Presidential Politics, Polka and Wisconsin
By Angela Hart
June 18, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Wisconsin, the land of fried cheese curds and the Green Bay Packers, is one of a half-dozen key battleground states where President Biden is trying to make health care a key issue in his expected November matchup with former president Donald Trump. Biden narrowly won Wisconsin in 2020, after it went for Trump in 2016. […]
Viewpoints: The Reality Of Living With Long Covid; A Report On Excess Mortality Should Be Retracted
June 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers examine covid, reproductive rights, and cannabis.
Federal Judge Squelches Trans Student Protections In Another 6 States
June 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, a George W. Bush nominee, temporarily halted enforcement of changes to Title IX designed to protect trans students from discrimination in schools that get government funding. Reeves said the changes were “arbitrary and capricious rulemaking.”
The American Diet Might Have Turned Corner, No Longer As Unhealthy: Study
June 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
An analysis of two decades of nutritional data shows that Americans may have begun to eat a little healthier, with some restaurants and brands playing along. But there’s still a long way to go. Also in the news: health issues in older women, the benefits of drinking coffee, and more.
Mpox Cases Spike In Los Angeles County
June 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
Alarmed by the sudden increase, officials advise anyone who shows symptoms—rash, sores, fever, aches—to seek immediate medical attention. In other news, scientists have found that U.S. citizens have very little, if any, immunity to the H5N1 bird flu virus.
Side Effects Of Drugs Like Leqembi Masked By ‘ARIA’ Acronym, Some Say
June 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
Far from an operatic solo, ARIA (amyloid-related imaging abnormalities) may be being used as a “soothing” term to obscure potentially fatal side effects of Alzheimer’s drugs, doctors say. Separately, a new Alzheimer’s blood test is offering faster, highly accurate diagnoses.
Morning Briefing for Tuesday, June 18, 2024
June 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
KFF Health News’ Morning Briefing will not be published tomorrow, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. Look for it again in your inbox Thursday.
CMS To End Advance-Payment Program For Those Affected By Hack
June 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
The program, launched in March in the aftermath of the Change Healthcare cyberattack, sent advance payments to providers whose operations were disrupted. CMS also announced a do-over of 2024 quality scores for Medicare Advantage plans.
Health Care Gap Shrank From 2019-23, But ‘Unwinding’ Might Undo Some Of It
June 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
Preliminary survey results released Tuesday by the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics showed that in 2023, 25 million Americans of all ages were uninsured, down from 33.2 million in 2019, Bloomberg reported. Plus: medical debt forgiveness.
Mysterious Residue On Equipment Has Delayed Hundreds Of Surgeries In Colo.
June 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
Initial testing on the substance — previously described as black flecks on reusable surgical instruments at Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center — came back as inconclusive. Also: Hospital-at-home nurses at Boston’s Mass General Brigham have voted to unionize.
Rule Granting Time Off For Abortion Doesn’t Apply In La., Miss., Judge Rules
June 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
While case is pending, the EEOC cannot enforce the abortion provision against the Catholic plaintiffs and employers in those states. Other abortion-related cases are in Missouri and South Dakota.
First Edition: June 18, 2024
June 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations. Note to readers: KFF Health News’ First Edition will not be published tomorrow, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. Look for it again in your inbox Thursday.
¿Cómo Se Dice? California Loops In AI To Translate Health Care Information
By Paula Andalo
Illustration by Lydia Zuraw
June 18, 2024
KFF Health News Original
State officials want to use artificial intelligence to translate public health care and social services documents and websites, which they say will speed up translations, save money, and improve Californians’ access to critical information. But some IT and language experts worry AI may introduce errors in wording and understanding.
Older Women Are Different Than Older Men. Their Health Is Woefully Understudied.
By Judith Graham
June 18, 2024
KFF Health News Original
The White House has launched an initiative on women’s health. Studying the health of older women, a largely neglected group in medical research, should be a priority.
¿Cómo se dice? California recurre a la IA para traducir información sobre atención médica
By Paula Andalo
June 18, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Funcionarios estatales quieren usar la inteligencia artificial para traducir documentos y sitios web de servicios sociales y de salud pública. Pero expertos en esta tecnología y en idiomas temen que la IA pueda cometer errores en la comprensión de los textos y en su redacción.
Like Doctors, More Nurse Practitioners Are Heading Into Specialty Care
By Michelle Andrews
June 17, 2024
KFF Health News Original
If your doctor can’t see you now, maybe the nurse practitioner can. Nurse practitioners have long been a reliable backstop for the primary-care-physician shortfall, which is estimated at nearly 21,000 doctors this year and projected to get worse. But easy access to NPs could be tested in coming years. Even though nearly 90 percent of […]
Viewpoints: Collaboration Needed To Tackle Superbugs; MedPAC Would Protect Patients From Surprise Bills
June 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss superbugs, medical billing, AI health applications, and more.
Federal Effort To Lower Opioid Overdoses By 40% Failed To Work
June 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Stat says the study, which began in 2019 and was aimed at using evidence-based interventions, didn’t actually curb opioid overdose deaths. Separately, the Boston Globe reports on growing overdoses in that city last year, and KCUR reports on an opioid antidote initiative from Kansas prisons.
Person Or Property? Texas High Court Won’t Weigh In On State Of Embryos
June 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
A Dallas IVF patient still may appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to have her embryos declared as people. Also in the news: fallout from the Southern Baptist vote and a defense policy measure that includes provisions on abortion and transgender care.
Major US Heat Wave Could Affect You Even More If You Take Certain Meds
June 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Diuretics, ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, antidepressants, and stimulants for ADHD are just some of the medications that could cause dehydration, raise your risk of fainting, or other problems. Doctors are advising people to use air conditioning and to drink plenty of water.
