Latest KFF Health News Stories
With Citizenship Ceremonies On Hold, Hundreds Of Thousands Might Not Be Able To Vote In November
The Citizenship and Immigration Services usually administers the oath of citizenship to an average of about 63,000 applicants per month. Critics of the Trump administration say there has been no detectable urgency to get citizenship processing back on track in time for state voter registration deadlines this fall. Election news also focuses on mail-in-voting and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s pandemic strategy.
House Democrats Vote By Proxy In Unprecedented Move That GOP Blasts As ‘Dereliction Of Duty’
The House returned to Washington, D.C. for an abbreviated two-day session, but not all lawmakers were traditionally “present.” Democrats say they are trying to strike a balance between keeping their colleagues safe and doing their duty. But Republicans are suing over the practice, deeming it unconstitutional. In other news from Capitol Hill: the White House wants a “surprise billing” fix in next relief bill; Democrats defend Planned Parenthood’s small-business loans; congressional leaders express alarm over the deportation of migrant children; and more.
Virus Detectives Posit That Early Washington Cases Weren’t Cause Of West Coast’s Later Outbreak
As scientists dig further into the mutations of the virus in those early days of the outbreak, they are having to quickly revise theories as they go. The latest development is that the early cases in the country weren’t part of the contact chain that led to the outbreak on the West Coast because the mutations are different. In other scientific news: novel coronavirus unlikely to go away; a look at where herd immunity stands; the risk of contacting it from surfaces; the virus’ origin; and more.
Media outlets report on news from California, Texas, District of Columbia, New Mexico, Nevada, Michigan, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island.
Cuomo And Trump Talk New Yorker To New Yorker About Investing In State’s Economic Recovery
Although New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and President Donald Trump have had a contentious relationship at times throughout the pandemic, Cuomo says he had a good talk with the president about a massive investment in train lines, bridges and other building projects to help the state’s economy recover.
Spotty Data, Flawed Testing, Undercounted Deaths Create Misleading Picture Of Outbreak In States
Are states really ready to reopen? The reality can look a lot different than what the data says. In other news: experts bemoan a decision to halt wide-spread antibody testing in Seattle; officials nervously eye emerging hot spots; a second peak looms dangerously as states reopen; advocates call for more wastewater testing; and more.
During the pandemic, President Donald Trump has threatened to overrule governors, shut down Twitter and generally exercise authority the president doesn’t have. Trump was enraged after Twitter added fact check links to his tweets about mail-in-voting, and officials say he’s preparing an executive order intended to curtail the legal protections that shield social media companies from liability for what gets posted on their platforms.
Republicans Push Back On Trump’s Mask Rhetoric: ‘Wearing A Face Covering Is Not About Politics’
Some prominent Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), are trying to re-frame the messaging around mask wearing. President Donald Trump’s refusal to be seen wearing a mask has stoked political tensions over the practice. Meanwhile, The Washington Post fact checks Trump’s online alternate reality when it comes to the pandemic.
Veterans, Nurses, Holocaust Survivors, Friends, Loved Ones: U.S. Death Toll Surpasses 100,000
American reached a grim milestone on Wednesday as the official count of those dead climbed past 100,000. The sheer scope of loss is hard for many to comprehend but far surpasses most other disasters in the country’s history. Media outlets look at the lives behind those startling numbers.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health issues and others.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Research Roundup: Uninsured Mothers; COVID Disparities; Wellness Programs; And More
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Congress Created Emergency Program To Combat Child Hunger, But Only 15% Have Been Helped
Many children rely on schools to provide them at least one meal a day, but advocates and lawmakers are concerned that the problem of childhood hunger would only get worse during the lock down. But as of mid-May only 12 states sent eligible families money and only two had completed the process. Meanwhile, experts warn about a global hunger crisis on the horizon.
HHS Is Watching Out For Up-Coding From Providers During Crisis, Watchdog Promises
There’s growing talking point among conservative-leaning media alleging that providers have a financial incentive to mark a death as COVID-19, but a top HHS official knocked down those claims. In other news on costs: surprising medical bills and struggling hospitals.
Report: Key States Take Steps To Reach Out To Black Communities Hit With High Death Rates
Stateline contacted 16 states with higher percentages of black people to find out whether any states were taking concrete actions to stem COVID-19 cases and deaths in black communities. “The virus isn’t going after black people. It’s because of structural inequities that have led to poor health and greater exposure to the virus.” said Lisa Cooper, a professor of medicine and public health at Johns Hopkins University. Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, South Carolina and Virginia provided the greatest detail on how they are responding. Other news reports on the death of two black men in the District of Columbia.
The lawyer for the suspended superintendent Bennett Walk released emails showing he regularly updated them about the outbreak at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home and asked for help. News on nursing homes is from Nevada, as well.
Trump Touts New Insulin Price Cap But Experts Say The Tweak Is Modest And Helps Only Small Subset
President Donald Trump announced a policy change that would mean Medicare recipients who pick a drug plan offering the new insulin benefit would pay a maximum of $35 a month starting next year. The roll out, though, left drug pricing reform advocates disappointed and experts scratching their heads.
Opinion writers weigh in on these public health topics and others.
Critical Colorectal Cancer Screenings Drop By One-Third During Shelter-In-Place Orders
Screenings have shown to be key in curbing the disease, the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Also, nearly half of people polled said they’re delaying medical appoints and suffering from mental health problems.
Experts Say Emerging Data Is Clear: Masks Work And Course Of Pandemic Will Be Shaped By Their Use
“We now have really clear evidence that wearing masks works — it’s probably a 50% protection against transmission,” said Dr. Chris Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. But masks have become a hot-button political topic and a divide over compliance to rules is emerging. In other scientific news on the virus: recovery times, what we still don’t know, worrisome signs in critical cases, plasma therapy, and the origins of the outbreak.
