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According to a Swedish study published this week in The BMJ, women immunized against HPV were 15% less likely than those who weren't vaccinated to deliver very prematurely. Women who were immunized against HPV before age 17 had lower rates of pregnancy complications, CIDRAP reported.
The Florida Health Department wants to remove the immunization requirements for hepatitis B, varicella, Hib, and pneumococcal conjugate for children to attend Florida schools. “These four vaccines ... are still vital to protect children’s health,” said Dr. Sarah Nosal, president of the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Supporters of the change say they prefer medical freedom.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released its latest Medicare Advantage star ratings, with the average in 2027 dropping from 4.01 to 3.99. Only 37% of contracts met the four-star threshold to qualify for bonus payments from the federal agency.
A clinical trial, published Thursday in the medical journal The Lancet, showed that the bot was helpful in 75% of cases. Researchers also noted that patients didn't trust the bot until they learned a doctor would take over care. Other news looks at hospitals' return on investment for medical devices, an autoimmune disease drug that failed a phase 3 trial, and more.
A customs rule set to take effect later this month adds fees and registration requirements to low-value shipments that previously entered the U.S. duty-free and could eliminate the ability to import personal prescriptions, AP reported.
As reported cases of measles increase daily in states like Pennsylvania and Ohio, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is providing states with money to increase vaccinations, testing, and disease surveillance.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers discuss these public health topics.
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of health policy studies and briefs.
A study of more than 62,000 children born between 1998 and 2010 showed the seven-year rate of autism spectrum disorder remained stable. The findings support the theory that better identification could be a key reason for rising diagnosis rates.
Insurers and business groups say employers absorb the costs related to the dispute-resolution process for the 2022 No Surprises Act — a law aimed at protecting patients from some surprise out-of-network bills. Providers counter that the disputes should involve too small a share of claims to meaningfully affect healthcare premiums.
CMS is penalizing about 80% of the hospitals it evaluated for high readmissions, and the penalties took effect Oct. 1, Becker's Hospital Review reported. Other industry news is on drug tariffs, the public health impact of immigration raids, and more.
Last week, Christa Pike became the first person to survive a lethal injection. The New York Times reported that a judge has sided with Pike's lawyers, agreeing to sign an order that would require the state to preserve all evidence pertaining to the failed execution.
After a 28-year-old lab technician at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East died last week from what Russia is calling "pneumonia of undetermined” origin, the World Health Organization is pressing for more information and clarity. Pneumonic plague, the rarest form of plague, is a severe and often fatal lung infection caused by yersinia pestis and spread by inhaling respiratory droplets from an infected person. It is not as contagious as covid-19, and highly treatable with antibiotics, making the likelihood of a pandemic-like outbreak low, NBC reported.
The effort would include a new research clinic at the National Institutes of Health and a new billing code to reimburse doctors for filing reports of serious vaccine side effects, according to reporting from The New York Times. Meanwhile, senators seek answers from the health secretary on the recent overhaul of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers delve into these public health issues.
The World Health Organization says that it's unclear how obesity medications would affect young kids in the long term and that focusing on food and exercise is strongly recommended, Bloomberg reported. Also: peptides, a new imaging tool for prostate cancer, and more.
The California Nurses Association has settled with KP after alleging that an error in the payroll system caused more than 1,000 nurses to be underpaid for several years. It is unclear how much will be paid out to the nurses, but it is estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Pike's lawyers today will ask a judge to ensure that evidence from the failed lethal injection be preserved as officials try to figure out what went wrong. She remains at a Nashville hospital, where she is receiving critical care treatment, The New York Times reported.
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