Latest KFF Health News Stories
Housing Secretary Unveils Stimulus Grants Aimed To Cut Homelessness
The $5 billion in new funding will help with rental assistance, affordable housing and other programs. In other economic news tied to the pandemic, jobless claims were up this week, and some consumers are having trouble getting federal help on their COBRA premiums.
Study Finds Covid Deaths Of Black Women Are 3 Times White Male Rate
In other medical research news, doctors in Japan have achieved the first living-donor lung tissue transplant for a patient suffering covid lung damage, and the hunt continues for simple and effective treatments for the coronavirus.
Florida’s Covid Hospitalizations Spike After Spring Break
One week after the end of college spring break, Southwest Florida’s hospitals are reporting big increases in covid patient numbers, as the state’s overall daily case numbers hit a total not seen since mid-February.
20 Million AstraZeneca Doses Stockpiled In US
In other news from across the country, hucksters tout fake coronavirus cures, and Hollywood thinks it can help correct vaccine misinformation.
Covid Vaccine Deliveries Are Nearing Public Demand Rates
As covid vaccination eligibility expands, some states are experiencing low uptake, with the AP reporting on Trump-supporting Alabama counties as one example. Elsewhere, vaccine-dose errors hit efforts in Montana, but analysis shows over 50% of U.S. rural residents either already have or are likely to get a shot.
J&J Shot Deemed Safe To Use Despite Reactions In Colorado, North Carolina
The CDC and state health officials said they didn’t find any safety issues after several dozen people suffered immediate adverse reactions ranging from dizziness to nausea.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages tackle these public health issues.
Different Takes: Understanding Vaccine Hesitancy; Vaccine Equity More Important Than Passports
Opinion writers weigh in on vaccine and covid issues.
EU, UK Fret Over AstraZeneca Vaccine Issues; CureVac Version Makes Progress
People under 30 won’t get the AstraZeneca covid vaccine in the UK, but the EU is only acknowledging “possible” blood clot risks for the vaccine. Meanwhile CureVac may be close to gaining approval as an alternative.
Food Aid Cuts Begin In Wisconsin
In other news from the states, Iowa passes changes in mental health funding, and six Atlanta schools will get more access to mental health services.
Research Roundup: Covid; Antibiotic Use; Parkinson’s Disease; Melanoma
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Gender Bias Found In Pain Relief
Women’s pain is as intense as men’s pain, but doctors and nurses often view women’s pain as less intense. In other public health news, tracking STDs fell off during the pandemic because health officials were busy tracking covid.
More States Move To Legalize Marijuana
Add Virginia, Texas, Montana and Alabama to the growing list of states that are loosening or considering changes in restrictions on marijuana use.
European Officials Target Merck For Predatory Pricing
Merck settles its “predatory pricing” case in Austria. Also, how the home covid-testing business is growing, and a JAMA podcast is scrutinized for saying racism doesn’t exist in medicine.
Opioid Epidemic May Have Killed 90,000 In 2020
In other news, Georgia officials raise an alert about overdoses from counterfeit fentanyl, Maine police give out fentanyl test kits and a federal judge warns of government lawsuit risks for pharmacies.
Lifting Of Pandemic Prior-Authorization Procedures Was Brief
A number of studies and surveys examine how various aspects of health care were affected by the pandemic, including patients taking medicines, cardiac arrests at home and c-sections.
States Claw Back Covid Restrictions
Georgia plans to lift all restrictions while North Dakota, Ohio and Florida take steps against mandating masks or shots.
Medicaid Work Requirements Rescinded In Michigan And Wisconsin
The work requirements, championed by the Trump administration, were instituted in some conservative states during Medicaid program expansions. In other news about the program for low-income Americans, Missouri lawmakers who refused to accept voters’ decision last fall to expand Medicaid have redistributed money that the government said would support the expansion.
As Covid Variants Take Hold, U.S. Has Few Options To Make More Vaccine
Politico examines the vaccine “manufacturing gap” and reports that experts say the United States has little capacity to manufacture revised vaccines or booster shots alongside the original versions. This comes as public health officials raise concerns about the increasing prevalence of variants of the covid virus.
