Latest KFF Health News Stories
3M Files Lawsuit Against Company Charging Outrageous Prices For N95 Masks On Amazon
The lawsuit says Mao Yu and his affiliated companies sold what he described as 3M masks for an average price of $23.21 each on Amazon. The list price is $1.25. Amazon said it has tried to control price gouging. News on PPE is on signing off on a mask made in China ordered by California, New Balance’s shift in production, and the Duluth mayor’s attempt at normalizing mask wearing, as well.
Scientists Are Including More Females In Studies But Still Falling Far Short Of What’s Needed
A new study finds that while the number of studies that included females grew, the proportion of studies that analyzed study results by sex did not improve. In other public health news: inhalers for seizures, toxic sites and drinking water.
Ensuring Online Voting Is Secure Could Take A Decade, But Some States Are Eager To Explore Options
Unlike with mail-in ballots, the internet is riddled with security flaws that hackers can exploit. But some states that are bracing for a second virus wave in the fall are moving forward. Meanwhile, an analysis of mail-in voting during the 2016 and 2018 elections find that fraud is all but nonexistent.
More Meat Shortages Likely As Industry Struggles To Get Back To Speed, Protect Workforce
The Washington Post examines the new look of workplaces at Tysons Foods, Smithfield Foods and JBS and finds that despite efforts to protect workers, the numbers of people becoming infected has soared from 1,600 to more than 7,000. News on the industry looks at the expected revenue loss of hog farmers and the toll on the immigrant workforce, as well.
For many children, the pandemic has confined them to their homes, the most dangerous place they can be and with people who are likely to abuse them. That’s why the drop in the number of cases in NYC by 51% from the same time last year is keeping child welfare advocates awake at night. Public health news is on new friends for seniors, risks facing older employees, front-line help from 3-D print hobbyists, challenges of pregnancy, confronting cancer, intellectually challenged patients, navigating elevators and the stress-load on postal workers, as well.
More Than 60% Of Sailors On Aircraft Carrier Had Antibodies In Latest Sign Of Widespread Infections
The joint Navy and CDC study will be the first major study of how a young adult population reacts to exposure to the virus, but other serological studies have hinted that the number of people who have been infected with COVID-19 is far greater than the confirmed case count. Meanwhile, WHO says it is rare for asymptomatic carriers to transmit the virus, but other experts quickly expressed doubts about those findings.
‘Everyone Is Confused’: Federal Aid Getting Caught Up In Red Tape If It Even Gets To States At All
Congress sent more than $150 billion in aid to states and cities two months ago, but many of the areas that need help the most have found they either don’t qualify or can’t get money. “I haven’t got any money to fight the pandemic. My fight of the pandemic is go in your house and stay there,” says Phil Stang, the volunteer mayor of Kimmswick, Missouri. Meanwhile, lawmakers say another relief package might not be coming until late July.
Only 0.5% Of Money Allocated By Congress To Pay For Testing For Uninsured Has Been Approved
The Health Resources and Services Administration has only approved $10.8 million in testing claims as of June 2. The numbers reflect a larger distribution problem with federally allocated money that’s meant to be going to the health system. In other news: FDA approves a saliva test, Japan tries a novel approach, and Rhode Island will test people without symptoms.
Media outlets report on news from District of Columbia, Maryland, Tennessee, Washington, Georgia, Colorado, South Dakota, Maine, Rhode Island, Texas and Missouri.
“The fears over surveillance could ultimately lead to a decrease in testing at precisely the time that we want people to trust public health authorities and go and get tested,” said Jennifer Daskal, an American University faculty director of tech programs. News on contact tracing is from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Texas and North Carolina, as well.
Grieving Families Want Answers From Nursing Homes, But Immunity Laws Might Mean They Won’t Get Them
Emergency orders passed in about 20 states protect nursing homes from lawsuits stemming from the pandemic. But grieving families and advocates cry foul. “Even with a history of these nursing homes having problems, why was immunity put in place?” Brenda Anagnos tells The Washington Post. “I’m not looking for money. I’m looking for somebody to be held accountable.” Other nursing home news focuses on residents’ relief payments and testing staff members.
WHO Warns Nations Not To ‘Take Foot Off The Pedal’ As Coronavirus Cases Spike To Highest Daily Level
Global pandemic developments are reported out of Brazil, China, Guatemala, Mexico, India, Pakistan, South Africa, England, France, Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Germany, Spain, Italy, Cuba and other countries.
Stat takes a deep dive into how Tennessee pharmacists had to make tough decisions–and sometimes road trips–to distribute their scarce supply of remdesivir. The shortages and murky federal calculus that determined the amount of the drug that went to different areas created a deeper divide between the haves and have-nots within the health system. In other pharmaceutical news: mergers, compounding pharmacies, media relations and antibody therapies.
‘We’re Back’: On A Warm Summer Day, New York City Finally Reopens
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) emphasized that the reopening wasn’t “reckless” and that the numbers justify the city doing it safely. New Yorkers ventured out in masks, some for the first time in months. New York City accounts for roughly 1 in 5 of the more than 111,000 coronavirus deaths nationwide.
Studies Suggest Severe Lockdown Measures Likely Saved Millions Of Lives
“The last several months have been extraordinarily difficult, but through our individual sacrifices, people everywhere have each contributed to one of humanity’s greatest collective achievements,” said Solomon Hsiang, a professor and director of the Global Policy Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley who co-led one of the studies. The researchers warn about lifting restrictions too soon.
Americans Show Little Appetite For An Overhaul Of Health System Despite Pandemic, Job Losses
The pandemic combined with millions of job losses–and presumably the health care coverage that went along with them–did little to change Americans’ views on the health system. The poll results bewilder some experts while others say it may be because Americans only have so much bandwidth at the moment. Other health industry news focuses on premiums, Medicaid rolls and providers.
Hospitals Were Caught Flat-Footed By Pandemic. Now They’re Making Changes To Better Prepare.
From changing their intake procedures to utilizing robots, hospitals are re-thinking the way they operate after learning some hard lessons in the pandemic. Other hospital news focuses on federal aid distribution and painkiller shortages.
As States Reopen, Cases Surge In Places That Were Once Cold Spots
A handful of states record-high numbers even as many metro areas that were once hot spots are reporting declines. Some experts are concerned, but state leaders downplay fears, saying that the numbers are due to more people getting tested. As of Tuesday, over 111,000 people in the United States have died of COVID-19, and a new model forecasts that the death toll will climb to 145,000 by August.
The recent wave of protests against police brutality have caused federal, state and local leaders to re-examine the roll of police. While advocates are calling on lawmakers to defund police departments, Democrats in Congress are taking a more modest approach. Meanwhile, cities are trying to limit the use of force–such as chokeholds–despite the fact that fatal incidents have still occurred in areas that have passed similar measures.
Pandemic, Protests Shine Light On Deep Health Disparities And Racism Baked Into Medical System
During the pandemic, black Americans have been dying at about 2.4 times the rate of white Americans. But that’s just a snapshot of deep-rooted health disparities in the country. Not only are black Americans at a greater risk of certain diseases, they also face racism in the medical system that can lead to poorer outcomes. Meanwhile, health officials are still worried that the protests will lead to another surge in COVID-19 cases.
