Latest KFF Health News Stories
Dying In The US? It’ll Cost You More Now Than Pre-Pandemic
The average “cost of dying” grew over 14% during 2020. Separately, “covid nails” are in the news, and reports say fewer new prescriptions for the addiction drug buprenorphine were issued during the pandemic, despite a spike in overdose deaths.
America’s Fourth Favorite Company Is Moderna; Pfizer Is Seventh
While you may expect to spot SpaceX and Amazon in the top of Axios/Harris’ top 100 company reputation poll, Moderna and Pfizer’s rankings might surprise you — the companies are riding the vaccine approval wave. Not true for J&J, slipping to 72nd place this year.
More Hospitals, Health Care Investors Pull Out Their Pocketbooks
Industry names in the news include the Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Piedmont Healthcare, HCA, Ginkgo Bioworks, the Lisa and John Pritzker Family Fund, Aetna, Cityblock Health and more.
States Starting To Broadly Lift Mask Mandates, Other Covid Restrictions
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster banned all schools and local government from issuing mask mandates. Elsewhere: most of Ohio’s pandemic restrictions will go inside a month; Maryland may lift its mask rules soon; and California’s mask mandates will end in June. Meanwhile, in a poll, 57% believe proof of vaccine status should be required to attend a sporting event.
House Democrats Seek To Broaden Immigrants’ Access To Health Care
More than 80 lawmakers have signed on to a bill introduced yesterday that would eliminate the current 5-year waiting period legal immigrants face before being able to enroll in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Roll Call reports. And The Hill looks at the advocacy groups lining up to lobby for the bill.
HHS May Push Deadline For Hospitals To Spend Pandemic Relief Funds
In other news: 32 hospitals have sued the Department of Health and Human Services, alleging that Secretary Xavier Becerra is discriminating against states that did not expand Medicaid.
Covid Death Rate At A 10-Month Low, But About 600 Still Die Each Day
The covid situation is improving in the U.S., with the lowest daily death rate for 10 months and many states that experienced recent surges are now reporting fewer hospitalizations. But outbreak concerns still remain, including in Florida and for the young in Maine.
Feel Like You Won The Lottery After Your Jab? 5 Ohioans Will Win For Real
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine announced Wednesday that Ohio will give away $1 million each to five fully vaccinated adults as an incentive for getting the covid vaccine. The first weekly drawing is May 26.
New Data Released On Rare Blood Clotting Cases After J&J Vaccine
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report confirms that of the 8.7 million Johnson & Johnson doses administered in the U.S., 28 people developed a blood clotting condition. Women made up most of those cases.
CDC Backs Authorization For Kids 12 And Older To Get Pfizer Covid Shot
The vaccine advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted unanimously to recommend making kids ages 12 to 15 eligible for the vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky adopted their decision last night. Getting this age group inoculated before the next school year is considered to be crucial in the fight against covid in the U.S.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: Advances In Induced Proximity Look Promising; Covid Changed Home Health Care
Editorial pages weigh in on induced proximity, home health care changes and patient experience issues.
Viewpoints: Covid’s Heavy Toll On Physicians; What’s Behind The Vaccine Slowdown?
Opinion pages examine these Covid and vaccine issues.
Perspectives: Drug Prices Are Sometimes A Life-Or-Death Situation
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Death Prompts Brazilian States To Stop AstraZeneca Shots During Pregnancy
Meanwhile, a new mutation of the Brazilian covid variant is found in Florida. In other news, China’s Sinovac vaccine seems effective in real-world tests, Canada struggles with a third wave and the United Kingdom bans online ads for junk food.
Democrats’ Drug-Pricing Negotiation Bill Running Into Hurdles
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Indian Covid Variant Found In Nevada, 49 Countries Around World
Covid deaths in India crossed the quarter-million mark. The more infectious variant first identified there is now spreading around the world, but new findings suggest the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are effective against it.
$12 Billion Plan Proposed For Housing California’s Homeless
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s suggested plan includes building 46,000 housing units. Separately, reports say San Francisco is losing care facilities for the mentally ill; the EPA says the water in Jackson, Mississippi, is safe; and Louisiana moves toward legal marijuana.
Gene Therapy, AIDS Virus Combined To Combat Immunodeficiency Syndrome
48 out of 50 children given the experimental therapy developed a working immune system after being born without one. In other news, reduced Alzheimer’s risk is linked to a Mediterranean diet and a connection is found between osteoporosis and heart disease in women.
AMA Reveals Plan To Combat Racism In Health Care, And In Its Ranks
In other health care news, Maine is acknowledging all school nurses for their role combating the coronavirus; a boom in pet ownership during covid is overwhelming vets; and a survey shows new medical residents tend to choose urban hospitals.
