Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Co. On The Right Track, But Needs More Work
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
US, World Bank Give Ukraine $1.7B To Pay Health Workers
Funds come from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Treasury Department, and the World Bank and are to support the complex and stressed health system in the country during the invasion. USA Today reports that telehealth assistance is also coming from U.S. doctors.
Opioid Makers Teva, Allergan To Pay San Francisco $54 Million Settlement
As part of the settlement, about $34 million in cash will be handed to the city, plus $20 million worth of Narcan, which can treat overdoses in emergency situations. In New Mexico, AP reports that doctors are pressing legislators to permit use of psychedelic mushrooms for mental health therapies.
WHO Releases Recent Data On AMR Vaccines; Theophylline Testing To Restore Smell After Covid
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
New York Gets New Monkeypox Vaccine Provider After Botched Launch
Politico reports Affiliated Physicians will take over the administration of New York’s monkeypox shot program after errors were made in scheduling appointments. In San Fransisco, the LGBTQ+ community and a city supervisor are leading calls for greater federal efforts to distribute vaccines to the city.
20 Million US Patients Have Had Data Exposed In Hacks Already This Year
It’s only halfway through the year, but the 338 data breach reports listed by the Health and Human Services Department’s Office for Civil Rights is the second-highest ever for the first half of a year. Also: L.A.’s minimum health worker wage, the high cost of the nursing shortage and more.
Doctors Successfully Transplant Pig Hearts Into Two Newly Dead Patients
“In the recently deceased, the focus is on learning, studying, measuring and trying to really unravel what is going on in this brand new, incredible technology,” said Dr. Robert Montgomery, a transplant surgeon at NYU Langone, where the operations took place. In other science news: organ donations on death row, CRISPR, cancer vaccines, fighting dementia, and more.
Senate Confirms ATF Chief; Vote Seen As Step Toward Preventing Gun Deaths
The approval of President Joe Biden’s choice of Steve Dettelbach means he’s only the second director in the gun regulatory agency’s history to win Senate confirmation. Meanwhile, in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, signed a bill allowing gun violence victims to sue gunmakers.
Abortions Legal Again In Louisiana As Judge Grants Temporary Order
The yo-yoing legal position on abortions in Louisiana, with Tuesday’s restraining order blocking enforcement of state bans that were triggered just last month, is leaving abortion-seekers and providers “scrambling” to respond, says The New York Times. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania’s governor says he’ll protect out-of-state abortion seekers.
A Potential Game-Changer: Novavax Shot May Get FDA Authorization Today
The two-dose covid vaccine uses protein-based technology that has been used for decades. Health experts hope this will persuade people who are skeptical of mRNA technology to get the Novavax jab.
Justice Dept. To Challenge States To Prevent ‘Overreach’ On Abortion
The task force will monitor and evaluate state and local legislation and determine whether the federal government should bring legal action. Also, Democratic lawmakers schedule a series of hearings in Congress on the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision, which guaranteed a right to abortion.
‘Superbugs’ Surged, Killed More In Pandemic’s Early Days: Study
A new report shows a 15% surge in 2020 of deaths from bacteria resistant to antibiotics, as doctors tried to combat covid infections with medications at the start of the pandemic and thus allowed the bacteria to evolve. But other reports note hospital safety had been improving before covid.
Pointing To Covid Surge, White House Urges Americans To Get Boosted
The BA.5 subvariant of Omicron is responsible for about 65% of covid cases, officials say, and could push infections higher in coming weeks. They urged eligible people to get vaccine booster shots now and not to wait for potential updated boosters targeting Omicron subvariants.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers tackle covid, vaccines, drug overdoses, and mental health.
Opinion writers tackle abortion issues.
Anti-Trans Sports Bill Vetoed By Pennsylvania Governor
Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, said the bill would harm “marginalized youth” and chastised lawmakers, whom he said should be ashamed of pressing the bill. Also in Pennsylvania, nursing home trade associations reached a deal to boost staffing levels, after a 20% Medicaid payment boost.
Nov. 15 Is When We’ll Reach 8 Billion Humans Alive: UN
The prediction made by the United Nations also says that India will overtake China as the most populous nation in 2023. Meanwhile, in Florida, Big Olaf Creamery is now recalling products after it was linked to a multistate outbreak of listeria, where at least one person has died.
