Desperate Families Search for Affordable Home Care
By Reed Abelson, The New York Times
December 4, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Facing a severe shortage of aides and high costs, people trying to keep aging loved ones at home often cobble together a patchwork of family and friends to help.
Explosive DeSantis-Newsom Debate Reflects Nation’s Culture Wars
By Angela Hart and PolitiFact Staff
December 1, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The two governors exchanged heated verbal barbs when they faced off in a wide-ranging debate that covered various health-related topics, from abortion to gun violence.
Biden’s Got a New Set of Orders for Obamacare. Is It His Last?
By Julie Appleby
December 1, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The Biden administration has issued its latest official wish list for Obamacare insurance plans, potentially one of the last major Affordable Care Act health policy efforts in the president’s first term. Changes on tap for 2025? For one, the administration wants states that run their own ACA marketplaces to crack down on what’s called “network […]
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
December 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on marijuana, octopus, nutrition, aging, hepatitis C, and more.
Different Takes: Congress Must Act Now To Reauthorize PEPFAR
December 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
Opinion writers discuss PEPFAR on World AIDS Day.
Viewpoints: Pediatric Flu Shot Rates Are Abysmal; How Concerning Are China’s New Respiratory Illnesses?
December 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss flu shot rates, China’s respiratory illnesses, affirmative action in health care, and more.
Covid Policies, Housing Among Issues Argued In DeSantis-Newsom Debate
December 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican and presidential candidate, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, engaged in a spirited debate on Fox News Thursday. Both took aim at the other’s covid policies over the course of the pandemic. And in other health-related issue, DeSantis targeted the public health impact of homelessness on cities like San Francisco.
Texas AG Sues Pfizer, Says It Deceived Public On Covid Shot Effectiveness
December 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, is accusing Pfizer of lying about its covid vaccine effectiveness, and over selling the shots. Separately, Anthony Fauci, former White House medical adviser, will testify in Congress over the U.S. covid response, and the virus’ origins.
CDC Warns About Eating Pre-Cut Cantaloupe Unless You Know Source
December 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
A salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated cantaloupe has grown to affect at least 117 people across 34 states, leading to the new warning. Also in the news: worries over leaded fuel used by small planes; a recall of children’s cups due to high levels of lead; “forever chemicals” in fish; more.
Illinois Ruling Means Medical Workers Aren’t Covered By Privacy Law
December 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
A pair of nurses had sued their employers over use of fingerprint-locked medication storage, but now the state’s Supreme Court ruled against them. Also in health industry news: Republican opposition to site-neutral hospital payment cuts; ChatGPT in health care; and more.
Novo Sues Florida Compounding Pharmacies For Impure Wegovy Doses
December 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
Novo Nordisk says it found its products at the pharmacies concerned were as much as 33% impure. Also in the news, AbbVie’s promising cancer drug; quality issues with China-made plastic syringes; Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy; and more.
Former Marine Guilty Of Firebomb Attack On California Abortion Clinic
December 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
Chance Brannon was on active duty in San Diego County when he firebombed a Planned Parenthood clinic in 2022, and has now pled guilty to the attack. Meanwhile, a ruling means Ohio is exempt from some family planning funding regulations.
Global Progress Against AIDS ‘Under Threat,’ UN Warns
December 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
The politicization and stigmatization of global AIDS work is threatening gains made in treating and preventing the disease, the United Nations AIDS program says. And one of the world’s leading AIDS researchers echoes the concern.
Suicides Involving Guns Reach Highest Level Since Records Began
December 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
The rate increased by more than 10 percent in 2022 compared with 2019, but the rise was much steeper in some racial and ethnic groups. Meanwhile, in California, more CARE courts launch — an effort to help homeless people with mental illnesses.
CDC Director Testifies On Current State Of Covid, Flu, And RSV Threats
December 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
In her first congressional testimony as head of the embattled CDC, Mandy Cohen fielded questions from Republicans about the spike in child pneumonia in China. Rather than a new pathogen, she said it was attributed to the same increase in respiratory illnesses experienced last winter by nations that opened back up sooner post-pandemic. She also said that RSV season is in full swing in the U.S.
First Edition: Dec. 1, 2023
December 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in Freshwater Fish, Yet Most States Don’t Warn Residents
By Hannah Norman
Graphics by Lydia Zuraw Illustration by Oona Zenda
December 1, 2023
KFF Health News Original
At least 17 states have issued PFAS-related fish consumption advisories, KFF Health News found. But with no federal guidance, what is considered safe to eat varies significantly among states, most of which provide no regulation.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Trump Puts Obamacare Repeal Back on Agenda
November 30, 2023
Podcast
Although Republicans have never united behind a replacement for the Affordable Care Act, 2024 GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump said this week he wants to put the issue back on the national agenda. That delights Democrats, who have won at least two elections partly by defending the now-popular health law. Meanwhile, the Texas Supreme Court takes up a case brought by women who say their pregnancy complications further endangered their health due to the vagueness of Texas’ near-total ban on abortions. Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Victoria Knight of Axios News join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Rachana Pradhan, who reported and wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature.
In Congress, Calls Mount for Social Security to Address Clawbacks
By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group
November 30, 2023
KFF Health News Original
In the wake of a KFF Health News-Cox Media Group investigation, U.S. lawmakers are asking what Social Security will do about its demands on their constituents to repay money already distributed — and sometimes in error. Sen. Rick Scott called the agency’s actions “unacceptable.”