Latest KFF Health News Stories
Planned Parenthood Official Ousted After Complaints About Unfair Treatment Of Black Staff Members
Laura McQuade, the chief executive of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, parted ways with the organization after hundreds of former and current employees signed letters complaining of abusive and unfair treatment.
In Strange Twist, Protests May Have Had Positive Effect On Social Distancing As Others Avoided Them
There hasn’t been the expected spike from the protests against police violence like many had been braced for. Researchers posit that people who were trying to avoid the protests may have engaged in social distancing more stringently than they might have otherwise. However, a sharp increases in cases for LAPD officers suggests those in the midst of the crowd have been exposed to infection. Media outlets cover racial disparities, police violence and other issues as well.
Missouri Court Orders Johnson & Johnson To Pay $2.1B In Baby Powder Lawsuit
The ruling said that “motivated by profits, defendants disregarded the safety of consumers despite their knowledge the talc in their products caused ovarian cancer.” More than 19,000 plaintiffs had talcum-powder lawsuits pending against J&J in U.S. courts as of March 29.
Insurers Not On The Hook For Diagnostic COVID Tests Mandated By Employers, Administration Rules
Insurance companies have been anxious for guidance from the Trump administration on whether there would be patient cost-sharing responsibility for tests required by workplaces as employees return. Under the new guidance, such testing would not be covered under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Other medical and insurance marketplace developments are also in the news.
Advocates Want More Warnings From FDA On Diabetes Drug Linked To Fatal Reactions
Because the drug can cause a potentially fatal condition called ketoacidosis in diabetic patients, advocates are calling on the FDA to issue a “black box” warning–the most severe that the agency can slap on a product. In other pharmaceutical news: fatty liver disease treatments, a biotechnology startup, and supplements.
Tuesday’s Delayed Primary Results May Be New Normal As States Push Mail-In-Voting Amid Pandemic
Voters still turned out in person to polls in New York and Kentucky, but a surge of absentee ballots means that the races can’t be called on the same day–something that the American public may have to adjust to come the November general election.
House Democrats Not Trying To Swing For The Fences With New Health Proposal To Shore Up ACA
The House Democrats are set to unveil a health care plan that focuses on increasing subsidies and negotiating powers for Medicare drug prices. But the plan falls far short of the progressive health care push that was seen earlier in the year, pre-pandemic. Although it would be dead-on-arrival in the Senate, the legislation will help Democrats anchor their election messaging.
Despite Growing Public Support For Police Reform, Senators Hit Partisan Gridlock Over Legislation
Senate Democrats said that the Republican-crafted bill falls far short of what is necessary for true reform and that they will block the measure, while the Republicans said Democratic senators are grandstanding for political points.
HHS Gives Morehouse School Of Medicine $40M To Fight COVID-19
In other administration news: President Donald Trump taps appointees to the Census Bureau; CMS creates a new Health Informatics office; and a VA telemedicine office spent nearly $39 million during the pandemic.
Judge Upholds Trump’s Transparency Policy That Would Force Hospitals To Reveal Negotiated Prices
The American Hospital Association argued that the administration did not have the legal authority to force facilities to reveal prices that were negotiated with insurers. The outcome of the negotiations have long been closely guarded by both sides, but the Trump administration sees transparency as a way to force down health care costs.
Doctors Concerned Rural Health Care Will Be Affected By Trump’s Visa Freeze
“You need these H-1B physicians who are willing to go to Alabama, Georgia, you know, parts of the beltway that just don’t have enough doctors,” said Mahsa Khanbabai, an attorney with the American Immigration Lawyers Association. The health care worker exemption in the order only applies to people who are caring for COVID patients or doing research on the coronavirus.
‘I Don’t Kid’: Trump Stands By Statement That He Ordered A Testing Slowdown
White House advisers say that President Donald Trump was joking when he told a Tulsa, Oklahoma, campaign rally: “I said to my people, ‘Slow the testing down, please.’” The president insists he was serious though. “I don’t kid. Let me just tell you. Let me make it clear,” Trump told reporters Tuesday.
Trump’s Arizona Rally Draws Bigger Crowd Than Tulsa Despite COVID Surge In State
Arizona on Tuesday reported a record 3,600 new infections, but President Donald Trump’s supporters still turned out to his latest campaign rally. Trump hit many of his talking points, including railing against mail-in voting and doubling-down on a racist term for COVID-19.
Four top federal health officials — Dr. Anthony Fauci, CDC Director Robert Redfield, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn and assistant secretary for health at HHS Brett Giroir — were grilled by lawmakers Tuesday on the state of the federal response to the coronavirus crisis.
U.S. Cases Now Back To Where They Were At Previous Peak Of Pandemic In The Spring
There have only been two days previously that the U.S. logged higher case counts than what was reported on Tuesday. Yet states continue to push forward with their plans to reopen.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
COVID-19 Cases Rising Across Globe As Nations Ease Lockdowns
Global pandemic developments are reported out of Brazil, Saudi Arabia, India, Spain, Sweden, Britain and other countries.
In Minnesota, No Major Hike In COVID-19 Cases After Protests
More coronavirus news from Kansas, Iowa, South Carolina, Texas, Rhode Island, Florida, Washington, D.C., and other areas across the U.S.
‘SOS COVID-19’: Virus Spreads Through Jails, Prisons And Immigration Detention Facilities
A federal judge in Oakland, California, points to a “significant failure of policy and planning” at San Quentin prison, while Arizona reports more than 1,100 cases of the virus among county jail inmates, state prisoners and federal immigration detainees.
Calif. State Budget Deal Avoids Big Cuts In Health Care, Education
Meanwhile, the state is coping with a surge in coronavirus cases as it struggles with social distancing and mask-wearing.
