Rising Malpractice Premiums Price Small Clinics Out of Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
By Cecilia Nowell
January 9, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Even in states where laws protect minors’ access to gender-affirming care, malpractice insurance premiums are keeping small and independent clinics from treating patients.
Hay una nueva variante de covid-19 y aumentan los casos. Lo que necesitas saber
By Julie Appleby
January 8, 2024
KFF Health News Original
A nivel nacional, se ha registrado un marcado aumento en las visitas a salas de emergencia y hospitalizaciones por covid-19, influenza y el virus respiratorio sincitial.
Study Shines Spotlight On TB Outbreak From Contaminated Bone Graft
January 8, 2024
Morning Briefing
Bone allografts contaminated with tuberculosis are the subject of the new study. The donated tissue caused two deaths. Also in the news: CVS Health predicts Aetna will enroll many more Medicare Advantage beneficiaries than it had predicted; Marshfield Clinic and Essentia Health called off a merger; and more.
When Unhealthy Sugary Drinks Are Taxed More, Sales Fall
January 8, 2024
Morning Briefing
A new study published Friday in the journal JAMA Health Forum shows the benefits of applying soda taxes to unhealthy sugary drinks: Sales fell in five cities in the study, with benefits lasting over time. Separately, the FDA has found contaminated applesauce pouches also contained chromium.
Florida Republican Files Proposal To Let Younger People Buy Rifles
January 8, 2024
Morning Briefing
The effort would lower the minimum age for buying long guns in Florida from 21 to 18 and would potentially reverse part of a law that passed after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. In California, a law banning concealed firearms in “sensitive places” was again blocked.
Viewpoints: Maybe Our Cancer Fears Are Overblown; Are Health And Fitness Trackers Working?
January 8, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle “cancerphobia,” fitness trackers, obstetric fistulas and more.
Morning Briefing for Monday, January 8, 2024
January 8, 2024
Morning Briefing
Covid variants, flu, the spending deal, emergency abortions, tainted medicines, illegal drug use, Medicare, and more are in the news.
Lawmakers Reach Spending Deal Needed To Avert Partial Shutdown
January 8, 2024
Morning Briefing
With a Jan. 19 deadline looming when funding for many federal programs would expire, congressional negotiators announced a $1.7 trillion agreement. If passed in time, the deal would preserve money for veterans assistance, food and drug safety services, and other health programs, while canceling unspent pandemic aid.
Supreme Court Allows Idaho Abortion Ban In Emergencies To Stand
January 8, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Supreme Court will hear the case over Idaho’s abortion law that bans the procedure even for certain medical emergency situations. In the meantime, the court will allow the measure to be enforced.
Covid Is Rising, With JN.1 Playing A Role. But Flu Is Up More Dramatically.
January 8, 2024
Morning Briefing
New data from the CDC show that respiratory viruses soared during the holiday period. Thirty-eight states have high or very high infection rates. And although variant JN.1 is now dominating new covid infections, the CDC says flu is rising more dramatically than covid.
In Wake Of Contaminated Medicines Scandal, India Tightens Standards
January 8, 2024
Morning Briefing
News outlets reported a string of overseas deaths linked to drugs manufactured in India since 2022, and now Indian pharmaceutical firms have to meet new manufacturing standards just set by the government. Meanwhile, GSK is replacing Flovent brand asthma inhalers with an authorized generic.
First Edition: Jan. 8, 2024
January 8, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
There’s a New Covid-19 Variant and Cases Are Ticking Up. What Do You Need to Know?
By Julie Appleby
January 8, 2024
KFF Health News Original
The covid-19 virus is continually changing, and a recent subvariant, the JN.1, is rapidly climbing the charts.
Journalists Track Medical Device Malfunctions, Opioid Settlement Payments, and Abortion Bans
January 6, 2024
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News and California Healthline staffers made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Adultos mayores se sienten “atrapados” en planes de Medicare Advantage
By Sarah Jane Tribble
January 5, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Al parecer el programa de planes privados para adultos mayores comienza a presentar obstáculos cuando surgen enfermedades.
Critics Blast FDA Plan For RADARS Drug Misuse Surveillance Program
January 5, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Research, Abuse, Diversion, and Addiction-Related Surveillance system was an in-house system at Purdue Pharma and later sold to the Denver Health and Hospital Authority. Advocacy groups are pushing back against the FDA’s use of RADARS over its ties to the pharma industry.
Bill To Ban Gender Care For Minors Advances In New Hampshire
January 5, 2024
Morning Briefing
The state bill would ban doctors from providing gender-affirming surgery for minors and from referring patients to out-of-state alternatives. Also in the news: wheelchair repair legislation passed in Massachusetts; warnings of Shigella among the homeless in Portland, Oregon; and more.
Baby Monitor Study Finds Link Between Seizures And Toddler Deaths
January 5, 2024
Morning Briefing
Researchers used home security systems, including baby monitor video, as part of a study into unexplained toddler deaths. They found a link between seizures and sudden death. Meanwhile, another study shows how prevalent microplastics are in our food despite health risks.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
January 5, 2024
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on abortion, anorexia, aspirin, birth policy in China, and more.
Viewpoints: Here’s How To Fight Back Against Insurance Denials; What To Expect In Public Health In 2024
January 5, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers delve into insurance company denials, the ACA and more.