Latest KFF Health News Stories
Hospital Shortages Leave Missouri Jails With Hundreds Of Mentally Ill Patients
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports on a troubling situation caused by staffing problems at state mental hospitals. Other news outlets cover fentanyl overdoses in the South, petitions for more medical marijuana in Ohio, Idaho teachers on state health insurance, and more.
Some New Parents Can’t Get Hold Of Baby Formula
Media outlets report on a baby formula shortage that’s affecting parts of the U.S., including disagreements between brands and stores over the reasons behind the problem. In other infant health news, giving low-income families financial support is linked to better baby brain development.
HHS Urged To Plug Medicare Gap That Doesn’t Pay For At-Home Covid Tests
Lawmakers and advocates want the Biden administration to find a way to cover the rapid antigen tests. The laws governing Medicare currently don’t reimburse for self-administered diagnostic tests.
In Face Of Drug Price Limits, Insulin Makers Step Up Lobbying Spends
Insulin is called the “poster child for dysfunction” in the U.S. medical system in a report in Stat. With lawmakers working on limiting drug prices, including potential caps on out-of-pocket expenses for patients needing insulin, some drugmakers are paying lobbyists more to fight their cause.
California Bill Would Require K-12 School Kids To Get Covid Shots
Meanwhile in Boston a vaccine mandate for city employees seems to have worked, with over 94% of the workforce vaccinated. The city has extended the deadline for a week. Separately, one Bostonian has been removed from a heart transplant list for refusing a vaccine.
Rollout Of Free N95 Masks Begins At Stores And Clinics
News outlets report on where consumers may be able to find free N95 masks, which are being distributed out of the national stockpile by the federal government to encourage Americans to wear higher-quality face coverings.
New York Mask Mandate Ruled Unlawful By State Judge
State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Rademaker says that New York’s state requirement for masks can’t be enforced. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, says her administration will appeal.
Like The Virus Itself, Covid Misinformation Is Still Spreading
What a difference that “mis-” prefix makes: News outlets cover a rash of covid misinformation across the country, including how misinformation (instead of real, reliable information) left U.S. kids vulnerable to omicron covid, plus how unproven covid treatments are being promoted.
Amid Soaring Cases In Some Places, Evidence Omicron May Kill Faster
The San Francisco Chronicle reports on news from California’s Public Health Director that omicron patients that succumb to the virus seem to be dying two to four weeks after hospitalization, vs. five weeks for delta covid. While local officials note omicron does seem less severe, deaths are still rising.
New Mutation Of Omicron May Spread Even Faster; It’s Already In The US
At least two cases of omicron subvariant BA.2 were reported earlier this month in Washington state. Symptoms of infection don’t appear to be any different so far from the original omicron strain. However, the “stealth” version, as it has been dubbed, does appear to be even more transmissible.
Third Pfizer Shot Leads To Persistent Antibodies To Fight Omicron
A booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine in addition to the regular two-shot vaccination can result in antibodies remaining in people’s systems for around four months, potentially battling omicron infections. Meanwhile, a fourth shot is available for some immunocompromised patients — but some pharmacies are turning them away.
FDA Restricts Use Of Two Antibody Drugs That Don’t Work Against Omicron
With the omicron variant currently responsible for 99% of U.S. covid infections, the Food and Drug Administration is rescinding emergency use authorization for Regeneron and Eli Lilly’s monoclonal antibody treatments, for now. The drugs could be reauthorized if a variant emerges against which they are effective.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers tackle these various public health issues.
Different Takes: Various Ways The World Is Managing Covid; Clarifying Covid Confusion
Opinion writers examine these covid and covid related issues.
Thailand Offers Second Booster Shots In Tourist Hot Spots
In regions where tourism is centered, Thailand is rolling out second AstraZeneca and Pfizer booster shots to help prevent future outbreaks. As China prepares for the Winter Olympic Games, the nation has lowered testing thresholds for athletes. Authorities have also said foreign mail can’t spread covid.
Indiana Lawmakers Threaten Action Over High Hospital Costs
The Indianapolis Star says local health care prices are among the highest in the U.S., so lawmakers have asked hospitals and insurers to work together to lower costs, with a looming threat of statutory price reviews.
One Surprising Pandemic Side Effect: Keeping Pregnancies Secret
According to The New York Times, the pandemic’s effect on daily life is having an impact on how people are sharing news about their pregnancy in work situations. Meanwhile, levels of flu in the U.S. have fallen for the second week in a row.
Neuralink Moving Closer To Human Trials Of Implanted Brain Chips
Elon Musk’s human-computer interface medical tech company has begun hiring for a clinical trial director. In other news, CVS Caremark settled a PBM fee issue with the Oklahoma Insurance Department; questions over GSK’s chief science officer; and biotech stocks are a “dumpster fire.”
Germ Cleanser At Center Of Lawsuit Against Sutter Health
Sutter Health, the lawsuit says, purchased a cleaning chemical to combat hospital-borne bugs that itself caused dozens of employees to fall ill. Also in the news: IBM’s Watson, investments in digital health, Anthem’s new chief, nurses and a student loan relief program in Pennsylvania.
