First Edition: Jan. 30, 2024
January 30, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Where Are the Nation’s Primary Care Providers? It’s Not an Easy Answer
By Rae Ellen Bichell
January 30, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Politicians keep talking about fixing primary care shortages. But flawed national data leaves big holes in how to evaluate which policies are effective.
An Arm and a Leg: Self-Defense 101: Keeping Your Cool While You Fight
By Dan Weissmann
January 30, 2024
Podcast
On this episode of “An Arm and a Leg,” host Dan Weissmann seeks advice for fighting unfair medical bills from an unexpected source: an expert in self-defense.
CDC Study Links Pet Bearded Dragons To Salmonella Cases
January 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
Some of the exotic pets were likely obtained from the same breeder in Southeast Asia, The New York Times reports. In other news: Navy shipyard workers’ exposure to cancer-causing radioactive materials; rising freight train accidents; lead in Stanley cups; and more.
Viewpoints: What’s Driving The New Covid Vaccine Hesitancy?; Project 2025 Would Outlaw Mifepristone
January 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss vaccine hesitancy, reproductive health care, telehealth, and more.
Texas AG Presses A Georgia Clinic For Medical Records Of Texas Trans Youth
January 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
This is the second time Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is requesting private records of Texas transgender children who received gender care in another state, the Texas Tribune says. Also in the news: The VA hasn’t lived up to its gender care promises; religious trauma in LGBTQ+ Americans; and more.
Infectious-Disease Experts Say WHO’s Covid Guidelines Could Harm People
January 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
Health experts told CIDRAP that the new guidelines that are meant to protect health care workers and patients might actually put them at risk. For example, they said, the guidelines “suggest using symptoms to screen people” despite current knowledge about asymptomatic transmission. The guidelines also still adhere to “droplet dogma” instead of airborne spread, they said, and do not fully acknowledge that N95 respirators offer better protection than surgical masks.
After Slashing Its Price, Novo Nordisk Discontinues Levemir Insulin In US
January 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
Last March, Novo reduced the list price of Levemir by 65%, but USA Today says that American diabetes patients who’ve benefited from this price drop (and other price caps) are set to be disappointed because the drug is being withdrawn from sale. Novo has not said it will do so in other countries.
Chicago-Based IMX Becomes First Health Care Futures Exchange
January 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
Trading is expected to begin in the first half of 2024, Crain’s Chicago Business reports. Meanwhile, Penn Medicine abandoned plans to purchase Tower Health’s Brandywine Hospital; the White House AI Council meets today; an AI-designed drug for inflammatory bowel disease enters trials; more.
Jury Hands Down $2.25 Billion Verdict In Bayer Roundup Cancer Case
January 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
Separately, health tech company Philips will not sell new sleep apnea devices in the U.S. as it works to comply with an FDA settlement. Also: The FDA approved Dupixent to treat younger children with allergic esophagus inflammation; the U.K. will ban disposable vapes; and more.
Texas Democrats Align On Abortion As They Battle To Unseat GOP’s Ted Cruz
January 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
Democratic challengers to Sen. Ted Cruz are trying to earn the support of organized labor advocates, with abortion, guns, and border issues central to their efforts, the Austin American-Statesman says. NPR also reports that House Democratic candidates are focusing on abortion in their campaigns.
After Years Of Silence On Opioid Crisis, US And China To Hold Talks This Week
January 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Washington Post says the meetings that begin Tuesday in Beijing are a critical step forward since November, when China opened lines of communication on the topic.
First Edition: Jan. 29, 2024
January 29, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Records Show Publix Opioid Sales Grew Even as Addiction Crisis Prompted Other Chains’ Pullback
By Ian Hodgson, Tampa Bay Times and Christopher O’Donnell, Tampa Bay Times
January 29, 2024
KFF Health News Original
As national prescription drug distributors and pharmacies restricted the flow of oxycodone and other painkillers in response to the growing opioid crisis, Florida’s most popular grocery store ramped up its sales and distribution of the highly addictive drugs, according to a Tampa Bay Times analysis of federal data.
Readers Weigh Downsides of Medicare Advantage and Stick Up for Mary Lou Retton
January 29, 2024
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
How Fringe Anti-Science Views Infiltrated Mainstream Politics — And What It Means in 2024
By Amy Maxmen
January 29, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Opposition to vaccines and other public health measures backed by science has become politically charged. That makes dangerous misinformation much harder to fight.
Health Care Experts Worry Over Sale Of US Helium Stockpile
January 26, 2024
Morning Briefing
Health supply chain experts worry over Thursday’s sale by the U.S. government of the Federal Helium Reserve. The rare gas is critical for making MRI machines work. Also in the news: what to know about ordering medication from overseas; C. diff risks from antibiotics and reflux drugs; more.
Real-World Impact Of HPV Vaccine Shown In Cervical Cancer Study
January 26, 2024
Morning Briefing
A new study out of Scotland, dubbed historic for its impact, showed that there were no cervical cancer cases for women born between 1988 and 1996 who were fully vaccinated against HPV when young. Meanwhile, in the U.S. a study shows cervical cancer deaths rising in low-income populations.
During Alabama Nitrogen Execution, Prisoner Struggled For 2 Minutes
January 26, 2024
Morning Briefing
The execution of Kenneth Smith put the U.S. at the forefront of a debate on the death penalty, the AP says. The controversial nitrogen gas method saw Smith appear to make seizure-like movements and struggle against his restraints. Also in the news: syphilis, drug price gouging, and more.