The Shrinking Number of Primary Care Physicians Is Reaching a Tipping Point
By Elisabeth Rosenthal
September 8, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The declining share of U.S. doctors in adult primary care is about 25% — a point beyond which many Americans won’t be able to find a family doctor at all.
In Move to Slash CDC Budget, House Republicans Target Major HIV Program Trump Launched
By Andy Miller and Sam Whitehead
September 8, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Republicans in Congress have proposed substantial cuts to the budget of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, taking aim at one of former President Donald Trump’s major health programs: a push to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Welcome Back, Congress. Now Get to Work.
September 7, 2023
Podcast
Congress returns from its summer recess with a long list of tasks and only a few work days to get them done. On top of the annual spending bills needed to keep the government operating, on the list are bills to renew the global HIV/AIDS program, PEPFAR, and the community health centers program. Meanwhile, over the recess, the Biden administration released the names of the first 10 drugs selected for the Medicare price negotiation program.
Viewpoints: Fall Booster Shows Promise In Battling New Variants; The Post-Roe Dystopia Is Here
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers delve into new covid variants, abortion, psychedelics, and more.
Teen Reported Dead After Eating Extremely Spicy Tortilla Chip
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
The mother of a 14-year-old Massachusetts boy says her son died after taking part in Pacqui’s “One Chip Challenge,” which involves eating a chip dusted with some of the spiciest chili peppers in the world. Among other news, research links traumatic brain injuries to cognitive decline later in life.
Louisiana Has Highest Firearms-Related Death Rate For Children
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
A recent study points to a worsening of the gun death rate among children, with Louisiana “sadly leading the way,” Axios reports. In other news, a California judge has temporarily paused a school district’s policy of forcibly outing trans students to their parents.
Research Roundup: Alzheimer’s; Cancer; Covid; Weight-Loss Pill
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Amid Extreme Heat, Many Low-Income Americans Miss Out On Money To Pay Cooling Costs
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
Politico reports that over 30 million low-income households eligible for federal funding to help pay for cooling during dangerous hot weather have yet to receive any aid. The news comes as the UN’s first global chief heat officer sounded warnings over the dangers posed by warming cities.
California Assembly Passes Bill To Decriminalize Personal Psychedelic Use
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
The measure cleared the state’s lower house Wednesday. If California’s effort succeeds, it would be the third state to take such a step. Separately, NPR reports that the share of U.S. drug overdose deaths caused by counterfeit pills is rising.
After Covid, Medicare Advances Are Now Worsening Hospital Debt
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
Roll Call reports that one of the pandemic “lifelines” Medicare threw to the health industry is now becoming another “stone around their necks” for a few hospitals. And Axios covers a Medicare experiment to push states to control and lower their health care spending.
HHS Inspector General Says Nursing Homes Aren’t Ready For Disasters
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Office of the Inspector General surveyed 168 nursing homes last year to examine their readiness to respond to public health emergencies or natural disasters. Most of them were not prepared. Separately, Axios reports potential problems from a nursing home inspector shortage.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, September 7, 2023
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
Fall covid boosters, abortion rates, Medicare, nursing home preparedness, extreme heat, psychedelic use, guns, and more are in the news.
FDA May Approve Updated Covid Boosters As Early As Friday: Report
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
NBC News reports that the FDA plans to greenlight new versions of the covid booster updated to target the XBB.1.5 omicron subvariant, and that the shots could be available to the public by next week. In other covid news: global case trends, masks, and long covid.
Abortion Rose So Far This Year In Most States Where It’s Still Legal: Study
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
New research from the Guttmacher Institute determines that abortions rose in nearly every state where the procedure remains legal. The largest increase is seen in states that border ones with total abortion bans, showing that people are “highly motivated” to travel, the researchers say.
First Edition: Sept. 7, 2023
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Hollywood’s A-List Health Insurance Is Jeopardized by the Labor Strikes
By Jackie Fortiér, LAist
September 7, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Hollywood actors and writers who qualify for their union health plans get a very good deal compared with other Americans. But not working during the strike threatens their eligibility in the system.
‘Like a Russian Roulette’: US Military Firefighters Grapple With Unknowns of PFAS Exposure
By Patricia Kime and Hannah Norman
September 7, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Federal research linking “forever chemicals” to testicular cancer confirms what U.S. military personnel long suspected. But as they seek testing for PFAS exposure, many wonder what to do with the results. There’s no medical treatment yet.
Most States Have Yet to Permanently Fund 988. Call Centers Want Certainty.
By Christina Saint Louis
September 7, 2023
KFF Health News Original
For rural Americans, who live in areas often short of mental health services and die by suicide at a far higher rate than urbanites, the federally mandated crisis phone line is one of the few options to connect with a crisis counselor.
Sin mantas, peluches, ni en brazos de sus padres: cómo hacer que los bebés duerman seguros
By Colleen DeGuzman
September 6, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Algunas advertencias claras: los bebés no deben dormir con mantas, peluches o protectores que puedan provocar asfixia o estrangulamiento. Tampoco en brazos de los padres.
Spending Goes Up When PCPs Affiliate With Health Systems: Study
September 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
A new study, reported by Axios, is said to “challenge claims by the hospital industry” that consolidation results in less spending: Instead, it shows primary care physicians affiliated with health systems drive up spending on patient care. Also in the news: physicians’ pay.