Different Takes: Taxpayers Must Foot The Bill For Florida’s Secret Covid Data
October 12, 2023
Morning Briefing
Opinion writers weigh in on covid, nutrition, abortion, and other topics.
Wisconsin Assembly Set To Vote On Banning Gender Care For Youths
October 12, 2023
Morning Briefing
Bills before the assembly also seek to ban trans women and girls from competing on women’s sports teams. Meanwhile in North Carolina, a doctor and a family with a transgender child are suing to challenge a new state law banning gender care for trans minors.
In 2020, Assaults Were 6% Of All Injuries Treated In Emergency Rooms
October 12, 2023
Morning Briefing
The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics data doesn’t include sexual assaults but does highlight the impact of violence on the health system, Axios notes. Also in the news: an AI tool for spotting brain tumors during surgery; kidney disease links to cardiac arrest risks for Hispanic adults; and more.
Opvee Nasal Spray For Opioid Overdose Reversals Starts Shipping
October 12, 2023
Morning Briefing
Indivior has started shipping a nasal spray version of nalmefene to first responders and pharmacies, four months after the FDA approved it. In L.A. County, libraries are set to offer free naloxone clinics. And in San Antonio, a local pharmacy and pharmacist must pay a $275,000 fine for illegal opioid distribution.
Grocery Delivery Service Instacart Expands Its Health Partnerships
October 12, 2023
Morning Briefing
The goal is to enhance patient access to nutritious food and promote a healthy lifestyle, Becker’s Hospital Review explains. Among other news items, the process for settling billing disputes between insurers and providers is still a mess.
Expert: Cancer Patients Skip Radiation Therapy Over Brutal Descriptions
October 12, 2023
Morning Briefing
A commentary published in JAMA Oncology notes how words like “brutal” and “toxic” impact patient choices over the effective cancer therapy. Meanwhile, other research into animal organ transplants are showing success with pig kidneys, raising hope for human transplants.
Seniors Soon Will Find Out If They’ll Get More Benefits From Social Security
October 12, 2023
Morning Briefing
The cost-of-living adjustment is expected to be announced tomorrow. Although the amount is expected to go up, it will be significantly less of a boost than retirees received last year.
Data Show Half Of 2021’s Abortions In Utah Were For Economic Reasons
October 12, 2023
Morning Briefing
Of the approximately 3,000 abortions in the state in 2021, half of the patients chose socioeconomic reasons from a list of nine options to explain their decision — the price of giving birth and raising a child was unaffordable. Also in the news: misinformation ahead of the Ohio vote on abortion rights.
California Doctors, MEs Banned From Using ‘Excited Delirium’ Diagnoses
October 12, 2023
Morning Briefing
The controversial diagnosis now can’t be used on a person’s death certificate or in an autopsy report, and law enforcement won’t be allowed to use it in any incident report. The ban is praised as a move against police justifications of excessive force.
CDC Director Says Now Is ‘The Right Time’ To Get Your New Covid Shot
October 12, 2023
Morning Briefing
As some health clinics across the country are reportedly waiting with “bated breath” for new covid vaccines, CDC Director Mandy Cohen said now is the right time to get vaccinated. Also: Researchers find American Indian and Alaska Native patients are more likely to get severe covid.
High Demand For New RSV Shots Leads To Shortages
October 12, 2023
Morning Briefing
Cost and infrastructure issues are reportedly causing snags in the RSV vaccine program. Meanwhile, new research from Pfizer shows that widespread uptake of its maternal RSV shot could significantly reduce infant hospitalizations. Also: Two anthropologists are upending conventional ideas about the 1918 flu.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, October 12, 2023
October 12, 2023
Morning Briefing
Covid and RSV vaccines, “excited delirium,” abortion access, Social Security, opioids, cancer treatment, and more are in the news.
First Edition: Oct. 12, 2023
October 12, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
California Bans Controversial ‘Excited Delirium’ Diagnosis
By Samantha Young
October 12, 2023
KFF Health News Original
California is the first state to ban the controversial diagnosis known as “excited delirium,” which has been used increasingly to justify excessive force by law enforcement. A human rights advocate described the law, signed this week by Gov. Gavin Newsom, as a “watershed moment” in criminal justice.
PrEP, a Key HIV Prevention Tool, Isn’t Reaching Black Women
By Sam Whitehead
October 12, 2023
KFF Health News Original
New HIV infections occur disproportionately among Black women, but exclusionary marketing, fewer treatment options, and provider wariness have limited uptake of preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, drugs, which reduce the risk of contracting the virus.
House Panel to Hold Hearing on Erroneous Social Security Payments
By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group
October 11, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Congress is beginning to take action on the Social Security Administration’s clawbacks of payments it mistakenly made to poor, retired, and disabled Americans.
Perspectives: What Is Behind The ADHD Medication Shortage?
October 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
Read recent commentaries about pharmaceutical issues.
Viewpoints: Breast Cancer Screening Requirements Should Be Personalized; Abortion Is Regular Health Care
October 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss breast cancer, abortion, Medicaid and insurance coverage.
California Governor Signs Bill Allowing Easier Forced Mental Health Holds
October 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
Advocates of SB43 argued that existing laws for involuntary treatment didn’t apply broadly enough, and now the new law covers those whose mental illnesses or drug habits hit their self-protection abilities. Separately, in Utah, a lawsuit attacks TikTok for tempting kids into destructive habits.
6-Year-Old Undergoes Hemispherotomy In Rare Brain Surgery
October 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
The unusual procedure to disconnect half the brain was to combat the young girl’s Rasmussen’s encephalitis, a chronic inflammatory neurological disease. In other neurological news, a report warns that by 2050 stroke deaths will near 10 million globally.