Latest KFF Health News Stories
Drugmaker Touts Trial Results Of Potential Coronavirus Treatment
British pharmaceutical company Synairgen says its nebulizer treatment produced a 79% lower risk of COVID-19 patients developing a severe form of the disease than those given a placebo in initial trials. Other drug trial news related to hydroxychloroquine is also reported.
Russia Tries To Distance Itself From Cyberattack Allegations
“I don’t believe in this story at all, there is no sense in it,” Andrey Kelin, Russia’s ambassador to Britain, told the BBC of claims from the U.S., Britain and Canada that Russian hackers are targeting coronavirus treatment and vaccine research.
Appeals Court Rules On HHS Payment Cuts, Expanding Short-Term Health Plans
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ruled that HHS’ payment cuts to hospitals’ off-site outpatient departments were legal. The D.C. court also upheld the Trump administration’s controversial expansion of short-term, limited-duration health plans.
CMS To Resume Audits Of Medicare Claims
Postponed because of the COVID crisis, audits of health care providers’ Medicare claims will resume.
Amazon Primed To Move Further Into Health Care
Amazon is opening primary-care clinics for some employees; and in a grab bag of health industry news, lawsuits and delayed leadership changes.
Trump Describes ‘Good’ Relationship With Fauci While Calling Out ‘Mistakes’
“He’s a little bit of an alarmist — that’s OK,” President Donald Trump said of his top infectious disease expert. Despite recent criticisms from a few fellow administration officials, Dr. Anthony Fauci continues to urge Americans to take more precautions to stem the coronavirus outbreak.
Trump Plays Down Health Impact Of Virus, Again Predicts It Will ‘Disappear’
In a wide-ranging Fox News interview, President Donald Trump continued to blame testing as to why the U.S. leads the world in coronavirus stats. “Many of those cases shouldn’t even be cases,” he said. He also said he’d leave the decision on mask mandates to state governors.
Florida Cases Continue To Surge Including In The Villages Among Retirees
COVID news from Florida, California, Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Nevada, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Ohio and Louisiana.
Grim Milestones: Globe Passes 600,000 Deaths, US Continues To Top Daily Case Records
Over 140,000, or a quarter of the total COVID-19 deaths, were in the U.S. Case counts continue to accelerate to record or near-record levels in California, Florida and Kentucky.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on the controversy around mask wearing and other public health issues.
Different Takes: Dangerous War Is Being Waged On Science; Taking Data Away From CDC Is A Mistake
Opinion writers weigh in on these public health issues and others.
How Other Countries Are Faring With COVID
Pandemic news from across the globe with a little bit of good news thrown in.
N.H. Joins List Of States That Allow Prescription Drugs From Canada
In other state news: New York cracks down on alcohol sales; Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf cuts funding to county that defied shutdown orders; Missouri will spend $15 million in coronavirus relief funds on promoting tourism; and more.
Nursing Home Virus Outbreaks In Texas Shoot Up By 60% In Just Weeks
Pandemic-related nursing home news from Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Minorities In US Face More Discrimination Due To COVID, Study Finds
New research finds evidence that racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. have experienced increased incidents of discrimination during the pandemic. Other examples of race-based disparities in the health system are also reported.
Stay In Port: CDC Extends No-Sail Order To Cruise Lines
The previous order was set to expire next week on July 24. Other public health news on church-related illnesses, a rapid decline and death toll, a double pandemic threat, the NCAA’s guide for college sports and more.
‘A Disaster Every Single Day’: Nation’s Health Systems Showing Strain
Officials raise concerns that hospitals may hit a breaking point if the trajectory of ever-growing caseloads doesn’t change. Plus, a look at the effect of the coronavirus surge on hospitals in Georgia and school nurses in Texas.
Cases Spike In California Day Care Centers
Even facilities practicing safe practices were not immune. Other news about children’s health includes restraint bans and a rare polio-type illness.
Shoddy Surgical Masks Bear ‘Meaningless’ FDA Certificate
An NPR analysis finds that many surgical masks, most imported, tout FDA certificates that don’t have any regulatory meaning. Often the products don’t meet safety standards for health care workers. Meanwhile, more big chains in the U.S. announce mask requirements.
