Latest KFF Health News Stories
Active Shooter Bill Fails In House; Senate Votes Today On Gun Safety Bill
Meanwhile, as Congress argues over the details of how to make America a safer place to live, Rhode Island quietly and quickly raised the minimum age to buy rifles, shotguns and semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21 and also banned high-capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.
House Approves Creation Of Health Innovation Agency
The bill to create the Advanced Research Projects Agency overwhelmingly passed the House in a 336-85 vote. But there is still a debate over organizational independence and whether ARPA-H should be a branch of NIH.
Senators Quash At-Work Breastfeeding Protection, Formula-Import Bills
The PUMP bill would have extended breastfeeding protections to at least 9 million people, The 19th reports, but was blocked by Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis. A separate measure which would have eased restrictions on importing baby formula also failed to pass by unanimous consent.
CDC Moves To Expand US Monkeypox Testing Capacity
The Biden administration will allow commercial labs to conduct monkeypox testing, as the case count exceeds 150 in the U.S. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization considers declaring the outbreak a “global health emergency.”
FDA To Bar Juul E-Cigarette Sales In US: Report
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Food and Drug Administration is preparing the marketing denial order following a review of vaping marketing to youths. Juul’s rivals Reynolds American and NJOY Holdings have been previously allowed to keep selling tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes in the U.S.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: Vitamins Are Mostly Useless; FDA’s Accelerated Approval Has Its Drawbacks
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Viewpoints: Youth Are Experiencing A Mental Health Emergency; Will Lowering Nicotine Reduce Smoking?
Editorial writers delve into these public health topics.
Opinion writers tackle abortion and other public health topics.
Biden Restores Limits On US Military’s Use Of Land Mines
Antipersonnel landmines present both an immediate explosive threat, causing many civilian casualties globally each year, but also have long-term effects on mental health, access to safe water and medical care, and more.
Florida Gets New Purple Alerts To Help Find Missing Adults With Disabilities
The new alert system will roll out July 1 and is designed to help with “location of missing adults suffering from mental, cognitive, intellectual or developmental disabilities”. Meanwhile, in California a controversial initiative to push homeless people toward mental health care is advancing.
Evidence Supports Safety Of Over-The-Counter Birth Control Pills
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Older People With Better Balance Tend To Live Longer: Study
New research says if older people can’t stand on one leg for 10 seconds then they have nearly double the risk of death over the next decade. In other fascinating research, a different study found that any exposure to light while sleeping is linked to higher risk of obesity, diabetes, and other illnesses.
Rhode Island Expands Stem Cell Therapy For Cancer Patients With New Approval
The state Health Services Council voted to allow patients from the Lifespan Cancer Institute at the Rhode Island Hospital to take part in an autologous stem-cell therapy program. Meanwhile, Reuters reports on ongoing, controversial investments into adult stem cell research directed at heart disease.
Health Systems Say Feds Should Step In To Fend Off Cyberattacks
Insurance experts say the many millions spent on fixing a cyberattack ultimately comes back to consumers in the form of higher premium payments. But one expert at the federal government’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said a “significant portion” of hospital intrusions aren’t even reported to the government.
Moderna’s CEO Says Its New Covid Variant Shot Ready To Ship In August
The only barrier to distribution, CEO Stephane Bancel told Reuters, is regulatory. Separately, a study showed that patients hospitalized due to an omicron covid infection avoided more severe outcomes if they had a fourth shot of vaccines. Also: Paxlovid and covid rebound, long covid in women, and more.
Prabhakar Tapped As Science Adviser; Health Innovation Is On Her Agenda
President Joe Biden has nominated Arati Prabhakar to run the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. She is a scientist with a Ph.D. in applied physics who, while at DARPA, was connected with early work on RNA vaccines. If confirmed by the Senate, she will be the first woman and person of color in the role, and her mandate will include a Biden-favorite push for Cancer Moonshot 2.0.
Louisiana Trigger Bill Criminalizes Abortions Even For Rape, Incest Cases
The bill was signed by Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, and will go into effect if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. In Iowa the attorney general pointed out that a 24-hour waiting period before abortions has not yet taken effect. And in Wisconsin, Republican lawmakers are reportedly planning to scuttle efforts to repeal the state’s dormant abortion ban.
As Covid Vaccines Roll Out To Littlest Kids, Many Parents ‘Wait And See’
While President Joe Biden and many doctors urge covid vaccinations for kids under 5, the pace is expected to be slower than older age groups since most shots will be given at pediatrician offices and because of safety hesitancy by some parents.
Senate Advances Gun Safety Bill After Deal Struck
Within hours of Senate negotiators releasing the draft legislation, it cleared an initial 64-34 vote. A weekend floor vote is being eyed.
