Latest KFF Health News Stories
Older Americans Skipping Meds, Cutting Back To Pay For Health Care
A new survey finds that 42% of people over 50 who do not qualify yet for Medicare are worried about being able to afford future medical expenses. And many of those are already skimping to pay for them.
Gun Violence Bill Swings To Mental Health Focus, May Be Slimmed
The lead Republican negotiator of the gun safety framework bill warned some provisions may be “slimmed” down. Roll Call reports that as the framework focuses on mental health, advocates are pleased it expands access but are wary, since mental health isn’t strongly linked to gun homicides.
White House, Democrats Weigh Options To Protect Abortion Rights
According to The New York Times, President Joe Biden is considering a series of executive actions to ensure women in Republican states can still access abortions if the Supreme Court does strike down Roe v. Wade. The 19th reports Democratic senators are also looking at what options may work.
Biden Moves To Protect Transgender Youth Health Care
News outlets report President Joe Biden will order his health agency to ban conversion therapy, plus bolster access to gender-affirming health care, particularly for young people. Separately, a global trans health body revised its advice on starting hormone therapy downward, from 16 to 14 years old.
Supreme Court Reinstates Medicare Drug Reimbursements To 340B Hospitals
Hospitals participating in the 340B program will be able to recoup billions in drug payments that Supreme Court justices unanimously decided were improperly cut. The Trump administration reduced the Medicare subsidies, and the Biden administration defended the policy.
‘Forever Chemicals’ Pose Serious Danger To Public Health, EPA Warns
In a stunning move, the Environmental Protection Agency cut the safe level of chemical PFOA by more than 17,000 times what the agency previously said was tolerable. In effect, any detectable amounts of PFOA and PFOS are unsafe to consume, USA Today and other news outlets reported.
WHO Warns Monkeypox Is Now A Threat To Global Public Health
The worry is that the longer the outbreak persists, Axios reports, the higher the risk the disease will gain strong footholds in countries where it has not been endemic before. The World Health Organization is also said to be creating a new vaccine sharing program to improve protections against the virus.
Floods Re-Shutter Abbott Baby Formula Factory
Even as the ongoing baby formula shortage leads to fresh supplies being flown to the U.S. from Australia and Switzerland, the Abbott factory in Michigan that was at the core of the initial crisis has had to re-close due to flooding after only recently restarting production.
All States Meet Deadline To Preorder Kid Covid Shots — Except Florida
The Florida Department of Health says it did not order vaccine supplies from the federal government in part because it doesn’t recommend shots for all kids. The state’s surgeon general is an outspoken skeptic of the covid vaccine. Meanwhile, the other 49 states prepare for the much-anticipated rollout to youngsters.
FDA Advisers Give Go-Ahead On Covid Vaccines For Littlest Kids
All kids over 6 months old are on the verge of being able to receive a covid vaccine. A key hurdle was cleared yesterday when the Food and Drug Adminstration’s Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee recommended authorization for Moderna and Pfizer’s shots.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: Measles Is Making A Comeback; Cancer Clinical Trials Need Older Participants
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health topics.
Opinion writers tackle covid and Roe issues.
West Virginia Allocates $10M For More EMS Training, Equipment
Among the changes, the state will buy mobile ambulance simulators to allow educational programs in all regions. Also in the news: the District of Columbia has named its first director of the new Office of Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing; a federal judge in Nebraska has removed an obstacle for legalizing medical marijuana; and more.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Advances In HIV Treatment And Prevention; Prescription Drug Shortages Are Over In Canada
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Air Pollution Kills Older Black People At Higher Rates: Study
The higher death risk for older Black adults, found as part of a study by consulting group Industrial Economics, is three times higher than for white adults. Also: racial disparities during the baby formula crisis, measles cases in Minnesota, West Nile virus in Texas, and more.
Massive Heat Dome Threatens 100 Million People Across America
Heat advisories, heat warnings or heat watches have been issued from California to Virginia, bringing temperatures of 100 degrees or above to many cities. Public health officials are urging people to take care because extreme heat causes more deaths in American than any other weather-related disaster. In other public health news a water main break creates problems for a Texas town and a hospital in Montana successfully evacuates patients and staff as flood waters threaten the building.
McConnell Gives Nod To Bipartisan Gun Deal
Attempts to tighten federal gun laws gained momentum Tuesday after Minority Leader Mitch McConnell lent support to the deal publicly, though negotiations are ongoing and leading Republicans signaled they would examine the final law in detail. Other gun violence news is also reported.
Drugmakers Set Self-Standards To Curb Antibiotic Waste Discharge
Amid concerns about growing antibiotic resistance among the general population, a coalition of pharmaceutical companies set new guidelines to better control the release of antibiotic waste into the environment.
