First Edition: March 21, 2024
March 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Sitios de telesalud prometen una cura para la “menopausia masculina” a pesar de prohibiciones
By Michael Scaturro
March 21, 2024
KFF Health News Original
En anuncios de Google, Facebook y otros medios, los sitios web de telemedicina sobre testosterona pueden prometer una solución rápida para la “lentitud” y la libido baja en los hombres. Pero los médicos dicen que no hay pruebas de su eficacia.
Biden Said Medicare Drug Price Negotiations Cut the Deficit by $160B. That’s Years Away.
By Amy Sherman, PolitiFact
March 21, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Savings estimated by the Congressional Budget Office from allowing the federal government to negotiate Medicare drug prices are based on a 10-year cumulative projection.
Rapid Rise in Syphilis Hits Native Americans Hardest
By Cecilia Nowell
March 21, 2024
KFF Health News Original
With U.S. syphilis rates climbing to the worst level in seven decades, public health experts and the federal Indian Health Service are scrambling to detect and treat the disease in Native American communities, where babies are infected at a higher rate than in any other demographic.
Telehealth Sites Promise Cure for ‘Male Menopause’ Despite FDA Ban on Off-Label Ads
By Michael Scaturro
March 21, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Most healthy men produce sufficient testosterone as they age. Yet online ads and telehealth sites are promoting testosterone drugs with flawed promises of boosting libido and busting stomach fat.
A Battle Between Drugmakers and Insurers Hits Patients in the Wallet
By Julie Appleby
March 20, 2024
KFF Health News Original
There’s a long-running battle between insurers and drugmakers over financial assistance programs that purport to help patients afford expensive drugs. And lately, insurers have been losing ground as lawmakers, regulators and courts weigh in. The issue is whether coupons and other copay aid many patients get from drugmakers should count toward annual insurance deductibles and […]
FTC To Refund Consumers Who Bought Fake Health Plans From Benefytt
March 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
The refunds total nearly $100 million and seek to help consumers who fell for fake health plans offered by Benefytt Technologies under various names. Also in the news: UnitedHealth in New York, insurer participation in ACO REACH, and more.
Voters Seek Extra Count In California Ballot On Mental Health Bond Issue
March 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Proposition 1 measure, targeted at mental health care in California, is said to be hanging on a razor-thin majority, prompting a call for a corrective count of disqualified ballots from both backers and detractors.
Study Links Experiencing Homophobia, Discrimination To Cancer Risks
March 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
The research from the American Cancer Society was a first-of-its-kind study, and linked certain issues to higher cancer risks for LGBTQ+ individuals. Meanwhile, experts worry about state-level anti-LGBTQ laws impacting transgender people.
New Digital Stethoscope Boosts Heart Exams With AI
March 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
AI tech built into a new digital stethoscope helps raise detection levels for heart valve problems, which can be hard to detect using a regular stethoscope. Separately, a California doctor’s plan against needle pain is in the news.
Study Links Baby Aspirin To Reduced Liver Fat In Liver Disease Sufferers
March 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
Read recent pharmaceutical developments in KFF Health News’ Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Viewpoints: We Need To Rethink What ‘Women’s Health’ Is; Crash-Test Biases Put Women At Risk
March 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle women’s health matters, female crash test dummies, nurse sabbaticals, and more.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, March 20, 2024
March 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
Medicaid work requirements, vaccines, PBMs, cybersecurity, covid, fake health plans, cancer risks, abortion, and more are in the news.
With Deal Struck, Lawmakers Rush Spending Bills Before First Deadline
March 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
A brief weekend partial government shutdown may be possible as the clock ticks down to Friday’s deadline. News outlets cover what’s in, and what’s out in the new spending deal announced Tuesday.
Arizona Lawmaker Opens Up About Abortion Plan For Nonviable Pregnancy
March 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
Arizona state Sen. Eva Burch talked in a floor speech about her journey and the implications of abortion restrictions. “It was an opportunity for me to highlight what we’re experiencing here in Arizona and how the laws that we pass in Arizona actually do impact people in practice and not just in theory,” she told the AP.
NIH Ceases Offering Covid Treatment Guidance
March 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
NPR calls it a “pandemic milestone.” Separately, a new report says the Department of Transportation and the Treasury have yet to create a preparedness plan for future infectious disease outbreaks, despite a 2015 GAO recommendation to do so.
Experts Say Health Industry Isn’t Spending Enough On Cybersecurity
March 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
The industry isn’t spending enough to prevent future hacking attacks like the one that impacted Change Healthcare recently, cybersecurity professionals say. Meanwhile, UnitedHealth Group is increasing loan offers to help with the aftermath.
First Edition: March 20, 2024
March 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Needle Pain Is a Big Problem for Kids. One California Doctor Has a Plan.
By April Dembosky, KQED
March 20, 2024
KFF Health News Original
The pain and trauma from repeated needle sticks leads some kids to hold on to needle phobia into adulthood. Research shows the biggest source of pain for children in the health care system is needles. But one doctor thinks he has a solution and is putting it into practice at two children’s hospitals in Northern California.
Watch: Many Americans Are Unaware of HIV Prevention Medication
By Céline Gounder
March 20, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Some Americans mistakenly believe medication to prevent HIV transmission through sex is just for certain groups such as gay men, but anyone who’s at risk for contracting HIV through sex could benefit.