Latest KFF Health News Stories
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today’s selections are on brain health, dirty water, blindness, comfort dogs, and more.
A Whopping 364 Whooping Cough Cases Plagued US Thanksgiving Week
Although the holiday pertussis surge is the worst the U.S. has seen since 2010, officials note it “is now returning to pre-pandemic trends.” Meanwhile, as flu season gets underway, the antiviral drug oseltamivir is showing promise as a lifesaving treatment for influenza A.
Oklahoma Lawmaker Introduces Bill To Classify Abortion As A Felony
Meanwhile, Michigan moves to safeguard women’s health data; Ohio takes steps to protect sedated patients; Florida rejects children’s health insurance program; and more.
Editorial writers tackle these public health topics.
High-Level Execs Scramble For More Protection After Thompson’s Slaying
Phones have been “ringing off the hook” at Allied Universal, which provides security services for many Fortune 500 companies, The New York Times reported. Plus: Updates on the hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer.
FDA Needs More Authority And Funds From Congress To Curb Obesity Trend
On Thursday, senators decried the FDA’s lack of action on obesity and diabetes. Commissioner Robert Califf argued that the FDA needs more assistance to get things done. Meanwhile, only under President Joe Biden has the FDA begun to regulate lab-developed tests, Stat reports.
Trainee Doctors At Mass General Brigham Protest Over Exploitation
An estimated 400 doctors protested Thursday, claiming the raises promised by MGB failed to keep up with inflation, while the CEO’s salary jumped nearly 12% in last year alone. Also, Iowa’s physician-to-patient ratio is one of the worst in the country and is expected to get worse.
Anthem Blue Cross Reverses Anesthesia Coverage Policy After Outcry
The insurance provider is dropping a proposed policy update that would have limited anesthesia coverage to an estimated time for a procedure. Meanwhile, Medical Economics reports that health care costs for businesses are increasing at a rate not seen in years.
CEO’s Slaying Lays Bare The Disdain People Feel About Insurance Industry
Social media lit up with comments like “thoughts and deductibles” in the days after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot dead in New York, exposing Americans’ frustration with health insurers that determine the breadth of care and coverage patients can receive.
First Edition: Friday, Dec. 6, 2024
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
EPA Proposes Limits On Pesticide Linked To Learning Disorders In Kids
The EPA is calling for limits to chlorpyrifos after a federal court overturned a ban on the pesticide last year. It has been linked to learning disorders in kids and is known to be harmful. Also, a study published Wednesday has linked exposure to lead in gasoline in childhood with increased mental health symptoms later in life.
Education Dept. Steps Up Pressure On All Schools To Create Cellphone Rules
To reduce mental health struggles, “every elementary, middle, and high school should have a clear, consistent, and research-informed policy,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a written statement. He did not dictate what the policy should say. In other news: Texas could ban THC.
Trump Taps Fiserv’s Frank Bisignano To Head Social Security Administration
Also in the news: a spotlight on Pete Hegseth’s history with alcohol, a look at what could happen to Texas’ Medicaid program under the new administration, and more.
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of the latest health research and news.
Viewpoints: Roe Is Warning For Protecting Trans Care; DEI Bans Will Have Grave Effect On Health Care
Opinion writers discuss these public health issues and more.
In Surprise Move, Pharma Patent Rule Proposal Is Withdrawn
The rule was introduced to prevent companies from creating “patent thickets” — multiple patents with insignificant differences that hinder low-cost drugs from hitting the marketplace sooner. In other news: A prenatal blood test can hint at hidden cancer in the mom; a new therapy to treat pancreatic cancer; Zepbound vs. Wegovy; and more.
Most Rural And One-Third Of Urban Hospitals Have Closed Maternity Wards
The study, published Wednesday in JAMA, found that from 2010 through 2022, more than 500 hospitals closed their labor and delivery units. Other news is on health care costs for older Americans, CVS MinuteClinic locations in Utah, the important role of housekeepers at hospitals, and more.
Health Care Policy Compromise Elusive As Congressional Deadline Looms
Both sides will continue negotiating after Democrats spurned Republicans’ proposal to repeal the Biden administration’s nursing home staffing rule. Meanwhile, Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, who will have the narrowest House majority in history, would like to cut spending for PBS and Planned Parenthood.
Some Justices Signal Willingness To Let Transgender Care Bans Stand
Neil Gorsuch’s silence and Amy Coney Barrett’s impartial approach to questions during the hearing make it hard to predict which way the court will rule in the case regarding Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming treatment, The Wall Street Journal reports.
UnitedHealthcare CEO’s Killer Eludes Police As Industry Reels From News
News outlets report on the race to find the person who gunned down Brian Thompson on Wednesday in New York, the possible motive, the insurance industry’s shocked response, and the rise of an executive who kept a low public profile.
