Latest KFF Health News Stories
Covid Cases Still Not In Decline
Indeed, the seven-day average of new cases is edging back up. And pockets of covid infections are still overwhelming hospitals.
Medicare Premiums Jump Because Of Alzheimer’s Drug
Aduhelm, the Alzheimer’s drug made by Biogen, which costs $56,000 a year, is driving up the overall price that all older Americans pay for Medicare outpatient care. The 14.5% increase is the third-largest percentage increase since 2007.
Slow Rollout Of Booster Shots Questioned
Governors of California, Colorado and New Mexico are going beyond the CDC recommendations and encouraging covid vaccine booster doses for all adults.
Health Measures In Spending Bill Wouldn’t Kick In Until After Midterms
As Democrats return to another work week dominated by efforts to finalize a deal on the social and safety net spending bill, those efforts may not help them much in the upcoming 2022 elections.
DeSantis Continues Battle Against Vaccine Mandates
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants the state legislature to block vaccine mandates, with penalties against businesses and local governments that require covid shots.
It’s Califf: Biden Finally Taps Nominee To Head FDA
Former Food and Drug Commissioner Robert Califf is up again for his old job. President Joe Biden’s nomination has been met with criticism by some advocacy groups, but news outlets report that Califf is expected to be confirmed.
Appeals Court Halts OSHA Vaccine Mandates
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is blocking the OSHA vaccine mandate for employers of 100 or more people. The issue is expected to make its way to the Supreme Court.
First Edition: November 15, 2021
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages delve into these public health issues.
Different Takes: Are Masks Still Necessary?; Should Kansans Be Paid To Remain Unvaccinated?
Opinion writers weigh in on these covid issues.
About Half Of November’s Covid Deaths So Far Were In Europe
Figures reported in the New York Times say global covid deaths for the first week of November were mainly concentrated in Europe, accounting for over half of all cases. Reports say that the case count is falling in the U.K., but other nations still struggle. Portugal tries to protect at-home workers.
Spending Package Could Mean Coverage For 2 Million Uninsured In Southeast
Georgia Health News notes about 2.2 million low-income adults would be eligible for government-funded health insurance under the $1.75 trillion spending package. Meanwhile, more North Carolinians die of traumatic brain injuries than the national average.
Maine reaches out to its farmers and, in Kansas City, schools offer help to those facing mental health struggles.
Johnson & Johnson Splitting Itself Into Two Companies
The health care giant announced that in the next 18 to 24 months it will spin off its consumer division — with brands like Band-Aid, Tylenol and Listerine — into a yet-to-be-named company. Its pharmaceutical and medical-devices businesses will be retained under Johnson & Johnson.
Infrastructure Bill Offers Hospitals Big Subsidies
Hospitals in states that didn’t expand Medicaid would receive more than $6.8 billion of new funds in 2022, according to an analysis by the Urban Institute. In other news, ProPublica investigates St. Jude’s financial pledge to patients’ families while rural hospitals caught in a dilemma over obstetrics units.
Florida’s Order for Kids’ Vaccine Dwarfed By Other Large States
In other news about children and covid, a Virginia pharmacy was providing the wrong-sized doses to children.
White House Tries To Tackle Health Issues Of Vets Exposed To Burn Pits
News outlets focus Veterans Day coverage on a host of health issues that current and former members of the U.S. military face, including chemical exposure, digital health records and suicide.
Short-Lived Covid Cases Decrease Reverses In Southwest, Western States
With Arizona and New Mexico reporting the worst influx, the number of covid patients hospitalized in intensive care units rose over the last two weeks in at least 12 states. And even highly vaccinated Massachusetts is watching worrying numbers.
Moderna Says Vaccine Benefits Outweigh Risk Of Rare Heart Conditions
A Moderna executive answered questions about the company’s vaccine. In other vaccine news, AstraZeneca is now pricing its vaccines to make a profit. And an at-home covid test is recalled by the FDA for too many false positive results.
California, Colorado Leapfrog Feds And Allow Boosters For Any Adult
Health officials in both states say that all who are 18 or over are eligible to get an additional booster dose of the covid vaccine, though the CDC and FDA have not yet authorized those broader guidelines.
