Latest KFF Health News Stories
Opioid Case Against Walmart Was Quashed By DOJ Officials Appointed By Trump: Report
During the height of the opioid epidemic, Walmart kept filling suspicious prescriptions despite protests from its own pharmacists. Justice Department prosecutors were prepared to file criminal indictments against the company, ProPublica found in its investigation. Walmart executives escalated concerns to political appointees at the agency though, who then ordered attorneys to stand down. In other news, PBS NewsHour reports on the difficulties of pain management in the coronavirus era.
Abortion Opponents Call On HHS Official To Cease All Operations Nationwide
The organizations argue eliminating the procedures will free up medical equipment and spaces and request emergency funds not be directed to providers. In Texas, abortion providers filed a lawsuit over a recently enacted ban on abortions.
Tragedy In Spain’s Nursing Homes Shocks Nation That Prides Itself On Taking Care Of Elderly
Spanish soldiers who were sent to disinfect nursing homes found people “completely abandoned, or even dead, in their beds.” The struggle to protect the elderly populations–which have the highest mortality rates from the virus–have been a common thread throughout all the countries hardest hit by the outbreak. In other global news: China’s propaganda machine, the economic freeze in Europe, military enforcement, and Vietnamese quarantine camps.
Nurseries are stocking up. Seeds are flying off shelves. YouTube is seeing an uptick in how to build raised beds. It’s reminiscent of gardens people started during World Wars I and II. Other shopping news is on worries about food restrictions, health risks for the Amazon delivery workers, big sales for packaged goods, threatening behaviors in stores, and soaring gun sales.
“I literally feel like a coward for running away from this,” said one health care worker who quit over lack of protective gear. “I either suck up that particular feeling and put it in my pocket or I put my family at risk.” Workers across the country, facing dire shortages of things like face masks, are turning to volunteers, social media and others to plead for resources. When that doesn’t work, some are putting their foot down about putting themselves and their families at risk.
It’s been about 3 months since the coronavirus came onto the scene. Stat looks at what scientists know about it and where there are still question marks. In other news: smoking found to increase risk, why the coronavirus is not like the flu, the life of a scientist during an epidemic, the threat to older Americans, and more.
Especially in the San Francisco area where many workers were isolated early at home, there’s a wellspring of ideas that range from making apps to low-cost ventilators. Other technology news is on new standards for video, governing by conference call, price gouging and stopping a misinformation campaign on Twitter, as well.
Shortages And Backlogs Continue To Plague States Trying To Ramp Up Testing
Although testing has increased considerably, many say it’s still not enough. Meanwhile, UnitedHealth is rolling out a self-administered test for patients to try to protect health workers on the front lines of the outbreak.
The drugmaker had applied for the status for its experimental drug remdesivir–and was it granted by the FDA–because the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is still under 200,000. The designation would have granted Gilead lucrative perks, including the ability to keep cheaper versions off the market for years. “Gilead must have been feeling the heat,”James Love, director of Knowledge Ecology International told NPR. “I think it’s embarrassing to take something that’s potentially the most widespread disease in the history of the pharmaceutical industry and claim it’s a rare disease.”
Blood Test To Identify Who Is Immune To Coronavirus Could Be Game Changer In War Against Outbreak
Not only could those people be the first wave back into restarting normal life in the country, antibodies in their blood could help other patients with the illness.
Governors In Florida, Hawaii, Alaska Make Rare Move To Put Up ‘Not Welcome’ Sign To Tourists
Historians said it was difficult to recall a time in modern American history when states imposed quarantine restrictions on residents of certain other states and critics of the decision say it might violate the Constitution. Media outlets report on news from Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, California, Texas, New Jersey, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Louisiana, Massachusetts and Georgia.
Public health experts are calling on the federal government to take responsibility for getting hospitals the necessary equipment. But in the meantime, desperate hospitals are trying to work with what they have. Meanwhile, there’s a heated and private debate among doctors on the front lines of the epidemic about a suggested do-not-resuscitate policy for all coronavirus patients.
Cuomo Finds Tentative Glimmers Of Hope In Slower NYC Infection, Hospitalization Rates
The good news is desperately need in New York City, which has become the epicenter of the outbreak. Hospital workers tell gruesome stories about their shifts in the emergency rooms and the Department of Homeland Security warns that morgues are nearing capacity.
Nearly 3.3 Million People Filed For Unemployment Benefits Last Week, Shattering Previous Records
Just three weeks ago, barely 200,000 people applied for jobless benefits, a historically low number. This is “widespread carnage,” said Jacob Robbins, an assistant economics professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “And it’s going to get worse.”
A 69-page National Security Council playbook on fighting pandemics laid out what to do on most fronts when trying to curb the spread of the disease. The playbook was designed “so there wasn’t piecemeal thinking when trying to fight the next public health battle,” said one former official who contributed to the playbook. Trump administration officials said the advice, which was curated in 2016, was dated. Meanwhile, ProPublica takes a deeper look at the Defense Production Act and what powers it gives the president.
President Donald Trump has said he wants to restart the economy and normal life in America by Easter, but not all of the businesses that shift might help want to lift social distancing practices. Meanwhile, eventually life will have to move forward, but is there a safe and responsible way for it to happen? Stat talks to experts about the possibilities.
United States Death Toll Climbs Past 1,000
There have been more than 68,000 reported cases, with New York as the epicenter of the outbreak. Meanwhile, a leading expert projects that the peak of the outbreak in the U.S. will hit three weeks from now.
Senate Approves $2T Stimulus Package With Checks To Some Americans, $100B In Grants For Hospitals
The deal is the product of a marathon of negotiations among Senate Republicans, Democrats and President Donald Trump’s team that nearly fell apart as Democrats insisted on stronger worker protections, more funds for hospitals and state governments, and tougher oversight over new loan programs intended to bail out distressed businesses. “A fight has arrived on our shores,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said. “We did not seek it. We did not want it. But now, we are going to win it.” The House is set to vote on Friday.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health care issues and others involving treatments for COVID-19.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
