Latest KFF Health News Stories
White House Backs Off From Fauci Criticism
President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell all deliver a message of support for Dr. Anthony Fauci after a top Trump adviser criticized him in an op-ed. Meanwhile, Fauci comments on the “bizarre” tension in an interview with The Atlantic.
COVID Cases Soar To New Highs As State Leaders Scramble To Respond
Over 36,000 positive tests for the coronavirus were confirmed Wednesday in just four states alone: Arizona, California, Florida and Texas.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion pages focus on these health issues and others.
Viewpoints: The Price Of Lockdowns; Slow Testing Results In Hard-Hit Communities
Editorial writers weigh in on issues surrounding the pandemic — testing, the economy, the schools and Anthony Fauci.
EU Approves Lynparza To Fight Type Of Pancreatic Cancer
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Perspectives: Despite The Rush, Remdesivir Needs A Large Clinical Trial
Recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Drug Investments Under Fire Over Possible Conflicts Of Interest
HHS says a Trump aide can sidestep ethics disclosures while making decisions about government contracts; management consulting firm McKinsey scoops up COVID-related contracts; lawmakers skeptical of vaccine developers’ “no-profit” pledge.
Health Plans Can’t Deny Coverage For Treatments Broadly Geared To Disabled Customers, Judge Says
News about several big hospital companies and also an early look at what hospitals have been charging for COVID care.
Biggest Culprits In Virus Spread? Developing Nations And The US
Developments on the global pandemic are reported on Brazil, Mexico, China, Sweden, Ireland, South Africa, the UK, Japan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Lebanon and other nations.
Opioid Deaths Soar Among Black People On Chicago’s West Side
Among the reasons, reports ProPublica, is that fewer people are coming to the emergency room to seek help, in large part out of fear of contracting COVID-19. Also, news on racial disparities from Maine, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
Monitoring Big Tech’s Moves In Health Care
Big technology companies’ involvement in health care calls for close scrutiny; an outdated technology — the fax — slows down the containment of COVID.
‘Terrible Decision’: Trump Faults District For Not Reopening Los Angeles Schools
District Superintendent Austin Beutner said he couldn’t protect the students and teachers in the nation’s second largest school district and his efforts to get federal help have gone largely unanswered. School-opening updates come from Virginia, North Dakota, Oregon and other states, as well.
As Coronavirus Spreads, New Orleans Closes The Bars Again
Gov. John Bel Edwards issued the new restrictions, which allow bars to continue to offer takeout service or delivery. In other state coronavirus news, concerns in Indian country, visits to nursing homes ease in Michigan and quarantines among states get tighter.
More Cities, Businesses Tighten Mask Restrictions
Milwaukee joins the list of places where you must wear a mask in indoor and outdoor public spaces; Michigan has extended its state of emergency; and more.
NYC Organ Transplant Programs Suffer At COVID-Overwhelmed Hospitals
Organs were not viable from many potential donors, who had COVID. Public health news is on loneliness, research on the virus, safe gyms, maternal deaths, food banks, and prisons, as well.
VA Nursing Assistant Admits To Murdering Patients
A shocking story of a nursing assistant at a Veterans Administration hospital who intentionally killed seven patients; she pleaded guilty to the crimes.
Unused Free Testing Behind Lethal Outbreak In Montana Care Home
The outbreak in Billings at Canyon Creek Memory Care, where eight residents have died and almost are all infected, illustrates the need to adopt common-sense preventive measures. News on testing is on the slowness of getting results, and comes from California, Maine and Georgia, as well.
Justice Ginsburg Admitted To Hospital For ‘Possible Infection’
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had a medical procedure to clean out a bile-duct stent, a court statement says.
Former Top General Signals He Won’t Lead Coronavirus Oversight Panel
Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Joseph Dunford has told congressional leaders that he will not take the job of running the bipartisan oversight commission, another hurdle in the effort to monitor the distribution of hundreds of billions of dollars of federal pandemic aid.
