Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Pharma Urged To Put Financial Considerations On The Back Burner In The Fight Against COVID-19
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical development and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Data show that black Americans are infected and dying in disproportionate numbers. But for a community that has been mistreated and exploited by the health system for centuries, it can be difficult to then turn to those very institutions for help. Advocates say directed communication is key to helping the vulnerable group.
Extremist Groups Tapping Into Anger Over Shutdown Measures As Protests Continue Across Country
Protesters are turning out in the streets to rally against governors’ stay-at-home measures, and state and local officials are trying to strike a balance of discouraging the gatherings while not inflaming concerns over civil liberties. More news is reported from Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Michigan and California.
Unemployment Funds Quickly Depleting As States Try To Deal With Historic Surge Of Applicants
Nearly half of U.S. states have logged double-digit percentage declines in their trust-fund balances since the end of February. Meanwhile, unemployment aid offered by Congress’s $2.2 trillion package creates a tough situation for some businesses whose employees are better off filing for benefits. And some citizens won’t be getting stimulus checks because their spouse is an immigrant.
Opinion writers express views about these pandemic issues and others.
Nursing Homes On Financial Edge Could Be Wiped Out By Coronavirus Crisis
Many nursing homes in the U.S. are fighting against two crises: the pandemic that is sickening and killing residents, as well as the possibility of bankruptcy. Other nursing home-related news is reported out of Michigan, California, Louisiana and Nevada.
Media outlets report on global news from Singapore, Russia, China, Iran, New Zealand, St. Maarteen, and Chile.
As Most Surgeries Are Put On Hold, Organ Transplants See Steep Drop In New York, Northeast
After the year started off with more than 200 transplants a month, only 23 have been performed in April. “My fear is that we will see an increase in deaths on the waitlist because of the lack of availability for an organ right now,” said the director of an organ-procurement service. Other public health news reports on another rise in anti-semitic sentiment, more home births, rising anxiety, tips on communicating with your 24/7 partner and pleas to remember dangers of climate change on Earth Day, as well.
Even as health-worker shortages undermine efforts to battle the pandemic, providers who aren’t dealing directly with the pandemic are getting swept up into the economic downturn in a way that’s rarely been seen before. Meanwhile, medical staffing companies cut pay for ER workers at the same time as they spent millions in political ads. And media outlets offer glimpses from the front lines as workers tell their stories.
Abortion, Guns, Church, Voting: Flattening The Curve Limits Inflame Cultural Agendas On The Right
The New York Times explores how the government’s stay-at-home order is creating a rising restlessness on the right. News on abortion is on an a Texas court’s decision to limit medication-induced abortions.
Media outlets report on news from New York, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
Midwest Governors Work To Keep Meatpacking Plants Open As Infections Spread In Close Quarters
Meat processing workers are particularly susceptible to the virus because they typically work shoulder-to-shoulder and congregate in crowded locker rooms and cafeterias. More news on the food industry reports on the spread of COVID-19 among farm workers and at packaged-food companies.
As hospitals and health systems direct their full attention to the pandemic, patients with cancer, chronic illnesses and other health conditions are put into limbo. And when it comes to fast-moving diseases, that delay can have dangerous consequences. Meanwhile, hospitals start considering how to restart non-emergency surgeries and care.
As information floods in about COVID-19, experts struggle with making sure the best, more accurate rises to the top. But in a time when what is “best” and “accurate” remains murky, how do scientists approach their role in disseminating research? In other science and innovation news: why fit patients still get hit hard with the illness; why coronavirus infects some but not others; a look at how the virus interacts with water as summer nears; a skin condition that could give hints about who has COVID-19; and more.
“We haven’t known the true extent of COVID-19 infections in our community because we have only tested people with symptoms and the availability of tests has been limited,” Neeraj Sood, a professor of public policy at USC and lead researcher on the study. The numbers back up what public health experts have been saying about the confirmed cases being only the tip of the iceberg.
Advocates Worry Disabled Voters Could Fall Through The Cracks In Mail-In-Voting Movement
While lawmakers and election officials across the country push for more mail-in-voting, advocates worry the special needs of certain groups aren’t being taken into account amid all the rush.
As Small Business Loans Distributed, Questions Are Raised About Which Companies Gets Help And Why
Big chains are getting millions of dollars ahead of small companies who are hurting from the closures. The uproar over the distribution was so great that Shake Shack actually announced it will return its loan.
Republicans and Democrats have agreed to allocate $25 billion for testing in the newest stimulus funding legislation. But Democrats want a national system put into place, while Republicans think the money should be given to the states. The deal is also set to include $75 billion in assistance for hospitals. Meanwhile, banks say the new $500 billion plan still won’t be enough to meet the demand from small businesses.
