Latest KFF Health News Stories
Judge Refuses Mandate Block Request, So NYC Cops Must Get Covid Shot
State Supreme Court Judge Lizette Colon denied a request from New York City’s largest police union to block Mayor Bill de Blasio’s mandate that all municipal workers get at least one covid shot by Monday. Meanwhile, the head of the city’s firefighter union said members should defy the mandate.
21 GOP Attorneys General Pressure Biden To Halt Vaccination Mandate
Meanwhile, the White House indicated it might be more flexible in enforcing the requirements for federal workers. In other news, New Orleans lifts its requirement for wearing masks in public spaces.
Biden Tries To Seal Spending Deal With Paid Family Leave On Chopping Block
After meeting with House Democrats on Thursday morning, President Joe Biden is expected to outline a new framework for the social spending bill. Whether health measures like paid family leave and Medicare expansion will make the cut — and if progressives can support the plan drastically scaled back to satisfy two Senate moderates — is still a big unknown.
Survey Says Most Parents Reluctant Over Young Kids’ Shots, Despite Crisis
News outlets cover states’ preparations for the next stage of combatting covid — shots for children ages 5 to 11 — but a new survey shows that a majority of parents are reluctant to give their children the vaccine, at least at first. Dr. Anthony Fauci is quoted as saying he’d give kids shots “in a second.”
People With Mood Disorders Eligible For Booster With CDC High-Risk Designation
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added mental illnesses to the list of health conditions that can put a person at risk for developing severe covid. That classification makes millions of Americans eligible to get a booster shot, under federal guidelines.
Memo Reveals Covid Tore Like A Fire Through Meat-Packing Plants
Through January 2021, at least 59,000 workers were infected with covid and 269 workers died at Tyson Foods, JBS USA, Cargill, National Beef and Smithfield Foods. Those figures are three times higher than previously thought.
Widely Accessible Antidepressant May Cut Danger Of Developing Severe Covid
Results from a clinical trial in Brazil indicate that fluvoxamine — a low-cost antidepressant that is commonly available in many countries — reduces the chances of hospitalization in patients with covid-19.
Breast Implant Risks Must Be Better Detailed To Patients, FDA Orders
The Food and Drug Administration finalized new regulations that include “black box” warnings on implant packaging and that plastic surgeons must run patients through a checklist of possible complications, including scarring, pain, rupture and a rare form of cancer.
Editorial writers delve into these public health issues.
Different Takes: Is Delta On Its Way Out?; Examining Hybrid Immunity
Opinion writers weigh in on delta and hybrid immunity.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: Delving Into Causes Of Medical Distrust; Breaking Down Addiction Discrimination
Editorial writers tackle medical distrust and addiction stigma.
Opinion writers delve into these covid, vaccine and mandate issues.
Perspectives: Why Getting Rid Of Old Prescriptions Is A Critical Part Of Fighting Drug Addiction
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
MRNA Vaccines To Be Made In Africa In BioNTech Deal With Senegal, Rwanda
BioNTech and Pfizer are responsible for one of the leading covid vaccines, based on mRNA technology, and this deal will see vaccines using the tech made in Africa. Meanwhile, Moderna has pledged up to 110 million doses of its vaccine to help the continent vaccinate people against covid.
Centene’s Drug Pricing Battles Force It To Restructure PBM Business
The drugmaker said it will restructure its pharmacy-benefits management business following claims by several states it had inflated drug costs and cost taxpayers money. Texas’ $290 million opioid settlement and Rafael Pharma’s pancreatic cancer trial are also in the news.
AIDS Activists Protest High Drug Prices In Rally Outside UnitedHealthcare HQ
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Wisconsin Lawmakers Want Abortion Laws; Illinois Tries To Boost Access
In Wisconsin, the Republican-controlled Assembly will send a package of anti-abortion bills to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who is expected to veto them. In Illinois, the Senate voted to repeal a 1995 law that had required parents be notified when minors were seeking an abortion.
Study Links Teenage Mononucleosis Infection With Multiple Sclerosis Risks
Scientists from Sweden and the U.K. found that there was increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis as an adult among people who were infected with mononucleosis in childhood or adolescence. Separately, a study flags an “alarming” rise in colorectal cancer cases in people under 35.
Justice Department Alleges Kaiser Permanente Coerced Medicare Claim Upcoding
Modern Healthcare reports on a new complaint from the Justice Department that alleges Kaiser Permanente coerced employees to upcode claims for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. Northside Hospital, Cigna, Encompass, Betsy DeVos at the Theranos trial and more are also in the news.
