Latest KFF Health News Stories
Study Finds Malaria Drug Doesn’t Prevent COVID-19 In Latest Knock Against Controversial Treatment
“As we say in Tennessee, ‘that dog won’t hunt’ — it didn’t work,” said William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Debate over the drug hydroxychloroquine became politicized as President Donald Trump touted it as a “game changer.” But so far, studies have failed to find any benefit from the treatment. In other news, WHO has restarted its trials on the drug after pausing over safety concerns.
White House Winnows Sprawling Vaccine Field Down To Five Top Candidates But Hurdles Remain
President Donald Trump has been eager to get a vaccine to market by the end of the year, but scientists have viewed that goal as extremely optimistic if not unrealistic. Vaccine development is notoriously difficult and time-consuming; the record is four years, and a decade is not unusual. In other news: the global race could lead to a Sputnik moment; the FDA struggles to remain neutral; a watchdog group calls for an investigation into Moderna’s stocks; and more.
Growing Number Of Insurers Offering Premium Discounts As They Rack Up Savings During Pandemic
With all of the elective procedures canceled, insurers have actually been coming out ahead financially during the crisis. Regulators, like state insurance commissioners, are starting to pay attention to what the companies are giving back to their consumers.
Very Thing Trump Is Counting On To Divert Attention From COVID Could Bring Second Spike In Cases
President Donald Trump has seized on the protests against police brutality to draw attention away from the climbing death toll from the virus, but as thousands gather in the street, experts worry the country will see another surge. In other news: protests affect testing sites, Democrats prepare police reform legislation, parents try to talk with children about safely protesting, black Americans struggle disproportionately during economic devastation, and more.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Experts Remain Cautiously Optimistic There Will Be Vaccine By End Of Year, But Some Have Doubts
The effort to develop a vaccine in that abbreviated time frame would be “Herculean.” And while experts such as Dr. Anthony Fauci strike an optimistic tone that it can be done, still others worry that maybe it shouldn’t be if safety measures are compromised. Meanwhile, a nationwide survey finds that about 70% of Americans say they would get a vaccine.
15 West Point Cadets Told To Return For Trump’s Commencement Speech Test Positive, Put In Isolation
The U.S. Military Academy said it tested all 1,000 cadets when they returned to campus and about 1.5% tested positive, a number “that was anticipated.”
The FTC typically regulates marketing from social media influencers, ads from tobacco companies and, more recently, claims about coronavirus cures and loans. But over the last two decades, the agency has dealt with few cases involving how guns are advertised. In other public health news: aspirin use, the blood-brain barrier, trans-inclusive sports policies and more.
Are Patient Privacy Rights Being Betrayed In Data Trades The Mayo Clinic Makes With Tech Companies?
The data is ”de-identified”, but ethics experts pose questions about a patient’s rights to opt out and what, if anything, is owed to them. The trades help companies develop digital products and services and are worth about $5 million to the Mayo Clinic. Other technology news is on teleheath, new discussions about the future of national patient identifiers and phishing targeting WHO.
GOP Lawmakers Grill Gov. Whitmer About High Number of Nursing Home Deaths In Michigan
Michigan’s nursing home deaths, 1,654 and fifth highest in the U.S., may be partly the result of differences in the way COVID-19 deaths are being recorded, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said, adding some states are listing cause of death as pneumonia. Nursing home news is from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Georgia, as well.
HHS Has Yet To Allot Nearly $100 Billion In Aid To Hard-Hit Hospitals, Health Clinics
“Congress intended these dollars to go to health care providers quickly to combat the pandemic,” said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee. “It’s clear that the Trump administration’s distribution of this aid has been poorly targeted and too slow in coming.” Meanwhile, HHS changes its rules for provider relief grants.
‘Juvenile Lifers’ Worry They’ll Lose Their Lives From COVID Before They Get Their Shot At Freedom
The Supreme Court ruled that the cases of teenagers who were sentenced to life must be reviewed because they weren’t yet adults when they were charged with crimes. While thousands of sentences have been overturned, there’s still inmates who are waiting for their cases to be heard. In other news: what prison outbreaks can teach researchers about herd immunity, Massachusetts’ court refuses request to release prisoners and more.
Inexperienced Contractors Hired In Spending Spree Try To Change Narrative With Lobbying Push
More not-so-flattering information is coming to light about the contractors that were awarded government contracts in the early days of the pandemic. In particular, an event planning company that was awarded money to help distribute food to needy families has drawn criticism. Now the firms want to shift the story. In other news on food aid: New York City tries to keep up with surging demand, protests create food deserts in Minneapolis and consumers worry about rising prices.
Across the world, schools examine how to reopen in the fall after being shuttered for months. At Grinnell College in Iowa, part of the plan is to bring back smaller groups of students for seven weeks at a time. Other news on school reopenings is from California, Ohio, Maine, Pennsylvania, Denmark, Austria, Norway, Finland, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, as well.
While the Trump administration has said employers can test their workers and screen for temperatures, there’s little guidance on how often that should be done. Business leaders are worried the gaps set up a scenario where they could be on the hook in worker lawsuits. Meanwhile, governors call for more stability from the federal government in terms of testing supplies and plans while the FDA tries to rein in the testing marketplace.
Governors Ask For Funding Flexibility And Aid, Criticize Federal Efforts In Early Days Of Pandemic
Governors testified virtually at a congressional hearing to warn that their states face a financial crisis since they are forced to balance their budgets — unlike the federal government. They also laid out their frustration with the federal government’s supply issues earlier in the year.
White House Task Force Nudged Off Stage As Trump Looks To Shift Attention Away From Pandemic
Despite warnings that the outbreak is far from over, the White House task force has met only sporadically in recent weeks, adding to the sense that the White House is ready to move on from the crisis despite being in the midst of it. Meanwhile, the U.S. surpasses 1.8 million cases and 105,000 deaths.
Global pandemic developments are reported out of Sweden, China, Brazil, England, Bolivia, Senegal, the Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, India, South Africa, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and other nations.
Media outlets report on news from New York, California, Maryland, Nevada and Massachusetts.
Blood Supply Nears Critical Level As Elective Surgeries Resume But Donation Rates Are Too Low
Chris Hrouda, president of biomedical services for the American Red Cross, says inventories have been cut in half as people maintain social distancing. Public health news is also on vaping, hand sanitizers, disinfecting programs in hotels, scripts on the pandemic, infection control fees and first canine tests positive.
