Latest KFF Health News Stories
Maternal Deaths May Rise At Least 20% In 26 States Poised To Outlaw Abortion
Poverty and access to health care could inflate those number even higher. Meanwhile, battles over abortion are already heating up in state capitals across the nation.
Nationally, A Majority Support Abortion Rights. But It Differs State By State
News outlets look to the polls to take the pulse of America on abortion. In other related news: Canada offers Americans a haven, abortion groups report a spike in donations, corporations stay largely silent, and clinics plan their next steps.
Senate Dems Plan Abortion-Rights Vote; Republicans Avoid National Ban Talk
With midterm elections looming, both parties plot out abortion strategies to fire up their bases — or avoid inflaming the other side’s voters. The crucial role of legislatures and governors also comes into focus as the Supreme Court readies to hand over reproductive health responsibility to state governments.
Roe Abolition Would Threaten Vulnerable Communities: Experts
“Everyone who is vulnerable” — from people of color to victims of domestic violence — would be at risk if Roe v. Wade is overturned, says a report in the Boston Globe. And although GOP senators have said they won’t “wade into” same-sex marriage issues, Democrats have expressed worries over other rights, and the LGBTQ+ community is already feeling the effects, says a report at NBC News.
Provider Says Queries About Abortion Pills Already Spiking Upward
Telehealth service Aid Access reported an immediate threefold increase in requests for abortion pills or information on them through its website, according to Reuters. Other media outlets highlight likely further jumps in requests for the medication, as well as upcoming threats to this sort of abortion.
Biden Struggles To Find Ways To Protect Abortion And Reproductive Rights
The White House says it’s urgently exploring strategies to aid continued access to abortion and birth control, but news outlets report that the options are limited. President Joe Biden may need to turn to experimental approaches. Meanwhile, his historically conflicted position on abortion is also in the spotlight.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers weigh in on the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court draft leak.
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health issues.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
WHO Raises Concerns Over Health Care In Ukraine
Separately, the World Health Organization has warned that an obesity “epidemic” is hitting Europe, with nearly 60% of adults either overweight or obese. India’s 2020 death data, Beijing closing 10% of subways to control covid and zero covid deaths in Vietnam.
5 Massachusetts Nursing Homes Fined
The state levied $250,000 in fines against five nursing homes citing grim details of neglect. Other articles from across the country.
Medication Is Now Leading Type Of Abortion Care; Drug Combination May Treat Diabetes And Obesity
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Fatal Opioid Overdoses Rising Among Native Americans
In other news, shortages of Naloxone are predicted and more details emerge about the outbreak of hepatitis among children.
Study: Most Children Who Transition Gender Identity Stick With It
Essentially the study, which looked at 317 young people aged 3 to 12 years old over a five year period, found that gender identities developed at a young age tend to “stick” — 94% of the youngsters still identified with their new gender five years later. The report sharply contradicts recent political rhetoric, and new laws around gender health care for young trans people.
The company also said it would give up nearly all its marketing of Aduhelm, its Alzheimer’s drug. In other news, the Gates Foundation expects Melinda Gates to remain with the organization and two large healthcare-focused real-estate investment trusts plan to merge.
Scientists: Covid Can Cause IQ Drop, Worsen Asthma In Children
In separate reports, scientists looking into the virus behind the covid pandemic have discovered an infection can worsen asthma in children, that a severe infection can drop a person’s IQ by 20 points, and that infections during pregnancy are linked to worse maternal health outcomes.
Despite Concerns For Roe, Sinema’s Defense Of Filibuster Stays Firm
Some abortion supporters are calling for the Senate to throw out the rule that requires 60 votes to stop a filibuster so that Democrats can pass legislation to guarantee abortion rights through legislation. But Sen. Kyrsten Sinema says in a statement that the filibuster has been an important tool to help protect the rights of women. Also on Capitol Hill, Republicans are setting a new plan for drug pricing.
FDA: Annual Covid Shots Expected
Top Food and Drug Administration officials said they expect annual covid shots will be necessary. In other news about covid, Pfizer offers advice to patients who used its Paxlovid and had relapses, and the new BA.4 and BA.5 variants appear to be reinfecting covid survivors.
Swift, Fiery Reaction On Display In Demonstrations, Global Attention
Protests erupted across the nation after the Supreme Court leak, including outside the court itself. The news also echoed around the world, spurring alarm and criticism. In Canada, the prime minister went as far as emphasizing the rights of Canadian woman to choose.
