Latest KFF Health News Stories
Health Systems, Patient Care Impacted By Rising Claim Denial Rates
Modern Healthcare draws attention to a “significant” rise in denied insurance claims over the past year, which has increased administrative work, reduced hospital cash flow, and delayed patient care. Separately, Axios reports on how medical inflation is affecting big employers.
‘Good Cholesterol’ May Have Less Health Benefit Than Believed: Study
A study finds that too little high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, cholesterol raises the risk of heart disease for white adults, but not for Black adults.
First Long Covid Clinical Trial Tests Paxlovid As Possible Treatment
Researchers at Stanford University are testing if the antiviral can help alleviate symptoms of long covid. A separate study finds changes in the brain of patients 6 months after recovery from a covid infection.
Doctor Testifies In Ind. AG’s Push To Get Abortion Patient Records
Dr. Caitlin Bernard is seeking an emergency injunction against Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, who wants medical records for her patients who received abortions, fueled by the high profile case of a 10-year-old Ohio girl who was raped. Bernard testified that publicity resulted in death threats against her.
How To Avoid 3 Unwelcome Guests And Stay Healthy On Thanksgiving
News outlets cover diverse advice to reduce the risk of catching covid, flu, or RSV during this socially busy week. Plus, guidelines for avoiding food-borne illness and why washing a turkey is not a good idea.
RSV, Flu Surges Swamp Hospitals And Schools; Why Are So Many Kids Sick?
News outlets explore the confluence of conditions — and, no, “immunity debt” is not one — that have created an unusually severe season of respiratory illnesses that are overwhelming hospitals and creating tensions in schools over kids showing up sick.
The infectious-disease expert who guided America through the pandemic is set to give what will likely be his final briefing from the White House.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Why Can’t We Pinpoint The Cause Of Obesity? Rural Health Care Is Struggling
Editorial writers discuss obesity, rural hospitals, and children’s health care.
Anti-Trans Rhetoric Preceded Shooting At Colorado LGBTQ+ Club
Media outlets report on a surge in anti-trans and other anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and laws over recent years, including in Colorado Springs — the site of a deadly shooting over the weekend. Lead poisoning in kids, mental health in Missouri, racial bias in hospital algorithms and more are in the news.
Listeria Outbreak Hits 2 States, Linked To Enoki Mushrooms
Two people were hospitalized in Michigan and Nevada. CIDRAP says sequencing shows that the patients’ samples are closely related and that they probably got sick from the same food. Separately, AP says schools are struggling to staff up to combat the youth mental health crisis.
What’s Next For Medicare’s ‘Hospital Care At Home’ Program?
The New York Times takes a look at the program, which is popular among participants but had stalled because Medicare wouldn’t pay for it. The program found new life in 2020 because of reimbursement waivers tied to the pandemic public health emergency.
New Diabetes Drug To Cost $13,850 Per Vial, More Than Some Estimates
The drug teplizumab was approved by the FDA on Thursday for use on patients with stage 2 Type 1 diabetes to delay the disease, but maker Provention Bio has priced it at a level above some analysts’ expectations. Treatments for osteoarthritis and more are also in the news.
Kaiser Permanente, Nurses Reach Agreement To Avert Strike
A tentative agreement centered on a new four-year contract with provisions for 22.5% pay raises and more staffing, averting a strike that Fierce Healthcare says would have been the largest private sector nursing strike in U.S. history. Also: UnitedHealthcare and AARP, Wisconsin school nurses and more.
Study Finds 1 In 4 Female Monkeypox Cases Not Linked To Sex
CIDRAP reports on what it says is the first global case study of monkeypox in female patients, which shows that as much as 25% of infections aren’t related to sexual activity. The CDC also sent a warning to providers over resistance to the Tpoxx treatment.
Pfizer’s Omicron Booster Better Against New Subvariants
News outlets cover data from Pfizer that show that its omicron-specific booster is better at tackling emerging covid subvariants than older shots are. Separately, the company’s CEO Albert Bourla maintained that covid shots will remain “free” in the U.S. despite indirect costs.
Unwelcome Guest For Turkey Day: Flu Hits High Levels In 30 States
Meanwhile, as RSV makes the rounds, health experts warn it’s possible to get repeat infections, although a second infection is unlikely to occur immediately after a recent episode, Fox News reported.
Lawmakers Criticize VA’s Electronic Health Records System After 2 Deaths
In a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Reps. Mike Bost, R-Ill., Mike Carey, R-Ohio, and Troy Balderson, R-Ohio, wrote that they had “grave concerns” about the rollout of Oracle Cerner EHR.
Lawsuit Challenges FDA Approval Of Abortion Medication
The Alliance for Defending Freedom, which was involved with the landmark Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, has asked a federal judge in Texas to overturn FDA approval of abortion medications up to the 10th week of pregnancy.
Senators Looking Into Allegation Of 2014 Supreme Court Leak
According to a New York Times story, an anti-abortion minister told Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts that he received advanced notice of a 2014 case related to contraception and religious rights. The news comes as part of the investigation into last spring’s bombshell leak of the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. Justice Samuel Alito denies that he or his wife were involved in the alleged older leak.
