Latest KFF Health News Stories
Inflammatory Syndrome Seen More Widely
Doctors are seeing a COVID-related syndrome, first seen only in children, in adults.
Scientists See Vaccine Progress — And Encounter Roadblocks
Many problems loom, such as congressional funding and a potential shortage of glass vials.
For-Profit Providers Must Pay Taxes On Coronavirus Grants, IRS Says
Also in the news: Universal Health Services settles dispute with Massachusetts over improper billing and electronic health record companies team up with Big Tech.
Funding Bill Advancing In House Has $24B In COVID Emergency Money
The emergency funding, that is part of a larger spending bill, was approved by the House Appropriations Committee Monday. Continued pandemic response is expected to be at the center of fierce congressional debate over the next few weeks.
Consumer Group Estimates 5.4M Workers Lost Health Insurance Following Economic Downturn
The study by Families USA found that the increase in uninsured workers from February to May was nearly 40 percent higher than the highest previous increase, which occurred during the recession of 2008 and 2009. Other researchers have projected the coverage loss to be even higher when factoring in workers’ families.
Supreme Court Hearing On Obamacare Unlikely Before November Election
The Supreme Court announced that justices will not hear in October the challenge to the Affordable Care Act, supported by the Trump administration. The case, and its implications for Americans’ health care coverage, is a top campaign issue this year. Meanwhile, HHS Secretary Alex Azar’s comments on preexisting conditions is fact checked.
Hospitals, Insurers Unhappy With Medicare’s Proposed Change To Severity Payments
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ proposed Inpatient Prospective Payment System regulation is at issue.
For First Time In 17 Years, US Executes Federal Inmate
Daniel Lewis Lee was put to death by lethal injection early Tuesday at the Federal Correctional Institution in Terre Haute, Indiana, after the Supreme Court cleared the way.
Rule Requiring In-Person Doctor Visit To Get Abortion Pill Suspended
A federal judge’s decision allows health care providers to mail or deliver mifepristone, the FDA-approved medication that induces an abortion, to a patient during the U.S.-declared public health emergency due to COVID-19.
Federal Judges Knock Down ‘Heartbeat’ Abortion Bans In Georgia, Tennessee
A temporary hold on Georgia’s 2019 “heartbeat” abortion law was ruled permanent by a federal judge Monday. In a separate case, another federal judge put a temporary block on a similar measure, just signed by Tennessee’s governor. Both state laws would have effectively prohibited the procedure at six weeks of pregnancy.
Fauci Returns To White House Amid Swipes At His Reputation
President Donald Trump’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, met with the White House chief of staff after an internal memo surfaced that tried to undermine the doctor’s reputation. Despite the swirl of controversy, Fauci continues to sound the alarm about the pandemic.
California Again Shutters Many Indoor Businesses To Combat Virus Surge
The strictest orders will be put back in place in the hardest-hit counties, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced Monday. Included in the shutdown orders are restaurants, bars, churches, theaters, gyms, hair stylists and more.
In Just 5 Days, 1 Million New Cases: Global Coronavirus Spike Alarms WHO
From July 6 through July 10, the number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases totaled 1,046,200. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said “too many countries are headed in the wrong direction” and called out world leaders for their mixed messaging.
California’s Biggest School Districts Will Be Online-Only, But Orange County Goes Opposite Direction
Students won’t attend in-person school in Los Angeles or San Diego. Meanwhile, students in Orange County won’t even be required to wear a mask or keep 6 feet apart.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: Lessons On Safest Ways, Places To Teach Children This Fall
Opinion writers weigh in on educating children during the pandemic. Like the country as a whole, opinion is divided.
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health topics and others.
COVID Flare-ups Across The Globe
While the United States struggles with the pandemic, hotspots continue to occur in other countries, including Mexico, Italy, England, Spain, Lebanon and Kazakhstan.
Japanese Upset Over COVID’s Spread At U.S. Base
As COVID-19 spreads among Marines on a large U.S. base in Japan, local officials want the U.S. government to step up its response.
Gov. Cuomo’s Order To House COVID Patients In Nursing Homes Scrutinized
Critics have called for investigations to see if the Cuomo administration’s directive forcing nursing homes to accept coronavirus patients from hospitals created a dangerous environment that allowed the virus to quickly spread in New York. But state officials are fighting back. Meanwhile, visits to residents in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in parts of the country are slowly resuming and other nursing home news.
