Médicos deben racionar la penicilina por el dramático aumento de casos de sífilis
By Catherine Sweeney, WPLN
February 1, 2024
KFF Health News Original
A nivel nacional, las tasas de sífilis están en su punto más alto en 70 años. Entre 2018 y 2022, las tasas de esta enfermedad de transmisión sexual subieron alrededor del 80%.
eBay Settles, Will Pay $59 Million Over Pill Presses Used For Counterfeit Pills
February 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
AP reports that the $59 million settlement between eBay and the Justice Department comes after thousands of pill press machines, which can be used to make fake pills that look like prescription pills, were sold online. Other news on the opioid crisis is on settlement funds in Boston, Washington’s King County morgue, and more.
Mississippi Targets Earlier Medicaid Coverage To Lift Pregnancy Outcomes
February 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
Mississippi could allow coverage earlier in pregnancy so that health outcomes for mothers and babies are better — in the state has the nation’s worst infant mortality rate. Meanwhile, in Texas, a federal complaint claims Deloitte software is behind thousands of erroneous Medicaid removals.
Research Roundup: Minorities And Covid; Elective Surgery And Covid; Long Covid; Low Immunity And Covid
February 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Viewpoints: Medical Workers Need To Rethink Their Fat Bias; Mental Health Care Must Include A Safe Home
February 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss fatphobia, mental health care, transgender care, and more.
FDA Says Recalled Philips Machines Linked To 561 Deaths Since 2021
February 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
Philips ventilators and devices for treating obstructive sleep apnea are linked to 561 reported deaths since 2021. Also in the news: CVS will close 25 MinuteClinic sites in Los Angeles; GSK settled another Zantac lawsuit in California; FDA warns against using some unapproved eyedrops; and more.
In Emotional Hearing, Lawmakers Blast Tech CEOs For Mental Health Crisis
February 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
Parents have blamed Meta, TikTok, X, Snap, and Discord for fueling cyberbullying and even their children’s suicides. In an extraordinary moment during his congressional testimony Wednesday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stood and told parents in the room, “I’m sorry for everything you have all been through.” Every CEO stressed that they are parents, too.
Lawmakers Aim To Loosen Abortion Bans In Kentucky and Tennessee
February 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
They acknowledge though that there are tough headwinds to change abortion law in states with Republican-majority legislatures.
Public Outrage Sparked As Essentia Shutters Labor, Deliveries In A Hospital
February 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
The facility in question is in Fosston, Minnesota. Separately, Bloomberg reports on the failed sale of Pennsylvania hospital chain Tower Health’s Brandywine hospital. A merger of two New Jersey providers — Saint Peter’s Healthcare System and Atlantic Health System — is also in the news.
Experts: Conspiracy Theories Drive Rise Of Unproven Medical Treatments
February 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
An AP report draws attention to a rise of marketing unproven cures and treatments, driven by conspiracy theorists and rising social media use against a backdrop of skepticism about traditional health science. Meanwhile, the CDC’s new vaccice schedule for kids addresses fears over egg allergies.
CDC Study Links Camp Lejeune Water Contamination To Cancer
February 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
Military staff stationed at the base from 1975 to 1985 had a higher chance of developing a number of cancers, CDC data say. Separately, the EPA has OK’d the use of the herbicide paraquat, despite its known links to Parkinson’s disease.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, February 1, 2024
February 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
Medicare drug pricing, Alzheimer’s drug, online mental health crisis, opioids, maternity care, covid, abortion, and more are in the news.
Medicare Pricing Talks On 10 Drugs Kick Off With CMS Opening Offers
February 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Biden administration sent starting offers in Medicare price negotiations with drugmakers for 10 prescription medications that were previously selected. The companies have until March 2 to respond to initial proposals, with other rounds of talks expected through the spring.
Cigna To Sell Its Medicare Business To Health Care Service Corp.
February 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
Cigna is shedding its troubled Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Medicare part D plans that cover 3.6 million people. The business will be sold to Health Care Service Corp., a Blue Cross Blue Shield insurer.
Biogen Abandons Alzheimer’s Drug That Won Controversial Approval
February 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
Neurimmune, the Swiss company that invented Aduhelm, will regain full rights to it from Biogen. The FDA’s accelerated approval of the drug in 2021 was contentious and there has been limited marketplace for and coverage of Aduhelm since.
First Edition: Feb. 1, 2024
February 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Surge in Syphilis Cases Leads Some Providers to Ration Penicillin
By Catherine Sweeney, WPLN
February 1, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Injectable penicillin is the go-to treatment for syphilis and the only treatment considered safe for pregnant people with the disease. But as rates of syphilis increase across the U.S., a shortage of the injectable has prompted some public health agencies to ration it.
More ‘Navigators’ Are Helping Women Travel to Have Abortions
By Lillian Mongeau Hughes
February 1, 2024
KFF Health News Original
After the U.S. Supreme Court ended the federal right to an abortion and many states banned the procedure, reproductive health care organizations hired dozens of people to help patients arrange travel and pay for care.
Utah Gov. Signs Bill Restricting Trans People’s Access To Public Restrooms
January 31, 2024
Morning Briefing
The new anti-trans law also defines the legal definition of “male” and female” based on a person’s genitalia instead of gender identity. Meanwhile, in Florida, trans people can no longer update their driver’s licenses to match gender identity — a move not prompted by any new law.
Gallup Poll Finds Nurses Are Most Trusted Among 23 Major Professions
January 31, 2024
Morning Briefing
Americans trust nurses even more than doctors, the new 2023 Honesty and Ethics poll found: 78% of Americans taking part in the poll felt nurses kept to “very high” or “high” standards of honesty and ethics. Also in the news: female body dummies for CPR training.