First Edition: July 22, 2021
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
14,261 - 14,280 of 112,504 Results
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers tackle these public health issues.
Opinion writers explore these covid and vaccine topics.
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN's Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Fires in 13 western states created a haze of smoke particles that blew as far east as New York City, leading to polluted air that some local reports called "as thick as winter fog." The air quality index in the city reached levels deemed "unhealthy" by the Environmental Protection Agency.
In a news conference Tuesday, Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto admitted there is a possibility the Games could be yet canceled because of the unpredictability of covid. WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the risk of the Games spreading the virus was inevitable.
Though Canada is opening its borders to fully vaccinated Americans Aug. 9, proof of a negative PCR test result is still needed to enter the country -- even for Canadians coming from the U.S. Meanwhile, India's true covid death toll may be around 4 million -- 10 times the official count.
A study in the American Journal of Managed Care says hospitals still wield considerable market power when it comes to self-insured employers and negotiations over billing. Hospital pricing, covid medical bills, New York hospital mergers and more are also in the news.
The federal government says insurers must not charge copays, coinsurance or deductibles for the quarterly clinic visits and lab tests required to maintain a PrEP prescription, NBC News reported.
Although covid added to the stress, the pollsters say other issues such as global hunger, rising corruption and income inequality also contributed. Other reports look at new research on Alzheimer's disease and concerns about monkey pox.
Judge Kristine Baker of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas ruled to prevent the law from being enforced, saying it was an "imminent threat" to constitutional rights of women seeking abortion. Other news covers the National Association of Christian Lawmakers, and Mexico.
The Senate is scheduled to vote today on a bipartisan bill to improve the nation's roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is holding the bill on a tight time frame because he is trying to get another big initiative, the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation with a number of major health programs, through the Senate this summer.
The recent surge in cases is slowing work on Capitol Hill and shattering a sense of calm. Adding to the jitters was news yesterday that a White House employee and a member of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's staff tested positive even though they were fully vaccinated.
During a hearing Tuesday, Sen. Rand Paul tried to accuse Dr. Anthony Fauci of being partly to blame for starting the covid pandemic by helping fund research at a Wuhan lab. A frequently interrupted Fauci angrily pointed out the correct science and called Paul a liar.
The recent surge of covid cases is prompting some Republican leaders to speak out as they try to overcome vaccine hesitancy among many conservatives.
The research, posted online Tuesday, has not yet been peer-reviewed nor published in a journal, and it conflicts with research from Johnson & Johnson earlier this month. Also in the news: booster shots.
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra issued the sixth renewal of the emergency state on Monday. Separately, President Joe Biden admitted there's "a way to go yet" to beat covid. News outlets cover the administration's covid response at six months in office.
The new policy is scheduled to be announced by the mayor today and go into effect in August. Meanwhile in other states, concerns are rising about workers who have not gotten the shot, especially those working with frail seniors.
The figure comes from a global model built by researchers at Boston Children's Hospital, with "orphaned" meaning losing at least one parent. Separately, a study says 120,000 U.S. kids have lost a primary caregiver to the pandemic. Rising covid and long covid in children are also in the news.
© 2026 KFF