Latest KFF Health News Stories
New Infections Of HIV Have Fallen 73% Since Mid-1980s, CDC Says
The report, released Thursday, noted a peak number of annual infections of 130,400 in 1984 and 1985. That number fell to 34,800 in 2019. Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has spent much of his career tackling the global AIDS epidemic, says it might be possible to bring it to an end by 2030.
Realtors Urge Supreme Court To Block Eviction Moratorium
They argue that the moratorium has resulted in “over $13 billion in unpaid rent per month,” CNN reported. On Wednesday, a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., denied a request by a group of landlords to resume evictions.
California Rebuffs ‘Hero Pay’ For Health Care Workers
Hospitals fiercely opposed the $10,000 payments because of the estimated $7 billion price tag, the Los Angeles Times reported. Meanwhile, many hospital workers are still refusing to get the covid jab.
CMS Does Not Have To Collect 2021 Data For Medicare Star Ratings: Judge
Two programs from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ programs that focus on rating and innovating on quality of care are in the news. And state Medicaid developments are reported out of Illinois, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Montana.
Experimental Oral Drug Tempol Has Anti-Covid Potential
The National Institutes of Health says that Tempol was found to lessen severity of covid. Meanwhile, the FDA is set to rule Monday about a controversial Alzheimer’s drug, and there are efforts to undo the infamous 4,000% drug price hike made by Martin Shkreli.
Deaths, Stroke Risk Halt Sales Of HeartWare Ventricular Assist Device
The FDA and Medtronic warned doctors to cancel any planned implants of Medtronic’s HeartWare device. The move comes after reports of deaths and life-threatening events, plus recalls related to wear and tear and pump-starting problems.
Radiation Drug Shown To Boost Survival Rates For Prostate Cancer
The study, funded by Novartis, tested an emerging class of medicine called radiopharmaceuticals, drugs that deliver radiation directly to cancer cells. In other news, using Merck’s Keytruda immediately after surgery significantly reduced the risk of relapse of kidney cancer.
California Keeps Masks Rules At Work, Unless Everyone Is Vaccinated
A California safety board voted to relax some workplace safety rules, but recommended continued mask wearing among vaccinated workers if even one colleague in a room is unvaccinated. Also in the news: vaccine and mask mandates, and LED skin care masks.
Breast Cancer-Fighting Pill Helps Keep Recurrence At Bay: Study
According to promising research released by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, AstraZeneca’s drug Lynparza cut the risk of recurrence of breast cancer or death among patients with mutations in genes known as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Lynparza carries a list price of just under $14,500 in the U.S.
Fauci Thinks Covid Was Animal-Sourced But Doesn’t Dismiss Lab Leak
Walking a fine line on the complex matter of a lab leak or animal source for covid, Dr. Anthony Fauci said he was keeping an open mind. Separately, ex-CDC director Robert Redfield said he’d received death threats over suggesting covid was lab-sourced.
Covid Outbreaks A Possibility For States That Miss Biden’s 70% Shot Goal
CNN reports on “sitting duck” states where the pace of vaccination is too slow to meet the White House’s July 4 goal of 70% adults with at least one covid shot. Meanwhile, Washington state tries vaccine incentives and Maine will end its mobile vaccine unit efforts.
US To Boost COVAX Supply By 25M Doses In First Global Vaccine Donation
President Joe Biden announced details Thursday about the first batch of covid vaccines that the U.S. will share with other nations. The initial allotment will go to the United Nations-backed consortium COVAX that aims to get shots to the neediest places. The U.S. has pledged to share a total of 80 million doses globally.
US Passes 600,000 Covid Deaths In Grim Reminder That Toll Is Still Mounting
Even as new daily infections in the U.S. stay below 20,000 for a third-straight day, covid remains a deadly disease that is still taking American lives.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages tackle syringe programs, healthcare for new mothers and the full potential of nurses.
Opinion writers weigh in on Covid, vaccines and masks.
California Plans To Give Health Care Workers $10,000 ‘Hero’ Bonuses
The $7 billion plan is controversial though. Separately, California has to pay $2 million in legal fees over lawsuits related to covid church closures, and the California Senate approved legislation to decriminalize possession of psychedelic drugs.
75% Of Adults In UK Now Vaccinated With At Least One Shot
75.2% of people aged 18 and over have been vaccinated in the U.K., and the government sees a full unlocking as a possibility soon. Other covid news includes vaccine supplies, ongoing surges, the Vietnam mutation and the spread of the Delta variant from India.
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Alaska’s Health Services Still Recovering From Cyberattack
In other news, Arizona’s plans to use a poison labelled Zyklon B by the Nazis for executions draw condemnation; smokable medical marijuana is backed by Louisiana lawmakers; and a Dallas high school valedictorian spoke out over Texas’ new anti-abortion laws.
