KFF Health News Weekly Edition: Nov. 9, 2023

What the Health? From KFF Health News: A Very Good Night for Abortion Rights Backers
Abortion rights backers won major victories in at least five states in the 2023 off-year elections Nov. 7, proving the staying power of abortion as a political issue in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health finally has a new director, after Democrats temporarily blocked President Joe Biden’s nominee over a mostly unrelated fight about prescription drug prices. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Julie Appleby, who reported and wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature.

Ohio Voted on Abortion. Next Year, 11 More States Might, Too.
By Bram Sable-Smith Ohio is the latest state where voters have directly weighed in on abortion, and the next wave of such ballot measures is in the works in at least 11 other states, including Missouri.

Another GOP Primary Debate … Another Night of Verbal Clashes
By KFF Health News and PolitiFact staffs In a faceoff that took some strange turns, five presidential hopefuls focused on foreign affairs and inflation but still revealed the party’s political struggles over its abortion position. Once again, former President Donald Trump did not appear on the debate stage.

Gubernatorial Candidates Tout Opioid Settlements
By Aneri Pattani Tuesday’s election served as a testing ground for themes that could resonate with voters in 2024. Abortion is obviously among the biggest. One that’s not getting as much attention as it deserves: opioid settlement money. In Kentucky, both the newly reelected Democratic governor, Andy Beshear, and his Republican challenger, Attorney General Daniel Cameron, were involved […]

An Arm and a Leg: ‘Your Money or Your Life’: This Doctor Wrote the Book on Medical Debt
By Dan Weissmann What happens when you can’t afford the health care you need? On this episode of “An Arm and a Leg,” hear from emergency medicine physician and historian Luke Messac about the history of medical debt collection in the United States.

Underdiagnosed and Undertreated, Young Black Males With ADHD Get Left Behind
By Claire Sibonney A recent study found that young Black males are substantially more likely to be underdiagnosed and undertreated for the neurological condition than white peers.

Iowa’s Governor Opposes Abortion — And Has Final Say on Whether Medicaid Pays for It
By Tony Leys The federal government requires state Medicaid programs to pay for abortions in limited circumstances, but Iowa hasn’t done so for years. No providers seek Medicaid payments, which require the approval of the governor, an anti-abortion Republican.

Children Who Survive Shootings Endure Huge Health Obstacles and Costs
By Liz Szabo A new study finds that young people who have been injured by firearms are more prone to psychiatric diagnoses and developing a substance use disorder than kids who have not been shot — and their families also suffer long-term ill effects.

A New RSV Shot Could Help Protect Babies This Winter — If They Can Get It in Time
By Amelia Templeton, Oregon Public Broadcasting Supply problems, a high price tag, and bureaucratic obstacles are slowing the distribution of a therapy that can protect infants from the respiratory syncytial virus. That will leave them unnecessarily at risk of hospitalization this winter, pediatricians fear.

US to Cover HIV Prevention Drugs for Older Americans to Stem Spread of the Virus
By Michael Scaturro The government has proposed that Medicare fully cover preexposure prophylaxis drugs that prevent HIV, a change that could help America catch up with nations in Europe and Africa that are on track to end new infections decades before the U.S. under its current approach.

As Transgender ‘Refugees’ Flock to New Mexico, Waitlists Grow
By Cecilia Nowell As many states have moved to restrict or ban gender-affirming care for trans people, a few states, including New Mexico, have codified protections. But those laws don’t always mean accessing care is simple or quick, as a surge in new patients in the state collides with limited doctors and clinics.

What I Learned From the World’s Last Smallpox Patient
By Céline Gounder Declaring victory over a disease can be easier than meeting survivors’ needs.

New California Law Offers Fresh Protection From Steep Ambulance Bills
By Bernard J. Wolfson The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, prohibits out-of-network ground ambulance operators from billing patients more than they would pay for in-network rides. It also caps how much the uninsured must pay.

Science Says Teens Need More Sleep. So Why Is It So Hard to Start School Later?
By Catherine Sweeney, WPLN Sleep deprivation in adolescents is linked to mental health struggles, worse grades, traffic accidents, and more. That’s why states such as California and Florida have mandated later high school start times. But opposition to later times is less about the science than it is about logistics and costs.

Epidemic: The Scars of Smallpox
The series finale of “Epidemic: Eradicating Smallpox” is a visit to the home of Rahima Banu, the last person with a documented case of naturally occurring variola major smallpox. When the virus was declared eradicated, she became a symbol of one of the greatest victories in global public health. What happened to Rahima Banu afterward?

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