Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Longer Looks, Part 2: All About The Pandemic
We know you’ll miss us next week, so we’ve included more great stories to keep you busy until the Morning Briefing returns after Labor Day.
Editorial writers consider the Mental Health Access Improvement Act and the nursing shortage.
Perspectives: Preventive Treatments Versus A Booster Shot; Should Unvaxxed Bear Financial Burden?
Opinion writers explore these covid and vaccine topics.
Las Vegas Teachers Health Trust Can’t Cover Claims From Before July
Clark County teachers learned their health insurance trust has no money to cover claims made before July. In other news, Washington state kills its first “murder hornet” nest; Florida hasn’t spent $820 million to benefit low-income children; pushback on San Francisco’s homeless plan; and more.
Japanese Moderna Shot Contaminant Thought To Be Metal Particles
The country had earlier suspended use of 1.63 million doses of the Moderna vaccine that were bottled by Spanish pharma company Rovi. Meanwhile, Pfizer and BioNTech made a new deal to make covid shots for Latin America. Vaccine inequality and Chinese vaccines are also in the news.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KHN finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on abortion, ADHD, horseshoe crabs, hot dogs and more.
Overdose Deaths From Meth, Alcohol, Fentanyl Hit Record In New Mexico
2020’s all-time overdose death peak in New Mexico included a nearly 129% year-on-year growth in fentanyl-related deaths. Meanwhile, California shelved a bill that had proposed decriminalizing some psychedelic drugs. Philadelphia’s injection site and the Sackler family are also in the news.
Cigna Expands ACA Health Coverage To 3 New States, 93 Counties
Pending regulatory approval, Cigna’s individual and family plans will be available to customers using Affordable Care Act marketplaces in Georgia, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and elsewhere. In other news, a nursing shortage in California is reportedly at “crisis point.”
Sexual Abuse Survey Finds 1 In 4 College Athletes Experienced Abuse
Separately, a study found that breast cancer screening rates dropped during the pandemic, with minorities and uninsured people most affected. Air quality alerts from hazardous wildfire smoke and rates of suicidal thoughts in veterans are also in the news.
Clemency Appeals For Prisoners Released Due To Covid Put To Biden Administration
Business owners who hired nonviolent offenders who were allowed to serve time at home during the pandemic are asking the Justice Department to allow prisoners to continue doing so. Other Biden administration news focuses on other areas of its covid response.
FDA Begins E-Cigarette Crackdown, Ordering 55,000 Products To Be Pulled
Electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products from three manufacturers were blocked by the Food and Drug Administration, in what industry watchers view as the start of a potentially large shake up of the marketplace. News outlets report on what it may mean for other companies like Juul.
Mandates, Court Battles And Regrets: Mask Wars Play Out In Venues Across US
The editors of this newsletter wouldn’t even hazard a guess as to how many times we’ve written a variation of this headline, yet 18 months into the pandemic, the battles over face coverings continue to flare in most states.
More Companies Tighten Vaccine Rules
GM will require its salaried workers to disclose their vaccination status; the NFL is seriously weighing a vaccine mandate for players; more hospitals say yes to mandates; most Green Card applicants must show proof of vaccination; and more.
Institute For Clinical And Economic Review To Investigate Covid Therapies
The ICER will examine efficacy of Regeneron’s casirivimab and imdevimab, GSK’s monoclonal antibody treatment sotrovimab and other drugs. Meanwhile, WMFE reports on how Florida’s monoclonal antibody treatment sites aren’t being used to their full capacity.
Had Covid? You May Be More Delta-Proof Than If You’d Had Pfizer’s Jab
The largest real-world analysis of “natural” immunity shows a previous covid infection may protect more against the delta strain than the two-dose Pfizer vaccine. Separately, data show blood clot risks from covid outweigh clotting risks from vaccines.
Supreme Court Lifts CDC Eviction Ban
A 6-3 majority of Supreme Court justices blocked the latest eviction mortarium from the Biden administration, saying in an unsigned opinion that it is up to Congress, not the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to extend such a federal ban.
First Toilet Paper, Now Covid Tests: CVS Limits Sales Of At-Home Kits
Abbott Laboratories, which ramped down its production of its BinaxNOW test earlier this summer, said supplies will be limited in the next few weeks as it hires workers and reboots factory lines.
If They Can Spell ‘Quarantine’ Or Not, 90K Students Have Had To So Far
The academic year is only weeks old for 19 states but so far thousands of kids have already missed some school to isolate or quarantine due to covid infections or exposure. Yet, school districts in different regions are taking vastly different approaches to protective measures. Meanwhile, pediatricians are under pressure from some parents to administer off-label vaccinations to their children.
Oregon And Hawaii Grasp At Strict Measures To Stem Covid Case Floods
Oregon hospitals are in crisis with an overwhelming number of patients. State leaders have deployed the National Guard and crisis teams to try to help while doctors report dire conditions: “We have patients waiting to get onto life support.” Surging covid cases in Hawaii also prompted its governor to plead with tourists to stay home.
