Latest KFF Health News Stories
White House Diverted Hospital-Helping Covid Funds To Vaccine Drive
Stat reports that nearly $7 billion was shifted from a fund designed to help hospitals and clinics during the stresses of the pandemic and was instead used to buy vaccines and therapeutics. Health worker burnout, Neil Young’s music off Spotify, and a poll about covid staying “forever” are also in the news.
Moderna Tests Omicron Vaccine, Says Original Booster Fades Over 6 Months
Earlier this week, Pfizer began its own trial of an omicron-specific shot. Initial results from that study are expected in the first half of the year; Moderna did not say when it expects to have results.
Capitol Braces For Bruising, But Maybe Not ‘Scorched Earth,’ Confirmation Battle
Democrats’ no-room-for-defection majority in the Senate has White House staffers and congressional members anticipating a rocky path and close vote for whoever is nominated.
Who Will Biden Nominate? Front-Runners Now In The Spotlight
President Joe Biden has previously pledged to name the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. News outlets profile some of the jurists believed to be on his shortlist.
Liberal Yet Pragmatic, Breyer Shaped Critical Health Care Issues From Bench
With the reports of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer’s pending retirement, news outlets look back at his 28 years on the nation’s highest court and the role he played in decision-making on critical issues in the U.S.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: Start School Later For Healthier Kids; Empowering Teens Who Want To Be Vaccinated
Editorial writers tackle these public health topics.
Opinion writers examine these covid issues.
Perspectives: CMS Is Protecting Us From Companies That Sell False Hopes
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Mormon Missionaries Quarantined After Bringing Covid To Kiribati
Kiribati’s borders had been closed since almost the beginning of the pandemic, and the island nation had avoided covid until a plane chartered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrived recently — despite the returning missionaries following covid protocols and testing.
Mass General Brigham Warned About Its Excessive Spending
The high spending of Mass General Brigham places the entire state health care system at risk, the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission says. The nonprofit hospital must now submit a plan on how it will lower costs stemming from its expensive care.
FDA Rebukes Eli Lilly For ‘Misleading’ Instagram Post About Trulicity
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Texas Cut Medicaid Staffing — Soon This May Cause Problems For Signups
According to a report, during the pandemic, Texas cut the number of people working in Medicaid services even as a million Texans gained coverage due to emergency federal funding. Now, staffing issues may affect an expected flood of new and returning applicants.
Report Warns Of Risk Amid Rise Of Some Alternative Birth Practices
NBC News reports on concerns over rising interest in “lotus” births, placenta consumption, and other alternative birth practices, and how a clinical report suggests doctors should advise parents on their risks. Miscarriages, PCBs in a school, and a teen raising money for a hospital are also in the news.
If Your At-Home Covid Test Freezes During Delivery, It’ll Be OK If Thawed
The Anchorage Daily News covers concerns over low temperatures affecting free federal covid tests being delivered by mail, with health officials saying frozen tests are likely OK if warmed up and thawed. In other news, Elton John postponed some U.S. shows after testing positive for covid.
In 2020, More Michiganders Died Than Were Born, For The First Time Ever
The difference between the birth and death figures, the first in the state’s recorded history, was worsened by deaths from covid. Meanwhile, in U.S. daily deaths from covid may have reached the highest level since early 2021, and there are covid spikes in places like Maryland and Utah.
Bracing For Next Pandemic: Senators Want To Investigate How Covid Was Handled
Senate health committee chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and ranking member Richard Burr (R-N.C.) released their proposal for looking into the federal government’s response to the current pandemic, in order to learn lessons for the next one. Separately, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra is criticized for a perceived lack of leadership during the latest covid surge.
Omicron Found To Cause Shorter Hospital Stays, Fewer Deaths
Furthering recent reports that omicron-variant covid is less severe than previous versions like delta, a new U.S. study shows that the virus causes less impact on the hospital system and fewer fatalities. Meanwhile concerns about a “stealth” variant of omicron spread, though there’s no need to panic.
These 4 Things May Raise Your Chance Of Getting Long Covid, Researchers Say
They are: 1) the level of coronavirus RNA in the blood early in the infection; 2) the presence of certain autoantibodies that mistakenly attack tissues in the body; 3) the reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus; and 4) having Type 2 diabetes.
Drugs That Do Work Against Omicron Are Scarce And Tricky To Access
While Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticizes the FDA’s decision to halt authorization for two monoclonal antibody drugs that are ineffective against omicron, the antibody treatments and antivirals that do help treat the covid variant are in short supply. News outlets offer tips on how to find them.
