Latest KFF Health News Stories
Layoffs At A Blue Cross Blue Shield
In other health care industry news: the explosion of telemedicine, more hospital data breach fines, another young doctor dies of COVID and more.
Evidence Grows That Statin Drugs Are Safe, Beneficial For Elderly
Also in the news: the price of insulin versus other drugs; Legend Biotech; Keytruda; and Perdue Pharma CEO Craig Landau.
Drinking Coffee Helps Colon Cancer Patients Live Longer, Study Suggests
Only patients who couldn’t be treated with surgery were involved in the study. Compared with those who didn’t drink coffee, the ones who drank a cup a day had an 11% increased rate of overall survival and a 5% increased rate of living progression-free. And the more they drank, the better.
WHO Urges Wealthy Nations To Join Plan To Distribute Vaccine To Most Vulnerable
Missing from participation are the U.S., China and Russia. Other vaccine news including developments in Russia and China.
Vaccine Approved For Emergency Use Wouldn’t Be Covered By Medicare
The Trump administration is scrambling to make a future coronavirus vaccine free to the nation’s 44 million Medicare beneficiaries, since Medicare doesn’t currently cover costs for drugs approved under emergency-use designations, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Biden Campaign Attacks Stay Targeted On Trump’s Pandemic Missteps
During a Wisconsin visit, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said, “I worry we’re at risk of becoming numb” to the 200,000 people in the U.S. who have died of COVID-19. He did not speak much of the pending Supreme Court battle, while President Donald Trump and Republicans shift their message to it.
How The Dynamics Of Obamacare Case Before High Court Have Changed
The vacancy on the Supreme Court heightens the drama over the future of Obamacare.
Inside Justice Ginsburg’s Long Battle With Pancreatic Cancer
Several news outlets take a look at the cancer that killed Justice Ruth Ginsburg.
HHS Staffing Shake-Up Continues As More White House Liaisons Are Out
White House Liaison Emily Newman and her deputy Catherine Granito are being reassigned, leaving HHS Secretary Alex Azar with more centralized power over his agency, Politico reports.
NIH Staffer Unmasked As Online Peddler Of COVID Misinformation; Will Retire
William Crews, a public affairs specialist for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will leave the agency led by Dr. Anthony Fauci after the Daily Beast revealed that Crews is the managing editor of a conservative website where he authored many posts slamming Fauci, masks and other government COVID guidance.
Another CDC Reversal: Agency Takes Back Info On How COVID Spreads In Air
On Friday, the CDC website was updated to say that 6 feet of distance may not be enough to avoid airborne transmission of COVID-19. That guidance was removed on Monday. CDC officials say draft language was posted in error, but the misstep comes at a time when public confidence in the agency is taking a hit due to confusing messaging.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers express views about these health issues and others.
Opinion writers weigh in on these pandemic topics and others.
‘Wrong Direction’: Increase In England’s Cases Could Be Tipping Point
Global news is from England, Israel, France, Spain, Australia, Guatemala and Sweden.
New Hampshire’s New Cases Likely Linked To Maine Gatherings
Media outlets report on news from New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, Louisiana and more.
Michigan Joins Other Colleges Canceling Spring Break
Colleges aim to reduce risks by minimizing mass travel to and from campuses. News is on successes and failures of reopenings, privacy issues, a gap year for kindergartners and more.
Kids Exposed To Wildfire Smoke Will Likely Suffer More Asthma, Doctors Say
Other public health news is on obesity, the flu and mental health.
As Months Tick By, Doctors Say They’re Improving Their Fight Against COVID
“Health-care preparedness today is much better than it was in February and March,” said Andrew Badley, head of the Mayo Clinic’s Covid Research Task Force.
Airline Travel: Exposures Around 11,000; One Person On London Flight Infected 15
Airline news is on tracing infections, workers’ lower infection rates, safety standards and border closures.
