Latest KFF Health News Stories
Judge Strikes Down Georgia’s Stricter Abortion Law
The judicial order to cease enforcement of Georgia’s 6-week abortion ban takes immediate effect. The state’s attorney general office is appealing the decision.
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
RSV Pressures On Michigan Hospitals Lead To Calls For Bailout Aid
Crain’s Detroit Business reports on the pressures that Michigan Health and Hospital Association is under, including financial ones and the rising burden of kids with RSV. Meanwhile, in California a child aged under five has died of a combined flu and RSV infection.
Walmart Agrees To Pay $3.1 Billion To Settle Opioid Lawsuits
The retail giant reiterated that it “strongly disputes” allegations that its pharmacies improperly filled prescriptions for the painkillers and did not admit liability with the settlement plan. Other pharmaceutical news is on drug imports from Canada, a new treatment for advanced ovarian cancer, how a fake tweet sparked a panic at Eli Lilly, and more.
Electronic Messages To Cleveland Clinic Providers Could Prompt $50 Bills
Patients’ insurance companies might soon be billed for messages that take five minutes or more to answer. Separately, staffing shortage news is from Indiana and Texas.
Covid Is Sending More Infants Under 6 Months Old To Hospital
The situation prompted CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky to urge mothers to get vaccinated in order to protect youngsters not yet eligible for shots. Separately, a study shows rapid home tests aren’t very sensitive to omicron covid.
Study: Moderna’s Bivalent Shot Offers Strong Protection Against Variants
The findings did not clarify whether the updated shot offers better protection than its original jab. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden repeated his vow Monday that Americans will need to get only one covid booster shot each year.
Democrats Likely Won’t Have Enough Votes To Codify Abortion, Biden Admits
The Democratic Party doesn’t appear to have gained enough ground in the House of Representatives to ensure passage of a national right to abortion, the president said Monday.
CDC, Army Remove From Apps Russian Code Cloaked As American
Reuters found that tech company Pushwoosh is Russian, though it presents itself as based in the U.S. Its computer code is used in thousands of apps, including 7 by the CDC. The health agency says that code has been removed over the security concerns.
Longer Lifespans Drive Global Population To 8 Billion
Over the last 12 years, the tally jumped from 7 billion to 8 billion, the United Nations announced. This “milestone in human development” is attributed to improved access to health care, food, and more sanitary living conditions, though dropping birth rates are expected to slow the future pace.
Life May Seem Normal, But Our Mental Health Might Have Missed The Memo
Some people never quite shook off the anxiety and blues that spiked during the height of the pandemic. Doctors say covid depression is real and shouldn’t be ignored as the pandemic drags on and people return to their new version of normal.
Small And Premature Babies Benefit From Skin-To-Skin Contact: WHO
New guidelines from the World Health Organization point to benefits of skin contact with caregivers for low weight or early babies, rather than being immediately placed in an incubator — called “kangaroo mother care.” Also in the news, a link with artificial light during sleep and diabetes risk.
Viewpoints: Mental Health Apps Have A Data Dark Side; Evusheld Not Protecting Against New Variants
Editorial writers tackle these public health topics.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers tackle these public health topics.
Different Takes: Will We Ever Know How Covid Originated?; Some New Covid Variants Appear More Mild
Opinion writers weigh in on covid and alzheimers.
California Sues 18 Companies Over ‘Staggering’ Chemical Water Pollutants
California Attorney General Rob Bonta says the manufacturers, including DuPont and 3M, should be held liable for “hundreds of millions of dollars” in penalties and cleanup costs across the state of “forever chemicals.” Other state health news comes from Ohio, Texas, North Carolina, and elsewhere.
Scientists Find Mutation Clues To Monkeypox Outbreak
Separately, CIDRAP reports on CDC data showing that Black and Hispanic men who have sex with men are the most affected by the monkeypox outbreak. In other news, teen weight loss surgeries, toxic wildfire smoke, lack of long-term care plans for Americans with disabilities, and more.
HHS Releases Policy Ensuring Abortion Access For Migrant Youth
Under a new policy, the Biden administration says that unaccompanied pregnant minors can be transported or reassigned to shelters in states where abortion is legal.
