Latest KFF Health News Stories
Cuomo And Trump Talk New Yorker To New Yorker About Investing In State’s Economic Recovery
Although New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and President Donald Trump have had a contentious relationship at times throughout the pandemic, Cuomo says he had a good talk with the president about a massive investment in train lines, bridges and other building projects to help the state’s economy recover.
Spotty Data, Flawed Testing, Undercounted Deaths Create Misleading Picture Of Outbreak In States
Are states really ready to reopen? The reality can look a lot different than what the data says. In other news: experts bemoan a decision to halt wide-spread antibody testing in Seattle; officials nervously eye emerging hot spots; a second peak looms dangerously as states reopen; advocates call for more wastewater testing; and more.
During the pandemic, President Donald Trump has threatened to overrule governors, shut down Twitter and generally exercise authority the president doesn’t have. Trump was enraged after Twitter added fact check links to his tweets about mail-in-voting, and officials say he’s preparing an executive order intended to curtail the legal protections that shield social media companies from liability for what gets posted on their platforms.
Republicans Push Back On Trump’s Mask Rhetoric: ‘Wearing A Face Covering Is Not About Politics’
Some prominent Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), are trying to re-frame the messaging around mask wearing. President Donald Trump’s refusal to be seen wearing a mask has stoked political tensions over the practice. Meanwhile, The Washington Post fact checks Trump’s online alternate reality when it comes to the pandemic.
Veterans, Nurses, Holocaust Survivors, Friends, Loved Ones: U.S. Death Toll Surpasses 100,000
American reached a grim milestone on Wednesday as the official count of those dead climbed past 100,000. The sheer scope of loss is hard for many to comprehend but far surpasses most other disasters in the country’s history. Media outlets look at the lives behind those startling numbers.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health issues and others.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Research Roundup: Uninsured Mothers; COVID Disparities; Wellness Programs; And More
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Congress Created Emergency Program To Combat Child Hunger, But Only 15% Have Been Helped
Many children rely on schools to provide them at least one meal a day, but advocates and lawmakers are concerned that the problem of childhood hunger would only get worse during the lock down. But as of mid-May only 12 states sent eligible families money and only two had completed the process. Meanwhile, experts warn about a global hunger crisis on the horizon.
HHS Is Watching Out For Up-Coding From Providers During Crisis, Watchdog Promises
There’s growing talking point among conservative-leaning media alleging that providers have a financial incentive to mark a death as COVID-19, but a top HHS official knocked down those claims. In other news on costs: surprising medical bills and struggling hospitals.
Report: Key States Take Steps To Reach Out To Black Communities Hit With High Death Rates
Stateline contacted 16 states with higher percentages of black people to find out whether any states were taking concrete actions to stem COVID-19 cases and deaths in black communities. “The virus isn’t going after black people. It’s because of structural inequities that have led to poor health and greater exposure to the virus.” said Lisa Cooper, a professor of medicine and public health at Johns Hopkins University. Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, South Carolina and Virginia provided the greatest detail on how they are responding. Other news reports on the death of two black men in the District of Columbia.
The lawyer for the suspended superintendent Bennett Walk released emails showing he regularly updated them about the outbreak at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home and asked for help. News on nursing homes is from Nevada, as well.
Trump Touts New Insulin Price Cap But Experts Say The Tweak Is Modest And Helps Only Small Subset
President Donald Trump announced a policy change that would mean Medicare recipients who pick a drug plan offering the new insulin benefit would pay a maximum of $35 a month starting next year. The roll out, though, left drug pricing reform advocates disappointed and experts scratching their heads.
Opinion writers weigh in on these public health topics and others.
Critical Colorectal Cancer Screenings Drop By One-Third During Shelter-In-Place Orders
Screenings have shown to be key in curbing the disease, the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Also, nearly half of people polled said they’re delaying medical appoints and suffering from mental health problems.
Experts Say Emerging Data Is Clear: Masks Work And Course Of Pandemic Will Be Shaped By Their Use
“We now have really clear evidence that wearing masks works — it’s probably a 50% protection against transmission,” said Dr. Chris Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. But masks have become a hot-button political topic and a divide over compliance to rules is emerging. In other scientific news on the virus: recovery times, what we still don’t know, worrisome signs in critical cases, plasma therapy, and the origins of the outbreak.
World’s Eyes Continue To Watch South Korea As Nation Takes Steps Back To ‘Normal’
Global pandemic developments are reported out of South Korea, Canada, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Greece, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Mexico, Argentina, Panama, Brazil, China, Chile, Peru and other nations.
Young adults and the poor have been hit especially hard, the Census Bureau report finds. More public health news is on problems from being isolated, tips from the Dalai Lama on facing isolation, imbibing bad news, healthy travel suggestions for flyers, traffic concerns, navigating parenting disagreements, hungry rodents, technology’s watchful eye, and a tale of two infected parents, as well.
Supreme Court Won’t Overturn Ohio Order To Release At-Risk Inmates, But Leaves Door Open For Future
The case centered around Ohio’s Elkton Federal Correctional Institution, where one in four inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. The Supreme Court justices kept the decision narrow and didn’t close the door on any future cases that might have similar circumstances. Prisons have been fertile ground for the virus and advocates worry about the safety of inmates across the country.
Eviction Crisis Looms For Low-Income Americans Hit Hardest By Pandemic’s Economic Devastation
Experts predict an avalanche of evictions across the country. Even before the current joblessness crisis, eviction was troublingly common in America. Researchers estimate that about 3.7 million eviction cases were filed in 2016, a year when the unemployment rate was 4.7 percent. It’s now closing in on 15 percent. Other news on the economy focuses on credit card fraud and jobless benefits.
