Latest KFF Health News Stories
Medicaid Postpartum Coverage For Mothers Expanded In Illinois
The expansion should give 2,500 women with incomes up to 208 percent of the federal poverty level Medicaid coverage for up to a year after giving birth.
Pharma Launches Big Image-Improvement Campaign
The drug industry’s lobbying group is also tweaking some of its policy stances including several unprecedented endorsements for drug pricing reforms. But those changes don’t go as far as what has been proposed in Congress.
FDA Lifts Restrictions On Abortion Pills By Mail
The agency also announced the appointment of Patrizia Cavazzoni as the director of its Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Cavazzoni has been a senior executive at Pfizer.
Biden’s, Democrats’ Health Care Plans Aim High
Axios reports on the “huge array” of health policies Democrat lawmakers are considering, as the L.A. Times reports on plans to roll back health policies put in place during the Trump administration. In addition, more home care for seniors is in the cards, thanks to $400 million in funding included in the infrastructure plan.
More Than 1 In 10 Children With Covid Are Hospitalized
A study of over 20,000 U.S. kids with covid found 12% needed hospital stays, and nearly 1 in 3 of those were “severe” cases needing treatments like ICU care or ventilation. Children are suffering long covid too, and at least five hospitals are starting clinics.
Covid Surge Hits Michigan, CDC Warns State Should Close Down
A dramatic increase in covid cases in Michigan caused Biden administration officials to warn that the state should “shut things down” as no corresponding vaccine supply boost will happen — only more therapeutic drugs.
Good And Bad News From Studies On Covid Variants
The British covid variant does not cause more severe disease in hospitalized patients, according to a new study. However, another study says the South African variant may be able to evade the Pfizer vaccine.
Universal Covid Vaccine Eligibility For Adults Is Close
More states open vaccine eligibility for adults over 16, bringing the country closer to the point in which almost anyone can sign up for the vaccine. Reports single out New Mexico and Alaska’s Native American health providers as being particularly effective at delivering vaccines.
CDC And FDA Call For States To ‘Pause’ J&J Vaccinations
As the Food and Drug Administration investigates very rare reports of blood clots in six people who had the Johnson & Johnson covid-19 vaccine, federal health agencies are recommending that states halt its usage. More than 7 million doses of the vaccine have been administered.
More Colleges Plan Mandating Covid Vaccines
As still more colleges join the list of those mandating covid vaccinations before fall, a study among current students examines the longer-term impact of vaccines on covid spread. Other looming vaccine requirements are also in the news.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Are Employer-Aided Vaccinations The Next Step?; Rural Areas Struggling To Vaccinate
Opinion writers analyze covid and vaccine issues.
Chinese Officials Acknowledge Low Protection Of Domestic Vaccines
Global health news is reported out of China, Austria, Germany, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Israel and Bhutan.
Supreme Court Again Favors Religion Over Covid Restrictions In California
The 5-4 vote bars the state from enforcing a rule that limits both religious and non-religious gatherings in homes to no more than three households. Other news is from Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Florida, Maine, West Virginia and Ohio.
Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Ground Turkey
The Department of Agriculture issued an alert about ground turkey made by Plainville Brands. In other news, your newly discovered gray hair could be pandemic-related.
Soaring Pandemic Wages Of Nurses Is Source Of Dispute
A hospital chain and a nurse staffing firm sue each other over the cost of nurses during the pandemic. In other health care industry news, 3M sues a company, alleging it made fake N95 masks.
Progress In Treating Hodgkin Lymphoma
A clinical trial says a treatment using “natural killer cells” is effective against Hodgkin lymphoma. Separately, retevmo, a drug from Eli Lilly already approved for lung and thyroid cancer treatments, has shown promise in beating rare tumors found elsewhere.
Big Tech Making Moves Into Patient Records, AI In Health Care
Google is exploring how patients may want to manage their own medical record data with a new tool, and Microsoft is ready to spend billions of dollars to buy an AI firm that could help doctors with note-taking and help predict patient needs.
Fed’s Powell: Opening Before Pandemic Is Licked Is Worrisome
The chairman of the Federal Reserve warned that reopening the economy too quickly could lead to more covid cases that will in turn hurt the economy. “We will reopen too quickly, people will too quickly return to their old practices, and we’ll see another spike in cases.”
California Picks Up The Pace Of Vaccinations
California says half of its adults have been vaccinated, while Wisconsin says it hit 25%. More women are getting shots than men, but that statistic may be biased by the earliest group to get shots: health care workers. And the Texas governor uses bad math to claim herd immunity.
