Latest KFF Health News Stories
Hundreds Of Young Migrants, Asylum Seekers Being Expelled In Divergence From Normal Policy
Border agencies say they have to restrict asylum claims and border crossings during the pandemic to prevent the virus’s spread, but advocates call that justification a pretext used to further President Donald Trump’s immigration goals. Meanwhile, the administration continues to take steps to crack down on most migration into the country during the outbreak.
Experts unravel the ways the Trump administration’s failures in the early days of the outbreak exacerbated the crisis. Meanwhile, The Washington Post fact checks Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) mostly false claim that the Obama administration didn’t leave behind a game plan. And more information emerges about the shelved CDC guidelines to help states reopen.
Stuck Mostly In White House, Trump Brings Governors To Him For Meetings Filled With Mutual Praise
President Donald Trump hasn’t been able to hit the road and hold rallies like he wants to, so he’s bringing governors to him. The meetings follow, a more-or-less boilerplate format that involves a lot of mutual praise and pictures.
The Abbott test that can deliver results in 15 minutes was touted as a game changer by top health officials, but a recent study — that has yet to be peer reviewed — calls into question its accuracy.
Trump Criticizes Fauci’s Warning Against Opening Schools Too Soon In Latest Public Disagreement
At a Senate hearing, Dr. Anthony Fauci struck a cautious tone when it came to reopening the schools in the fall. President Donald Trump said the answer surprised him, and that it wasn’t acceptable. While Fauci continues to be a major player in Trump’s response efforts, the two have been publicly at odds over the past few months about the best way forward.
Editorial pages focus on these pandemic topics and others.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Research Roundup: COVID-19, Medicaid Expansion, Antibiotics, And More
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Providers Balk At Trump Administration’s Continued Transparency Efforts
Medicare proposed a bump to inpatient hospital services payments, but there are also parts of the rule that aren’t sitting well with providers.
IRS Relaxes Normally Strict Rules To Allow Workers To Make Changes To Health Insurance Plans
But the policy change doesn’t require employers to offer these options; they must opt in if they want to give their employees added flexibility. In other insurance and cost news: hospital lobbyists seek higher COBRA subsidies from Congress, UnitedHealthcare to have bigger footprint in ACA marketplace, how Medicaid and ACA subsidies could help recently laid off workers, and more.
Opinion writers weigh in on these pandemic topics and others.
Wall Street Journal reporters visited the Wuhan market,where wild animals are sold and where COVID-19 may have originated, to interview workers who helped gather samples. They also talked with agencies about unfulfilled promises to investigate the market. Other news about China is on scientists discrediting conspiracy theories touted by Judy Mikovits and widespread testing becoming normal as its economy gets back on track, as well.
Flood Of New Genome Research Brings Long-Awaited Hope For Treatment Of Sickle Cell Disease
After receiving little attention for decades, more than two dozen studies using CRISPR genome editing are being presented this week on sickle cell, the most common inherited blood disorder, Stat reports. Other public heath news reports on remote heart monitoring, risks for pregnant mothers who smoke or drink, and a link between sugary drinks and cardiovascular disease.
Media outlets report on news from New York, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas.
Pandemic’s Wave Of Devastation Hits Latin American Cities Where Death Rates Are Spiking
News on the global outbreak is reported from Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Israel, Italy, France, Britain, Spain, Germany, Thailand, South Korea, New Zealand, Yemen and Japan.
Bolstering Resilience: Advocates Advise Getting Ahead Of Mental Health Crisis To Prevent Suicides
A report last week from two groups dedicated to mental health issues warned that the increase in “deaths of despair” from alcohol, drugs and suicide could increase by 75,000 as a result of COVID-19 unless a steps are taken now to address the looming problem. More public health news stories report on police investigation setbacks; kids exhibiting different symptoms; a new CDC alert about children; the need for more background checks for guns; long, difficult recoveries; racial inequities; surprising side effects; and more.
Pandemic Is ‘A Dream Come True’ For Conspiracy Theorists, Far-Right Extremists Looking To Recruit
Civil rights advocates have been warning for months that the coronavirus crisis could aid recruiting for the most extreme white-supremacist and neo-Nazi groups — those actively rooting for society’s collapse. “Honestly, it’s a dream come true for any and every hate group, snake oil salesman and everything in between,” Tijana Cvjetićanin, a fact-checker, tells Politico.
Reuters reports that even though United, Delta and American claim to have policies about wearing masks at check in and while onboard planes, the policy becomes more lenient once passengers are seated. News on the airline industry reports on layered safety measures including temperature checks and a COVID blood test on Emirates flights, as well.
Government Cancels $55.5M Deal With Company That Had No History Of Selling Masks
Panthera originally agreed to provide 10 million N95 masks to FEMA by May 1, but the contract was canceled on May 12 “on the grounds of nondelivery.” Amid surging demand and shortages, the federal government placed more than $110 million in mask orders at high prices with unproven vendors, The Wall Street Journal reported last month.
Trump’s Boasts About U.S. Versus South Korea Testing Lack Context With U.S. So Far Behind At Start
The United States is currently testing more people per capita than South Korea, but that’s because South Korea tested so many people to start with that it was able to rein in its outbreak. Meanwhile, the HHS testing czar Brett Giroir predicted that the U.S. would be able to test up to 50 million people per month by the fall.
