Latest KFF Health News Stories
How Drug Pricing Could Save The Infrastructure Deal
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Canada Clarifies Border Opening Rules: Negative PCR Tests Still Required
Though Canada is opening its borders to fully vaccinated Americans Aug. 9, proof of a negative PCR test result is still needed to enter the country — even for Canadians coming from the U.S. Meanwhile, India’s true covid death toll may be around 4 million — 10 times the official count.
Official: Olympic Games Could Still Be Canceled If Covid Surges
In a news conference Tuesday, Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto admitted there is a possibility the Games could be yet canceled because of the unpredictability of covid. WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the risk of the Games spreading the virus was inevitable.
New York City’s Air ‘Unhealthy’ As Western Wildfire Smoke Blows Across Entire US
Fires in 13 western states created a haze of smoke particles that blew as far east as New York City, leading to polluted air that some local reports called “as thick as winter fog.” The air quality index in the city reached levels deemed “unhealthy” by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Gallup Says 2020 Is Record-Setting Year For World’s Negative Emotions
Although covid added to the stress, the pollsters say other issues such as global hunger, rising corruption and income inequality also contributed. Other reports look at new research on Alzheimer’s disease and concerns about monkey pox.
HIV Prevention Pill Required To Be Free For Almost All Insured Patients
The federal government says insurers must not charge copays, coinsurance or deductibles for the quarterly clinic visits and lab tests required to maintain a PrEP prescription, NBC News reported.
Study: Hospitals Still Hold The Cards In Pricing Discussions With Big Employers
A study in the American Journal of Managed Care says hospitals still wield considerable market power when it comes to self-insured employers and negotiations over billing. Hospital pricing, covid medical bills, New York hospital mergers and more are also in the news.
Coronavirus Casts New Shadow Over Capitol Dome
The recent surge in cases is slowing work on Capitol Hill and shattering a sense of calm. Adding to the jitters was news yesterday that a White House employee and a member of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s staff tested positive even though they were fully vaccinated.
Schumer Pushes Bipartisan Bill Vote So Senate Can Move To $3.5T Budget Plan
The Senate is scheduled to vote today on a bipartisan bill to improve the nation’s roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is holding the bill on a tight time frame because he is trying to get another big initiative, the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation with a number of major health programs, through the Senate this summer.
Near-Total Arkansas Abortion Ban Blocked By Federal Judge
Judge Kristine Baker of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas ruled to prevent the law from being enforced, saying it was an “imminent threat” to constitutional rights of women seeking abortion. Other news covers the National Association of Christian Lawmakers, and Mexico.
McConnell And Scalise, Noting Rise Of Virus, Urge Supporters Get Vaccinated
The recent surge of covid cases is prompting some Republican leaders to speak out as they try to overcome vaccine hesitancy among many conservatives.
Fauci, Paul Trade Accusations Of Lying At Covid Hearing
During a hearing Tuesday, Sen. Rand Paul tried to accuse Dr. Anthony Fauci of being partly to blame for starting the covid pandemic by helping fund research at a Wuhan lab. A frequently interrupted Fauci angrily pointed out the correct science and called Paul a liar.
NYC Mandates City Health Workers Get Vaccinated Or Be Tested Weekly
The new policy is scheduled to be announced by the mayor today and go into effect in August. Meanwhile in other states, concerns are rising about workers who have not gotten the shot, especially those working with frail seniors.
White House Renews ‘Public Health Emergency’ Pandemic Status
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra issued the sixth renewal of the emergency state on Monday. Separately, President Joe Biden admitted there’s “a way to go yet” to beat covid. News outlets cover the administration’s covid response at six months in office.
Study: J&J Shot May Be Less Effective Against Delta, Lambda Variants
The research, posted online Tuesday, has not yet been peer-reviewed nor published in a journal, and it conflicts with research from Johnson & Johnson earlier this month. Also in the news: booster shots.
Coronavirus Cases Surging From Coast To Coast
Outlets report on the rise in coronavirus cases from Virginia, Maryland, Arkansas, California, Massachusetts, Texas and Alaska; plus, travel advisories and contact tracing.
CDC Adds To Mask Muddle, Saying ‘No Plans’ To Change Rules For Schools
Despite increasing pressure on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to “revisit” guidance on mask wearing in schools, including from pediatric groups, the CDC says it currently will not do so. Mask wearing issues on airplanes and in California, Las Vegas and Massachusetts are also reported.
Pandemic May Have Created Over A Million New Orphans
The figure comes from a global model built by researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital, with “orphaned” meaning losing at least one parent. Separately, a study says 120,000 U.S. kids have lost a primary caregiver to the pandemic. Rising covid and long covid in children are also in the news.
Delta Dominates US Covid Cases: Just 17% Are Other Variants
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said the country was experiencing a “dramatic increase” in cases traced to the delta covid variant — up to 83% of new cases, a rise from 50% just two weeks ago.
In 2020, US Life Expectancy Fell The Most Since World War II
Estimates place nearly 75% of the blame for the 1.5-year life expectancy slip (to 77.3 years) on covid — but those are the overall data: 90 percent of the drop in life expectancy among Hispanic Americans came from covid. Overdose deaths also played a role in the decline.
