Latest KFF Health News Stories
Pharmaceutical Industry Sees Pros, Cons Of Biden’s New Executive Order
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
French President’s Push Gets 1 Million To Rush For Vaccines
After President Emmanuel Macron urged immediate vaccination to save the summer vacation season and economy, over 1 million people booked shots in less than a day. Meanwhile, London’s mayor says masks will remain mandatory on public transport after unlocking.
Arlington, Virginia Is America’s Fittest City — And Oklahoma City The Least
It’s the fourth straight win for Arlington in the annual American Fitness Index from the American College of Sports and Medicine and the Anthem Foundation. Separately, critics oppose a $641 million settlement over the lead water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
17 Million Gallons Of Sewage Spilled Into California Bay; Public Alerted Late
The untreated sewage was discharged into the ocean off Los Angeles’ beaches, but officials waited hours before warning the public not to swim in affected water. Texas’ cold wave, wildfire smoke and toxins from fireworks are also in the news.
Purdue Bankruptcy Opposed By West Virginia Over Settlement Cash
The state’s attorney general said he’d oppose a plan for Purdue Pharma to enter bankruptcy because it might lead to lower settlement payments from the opioid crisis. Meanwhile, Maine’s governor will host another summit about the epidemic.
Montana’s Home Care Workers Push For Higher Pay Rates
The Billings Gazette reports Montana’s home health workers earn $10.77 an hour, below the $12 national average. Meanwhile, a new study highlights the gender pay gaps for internal medicine specialists, with women paid 90% of men’s median annual salary.
CDC Advisory Panel To Discuss Vaccine Safety, Guillain-Barré Syndrome
The announcement came a day after federal regulators added a warning to Johnson & Johnson’s covid vaccine about a link to the rare syndrome. Other reports say the CDC is also “keenly interested” in whether vaccine boosters have a higher risk of side effects.
Biden Picks Nominees For Drug Czar, USAID Jobs
As a former top health official in West Virginia, Dr. Rahul Gupta has a lot of experience dealing with the opioid epidemic — a top issues facing the nation’s next head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Separately, President Joe Biden is expected to nominate Atul Gawande as assistant administrator of USAID’s Bureau for Global Health.
Tennessee No Longer Encouraging Vaccines Of Any Kind For Minors
The state Department of Health is stopping all of its vaccine outreach, not just for covid-19 vaccines, internal documents show, amid pressure from Republican state lawmakers. The decision comes directly from Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey, the internal report states.
Norwegian, Carnival Cruise Lines Fight For Right To Keep Ships Healthy
Norwegian is suing Florida’s surgeon general over the state’s ban on vaccine passports; Carnival is requiring unvaccinated passengers to buy travel insurance, which will increase the price of a cruise by up to $200 per person.
Clarence Thomas Upholds Federal Mask Mandate For Public Transit
The Supreme Court justice rejected a “long shot” case from a man who argued his generalized anxiety disorder prevented him wearing a mask. Separately, the largest union of registered nurses asked the CDC to again recommend that everyone wear masks in public.
Where Is Covid Again Taking Root? Follow The Ventilators And Traveling Nurses
Exhausted public officials and health workers in states like Missouri, Arkansas, Georgia, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming and California are regrouping to treat a surge of new covid patients.
Covid Trend Line Quickly Curving Up: New Cases Double In Just 3 Weeks
Stagnating vaccination rates, the domination of the delta variant and summer festivities are blamed for the troubling trend. Increasing hospitalizations are following, with some facilities in hot spots already struggling.
Worries For Kids Heighten As Delta Spreads; 7 Mississippi Kids In ICU
Mississippi’s health officer said Tuesday that two of seven hospitalized children were on ventilators. He urged all people 12 and older to get vaccinated — a message being repeated by public officials across the nation as the highly transmissible delta variant drives up new U.S. covid cases.
Senate Democrats Agree On $3.5T Spending Deal That Would Boost Medicare
If it passes — a huge if, since it is entwined with the companion infrastructure package and depends on Democrats remaining unified — the reconciliation package would expand dental, vision and hearing coverage for seniors. The budget also includes many other measures aimed at improving so-called “human infrastructure.”
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: Anti-Vaxxers, Unusual Covid Cases, Childbirth Complications, Vaping
Editorial writers take on these various public health topics.
Medicare Examines Whether To Cover Pricey Alzheimer’s Drug Aduhelm
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services doesn’t expect to make a final decision on the $56,000-a-year drug until next year. And some Democratic lawmakers want to review the FDA’s controversial approval process for the treatment.
France, Greece Mandate Covid Vaccines For Health Care Workers
As Europe struggles with covid hotspots related to the delta variant, two nations are requiring all health care workers to be vaccinated. France boosted restrictions for non-vaccinated citizens, prompting a rush to get shots. Germany, Turkey and Israel are also in the news.
Covid Deepens Inequality, As Global Hunger Rises To 768 Million People
The new data on food insecurity came from the United Nations on Monday. Meanwhile, Biden administration monthly payments are set to begin heading to families with children and California plans a new $100 billion recovery plan that includes rent relief.
