Latest KFF Health News Stories
UK Researches Anti-Parasite Drug Ivermectin As Possible Covid Treatment
Ivermectin is known to have antiviral properties, but a large study at Oxford University will test its value against covid. Separately, English studies look at rare cases of post-covid vaccine Guillain-Barre syndrome; and the CDC will examine heart inflammation in young people.
Adult Covid Deaths Are Now ‘Entirely Preventable,’ Walensky Says
“This new virus forced too many of our families to accept death as an outcome for too many of our loved ones, but now this should not be the case,” the CDC director said Tuesday. Still, several regions of the U.S. are reporting surges in covid cases as the vaccination effort slows.
Students File Lawsuit Challenging Indiana University’s Covid Vaccine Requirement
Indiana’s attorney general had already issued an opinion that the school’s mandate goes against a new state law. Now eight students are fighting it in court. Meanwhile, financial giant Morgan Stanley bars unvaccinated employees from working in its New York-based offices.
White House Concedes That Goal Of Vaccinating 70% By July 4 Is Out Of Reach
Adults over 30 have already met the mark. But lagging adoption by younger Americans will keep the nation from reaching President Joe Biden’s Independence Day challenge, the White House acknowledged Tuesday.
Delta-Driven Infections Quickly Jump To Over 20% Of New US Covid Cases
“The Delta variant is currently the greatest threat in the U.S. to our attempt to eliminate covid-19,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said during a White House briefing Tuesday. The numbers are even higher in some states like Colorado.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: 340B Issue An Unneeded Distraction For Safety-Net Hospitals
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Alzheimer’s Drug Could Potentially Cost More Than NASA’s Entire Budget
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Different Takes: UC Partnership Will Inhibit Patient Care; Exciting New Cancer-Treatments Announced
Editorial writers tackle these public health issues.
Cuban-Developed Vaccine More Than 92% Effective Against Covid
The Abdala vaccine needs three shots for a complete course, but in last-stage clinical trials it proved 92.28% effective. In other news, Colombia’s covid death toll passes 100,000; Europe worries as delta variant spreads; and North Korea reports it has found no covid cases.
Texas Law Adds Protections Before Charging Parents With Child Abuse
In cases of suspected child abuse, Texan authorities will have to consider additional medical opinions to avoid situations where flawed medical advice spurs legal moves. Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a bill requiring dating violence-prevention lessons in schools.
Popular Sepsis-Predicting Algorithm Not As Accurate As Touted, Study Finds
It was advertised as 80% accurate, but the study shows an overall accuracy of about 63%. In other news, cancer-causing toxins may have spread further underground than thought in Indiana; emotions are linked to improved heart health in people with obesity; and “Friends” star James Michael Tyler has revealed he has stage four prostate cancer.
Supreme Court Deals Blow To Insurers’ Claims For ACA Loss Reimbursement
A group of health insurers had asked the high court to reverse a lower-court ruling only permitting them to recoup a portion of the money they say they’re owed by the government. In other news, Wisconsin’s health systems have filed thousands of lawsuits over unpaid medical bills.
Who Pays For New Alzheimer’s Drug? Medicare’s Own Demo Might Tell Us
Experts are backing an idea to test cost and treatment implications of prescribing Aduhelm through a payment pilot under the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. Separately, an FDA advisor who recently resigned over the drug said there’s “no good evidence” it works.
Biden Addresses Racial Disparity From Sentencing Over Crack, Powder Cocaine
Sentencing disparities over crack and powder cocaine offenses had hit people of color disproportionately. In other news, the Department of Health and Human Services withdrew a drug discount advisory, and a new study shows which state lacks pharmacists the most.
‘Deeply Alarming’: Military Suicides Far Outpace Combat Deaths Since 9/11
A new report reveals that 30,177 U.S. service members and veterans have died by suicide since 9/11 — four times more than were killed in combat situations. “The increasing rates of suicide for both veterans and active duty personnel are outpacing those of the general population, marking a significant shift,” the report reads. News outlets look at ongoing efforts to reverse the trend.
Bishops’ Abortion-Related Communion Vote Fuels Charges Of Politics, Hypocrisy
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki declined to take a position on the recent vote by U.S. Catholic Bishops to deny communion to politicians who support abortion rights, saying President Joe Biden does not view his faith “through a political prism.” Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) spoke out though, calling the bishops “hypocrites” who selectively ignored other political positions.
Deaths Among Medicare Patients In Nursing Homes Jumped 32% Last Year
The report from the HHS inspector general found that about 4 in 10 Medicare recipients in nursing homes had or likely had covid in 2020, and that deaths overall jumped by 169,291 from the previous year, before the coronavirus appeared.
Medicaid Enrollment Rises To Historic Mark Of 80 Million During Pandemic
Nearly 10 million new people enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program from February 2020 to January 2021.
MIS-C May Also Be Possible In Adults
A case involving a Canadian man suggests that the multisystem inflammatory syndrome might not be limited to children. Other covid research is on brain function, survivors’ guilt, the “best” way to get immunity from the virus and more.
