Latest KFF Health News Stories
Hospitals Still Struggling With Covid Overload
Colorado and other mountain states are still dealing with overwhelmed hospitals due to the high number of covid cases there. Amd California prepares for a winter covid surge while the Surgeon General says Americans have to think about covid the way we think about flu–as a persistent threat.
Now Vaccine Mandates Are Blamed For Supply Chain Delays
Postal service and logistics firms express concern that vaccine mandates will cause delays in the supply chain and mail. And more lawsuits are filed against the federal rules. In California, state officials are examining exemptions to vaccinations granted by doctors.
Strong Start For Kids’ Covid Vaccinations
Almost a million children between 5 and 11 have gotten a covid shot and health officials seem encouraged by the initial response of parents.
Texas Ban On School Mask Mandates Barred By Federal Judge
U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel’s ruling prohibits Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, from carrying out any action against state schools that require face coverings.
First Edition: November 11, 2021
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Essential Program In Managing Dementia Care; Biden’s Plan For Curbing Drug Overdoses
Editorial writers delve into these public health issues.
Different Takes: Covid Experience In Europe Differs From East To West; Vaccine Mandates Are Working
Opinion writers weigh in on these covid and vaccine mandate issues.
U.K. Mandates Covid Shots By Early 2022 For Frontline Health Workers
The New York Times reports that the British government has said that all frontline health workers in the National Health Service must be vaccinated by the spring. Meanwhile, Russia and Germany report record covid numbers, and India has reached a billion shots administered.
Perspectives: Shortcomings Of Democrats’ Rx For Drug Pricing
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Sales Soared Under Insulin Makers’ Marketing Tactics, But Patients Paid Price
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Lawsuits Challenging Texas Abortion Law To Be Heard In Court
A state district judge is expected to hear over a dozen cases now consolidated, that were filed by doctors and abortion rights groups over the constitutionality of Texas’ near-total ban on the procedure. News outlets report on other abortion news from Indiana and Massachusetts, as well as Cecily Strong’s “SNL” skit.
Pennsylvania’s New Home Care Program Criticized For Poor Quality
The AP reports on what advocates say is the “eroding quality” of home care services under Pennsylvania’s new managed care system. Separately, a news investigation reportedly played a role in improving EMS response times at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Shipping Backlog Blamed For Driving Rising Costs In Medical Supply Industry
The CEO of Cardinal Health blamed congestion in shipping ports and high commodities prices for causing a rise in the cost of making and distributing medical supplies. Separately, a report says private health insurers are paying “considerable” markups over Medicare rates for outpatient drugs.
Patient’s Brain Swelling, Death After Taking Aduhelm Under Investigation
The newly approved, if controversial, Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm is in the news after a patient who’d taken the medication was hospitalized for brain swelling and then died. The drug’s maker Biogen is investigating if there is any link. Meanwhile, a trial finds psilocybin is useful for combatting depression.
Bat Populations May Harbor Coronavirus Similar to SARS-CoV-2
A newly published study says researchers back in 2010 found a close cousin to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in Cambodian bats. A fascinating French study suggests that having lingering long covid symptoms may have led participants to believe that they had COVID-19, when they did not. Other diseases, anxiety, or deconditioning related to the pandemic could be the cause of the symptoms, the study said.
More Heat And Ozone Affecting Health
The environmental impacts on health are examined: ozone in Western U.S. cities and heat worldwide. And the impact of covid on the environment. Also news on flu, food and dying vets.
A Backlash Against Covid Vaccine Lies Gains Strength
Pfizer’s CEO actually calls people who spread disinformation “criminals.” Newsmax’s White House reporter is banned from Twitter for promoting her theory that Satan has something to with the covid vaccine. And the NFL fines the Green Bay Packers and its quarterback for violating the league’s covid rules. But Senator Elizabeth Warren is sued by a book publisher for criticizing covid misinformation.
Lobbyists Spend Big To Push Changes In Drug Pricing Legislation
They want changes on the time period of drug exclusivity and the tax treatment of rare disease drugs — and are shelling out record lobbying dollars to influence the bill. Also, news on the Biden administration efforts to get covid vaccine to war-ravaged countries.
Warnings from Missouri and Georgia health officials and from the California governor alert people that the threat from covid has not passed.
OSHA To Rely On Whistleblowers To Report Vaccine Mandate Violations
The AP says the Occupational Safety and Health Administration doesn’t have nearly enough staff to track workplace safety violations of the Biden administration’s covid vaccine mandate. So it will rely on a “corps of informers” instead. Meanwhile, reports say mandates do really work.
