Latest KFF Health News Stories
Essential Workers’ Covid Bonus Pay Varied Widely Across US
Among states that offered federal covid relief to workers, decisions over how much money and who got it were very different place to place, the AP reports. Eviction protections, West Virginia surgical residencies and illegal pot farms in California are also in the news.
Psychotic Episodes Linked To Strong Weed In Young Users
Reports say high-potency marijuana is linked to various medical risks, particularly for young users. Meanwhile, the CDC warns of the unusual spread of Respiratory Syncytial Virus — or RSV — in summer, noting it’s affecting young children and infants in southern states.
Rising Gun Violence And Pandemic Drive First-Time Gun Buying
And President Joe Biden will meet with key law enforcement leaders from across the country to try to reduce crime rates. Meanwhile, The Washington Post discusses surging gun purchases, while the AP News reports that grief counselors are in short supply even as violent crime spikes up.
Regional Health Care Officials Struggle With Covid, Mental Health, Staff Safety
Reports say Baltimore County mobile teams failed to respond to over half of mental health crisis calls. Covid responses and North Carolina’s health leader’s plans, potential health staff whistleblowing, earthquake response upgrades and more are also in the news.
Court Allows Kentucky To Ration Hepatitis C Treatment Among Prisoners
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision allowing the Kentucky Department of Corrections to deny the expensive treatment was split 2-1. Mylan Pharmaceuticals, experimental gene therapy and Martin Shkreli are also in the news.
Health Alert Issued For Respiratory Problems From Florida’s Red Tide
Health officials in the Tampa Bay area are advising people avoid red algal blooms affecting the ocean and marine life. People suffering asthma or or other lung diseases are particularly at risk. Separate reports cover the deadly Northwest heat wave and drought.
Big Opioid Trial Nears A Close; Overdoses ‘Seem To Hit Everyone’ In Georgia
The trial in West Virginia against three opioid distributors may be winding down earlier than expected, while officials in Parkersburg, West Virginia aim for a moratorium on drug treatment facilities. News reports also cover opioid overdoses on the rise in Georgia and latest thinking on alcohol abuse treatment.
Democrats Coalescing Around Strategies To Bridge Medicaid Gaps
Politico reports on three options Democrats are considering to try to increase Medicaid coverage in states that refuse to expand the program. In other Medicaid news, the Supreme Court ends the latest term without taking up legal challenges related to work requirements.
ICE Will No Longer Jail Pregnant And Post-Partum Migrants
The Biden administration is ending the Trump-era policy. Also, the White House is urged to start preparing for the next pandemic. Other health policy news from federal agencies comes out of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Environmental Protection Agency.
States Impose Abortion Limits In Record Numbers This Year
An analysis shows more abortion restrictions have been passed in 2021 than in any previous year–including one in Texas where citizens, not the state, will enforce the new law. And Democratic lawmakers are taking aim at the restrictions with a new House spending bill.
Experts Down Play Lab-Leak Theory Amid Covid Origins Debate
Bat scientists in particular are saying no one may accurately pin down the origin of the novel coronavirus. In other covid developments: breathalyzer test may be in the works, though, making it easier to detect it. And a worrying report notes a British woman died infected with two variants.
Biden Issues Orders On Drug Prices, Billing And Hospital Mergers
The White House is targeting hospital competition and health cost transparency in its latest executive orders.
FDA May Probe Its Own Approval Of Alzheimer’s Drug
The acting head of the Food and Drug Administration is, very unusually, calling for an investigation into her own agency’s controversial approval of Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm. Staff contacts with the drugmaker are said to be of particular concern.
Covid Flares Across US: If Your Local Vaccine Rate Is Low, It’s Worse
NPR reports the overall uptick in virus cases in the U.S., particularly in areas where vaccine uptake is low. CNN quotes an expert’s warning of a “surprising amount” of deaths due soon. Other news outlets cover local covid spikes across the country.
CDC Urges Full Reopening For Schools, Says Vaccinated Can Forgo Masks
Axios reports that roughly half of U.S. states don’t intend to enforce mask policies in schools, while 10 states will mandate student mask-wearing, regardless of vaccination status.
Pfizer Pushing Ahead With Vaccine Booster Plans, Meets Health Officials
Pfizer will meet with U.S. health officials today to discuss authorizing a third dose of its covid vaccine, and Dr. Anthony Fauci notes the company apologized for not warning ahead of its plans. Meanwhile experts downplay full approval of covid vaccines.
White House Slams Efforts In Some Red States To Undermine Vaccine Outreach
As the remaining unvaccinated Americans become more entrenched — whether due to politics, age or or income status — the Biden administration is hitting an outreach wall.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages tackle these public health issues.
Different Takes: What Defines A Pandemic?; Ways To Get The Vaccine To The Most Vulnerable
Opinion writers weigh in on pandemics, vaccines and masks.
