Latest KFF Health News Stories
‘Speckles’ Within Cancerous Tumors Can Determine Best Treatments
Meanwhile, increased rates of cancer in the under 50 crowd may be caused by gut issues; certain foods, including licorice, may help covid patients; Neumora Therapeutics depression treatment fails trials; and more.
DNA Or Diet? Maybe Both. Number Of Kids With Kidney Stones Is Up
Medical experts have seen a significant increase in the number of children suffering from kidney stones. Some doctors think a diet full of over-processed and sodium-rich foods might be to blame.
Surgeon General Wants Alcohol To Carry Cancer Warning Labels
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory Friday that warns that alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer and cancer deaths in the U.S., after tobacco and obesity.
States Enact Laws To Protect Reproductive Health Data
Many laws have been put in place to protect individuals’ reproductive health data and to keep it from being used to incriminate patients or target providers. Reuters explores the concern about the use of data obtained through “geofencing.”
Safety Measures Added For Farmers Seeking Bird Flu Reimbursement
Farmers will now have to prove that they did everything possible to prevent outbreaks before they can receive governmental indemnity payments. Also in the news: President Joe Biden nearly doubles funds to fend off H5N1; Norovirus cases surge; and more.
Eli Lilly Wants to Join Lawsuit Over Compounded Weight-Loss Drugs
The lawsuit was brought against the FDA after the agency declared an end to the shortage that allowed pharmacies to sell compound versions of the popular weight loss drugs, but Eli Lilly said it cannot rely on the FDA to protect its interests. Other news is on the surge of GLP-1 use; insurance coverage of obesity medicine; and more.
First Edition: Friday, Jan. 3, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of the latest health research and news.
Maryland Extends Medicaid Enrollment Freeze On Behavioral Health Providers
Also in the news: Experts in Texas make a case for mental health funds; New Yorkers will receive paid leave for prenatal care; Colorado explores psychedelic therapy; and more.
UnitedHealth Doctors Got Diagnoses Checklists To Boost Medicare Payouts
The Wall Street Journal reports how UnitedHealth provided lists of potential, often obscure diagnoses to its doctors and forced them to weigh in on them for each Medicare Advantage patient, in order to capitalize on the government system that pays private insurers based on how sick doctors say a patient is.
AI System Identifies Early Warning Signs Of Atrial Fibrillation
The tool developed by British researchers examines patient data to calculate risks for people who might develop the condition. Meanwhile, Stat reports on a study of pulse oximeters, which are currently not calibrated to work as well for people with darker skin. Other news includes antibiotic resistance, GLP-1 withdrawal, and more.
Largest Blastomycosis Outbreak In US History Identified In Michigan
The outbreak took place between 2022 and 2023 and was the first such outbreak to take place in an industrial setting. In other news: broccoli recalls; vapes are still being shipped through the mail, even though it’s illegal; and more.
Nursing Homes Face Dilemma With Uncertain Future Of CMS’ Staffing Rule
Some nursing homes are preparing for the new staffing regulations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services slated to take effect in 2025. Others are holding back, waiting to see if the rule is likely to survive the Trump administration.
Inflation Reduction Act Spending Cap For Medicare Is Now In Effect
Meanwhile, drugmakers are expected to raise prices on over 250 medications in the new year; rules for hospital price transparency are updated; and more.
CDC Keeps Its Eyes Open For Signs Of Bird Flu Turning Into A Pandemic
The agency says it is looking for red flags, but the risk to the public still remains low. Meanwhile, samples collected from a Louisiana patient with a severe case of bird flu showed worrying mutations. Other outbreak news includes surges in covid and norovirus.
Viewpoints: Telehealth Technology Has Changed Health Care; To Protect The FDA, It Should Be Split Up
Editorial writers discuss these public health topics.
First Edition: Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: If Congress Doesn’t Act, ACA Will Soon Become Unaffordable
Opinion writers discuss these public health issues.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today’s selections are on syphilis, medical sexism, euthanasia, the year’s best public health books, and more.
Ascension Alerting 5.6M Patients, Staff Of Data Breach
The cyberattack happened earlier this year, the company disclosed. Other industry news comes from CVS, Gilead, Ionis, and more.
