Latest KFF Health News Stories
Report Cites HUD’s Failure To Alert Residents About Lead Dangers
News reports are on health exchanges open for enrollment, transgender rights, an aid-in-dying bill and more.
ACA Medicaid Expansion Increases Young Adult Coverage
An Urban Institute report shows uninsurance rates among adults ages 19 to 25 dropped during the study’s time frame from 25% in 2011 to 15% in 2018. Texas, which has the highest uninsurance rate, could have seen a 24.6% decrease if it had expanded its Medicaid program.
AMA Takes Steps To Further Distance Itself From Discriminatory Past
A bust of Dr. Nathan Davis, known as the “father of the AMA,” was removed from public view at the group’s headquarters in Chicago, and his name was removed from an annual award. Davis had actively worked to keep Black physicians out of the organization.
Biden To Nominate Chiquita Brooks-LaSure To Lead CMS: Reports
Chiquita Brooks-LaSure was a top official at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services during the Obama administration and has served as a health advisor during the Biden transition. If confirmed, she would be the first Black woman to be CMS administrator.
Senators Reintroduce ‘Medicare-X’ Proposal With Public Option
Democratic Sens. Tim Kiaine (Va.) and Michael Bennet (Colo.) modified a bill they first released in October 2017. In other health care news from Capitol Hill, the stimulus bill continues to make its way through committees.
Spending Boost Planned For Covid Tests And Improved Variant Tracking
As different coronavirus variants surge in the country, large-scale plans to genetically track them and improve testing systems and supplies are unveiled.
Vaccine Efforts Struggle With Reach, Skepticism As Rollout Continues
As vaccines are distributed across the U.S., some are volunteering to receive a test dose even as other groups are reluctant. And the vulnerable homeless are hard to reach.
White House, Fauci Agree Schools Will Reopen Before Vaccinating All Teachers
Amid questions on normalcy and reopened schools, vaccinating teachers is deemed a “priority” not a “requirement” by the White House.
DeSantis Defends Pop-Up Vaccination Clinic; Pennsylvania Warns Of Second-Dose Delays After Misuse
News on the vaccine rollout is from Florida, Pennsylvania, Iowa, California, Maine, Arkansas and Massachusetts.
Study: Pfizer Vaccine Less Effective Versus South African Covid Variant
Experiments suggest a coronavirus variant first reported in South Africa seems partly resistant to Pfizer’s vaccine, sparking concern as other variants spread.
Texans Cope With Deadly Cold, Water Crisis And Hunger After Winter Storm
At least two dozen people have died from fire or carbon monoxide poisoning while trying to stay warm. Austin hospitals are running out of water and residents in some parts of the states are warned to boil water before drinking — which is nearly impossible for those without power.
US Issues Warnings After Seizing Millions Of Counterfeit N95 Masks
”They’re extremely dangerous,” says Steve K. Francis, assistant director of Homeland Security Investigations, of counterfeit N95 masks. News reports look at upcoming new mask standards and benefits of double masking.
FBI Launches Investigation Into Nursing Home Deaths In New York
And in Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has threatened to take away coronavirus vaccines from communities that criticize his distribution efforts.
Hospitalizations Fall In US To Lowest Levels Since Early November
The drop in new covid infections also continues to drop in both the U.S. and globally.
Pandemic Cuts Life Expectancy In US By An Alarming Full Year: CDC
The rapid decline in the first half of 2020 — the biggest since World War II — was even worse for some racial groups: Black Americans lost nearly three years of life expectancy while Hispanics lost two, according to CDC estimates. And the full 2020 numbers are expected to be even more catastrophic.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Where Is Next Round Of CDC Guidance?; Pros, Cons Of This Feel-Good Moment
Editorial pages focus on these pandemic topics and others.
Perspectives: Do We Spend Too Much Time Scrutinizing The Price Of Drugs?
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Sickle Cell Trials Halted After Two Participants Diagnosed With Cancer
Bluebird Bio said a patient treated more than five years with its Lentiglobin gene therapy was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, and a second patient has myelodysplastic syndrome.
Survey: 36% Of Americans Skip Medications So They Can Pay Bills
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
