Latest KFF Health News Stories
Goodbye, $3.2M Salary: Washington’s Top-Paid Employee Fired Over Vax Rule
Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich was dismissed Monday for not following the statewide mandate. “We’ve had conversations that date back months,” Athletic Director Pat Chun said. “He was resolute in his stance. He’s entitled to make a choice; that choice did not put him in compliance.”
Provision Banning Federal-Backed Spending On Abortion Left Out Of Funding Bills
It’s the first time in decades that Senate Democrats have moved to ditch the Hyde Amendment from annual funding bills. Hyde controversially bans people from using Medicaid or other federal health programs to fund abortions. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will speed a review of Texas’ abortion law.
Yet Another Reason To Get Vaxxed: Covid Patients May Face Steep Bills
Insurance companies have started charging patients for hospital, physician and paramedic care, CIDRAP and other news outlets report.
FDA To Allow You To Get A Different Type Of Booster Than Your Initial Shot
News outlets report on an upcoming decision by the Food and Drug Administration about which covid booster shot regime it will support, and it looks like a “mix-and-match” approach is expected. AP reports on why boosters weren’t “tweaked” to better tackle covid variants.
Colin Powell’s Health Conditions, Age Linked To His Death From Covid
News outlets note former Secretary of State Colin Powell was battling multiple myeloma, which may have contributed to his death from covid complications — as would his age. Reports note that deaths from breakthrough infections like this remain very rare, and stress the ongoing risk to seniors.
EPA To Regulate Water-Contaminating PFAS Chemicals Linked To Cancer
Media outlets report on a new plan from the White House to regulate pollutant toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) chemicals in drinking water and food. PFAS substances have been linked to cancer, infertility and other health issues.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health issues.
Opinion writers examine these covid and vaccine topics.
Worries Emerge Over Delta-Plus Mutation As Britain Suffers Covid Surge
Former U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has called for scientists to look into a potential “delta-plus” mutation of covid, suspected to be linked to a current covid surge in the U.K. Meanwhile, Japan is reported “puzzling” over a sudden, dramatic drop in cases.
Nurses Who Conduct Sex-Assault Reviews Push Back On Louisville Plans
According to police, prosecutors and nurses, a proposal that would require a doctor to review a portion of the procedures could slow down the process and harm the victims. Separately, AP reports Michigan is changing how it funds mental health — moving to match Medicaid funding for physical health.
TikTok Blamed For Teen Girls Suddenly Developing Tics
The Wall Street Journal reports on a global phenomenon that’s stumped movement-disorder doctors. Meanwhile, a study found that smart blood pressure cuffs and an app can help hypertension sufferers manage the issue over time. Also: Maybe we only need to walk 7,000 daily steps to be healthy.
Alaska Hospital Supply Issues Highlight National Shortage Of A Chemo Drug
Abraxane, used to treat some advanced cancers, is in short supply due to manufacturing delays. Separately, reports say Biogen’s potential treatment for a rare form of ALS has failed a key late-state clinical trial, by not showing significant benefits for ALS patients compared with a placebo.
Walmart Partners With Transcarent, Entering Self-Insured Market
Meanwhile, reports say New Orleans-based Ochsner Health is the first hospital system in Louisiana to have its own insurance arm. East Orange General Hospital, Lee County Hospital, Northeast Georgia Health System, health data leaks from security flaws in third-party apps, and more are in the news.
HHS Commits $100 Million To Battle Health Care Worker Burnout
As CIDRAP reports on a study that found 21% more health workers were working 40-hour-plus weeks than before the pandemic, NPR notes the Department of Health and Human Services has committed to fund $100 million to help solve the issues of health worker burnout.
Fauci Calls For Covid Shots, But Police, Unions Try Lawsuits To Block Mandates
Dr. Anthony Fauci said police resisting covid shots “doesn’t make any sense,” but AP reports that cities around the U.S. are clashing with police unions and battling lawsuits aimed at blocking vaccine mandates. In Chicago, the issue caused the police department to restrict time off for officers.
Lab Sued Over Covid Test Fees By Another Blue Cross, Blue Shield Insurer
The allegation is that national test facility GS Labs forced commercially insured customers to take unnecessary and expensive tests. Among other news, Oklahoma will soon reconcile its official covid death numbers with up-to-date data, pushing the toll up by about 1,000 victims.
Approval Ratings Slip For Republican Governors Who Are Anti-Vax-Mandate
Preferring to follow doctrine over the scientifically proven benefits of vaccines, Republican governors across the U.S. have been leading a charge against covid shot (and mask) mandates, Politico reports. And now their approval ratings are down. Dr. Anthony Fauci calls Texas’ mandate ban “unfortunate.”
US Will Reopen Borders To Fully Vaccinated Travelers On Nov. 8
The new rules apply to air, land or sea crossings. Air travelers will have to show proof of vaccination and also results of a negative test taken within three days before boarding the plane.
Starting This Week, States Can Place Covid Shot Orders For Kids Ages 5 To 11
The rollout of covid vaccines for younger children is imminent. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Chronicle reports that “confusion” is blamed for poor uptake of booster shots among older people, and the Philadelphia Inquirer describes how officials are using senior centers to reach out about boosters.
