Latest KFF Health News Stories
Fired Florida Data Scientist Turns Herself In, Tests Positive
Rebekah Jones was fired in May and has repeatedly criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis’ handling of the crisis. News is also on a dangerous dust storm in Albuquerque; Milwaukee public health officials addressing violent crime; Iowa’s efforts to address dementia; and more.
Counterfeit Masks: Remove 3M Trademark, Judge Rules
News reports are on the communication problems that masks pose for children, how adults are navigating not commuting and more.
Houston Hospital Abruptly Closed Until Bill Is Paid
Doctors said the lock-out at Heights Hospital, now largely an outpatient clinic, happened without notice. News is on antitrust regulators studying the impact of physician practice mergers, as well.
Inoculated Health Workers Say They Feel Profound Relief, Are Optimistic
Across the country, weary medical personnel are embracing the freedoms that come with getting the covid vaccine. One nurse in Colorado Springs says she has ditched wearing a stifling N95 mask for her entire shift and instead uses just a surgical mask unless interacting with covid-positive patients.
Screen Time For Children Soars; Parents, Experts Alarmed
One child told his parents his devices were his “whole life.” The trend impacts mental health and suppresses melatonin, causing sleep disruption. Other news is on rising hospitalizations for children and more cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome, as well.
CMS Hikes Medicare Advantage Plan Payments, Finalizes New Drug Rules
The agency will also give Part D plans the ability to create a “preferred” specialty tier of high-cost drugs with lower cost-sharing for enrollees by Jan. 1, 2022. That change could mean lower prices for expensive medications, Modern Healthcare reports.
Incoming CDC Director Says There Are ‘Dark Weeks Ahead’
Rochelle Walensky says she expects there will be 500,000 covid deaths in the U.S. by mid-February.
Anti-Vaccine Groups Secured Over $1M In PPP Loans
Federal Paycheck Protection Program loans went to organizations that challenged the safety of vaccines and spread misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic, according to data obtained after news organizations sued for it.
Vaccine Distribution Among Top Challenges Facing Biden
While Joe Biden is hours away from being sworn in as the next president, his team is already coping with the noncentralized pandemic response strategy inherited from the Trump administration. A prime example: New York wants to buy vaccine directly from Pfizer.
Biden Rejects Trump’s Orders To Lift Travel Ban From England, Brazil
President Donald Trump late on Monday said he planned to allow noncitizens to come to the U.S. from England and Brazil with proof of a negative covid test.
Spanish Translation On Virginia Website Says Vaccine ‘Not Necessary’
But the Virginia Department of Health is standing by its translation, which came from Google Translate. Other news is on Microsoft’s campus being used as a vaccination site, the definition of an “essential” worker and more.
Cases Top 3 Million In California; Cremation Limits Lifted
The most populous state in the U.S. rapidly jumped from 2 million new coronavirus cases to 3 million since Christmas. In another dire sign, the backlog of bodies forces California to suspend cremation limits.
California Suspends Use Of Moderna Vaccine Batch After Allergic Reactions
The administration of over 330,000 doses of Moderna’s covid vaccine were halted in California as health officials investigate “higher than usual” reactions that occurred at San Diego County’s drive-through mass vaccination site at Petco Park.
Surge Of New Covid Cases Shows Signs Of Ebbing
And in other good news, hospitalizations are also dropping in some states.
‘We’re In A Race Against Time’ As Mutations On The Rise
B.1.1.7; B.1.351; P.1: While viruses commonly mutate, worried scientists rush to keep up with all of the emerging coronavirus variants — fearing one that could prove to be even deadlier.
Variant Recently Found In California Blamed For Several Outbreaks Already
Cases caused by the L452R strain — first identified last year in Denmark — have been identified in at least 11 California counties, including Los Angeles and San Francisco. Health officials stress that they don’t know yet how contagious this variant will be or how it will respond to the vaccines.
In Just A Month, US Jumps From 300,000 To 400,000 Deaths
To mark the tragic — and some say avoidable — milestone, news outlets examine leaders’ missteps and a lack of a national strategy that led us here.
Azar: Stockpile Of Vaccine Doses Does Not Exist
Some state leaders feel lied to by the Trump administration about the availability of additional vaccines, believing the federal government was ramping up supplies.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Second Dose Of Vaccine: Canada Endorses Delaying Timeline
But Health Canada, the federal panel that approved the vaccine, says the second shot must be given within 21 days of the first. News is from Israel, Norway, China and Japan, as well.
