Latest KFF Health News Stories
Backlash Grows Over Va. Official Who Says Racism Isn’t A Public Health Crisis
Black state lawmakers are “nothing short of outraged” after state health commissioner Colin Greene told The Washington Post that invoking racism alienates white people. Other state news is from Ohio, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Alaska, and Missouri.
Study: US Life Expectancy Up Slightly, But Not If You Are Native American
A study of U.S. life expectancy over the two decades before covid showed the only groups not to see a rise in life expectancy are Native Americans and Alaska Natives. Child hepatitis cases, a possible link between vitamin D deficiency and dementia, dangerous heat, and more are also reported.
Iowa Supreme Court To Rule On Waiting Periods For Abortions
An appeal from the state seeks to overturn a lower court’s decision blocking a 2020 law imposing a 24-hour waiting period. Other state abortion and Supreme Court news is also reported.
Roche Alzheimer’s Drug Fails Long-Running Trial
A study of the drug crenezumab showed it failed to prevent the advance of Alzheimer’s among a community in Colombia with a severe genetic risk of developing the disease. Other pharmaceutical news includes illegal drug rebate schemes, Walgreens and diversity in drug trials, and more.
Postpartum Health Care Coverage For Lower-Income Women Expands
The money for the expanded federal program, announced by Vice President Kamala Harris, comes from the $1.9 trillion stimulus fund. Employee costs for health insurance screening, Medicare data problems, a HHS health IT task force, and more are also in the health industry news.
Covid Shot Hesitancy Spills Over To Flu Vaccine Program: Study
Research reported in CIDRAP shows that worries over covid vaccines are negatively impacting the adult flu vaccination effort. Separate research shows covid hits children ages 5 and younger harder than influenza does.
CDC Updates Monkeypox Symptom Guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has detailed how the disease is presenting based on newly reported cases. The New York Post says the CDC has also released “bizarre” sex tips to try to reduce exposure risks. Meanwhile, more cases are reported across the states.
How Well Did Your State Handle Covid? Rankings List Best To Worst
Using criteria like vaccination and death rates as well as hospitalization stats, the Commonwealth Fund ranked Hawaii and Maine as the states that performed the best during the pandemic, while Oklahoma, Kentucky, Mississippi and Georgia were at the bottom of the list.
Study: Omicron’s Long Covid Risks Lesser Than Delta
New research indicates that the chance of developing long covid is lower with the omicron covid variant than it is with the delta variant. Meanwhile, hospitalizations are on the rise in some parts of the country.
Window Shutting On Deal For More Federal Covid Funds
Republicans accused the White House of providing “false” information about dwindling money, citing a big purchase of more vaccine. Biden administration officials say they’ve been transparent and were forced to repurpose that money from other initiatives because of the funding battle.
Sticking Points Stall Gun Talks, Cast Doubt On Deal
After hours of negotiations Thursday, Senate negotiators missed their target deadline with two major unresolved points: state funding to set up red flag laws and closing the so-called “boyfriend loophole.”
Senate Expands Veteran Benefits To Cover Toxic Exposure Sicknesses
Media outlets cover a major push to improve care of sick veterans with a new bill offering health care and tax-free benefits to veterans under certain circumstances, such as those exposed to toxic burn pits while deployed, or suffering a wider range of conditions from toxic substances like Agent Orange.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations. Note to readers: KHN’s First Edition will not be published Monday in honor of Juneteenth. Look for it again in your inbox Tuesday.
Viewpoints: Virtual Health Care Is The Future; How To Make Hospital Stays Safer For Patients
Editorial writers tackle these public health topics.
Opinion writers discuss therapuetic food, covid and reproductive health topics.
Europe’s 14th-Century Plague Origin Traced To Lake In Central Asia
Scientists have unraveled where the historic and devastating plague began: Near a lake in what is now Kyrgyzstan, countering earlier theories of a Chinese origin. Same-sex partnerships in Tokyo, marijuana in Thailand, and more are also global health news.
Research Roundup: Covid; Flu; Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
More People In Missouri Have Red Meat Allergy From Tick Bites
The origins of how tick bites lead to the allergy are still under investigation, but St. Louis Public Radio reports the syndrome is rising in Missouri. Also in state news: A Missouri mental health bill, Maine State Police behavioral health teams, mental health training for New Hampshire camp counselors, more.
Anthem Brings Back Wellpoint Brand In Makeover
The U.S.’s second largest insurer Anthem will rebrand as Elevance Health, and some of its plans will become “Wellpoint” branded, which was the whole company’s name before 2014. Separately, two New Jersey hospitals have called off their planned merger after an FTC challenge.
Positive For Covid, Fauci Has ‘Mild’ Symptoms
Almost inevitably, covid’s influence has touched the White House’s chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci, 81. He’s fully vaccinated and double-boosted. Axios reports new omicron variants are “gaining ground” and evading protections, and NBC News notes reinfections are “here to stay.”
