Latest KFF Health News Stories
Media outlets report on news from New Jersey, Mississippi, Illinois, California, Nevada, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maine and New York.
COVID-19 Cases Rising In China, Brazil, Iran, Egypt
More global pandemic developments are reported out of New Zealand, Honduras, Japan, Mexico and other countries.
Public Health Officials Plead With Trump To Cancel Tulsa Rally; Judge Refuses To Block Event
Some public health experts are calling for President Donald Trump to at least consider moving the event outdoors. “It’s the perfect storm of potential over-the-top disease transmission,” said Bruce Dart, the executive director of the Tulsa health department. Trump’s team says there will be some basic safety measures–like temperature checks–implemented, but have not signaled a willingness to shift the venue. A judge knocked down an attempt from two Tulsa groups to cancel the rally.
The Deep Roots Behind Seemingly Sudden Rise Of ‘Defund The Police’
Politico looks at how the idea surged into mainstream conversations in what seems like the span of a few weeks. “We’re no longer asking for convictions or folks to be indicted. We’re asking for an actual narrative shift, a seismic shift in the systems of police,” said Oluchi Omeoga, an organizer and core team member with the Black Visions Collective. Cities and states across the country are examining ways to reform police to cut down on fatal encounters, including a heavier reliance on social workers and deescalation training.
The “significant” results from the Oxford University research shows that dexamethasone reduces mortality in severely ill patients. Some scientists remain cautious though, wanting to see the actual data. “We’ve been burned before,” Dr. Kathryn Hibbert, director of the medical intensive care unit at Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital, tells Reuters.
Editorial pages focus on these pandemic issues and others.
Perspectives: As COVID Therapies Begin To Emerge, We Need To Be Setting Pricing Models Right Now
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
‘Literally A Life And Death Election’: Planned Parenthood Backs Biden For President
The reproductive-services provider says the Democrat’s race against President Donald Trump is a “fight for our country’s very survival.”
Appellate Judges Rule HHS Doesn’t Have Authority To Require Prices In TV Ads For Drugs
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical development and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
More Businesses Require Workers, Visitors To Sign Away Right To Sue If They Get Sick
At least five states so far have such limits, which are similar to what President Donald Trump’s campaign is requiring of Tulsa rally attendees. News is also on inadequate protection for the essential workforce in the Bronx, as well.
Media outlets report on news from Massachusetts, California, Maine, Nevada, Ohio, Georgia and New Jersey.
The San Francisco LGBT Center’s Naomi Wright says: “Not only could they not afford going to the hospital, but they didn’t have health insurance.” Other public health news stories report on understanding when to visit a physician, the dangers of lost playing time for children and prioritizing cancer trials ahead of COVID, as well.
Global pandemic developments are also reported out of Brazil, Russia, India, Germany, Greece and other nations.
Coronavirus Testing Costs Provide Perfect Example Of Flaws Baked Into America’s Health System
The government doesn’t regulate health care prices, and so they vary wildly. That has rarely been as clear to see as in the prices that labs are charging insurers for coronavirus tests.
Number Of Medicaid Enrollees Jumps; Help May Be On Way For ‘Dual-Eligibles’
State officials say their budgets may not be able to handle the number of people enrolling in Medicaid after losing their jobs and health benefits. Meanwhile, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission urges Congress to loosen enrollment restrictions for people who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.
As Coronavirus Soars In Prisons, Use Of Solitary Confinement Grows
While the national infection rate flattens, the number of inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19 has doubled, and some prisons are increasing their use of solitary confinement to stem the tide. Meanwhile, the federal government announced Monday it will end its nearly two-decade hiatus on executions. In other prison news: accusations of staff brutality against disabled inmates in California; New Orleans stops work on jail expansion; nonprofits helping inmates in Detroit jails; and how one California man’s psychiatric crisis led to his death.
Wear A Mask Or Get Banned From Flying, Airlines Warn
U.S. airlines are threatening to put passengers on the no-fly list if they continue to ignore mask requirements. In other news: How to shop for a cloth face mask and how it can help your respiratory health; and how business travel is changing amid the coronavirus outbreak.
“The administration should release the names of all P.P.P. borrowers — as the S.B.A. routinely does for similar loan programs,” the lawmakers demanded after inspectors general warned Congress that previously unknown Trump administration legal decisions could substantially block their ability to oversee more than $1 trillion in spending related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Working Conditions Have Improved, But Health Workers Struggle With Psychological Toll
In other health care news: Medical schools face backlash over racism and hazing; hospital unions gain strength; hospice nurses step up; and American Girl dolls get a new scrubs outfit.
The FDA approved the use of the smartwatch as a replacement for an in-clinic ECG during the coronavirus pandemic after Apple upgraded the app. In other health IT news: Robotics and AI may help improve safety; digital monitoring; COVID-19 conspiracies spread online; fighting bots and disinformation; and more.
