Latest KFF Health News Stories
70% Or Not 70%: White House Quiet On Risks To July 4 Vaccine Deadline
Administration officials say even if President Joe Biden’s goal of vaccinating 70% of adults is missed, the U.S. is still on course for overall recovery. Separately, the risks of variant covid, vaccine hesitancy in southern states and immigrant vaccines are also in the news.
House Democrats Push Localized Medicaid Expansion In Resistant States
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) introduced a bill that would work with city and county leaders to cover more people. Meanwhile, the latest stats show that 9 million Americans enrolled in Medicaid during the pandemic. And Missouri’s expansion battle heads to court, while the state’s Medicaid funding is at risk over contraceptives coverage.
CDC: More Than 300 Cases Of Heart Inflammation In Young Adults After Jab
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, noted that the cases are rare out of the more than 20 million adolescents who have received the Pfizer vaccine so far.
Medicare No Longer Covers Pricey Brain-Cancer Therapy
NextSource Biotechnology is exiting a federal discount program, leaving its $1,000-a-capsule drug unaffordable for patients who depended on the Medicare Part D drug benefit. In related news: a GAO analysis finds that big prescription drug ad campaigns have driven up use by Medicare beneficiaries.
Biden Administration Infuses $3.2 Billion Into Antiviral Development
A new federal program aims to speed up the development and manufacturing of medicines to manage viruses. A pill to treat covid, which could be taken at home and in early stages of the disease, is targeted for the end of the year.
Supreme Court OKs Catholic Foster Care Group’s Bias Against Gay Couples
The private Philadelphia group was refusing to work with same-sex couples, and the state had ended its contract as a result. The decision was reportedly a “narrow” one, and multiple reports note it has sparked much debate about LGBTQ and religious rights.
After 11-Year Battle Over ACA, Is Health Law Here To Stay?
News outlets look ahead to the next phase for the contentious health law. While legal and legislative efforts to overturn the health law outright will likely abate, big fights are still anticipated over future changes or specific aspects of the current program.
Obamacare Survives Its Third Supreme Court Challenge
Preserving coverage for over 30 million people insured under the Affordable Care Act, the U.S. Supreme Court justices dismissed the latest lawsuit in a 7-2 vote. The majority said that the plaintiffs — led by Texas and other conservative states — did not have standing to bring their lawsuit to federal court.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Obamacare Survives Yet Another Supreme Court Challenge
In a 7-2 vote, the Supreme Court justices dismissed the latest legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act. The majority said that the plaintiffs — led by Texas — did not have standing to bring their lawsuit to federal court. KHN will have full coverage shortly.
Editorial writers explore medical marijuana, disability workforce issues and improving health care.
Viewpoints: Why Russian Vaccination Numbers Are Low; How Worried Should US Be About Delta Variant?
Opinion writers weigh in on covid, masks and vaccine issues.
In Countdown To Olympics, Japan Relaxes Its State Of Emergency
Meanwhile, the E.U. is dropping travel restrictions for U.S. tourists, and France is easing its mask rules. Separately, five health workers were killed in Afghanistan while trying to vaccinate for polio.
Appeals Court Rules North Carolina’s Abortion Ban Unconstitutional
The post-20-week abortion ban is decades old, but a federal appeals court just unanimously ruled it is unconstitutional. In other news, Texas Gov. Greg Abbot signed a bill immediately banning abortions if Roe vs. Wade is overturned at the Supreme Court.
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Evictions An Imminent Threat To Over 8 Million Households
A new Harvard University housing report shines a spotlight onto the issue of evictions, with most threatened homeowners being either low-income or families of color. The issue of homelessness in New York City and Los Angeles is also in the news.
As Covid Starts To Fade, Cosmetic Dentistry Soars
NBC News reports on rising demand for cosmetic dentistry treatments, to levels possibly higher than pre-pandemic. Sexual assault nurse training, Spectrum Health’s hospital visitation rules, a stabbing lawsuit at Penn Medicine and more are also in the news.
First Patient Receives Newly Approved Alzheimer’s Drug
A 70-year-old patient from Rhode Island is the first person outside of clinical trials to get the controversially approved Biogen drug. Meanwhile, a report suggests that U.S. drug spending will grow over 8% through 2025, with the Alzheimer’s medication partly to blame.
Biden Administration Extends Title IX Protections To Transgender Students
Based on a recent Supreme Court related to the workplace, the Education Departments says that the federal law banning gender-based discrimination should apply to gay and transgender students too.
Uber Requires Masks For Everyone; DeSantis Pardons All Floridians Who Broke Mask Rules
More news on mask requirements is from Maryland, New Mexico, California and Iowa.
