Latest KFF Health News Stories
Georgia Faces Likely Pushback From Feds On Medicaid, Obamacare Waivers
Georgia officials are continuing to implement a plan to add work requirements to its Medicaid program by July 1, based on a waiver received from the Trump administration. But Biden administration officials have criticized the plan. CMS also warned the state that a previous waiver to privatize its Obamacare exchange might also be revoked.
No Covid Vaccines Needed To Cruise On Royal Caribbean Ships
Starting July 2, Royal Caribbean ships will not be requiring passengers to have covid vaccines for sailings from the U.S. Meanwhile, Hawaii is set to abolish inter-island travel restrictions, but United Airlines will require new employees to prove they are vaccinated.
Biden And Obama Zoom To Encourage ACA Enrollment; 31M Now Covered
President Joe Biden virtually reunited with his old boss to talk about their signature health law and to urge Americans to sign up during the special enrollment period. Meanwhile, HHS announced a record mark of 31 million people covered under Obamacare.
July 4th Vaccine Goal At Risk As Vaccination Rates Plummet
President Joe Biden has challenged 70% of adults to get vaccinated with at least one dose by July 4th, but falling covid vaccination rates may threaten that goal. Meanwhile, The Washington Post reports on the struggle Americans overseas experience in getting vaccinated.
As More Teens Hospitalized, CDC Urges Parents To Get Their Kids A Covid Shot
Cases of severe covid are climbing among those aged 12 to 17. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky says she is “deeply concerned by the numbers of hospitalized adolescents.” Only 24% of that eligible age group in the U.S. has received a vaccine dose so far.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Action Necessary To Fix Broken Health Care System; Reframing Dementia Care
Editorial writers tackle these public health concerns.
Perspectives: Do Vaccine Incentives Work?; Pandemic Challenges Faced By Rookie Doctors
Opinion writers weigh in on vaccine lotteries, new doctors in a pandemic and the American Rescue Plan.
2 Billion Covid Shots Administered Around The Globe
It took only 40 days to progress from a total of 1 billion shots, with just 16 days for the most recent half-billion doses to be given. In other news, China’s vaccine pace picks up, the WHO says vaccinating kids “not a high priority” and Tom Cruise’s film set is locked down.
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over NY Gov. Cuomo’s Pandemic Authority
Meanwhile, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed a law that would have exempted high school graduations from covid restrictions; Philadelphia drug deaths soared in 2020; and Amtrak’s dining car will come back on some trains.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KHN finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on covid, “forever chemicals,” infant care, the Woebot app and sickle cell.
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.
