With Medical Debt Burdening Millions, a Financial Regulator Steps In to Help
By Noam N. Levey
March 1, 2024
KFF Health News Original
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, created after the Great Recession of 2007-09, has increasingly started policing the health care system.
How a Friend’s Death Turned Colorado Teens Into Anti-Overdose Activists
By Rae Ellen Bichell
March 1, 2024
KFF Health News Original
High school students in Colorado are pushing for a change they say is necessary to combat fentanyl poisoning: ensuring students can’t get in trouble for carrying the overdose reversal drug naloxone wherever they go, including at school.
California Hospitals, Advocates Seek Stable Funding to Retain Behavioral Health Navigators
By Vanessa G. Sánchez
March 1, 2024
KFF Health News Original
California has supported expanded use of medications in the fight against opioid use disorder and overdose deaths. But hospitals and addiction treatment advocates say the state needs to secure ongoing funding if it wants more behavioral health workers to guide patients into long-term treatment.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Alabama’s IVF Ruling Still Making Waves
February 29, 2024
Podcast
Lawmakers in Congress and state legislatures are scrambling to react to the ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that frozen embryos created for in vitro fertilization are legally children. Abortion opponents are divided among themselves, with some supporting full “personhood” for fertilized eggs, while others support IVF as a moral way to have children. Rachel Cohrs of Stat, Riley Griffin of Bloomberg News, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins University schools of nursing and public health and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews University of Pittsburgh law professor Greer Donley, who explains how a 150-year-old anti-vice law that’s still on the books could be used to ban abortion nationwide. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too.
Mezcla letal: se extiende el uso de fentanilo con sedantes para caballos
By Sam Ogozalek, Tampa Bay Times
February 29, 2024
KFF Health News Original
La xilacina se utiliza para sedar a los caballos. Ahora la están mezclando con fentanilo. Es letal y la naloxona no frena las sobredosis.
Doctors Told To Conserve Tetanus Shots; Has Your Measles Vax Worn Off?
February 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
The CDC is urging physicians to switch from the Td vaccine to the Tdap vaccine whenever possible because of a shortage risk prompted by MassBiologics’ decision to discontinue production of its Td vaccine, CBS News reported. Also: updates on the measles, chikungunya, and flu vaccines.
Novo Nordisk Pursuing Vaccine-Like Yearly Dose Weight-Loss Drug
February 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
The pharma company behind runaway success weight-loss drug Wegovy is looking into future obesity drug technology. Separately, a long-term study shows that exercise can help people keep from gaining weight after they’ve been taking a weight-loss drug.
Alarm Raised About Quality, Services From Health Providers Amazon Bought
February 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
Patients are voicing concerns about changes to health service quality and offerings from providers that Amazon bought, such as Iora Health clinics’ parent company One Medical. Meanwhile, construction of a new Kaiser Permanente hospital in San Jose is set for 2025.
San Francisco Might Test Welfare Recipients For Drug Use
February 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
Two law-and-order ballot measures will, if passed, represent a new tack against public drug use and property crime in the famously progressive city, the Wall Street Journal says. Meanwhile, California is reacting to White House prompts, and may tighten gun storage rules.
Concerned About Microplastics In Your Tap Water? Consider Boiling It
February 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Hill reports on new research suggesting that at least 80% of the three most common plastic compounds found in tap water are destroyed when the water is boiled. Other public health news is on PFAS in food packaging, ultra-processed foods, and the “fasting-mimicking diet.”
Research Roundup: Cancer; Covid; Obesity; Marijuana; Preemies
February 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Viewpoints: Global Use Of Chlormequat Must Be Eliminated; Hospital ‘Boarding’ Has Gotten Out Of Control
February 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss a deadly pesticide, hospital boarding, self-defense laws, and more.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, February 29, 2024
February 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
Covid and measles shots, IVF access, abortion rates, Biden’s physical, weight-loss drugs, drug use, microplastics, and more are in the news.
CDC Panel Advises A Fresh Round Of Covid Shots For Those Over 65
February 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
Also in the news: A study examines long covid “brain fog” and the potential impact on IQ; scientists look at the medical challenges children hospitalized with covid continue to face; an uptick in post-covid prescriptions for depression and anxiety; covid’s impact on health care quality; and more.
Republican Senator Blocks Bill To Protect IVF Nationwide
February 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
A bill introduced by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, was blocked Wednesday by Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, a Republican from Mississippi. The legislation would have provided federal protections for in vitro fertilization treatments. The Biden campaign linked the move to former President Donald Trump, arguing that he would have urged Republicans to pass it if he truly supported IVF access.
Report Finds US Abortion Rate Is The Same As During Roe Era
February 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
About the same number of abortions are happening each month now as before the reversal of Roe v. Wade, a new report by the Society of Family Planning says. The report also shows abortions via telehealth have been rising, with pills mailed to patients after online consultations.
Biden’s Physical Didn’t Include A Cognitive Test
February 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
The latest physical evaluating President Joe Biden’s health reportedly drew on 20 doctors’ expertise, but did not involve a cognitive exam of the 81 year-old politician. Also in the news, protections for disabled travelers; a challenge to the bump stock device weapons ban; and more.
Congress Reaches Deal To Buy More Time To Finalize Spending Agreement
February 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
Congressional leaders have reached agreement on a stopgap bill that will extend two-tier federal funding deadlines to March 8 and March 22, in an effort to secure enough time to finalize the spending deal that’s been secured “in principle.”
First Edition: Feb. 29, 2024
February 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
California Takes Up White House Call to Toughen Gun Storage Rules
By Samantha Young
February 29, 2024
KFF Health News Original
State lawmakers are weighing legislation that would require gun owners to keep their firearms locked up most of the time, a move advocated by the Biden administration.