Latest KFF Health News Stories
Some Resistance To Remdesivir Found
Numerous fascinating studies related to covid and covid treatments make news: possible resistance to Gilead’s antiviral in some patients who are immune compromised, T-cell targets, a corticosteroid treatment and the impact of sleep apnea.
Medicare Advantage Plans Cost Taxpayers More
In other reports on Medicare, the savings in drug price legislation won’t be felt immediately, but rather over a decade or more; advice on the Medicare gap; and appealing income-related charges.
Los Angeles County Sees Its First Flu Death Of The Season
The middle-aged male victim was reported to have multiple underlying conditions, and hadn’t been vaccinated against flu. In other news, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization warned of a potential measles outbreak since kids’ vaccines have been delayed.
Biden Administration Ups Investment In Covid Testing, Vaccine Outreach
Millions more will be invested to try to reach out to vulnerable communities and convince vaccine hesitant residents to get the covid shot. Other news from the Biden administration is on vaping, people with disabilities and the NIH-Moderna vaccine patent dispute.
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.
