KHN Weekly Edition: July 23, 2021
Contraception Is Free to Women, Except When It’s Not
Michelle Andrews
The landmark federal health law required most commercial health plans to cover a comprehensive list of birth control methods approved by the Food and Drug Administration free of charge to female patients. But health plans don’t have to cover every option, and newer methods are not included in the federal list of covered services.
Facing Headwinds on New Alzheimer’s Drug, Biogen Launches Controversial Campaign
Julie Appleby
The makers of Aduhelm, a drug approved last month despite concerns raised by experts about its effectiveness, have launched a website and ads designed to urge people who are worried about their memory to ask doctors about testing. But some health advocates say it is misleading because some memory loss with aging is normal.
After 18 Months, Sutter Antitrust Settlement Finally Poised for Formal Approval
Jenny Gold
A year and a half after Sutter Health agreed to a tentative settlement in a closely watched antitrust case, the San Francisco judge presiding over the case indicated she would sign off on the terms, pending agreement on another contentious issue: attorney fees.
A Chilling Cure: Facing Killer Heat, ERs Use Body Bags to Save Lives
JoNel Aleccia
Doctors in Washington state used human body bags filled with ice and water to rapidly cool the sickest patients affected by record heat last month.
Wildfire Smoke Drives People in Low-Vaccinated Areas Indoors, Raising Outbreak Fears
Aaron Bolton, MTPR
Unvaccinated Westerners are flocking to movie theaters, malls and other indoor spaces to beat the smoke and heat. Health officials worry that may fuel covid outbreaks.
Big Leagues Balk at Endorsing Vaccination
Mark Kreidler
The major sports leagues are struggling to vaccinate enough of their players to protect the clubhouse and locker room, and few stars have stepped forward to pitch vaccination to teammates or fans. WNBA players are an exception, with a 99% vaccination rate and high-profile ads urging the public to get vaccinated.
Though Millions Are at Risk for Diabetes, Medicare Struggles to Expand Prevention Program
Harris Meyer
Medicare has proposed revamping its payment rules to get more people into a diabetes prevention plan that helps them eat better, exercise more and maintain a healthier lifestyle. Out of an estimated 16 million Medicare beneficiaries whose excess weight and other risk factors make them eligible, only 3,600 have participated since 2018.
Analysis: Necessary or Not, Covid Booster Shots Are Probably on the Horizon
Elisabeth Rosenthal
In today’s pharmaceutical universe, a simple “safe and effective” determination by the Food and Drug Administration to approve a drug can be manipulated to sell products of questionable value. And drugmakers can profit handsomely.
The Delta Variant Thrives in a State of Political and Public Health Discord
Lauren Weber
At the center of the nation’s delta variant outbreak, public health efforts are mired in a political turf war.
California Makes It Easier for Low-Income Residents to Get and Keep Free Health Coverage
Rachel Bluth
State lawmakers aim to expand Medicaid enrollment by dedicating billions of dollars in coming years to simplifying paperwork, extending pregnancy coverage and opening the program to thousands of new enrollees, including older unauthorized immigrants and people who need nursing home care.
With a Diagnosis at Last, Black Women with ADHD Start Healing
Claire Sibonney
Black women and girls with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder often remain undiagnosed because their symptoms are mischaracterized by the blinders of sexism and racism. Getting treatment and finding the right medication can be even more difficult because they aren’t taken seriously or, worse, they’re racially profiled while getting their medicines.
Sen. Wyden: $3.5T Budget May Have to Trim but It Can Set a Path to ‘Ambitious Goals’
Michael McAuliff
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who is helping to negotiate the health care spending framework for the Democrats' budget plan, said lawmakers may have to settle for very basic versions of programs deployed in the package. But the key, he added, is to get the "architecture of these changes, bold changes," started and show people what is possible.
Biden’s July Executive Order Includes Drug Pricing Provisions. But Will They Do Enough?
Victoria Knight
The July 9 directive addresses the importation of prescription drugs and broader efforts to reduce the high cost of medicines.
Grab Your Mask and Notepad, We’re Headed Back to California’s State Capitol
Rachel Bluth
After being mostly closed to the public and the press for more than a year, California’s state Capitol is open again — masks, temperature checks, covid outbreaks and all.
Novavax’s Effort to Vaccinate the World, From Zero to Not Quite Warp Speed
Sarah Jane Tribble and Rachana Pradhan
Novavax is a vaccine company that, despite $2 billion in new federal and international funding, still hasn't come through with a licensed covid vaccine. It hopes it can still help to fight the global covid scourge, but will it deliver?
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Delta Changes the Covid Conversation
With covid cases on the upswing again around the country, partisan division remains over how to address the pandemic. Meanwhile, the Biden administration proposes bigger penalties for hospitals that fail to make their prices public as required. Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Tami Luhby of CNN join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest their favorite stories of the week they think you should read, too.
Journalists’ Topics Range From Rural Pharmacy Deserts to Opioid Overdoses
KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Readers and Tweeters Connect the Dots on Topics From Vaccine Development to Long Covid
Kaiser Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.