Morning Briefing for Wednesday, October 18, 2023
October 18, 2023
Morning Briefing
Social Security, insurance premiums, the Gaza hospital blast, NIH, forgiven medical debt, doctors’ mental health, and more are in the news.
First Edition: Oct. 18, 2023
October 18, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Abortion Coverage Is Limited or Unavailable at a Quarter of Large Workplaces
By Rachana Pradhan
October 18, 2023
KFF Health News Original
A KFF survey of employer health benefits shows that 28% of large U.S. companies have limited or no access to abortion under company health insurance.
Pregnant and Addicted: Homeless Women See Hope in Street Medicine
By Angela Hart
October 18, 2023
KFF Health News Original
As homelessness explodes across California, so does the number of expectant mothers on the streets. Street medicine doctors are getting paid more by Medicaid and offering some of those mothers-to-be a chance to overcome addiction and reverse chronic diseases so they can have healthy babies — and perhaps keep them.
Covid Relief Payments Triggered Feds to Demand Money Back From Social Security Recipients
By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group
October 18, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Some Social Security beneficiaries say the government is clawing back benefits after they received covid stimulus payments that were supposed to be exempt from asset limits.
Viewpoints: Keep Your Sanity Amid Israel War Coverage; We Need A New Model To Manage Pricey Meds
October 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss mental health, expensive prescriptions, and more.
Social Factors Studied For Impact On Kids’ Physical, Mental Health
October 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
New research looks at how dozens of socioeconomic or environmental determinants interact with one another and affect a child’s health and mental wellbeing. Other children’s health news looks at soaring myopia, ear infections, food safety, and more.
Life Expectancy Is Lower For Less-Educated People, Researchers Find
October 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
The widening U.S. life expectancy gap, dependent on college education, is argued as setting the country back against other nations. Meanwhile, researchers in Sweden looking into aging have found genetic reasons why some people live to 100.
As Gaza’s Hospitals Overflow, Doctors Warn Of Risks From Supply Shortages
October 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
The “impossible” situation faced by physicians in Gaza is explained by news sources, including the difficulty of evacuating hospitals, and issues from fuel and basic supplies shortages. Meanwhile, a lack of clean water in Gaza is spurring health worries for the population.
Independent Pharmacies Form LLC To Recover Fees From PBMs
October 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
This new effort against pharmacy benefit managers comes from the National Community Pharmacists Association, which represents nearly 20,000 pharmacies. The aim is to recover direct and indirect remuneration fees. Also: The FDA plans to ban hair straighteners with formaldehyde.
Most Hospital Websites Omit Or Bury Information About Abortion Services
October 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
A study of 222 hospital websites sampled found that nearly 80% don’t mention abortion. Other abortion access news reports on the long-term costs of denied procedures, election initiatives, and traveling doctors.
Teva Alleges Colorado’s Epinephrine Pen Cost-Limiting Is Unconstitutional
October 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
Teva Pharmaceuticals’ argument in a new lawsuit is that a new program aimed at making epinephrine auto-injectors affordable violates its rights. Also in the news: expanded involuntary medication of jail inmates in Marin County; Philadelphia’s mayor signs order protecting gender care; more.
Data Show Thousands Upon Thousands Of Pros Leaving Health Industry
October 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
Over 145,000 left the industry from 2021 through 2022 a report says, threatening health services access and quality. A debate over the status of the nursing staff shortage is also in the news. Also in the media: skepticism over prior authorization cuts from Cigna and UnitedHealth.
Industry Experts Hint Rite Aid Bankruptcy Could Signal Services Pivot
October 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
The company’s bankruptcy filings over financial issues and opioid-related lawsuits have some experts considering that its restructuring could be an opportunity for a strategy shift into health care services like telehealth. The impacts of Rite Aid’s woes on local retail pharmacies are also in the news.
Anti-Covid Drug Paxlovid Expected To Cost More In 2024, Sparking Worries
October 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
The new price isn’t set yet but is expected to be higher than the $530-per-course fee currently paid by the government. A higher price has triggered experts’ concerns about accessibility. Other covid news reports on Florida’s newly released data, vaccines, the impact on dogs, and more.
FDA Proposes Banning Menthol In A Sea Change Anti-Cigarette Effort
October 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
The goal is to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, winning praise from health experts. The tobacco industry, predictably, hates the idea. Meanwhile, big tobacco firms are turning to nicotine-infused substances like tea to skirt flavored heated tobacco bans that are on the way in Europe.
Regulations Take Aim At Misleading Medicare Ads As Enrollment Opens
October 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
New Biden administration rules crafted to combat deceptive Medicare marketing tactics face their first big test this enrollment season. Other open enrollment news relates to coinsurance changes, Medicare Advantage, and more.
Morning Briefing for Tuesday, October 17, 2023
October 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
Long covid, smoking, Medicare ads, health care workers quitting, pharmacy closures, abortion, Gaza hospitals, and more are in the news.
Long Covid Study Points To Depleted Serotonin As Possible ‘Brain Fog’ Cause
October 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
University of Pennsylvania scientists are exploring the neurocognitive difficulties that are attributed to long covid and have found a potential link to both interferons and serotonin levels. Other news on the condition looks at treatments and workers’ comp cases.
First Edition: Oct. 17, 2023
October 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.