KFF Health News Weekly Edition: June 28, 2024

It’s Called an Urgent Care Emergency Center — But Which Is It?
By Renuka Rayasam Suffering stomach pain, a Dallas man visited his local urgent care clinic — or so he thought, until he got a bill 10 times what he’d expected.

$2 Million Disbursed to Victims and Community Groups in Wake of Super Bowl Mass Shooting
By Peggy Lowe, KCUR and Bram Sable-Smith The United Way of Greater Kansas City gave $1.2 million to victims and $832,000 to 14 community groups Thursday, hoping to reach other victims from the violence at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade, as well as those working to prevent gun violence.

Republicans Are Downplaying Abortion, but It Keeps Coming Up
By Julie Rovner Torn between a base that wants more restrictions on reproductive health care and a moderate majority that does not, it seems many Republicans would rather take an off-ramp than a victory lap when it comes to abortion. But they can’t escape talking about it.

Supreme Court Upends Purdue Pharma Opioid Settlement
By Aneri Pattani The court struck down a $6 billion bankruptcy plan from Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin. What does this mean? We’ll explain.

Chorus or Cacophony? Cicada Song Hits Some Ears Harder Than Others
By Zach Dyer Cicadas are the song of the summer, but this year’s large broods may be especially irritating for people on the autism spectrum who have hearing sensitivity.

Rate of Young Women Getting Sterilized Doubled After ‘Roe’ Was Overturned
By Aaron Bolton, MTPR A recent study found that the rate of women 18 to 30 getting tubal ligations doubled in the 16 months following the Dobbs decision. The number of young men getting vasectomies also shot up, but men still get sterilized much less often than women.

Battleground Wisconsin: Voters Feel Nickel-and-Dimed by Health Care Costs
By Angela Hart In the swing state of Wisconsin, the cost and availability of health care have emerged as key issues. Voters there say prescriptions, procedures, and health insurance policies are too expensive, and must be addressed by the next president, whether Republican or Democrat.

US Judge Finds California in Contempt Over Prison Mental Health Staffing
By Don Thompson A federal judge has found top California officials in contempt for failing to hire enough mental health professionals to adequately treat tens of thousands of incarcerated people with serious mental disorders. The judge ordered the state to pay $112 million in fines.

California’s $25 Health Care Hourly Wage Relies on Federal Boost, State Worker Exemption
By Don Thompson California’s nation-leading $25 minimum wage for health workers relies on a significant boost in federal funding. It also leaves out thousands of state employees under an agreement that is expected to win approval from state lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom in the coming days.

Closing of Rural Hospitals Leaves Towns With Unhealthy Real Estate
By Taylor Sisk Dozens of small cities and towns across the United States struggle not just with health care access and the loss of jobs, but also with the burden of what to do with big, empty buildings.

Los Angeles County Approves Medical Debt Relief for Residents
By Molly Castle Work The most populous county in the U.S. is buying up and retiring millions of dollars in residents’ medical debt as part of its plan to tackle a $2.9 billion burden. But some health experts worry the initiative could incentivize hospitals to pursue debtors rather than boost financial assistance to patients.

US Surgeon General Declares Gun Violence ‘a Public Health Crisis’
By Rachana Pradhan and Fred Clasen-Kelly Gun violence is the No. 1 cause of death for children and teens in America. Vivek Murthy says the toll extends beyond deaths, as survivors deal with “a lifetime of physical and mental health impacts” and those who witness shootings become traumatized.

Therapists Learn How To Help Farmers Cope With Stress Before It’s Too Late
By Tony Leys Many farmers have traditionally handled their own problems, whether it’s a busted tractor or debilitating anxiety. “With the older generation, it’s still, ‘Suck it up and get over it,’” says an Iowa mental health advocate and farmer.

Young Gay Latinos See Rising Share of New HIV Cases, Leading to Call for Targeted Funding
By Vanessa G. Sánchez and Devna Bose, The Associated Press and Phillip Reese Since being diagnosed with HIV in 2022, Fernando Hermida has had to move three times to access treatment. A KFF Health News-Associated Press analysis found gay and bisexual Latino men account for a fast-growing proportion of new diagnoses and infections, showing they are falling behind in the fight against HIV.

Medicaid for Millions in America Hinges on Deloitte-Run Systems Plagued by Errors
By Rachana Pradhan and Samantha Liss The technology has generated notices with errors, sent Medicaid paperwork to the wrong addresses, and been frozen for hours at a time, according to state audits, court documents, and interviews. While it can take months to fix problems, America’s poorest residents pay the price.

An Arm and a Leg: Meet the Middleman’s Middleman
By Dan Weissmann Why are patients facing bigger bills than they expect for out-of-network care? In this episode of “An Arm and a Leg,” the show explains the hidden mechanics of MultiPlan, a data firm that helps health insurers set these rates and make bigger returns.

Journalists Discuss Bird Flu, Tick-Borne Illnesses, and Lessons From Covid Response
KFF Health News and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media in recent weeks to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

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