Latest KFF Health News Stories
Bad Flu Season Still Claiming Lives, CDC Reports, But It Is Tapering Off As Coronavirus Continues
There have been 30 to 40 million illnesses in the U.S. so far and about 20,000 deaths. The good news medical experts say is the vaccine this year was very effective. More public health news is on women’s brain health, obesity, mental health, and the marketing of aspirin.
Easing Access To Health Records: New Guidelines Finalize Digital Standards
HHS Secretary Alex Azar says that the new federal rule would give patients more control to pull data such as medications, lab test results and vital signs including blood pressure. But the changes are likely to sharpen a debate over privacy.
The coronavirus could shape the 2020 elections in more ways than one. For now, the candidates have been keeping up with their schedule–with extra doses of hand sanitizer–but that could change in the coming weeks and months.
Coronavirus Revives Push For Sick Leave Legislation That’s Been Stalled In Congress Since 2004
The outbreak may give congressmen the political capital to get a sick leave bill through. Under the bill, employers would be responsible for paying for the sick time; there would be no tax increase. Meanwhile, the SEC has become the first federal agency to direct employees to work from home.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
One of initiative’s first goals will be to test antiviral drugs that have already gone through preclinical development or have already been tested in humans.
Cruise Ship Allowed To Dock, But It’s Anything But Smooth Sailing As Locals Voice Resentment, Fear
“Everyone is mad and scared,” said perfume vendor Setareh Eb in Texas, one of the states accepting passengers from the cruise ship that’s been held off the coast of California. Residents of Oakland, California, voiced similar concerns even as the passengers themselves celebrated.
Experts say it’s too early to get an accurate sense of what’s happening with coronavirus fatalities, but a study of 116 deaths found that 114 patients had some kind of underlying medical condition. Meanwhile, another study looks at how infectious people are once they’ve contracted the virus. And in other news: “patient zero,” misinformation, the most vulnerable populations, and more.
From California To Virginia, More States Confirm Coronavirus Cases As U.S. Total Surpasses 700
As of Tuesday morning, at least 729 people in 36 states and Washington, D.C. have tested positive for coronavirus.
“What we don’t need in this situation are companies preying on consumers by promoting products with fraudulent prevention and treatment claims,” said Joe Simons, the FTC chairman. The agencies sent warnings to 7 companies about their products.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has made his “Medicare for All” a lynchpin of his campaign. But there isn’t much support for it from the lawmakers whose help he would need to get is passed. Meanwhile, The New York Times looks at what it took other countries to get to universal health care, and the history isn’t pretty. Meanwhile House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) plans to unveil legislation to address high health costs in order to offer coverage for vulnerable moderate Dems.
Editorial pages focus on issues surrounding the spread of coronavirus.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health care issues and others.
Media outlets report on news from Oklahoma, Washington, Michigan, Maine Texas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Kansas, and California.
China has a unique kind of control over its residents, taking authoritarian actions that seem to be having success against the outbreak. But in countries where the government has less power, will the measures work?
In an effort to fight the coronavirus, Medicare is expanding its telemedicine options for seniors. But the outbreak could pave the way for broader acceptance of technology within the program.
When people have yet to meet their deductibles, the cost of getting tested during an epidemic could be discouraging. In other economic news linked to the coronavirus: how to keep calm when markets tumble; lost benefits for sick workers; the ripple effect of the outbreak; and more.
While WHO placed the coronavirus fatality rate at 3.4%, many experts think it’s much lower, closer to 1%. The problem is that it’s hard to get an accurate tally, especially with a virus like COVID-19 where many patients present with just a mild cough. In other news: a look at how the most severe cases in China were treated; the perils of touching your face; comparisons to the 1918 flu pandemic; and more.
Worry Mounts For Health Workers On The Front Line As Outbreak Spreads
“It’s just not sustainable to think that every time a health care worker is exposed they have to be quarantined for 14 days. We’d run out of health care workers,” said Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. But many are worried that the very people who will be working round-the-clock to help coronavirus patients are among the most vulnerable population for becoming infected. Experts are also worried about airport screeners.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) said they are taking the precautions after crossing paths with the patient at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Some were worried that President Donald Trump, who attended the event, may have been exposed to the virus.
