Latest KFF Health News Stories
Trump’s Pick To Oversee Stimulus Vows To Be Impartial: ‘If The President Removes Me, He Removes Me’
Brian Miller, who currently serves as a White House lawyer, was picked by President Donald Trump to oversee the distribution of the $2.2 trillion stimulus package passed by Congress last month. During his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday, Miller said he can remain independent from political pressures, while Democrats voiced skepticism that Miller can serve as an impartial watchdog.
How Inexperienced Volunteers Tapped By Kushner Added To Confusion, Chaos Of Federal Response
The New York Times reports on how President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner recruited inexperienced, untrained people to help distribute the government’s supply of medical equipment and gear. Those volunteers were often told to prioritize assistance and tips from political allies of Trump.
Ousted Vaccine Official Accuses HHS Of Nepotism, Silencing His Complaints About Unproven Drug
Rick Bright, the ousted head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, has filed a formal whistleblower complaint alleging he was involuntarily transferred to a lower position because he raised concerns about the Trump administration’s COVID-19 response and about nepotism within HHS.
Trump Concedes There Will Possibly Be More Deaths, Suffering, But Continues To Push For Reopening
President Donald Trump spoke with ABC World News Tonight about the real, negative human cost in prioritizing an economic revival over a more cautious approach. “Will some people be affected? Yes. Will some people be affected badly? Yes. But we have to get our country open and we have to get it open soon,” Trump said. Meanwhile, intelligence officials continue to push back against the idea that the coronavirus was released from a lab in China.
Trump Tours Mask Factory Without A Mask During First Big Trip In Months
President Donald Trump and other officials toured a Honeywell plant in Phoenix, Arizona with goggles as their only protective equipment. Mask-wearing has become a hot button political topic as some White House officials continue to buck the Trump administration’s own guidelines to wear them. Meanwhile, ICE teams up with Amazon and others to curb the flood of counterfeit masks.
White House Task Force To Disband, But Trump Will Retain Birx, Fauci As Pandemic Advisers
Public health experts were alarmed by President Donald Trump’s decision to wind down its task force by the end of the month. “It’s like disbanding the war cabinet in the middle of a war,” said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of public health at Georgetown University. Meanwhile, Trump says Dr. Anthony Fauci will testify in front of the Republican-led Senate, but not the Democratic-led House.
While U.S. Deaths Climb Past 71,000, Projection Models Get Swept Up Into Partisan Politics
In the U.S., 2,100 people were reported dead between 8 p.m. Monday and the same time Tuesday, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of Johns Hopkins data. The total number of cases in the country passed 1.2 million, as well. Meanwhile, projecting the total number of cases and deaths was already tricky, but now scientists must also deal with political rhetoric at the same time.
Supreme Court To Hear Oral Arguments By Phone In Health Law Contraception Case
The case stems from a health law provision that requires most employers to cover birth control as a preventive service, at no charge to women in their health insurance plans. The Trump administration changed the rule in 2017 to allow organizations with religious or moral objections to opt out of coverage without having to provide an alternative avenue for their employees.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these pandemic issues and others.
Perspective: Pharma’s Outsourcing To China Puts American Lives At Risk
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Watchdog: HHS Failed To Properly Incentivize Development Of Antibiotics In Era Of Superbugs
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical development and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Editorial pages focus on these pandemic topics and others.
Media outlets report on news from Iowa, California, Ohio, Michigan, New Mexico, Texas, Massachusetts, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Vermont.
In Shadow Of Coronavirus Vaccine Rush, Experts Wonder Why There Isn’t One For Herpes
In 2016, two-thirds of the world’s population under 50 — about 3.7 billion people — had herpes simplex virus type 1. But scientists have been struggling to come up with a vaccine for at least 40 years and have failed. In other health news: cancer treatments, global AIDS funding, prosthetic arms, and more.
As Americans Shelter In Place, ICE Transfers Detainees Into Facilities In Vulnerable Rural South
The ICE detention facilities have aided southern communities by providing jobs and tax revenue. But local leaders worry that immigration officials aren’t taking proper safety precautions before transferring detainees into the area.
News on the global pandemic is reported out of Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Italy, Brazil, Spain, Israel, South Korea, China, Mexico and other nations.
Public Health Officials Warn About Upcoming Historic Wave Of Mental Health Problems
Advocates stress the mental health providers aren’t prepared for the number of people who will need help. Susan Borja of the National Institute of Mental Health told the Washington Post: “I worry about the suffering that’s going to go untreated on such a large scale.” Other public health news reports on work place screenings, lingering fevers, working in a nursing home while pregnant, health disparities, palliative care, end-of-life wishes, new flying attire, quieter ERs, and police challenges, as well.
The two tech giants provided a first glimpse of what the technology they are jointly developing could look like. The system will only be used by government apps, in order to track the spread of the coronavirus. Despite a call by public health authorities to use GPS technology instead of Bluetooth, Apple and Google say they won’t allow location tracking due to battery limitations and privacy concerns. News outlets report on other coronavirus tracking news, as well.
Texas Inmates To Supreme Court: Allow Us ‘The Ability To Protect Oneself From Grave Danger’
Most of the prisoners are 65 or older in the state prison in Navasota, Texas. One has already died. They’re asking for face masks and the ability to practice good hygiene. The Supreme Court gave the state until Friday to respond. More news on prisoners’ health is reported from the District of Columbia, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
