Latest KFF Health News Stories
Opinion writers examine these covid, vaccine and mask mandate issues.
Perspectives: Drug Rebate Rule Was A Rare Positive From Trump’s Presidency
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
UK Hits Highest Daily Covid Death Total Since Mid-March
The U.K.’s daily case count slipped to 23,510 on Tuesday, but 146 new deaths was the highest since March 12. Meanwhile, data from the U.K. suggests that delta covid can be “held in check” with the right tactics. Separately, anti-vaccine protesters tried — and failed — to storm the BBC’s offices.
Some Of Indiana’s Anti-Abortion Laws Unconstitutional, Federal Judge Rules
The unconstitutional laws include banning telemedicine consults between doctors and people seeking abortions. In other news, another prolonged heat wave is predicted to hit the Pacific Northwest; heat death data is hard to find; “forever” chemicals at military sites; and more.
Fed Up With Waiting, Groups Make Their Own Lower-Cost Drugs
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Suicide Attempts Twice As Likely in US Muslims Than Other Religious Groups
A study in JAMA Psychiatry notes that roughly twice as many Muslims in a survey reported a suicide attempt compared other religious groups–religious discrimination and community stigma are blamed. In other public health news, nearly 60,000 pounds of chicken products are recalled over salmonella.
Poll Shows Americans Have High Trust In Doctors, Nurses
The poll from the University of Chicago and the Associated Press showed 7 in 10 Americans trust doctors to do the right thing either most, or all the time. Also in the news: N95 staff fit tests, real world health data, sleep tracking, anti-trust, telemedicine fraud and more.
Democratic Senators Try Legislation To Boost Staffing In Nursing Homes
The newly introduced legislation also includes efforts to improve infection control and bolster health care inspections. The AP reports, meanwhile, on efforts among hospital physicians to unionize at Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital amid the upheaval in staffing amid the pandemic.
Missouri’s Medicaid Expansion Must Begin Immediately, Judge Rules
Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem rejected a request for at least a two-month delay. Other news is on the growth of Medicare Advantage and Medicare coverage for seniors.
ACA Special Enrollment Yields 2.5M Signups So Far; Window Closes Aug. 15
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services report that 1.8 million people have signed up under healthcare.gov, while an additional 723,000 enrolled on state marketplaces.
With Biden Behind Their Efforts, Businesses Expand Vaccine Mandates
President Joe Biden will meet with CEOs from United Airlines Holdings Inc. and Kaiser Permanente to encourage companies to follow their vaccine mandate lead. News outlets report on restrictions, and vaccine and mask mandates, in hospitals and elsewhere as well as some reactions they provoke.
With Hurricane Season Blowing In, White House Pushes Covid Shots
Following a hurricane preparedness meeting between President Joe Biden and senior FEMA officials, the White House warned of the importance of having a covid shot if people are required to evacuate during storms. Reports say vaccine rates have nearly doubled from July’s figures.
Facebook Blocks Mysterious Russian Firm Behind Campaign Smearing Vaccines
Fazze, a Russian advertising agency working on behalf of an unknown client, paid social media influencers to spread bad information about the Pfizer and AstraZeneca covid shots. Separately, Sen. Rand Paul and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene were both temporarily suspended from social media platforms for posting false covid-related information.
Fauci Backs A Vaccination Mandate For Teachers; Newsom May Order It
As Dr. Anthony Fauci voiced support for requiring teaching staff to be covid-vaccinated, reports say California Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to order staff get shots or submit to regular testing to prove they’re not infected. Meanwhile, outlets cover other masking and vaccine news in schools.
Delta Variant Is Chasing Down Anyone Who’s Unvaccinated — Including Kids
The highly contagious strain of the coronavirus doesn’t care about your party affiliation or how old you are, as evidenced by a spike in infections among those 12 and younger, who are not eligible for vaccination. Hospitals reported nearly 94,000 new child cases as of Aug. 5.
CDC Study: Side Effects Of Covid Far More Dangerous Than Any Of Vaccines
The possibility of experiencing a serious adverse effect from the covid shots approved in the U.S. is significantly lower than the chances of severe illness, hospitalization or death from contracting covid, new research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. Other studies show covid’s pregnancy impact and vaccine protection against the delta variant.
Florida Governor’s Anti-Mask Stance Causing Conflict With Schools, Parents
Gov. Ron DeSantis banned mask mandates in Florida, prompting the state school board to threaten legal action. Some parents of children with disabilities are also suing over the masking mandate ban. Meanwhile, reports say “hundreds” of ventilators are being sent to Florida.
Some Texas Counties May Get Mask Rules As Judge Overrules Governor
A Texas state judge ruled state emergency powers cannot allow the governor to ban local mask mandates. Separately, reports say Harris County is considering suing Gov. Greg Abbott over the ban. Data from Monday shows that Texas topped 10,000 daily covid cases for the first time since February.
White House Looks For Workarounds To States’ School Mask Mandate Bans
But there might not be much the federal government can do, President Joe Biden acknowledges. The administration is exploring ways they could use covid relief funds to financially support Florida schools require masks against the governor’s orders.
Massive Infrastructure And Spending Measures Move To House After Senate Approval
Unlike the bipartisan vote on the $1 trillion transportation and infrastructure bill earlier in the day, senators passed 50-49 the $3.5 trillion budget plan early in the morning Wednesday. Now the ball is in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s court.
