Research Roundup: Long Covid; Maternal Covid; Breast Milk; Pediatric Bacterial Meningitis
January 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of health policy studies and briefs.
Viewpoints: There May Be A Dark Side To New Weight-Loss Drugs; Should THC Levels Be Regulated?
January 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers delve into weight-loss drugs, high potency marijuana, abortion restrictions, and prior authorizations.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, January 25, 2024
January 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
Colonoscopy costs, record Obamacare enrollment, pregnancies due to rape, social media dangers, rural health care, and more are in the news.
Red States Drive Record Obamacare Enrollment With 21 Million Signing Up
January 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
Nationally, enrollment in an Affordable Care Act plan so far for 2024 coverage increased 31% over last year. Republican-majority states like West Virginia, Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana, and Texas saw even higher percentage increases in people now covered under the law that is still a campaign issue in 2024.
Nearly 65,000 Pregnancies From Rape Estimated In States With Abortion Bans
January 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
A new study estimates that nearly 520,000 rapes were associated with 64,565 pregnancies across 14 states with abortion restrictions — many of which don’t allow for exceptions in cases of rape and incest. The highest number was in Texas, which accounts for 26,313 of the total.
New York City Labels Social Media A Hazard To Public Health
January 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
The move makes New York the first city in the U.S. to take this step, and Mayor Eric Adams explained it was all about combating a mental health crisis driven by social media platforms. Meanwhile, in Florida, the House OK’d a ban on social media for children.
The FTC Escalates Biden’s Fight Against Drug Prices
By Elisabeth Rosenthal
January 25, 2024
KFF Health News Original
It’s daggers out at the Federal Trade Commission in its fight against anticompetitive practices in health care. This past year, it has issued more stringent guidelines to block and discourage hospital mergers, and it investigated practices by middlemen in the drug supply chain. Now drug manufacturers themselves are in the agency’s crosshairs. In November, the FTC challenged the validity of more […]
First Edition: Jan. 25, 2024
January 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
New York Joins Local Governments in Erasing Billions in Medical Debt
By Yuki Noguchi, NPR News
January 25, 2024
KFF Health News Original
New York City is the latest jurisdiction to buy and forgive a backlog of unpaid medical bills for its residents. Local governments across the country, including in the Chicago area, are doing the same to reduce debt burdens for lower-income residents.
Native American Communities Have the Highest Suicide Rates, Yet Interventions Are Scarce
By Cheryl Platzman Weinstock
Updated January 26, 2024
Originally Published January 25, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Native Americans die by suicide at a higher rate than any other racial or ethnic group, yet research into effective and culturally appropriate interventions is uncommon.
The Colonoscopies Were Free. But the ‘Surgical Trays’ Came With $600 Price Tags.
By Samantha Liss
January 25, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Health providers may bill however they choose — including in ways that could leave patients with unexpected bills for “free” care. Routine preventive care saddled an Illinois couple with his-and-her bills for “surgical trays.”
Una decisión difícil: cuando los adultos mayores tienen que dejar de conducir
By Judith Graham
January 24, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Los riesgos para los conductores mayores aumentan con la edad y el desarrollo de afecciones como la artritis, el glaucoma y el Parkinson. Y cuando ocurren accidentes, son más propensos a sufrir heridas graves o morir porque son físicamente más vulnerables.
Covid sigue matando gente. Esto recomiendan los médicos para protegerse
By Amy Maxmen
January 24, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Las pandemias no se definen por el tiempo ni por la gravedad, sino por grandes cantidades de infecciones en curso en todo el mundo. Las emergencias son agudas y se declaran para desencadenar una respuesta urgente.
Estados utilizan dinero de Medicaid para combatir la violencia con armas de fuego
By Samantha Young
January 24, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Una inyección de financiamiento federal confiable podría permitir que organizaciones sin fines de lucro amplíen su alcance para llegar a más residentes con mayor riesgo de ser víctimas de disparos, o de disparar a alguien.
Scientists Find Workaround For Troubled Prostate Cancer Treatment
January 24, 2024
Morning Briefing
Read recent pharmaceutical developments in KFF Health News’ Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Viewpoints: Here’s How We Prepare For The Next Pandemic; Red States Are Seeing The Advantage Of ACA
January 24, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle pandemic preparedness, ACA expansion, adult ADHD and more.
States Are Bargaining For Medicaid Waivers To Divert Cash To Other Needs
January 24, 2024
Morning Briefing
New York recently became the latest state to receive a Section 1115 Demonstration waiver from the federal government, with a goal of narrowing health disparities and reducing long-term spending. Meanwhile, Republican-controlled states are pushing for employment requirements in Medicaid.
Data Suggest Covid Variant JN.1 Is Not More Severe, But Infections Are Surging
January 24, 2024
Morning Briefing
Wastewater testing indicates a new possible wave of covid infections, saying that potentially a third of Americans are expected to be infected by late February. Other covid news covers the Corbevax vaccine; long covid and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome; and more.
FDA Endorses Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide As Medical Device Sterilizer
January 24, 2024
Morning Briefing
Ethylene oxide has long been the go-to for sterilizing medical devices, but the chemical is dangerous and a known carcinogen. Meanwhile, the FDA told several drugmakers that their CAR-T cancer therapy drugs’ boxes should carry a warning that the treatment may add to cancer risks.