Latest KFF Health News Stories
Editorial pages examine expanded Medicaid issues, nicotine use in kids and antiviral development.
Opinion writers weigh in on these covid and vaccine issues.
Perspectives: Negotiating On Medicare Drug Prices Is An Absolute Necessity
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Price-Transparency Rules Go Beyond Federal Authority, Lawsuit Claims
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Global Covid Cases Hitting Plateau After 2-Month Surge, WHO Says
CNN reports the world’s daily count may be “plateauing,” according to the World Health Organization, ending a two-month surge. Meanwhile, the U.S. will provide another million shots to Vietnam, and the WHO raises worries about covid and medical supplies in Afghanistan.
Florida Doctors Protest About Low Vaccination Rates, Full Hospitals
Reports say “dozens” of doctors from Palm Beach County organized a meeting to voice frustrations about low vaccination rates in the state, resulting in overflowing hospitals. Meanwhile in Texas, the Harris County Commissioners Court voted to approve an extra $30 million to fund extra nurses in Houston.
Mental Health Issues, Delayed Surgery Stressing Hospitals Alongside Covid
Roll Call reports on how rising hospitalizations are not being driven by covid infections alone — side effects of the pandemic’s impact on society are also driving the surge. Also among other news, reports note insurers have stopped waiving costs for preventable covid care.
Study Shows HPV Vaccine Effective, But Less So Against Some Strains
A study shows while the Gardasil vaccine is effective against some strains of human papillomavirus, reducing infections, it was not so effective against some high-risk strains not in the vaccine. Separately, a study in health workers showed covid antibodies were found in breastmilk after vaccination.
Some Nevada Counties Report Worst Air Quality Ever, Due To Wildfires
Meanwhile, the U.S. Open will be offering mental health support to players — the AP notes that current Open champion Naomi Osaka has been responsible for raising awareness on the issue. Separately, NPR reports that more Americans would like mental health support but can’t afford it.
Task Force Pushes For Diabetes Screening At 35 For Overweight Adults
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force published a study containing the new advice Tuesday, moving the age down from 40. Data also shows the diabetes rate among younger Americans is surging, with type 2 diabetes up 95% in people aged 10 to 19 over a 16-year period.
Covid Surge Leaves Ark. With No ICU Beds And La. With Record Deaths
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, announced the crisis Tuesday — the first time his state has run out of intensive care beds during the pandemic. Other reports say Louisiana hit a record death rate; 6,500 students are quarantined in Los Angeles; and Massachusetts has 131 breakthrough covid deaths.
No Conclusive Results Reached In 90-Day Probe Of Covid Origins: Reports
U.S. intelligence agencies delivered a preliminary classified report to President Joe Biden on Tuesday summarizing the findings of its investigation into the emergence of the coronavirus, news outlets report.
Politics Complicate Covid Tensions Between White House, GOP Governors
As the administration tries to ramp up pandemic response efforts in the face of the delta surge, some Republican governors see opportunities to take on President Joe Biden.
$3.5T Budget Framework Advances In House After Deal Struck With Holdouts
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi set a Sept. 27 vote on the companion $1 trillion infrastructure spending bill to secure support for the massive budget blueprint from a group of moderate Democrats.
Oregon Requires Outdoor Masking; More Florida Schools Adopt Mandates, Flouting Governor
Democratic Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced that nearly everyone, no matter vaccination status, will have to wear face coverings when outside in a public setting starting this Friday. In Florida, despite push back from Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, two more school districts enacted mask mandates while two other counties refused calls to back down.
Covid Shots For Kids Under 12 Unlikely To Be Approved Until Late 2021
National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins said that he can’t see approval for covid vaccines for younger Americans “coming much before the end of 2021.” Other news outlets report on the push to get younger children vaccinated, which has seen parents calling pediatricians to request shots. CNN reports cases in children are approaching winter surge levels again.
Flurry Of Vaccine Mandates Announced On Heels Of FDA Full Approval
And as big companies like Goldman Sachs and Disney make moves, the Biden administration and other groups, like the American Medical Association, ratchet up the pressure on private and public sector leaders to require covid vaccinations among their workforces.
Vaccine Protection Dipped As Delta Surged For Frontline Workers: CDC
As the delta variant spread in the U.S., updated findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the efficacy of the covid vaccines among essential workers dropped from 90% to 66%. Separately, Johnson & Johnson reports big antibody response boost from a second shot.
First Edition: August 25, 2021
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: FDA Should Regulate Kratom, Not Ban It; Trauma And Its Physical Effect On The Body
Opinion writers weigh in on kratom, trauma, prescription drug costs and price transparency.
