remain at record levels, the number of people hospitalized is fortunately not following the same trend line, as it’s done previously in the pandemic. Health officials say that’s due to vaccinations and that omicron appears to be causing less severe illness than previous variations of the virus.
Biden Tells Vaccinated: Be Concerned, ‘Not Alarmed’ Over Omicron Spike
For those who have not had the covid vaccine yet, President Joe Biden pleaded with them to reconsider during his pandemic remarks. He urged all to wear masks and take precautions during the “challenging” weeks ahead, but said that in-person schooling should continue.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Should Medicare Pay For Aduhelm?; Learning From Past Abortion Bans
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health issues.
Different Takes: Houston’s Corbevax Vaccine Is A Game-Changer; CDC’s New Guidance Concerns Many
Opinion writers tackle these covid and vaccine issues.
Texas Abortion Providers Seek To Untangle Supreme Court Appeals Case
Providers say a federal appeals court is blocking their challenge to Texas’ strict anti-abortion law. Meanwhile, in California, a large-scale sewage spill has cleared enough for some beaches to reopen, but in Wisconsin another town has drinking water challenges after finding “forever” chemicals.
