White House To Rally With Abortion Rights Groups To Mark Dobbs Anniversary
June 23, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Biden administration is holding a series of events over the next two days to spotlight the Supreme Court’s politically controversial decision that overturned abortion rights in the U.S. Groups like Planned Parenthood, EMILY’s List and NARAL-Pro Choice America will join Friday’s White House rally and endorse President Joe Biden for re-election.
Abortion Providers And Clinics Struggle With Moral, Ethical Choices
June 23, 2023
Morning Briefing
Some physicians say the past year has been the toughest of their careers. Dozens of clinics have halted or changed their services in the past year, and many clinics in states where abortion is still legal say they are barely hanging on amid bottlenecks and wait times.
First Edition: June 23, 2023
June 23, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Advocates Call for 911 Changes. Police Have Mixed Feelings.
By Molly Castle Work
June 23, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Though most California counties are experimenting with dispatching health professionals rather than law enforcement to respond to people experiencing mental health crises, powerful police unions fear defunding.
Malpractice Lawsuits Over Denied Abortion Care May Be on the Horizon
By Harris Meyer
June 23, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Physicians and attorneys say it’s a question of when — not if — a pregnant person dies from lack of care in a state with an abortion ban, potentially setting the stage for a malpractice lawsuit that could pressure providers to reconsider delaying or denying care.
What’s It Really Like to Be HHS Secretary? Three Who’ve Done It Spill the Beans
By Julie Rovner and Emmarie Huetteman
June 22, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Three secretaries of Health and Human Services, who served under Presidents Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and Barack Obama, gathered this week for a rare, candid conversation hosted by the Aspen Ideas Festival and KFF Health News’ “What the Health?” about the experience of being the nation’s top health official.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Live From Aspen: Three HHS Secretaries on What the Job Is Really Like
June 22, 2023
Podcast
What does a day in the life of the nation’s top health official really look like? And how much of their agenda is set by the White House? In this special episode of KFF Health News’ “What the Health?” — taped before a live audience at Aspen Ideas: Health, part of the Aspen Ideas Festival, in Aspen, Colorado — host and chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner leads a rare conversation with the current and two former U.S. secretaries of Health and Human Services. Secretary Xavier Becerra and former secretaries Kathleen Sebelius and Alex Azar talk candidly about what it takes to run a department with more than 80,000 employees and a budget larger than those of many countries.
Research Roundup: Enterovirus; Pseudomonas; Neurodegeneration
June 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of health policy studies and briefs.
Americans Are, Statistically, Older Than They’ve Ever Been
June 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
New data from the Census Bureau show the median U.S. age reached a record high of 38.9 in 2022, representing a rapid rise from an age of 35 in 2000 and 30 in 1980. Also in the news, how sex matters for some cancers, improved cervical cancer screening, dangers from gas cooking, and more.
Biotech Hoping ‘Small Molecule’ Drugs Lead To Several Disease Breakthroughs
June 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
The venture creation firm behind Moderna has launched a new startup called Empress Therapeutics. The new biotech arrives at a time when financiers are changing which types of drug companies they invest as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act.
New York Bill Would Block Medical Debt From Credit Reports
June 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
If Gov. Kathy Hochul signs the bill just passed by the state’s legislature, New York will be the second state, after Colorado, to try this approach to limiting the impact of medical debt, AP reports. Also: health care enrollment for immigrants in Illinois, childhood vaccines in Maine, and more.
Mental Health Patients Living In ERs Contributing To Physician Burnout
June 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
A report in USA Today covers how the mental health care shortage is impacting emergency room staff. Stat, meanwhile, reports on efforts to include AI technology in the 988 mental health helpline amid soaring need. Separately, a poll suggests the spike in teen mental health problems will linger.
Doctors Allege HCA Hospitals Push Hospice Care To Lift Mortality Stats
June 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
A report in NBC News says nurses and doctors who currently practice at 16 HCA hospitals in 7 states or did so previously allege the hospitals pushed palliative care on patients in pursuit of better performance metrics. Separately, North Carolina’s attorney general is said to have threatened HCA with litigation.
Adults Over 65 Should Get RSV Shots: CDC Panel
June 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
An advisory committee to the CDC decided Wednesday that newly approved RSV vaccines should be given to all adults ages 65 and over. Meanwhile, in St. Louis, the first mpox case of the year was reported. Other news concerns measles, malaria, extreme heat, and more.
Republicans Seek To Protect Troops Discharged For Refusing Covid Shots
June 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
Military.com reports that the House Armed Services Committee was looking at this matter, and new amendments to the annual policy bill could even see affected troops reinstated. Separately, reports say U.S. intelligence agencies may never find covid’s real origins.
Majority Of OB-GYNs Polled Say Dobbs Had Negative Impact On Maternal Health
June 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
In a KFF survey of 569 board-certified OB-GYNs across the U.S., 68% say the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade has made pregnancy-related medical emergencies worse, while 64% report that the ruling has worsened pregnancy-related mortality.
Florida’s Medicaid Ban On Gender-Affirming Care Blocked In Court
June 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
A federal judge ruled against Florida’s ban for paying for hormone therapy for transgender people on Medicaid: “There is no rational basis for a state to categorically ban these treatments or exclude them from the state’s Medicaid coverage.”
PhRMA Files Lawsuit Challenging Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Law
June 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
The top pharmaceutical lobbying group filed suit against HHS Wednesday in a Texas district court. The move assures that the case will move through the conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, June 22, 2023
June 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
Medicare drug price negotiations, transgender care, maternal health, RSV shots, covid vaccines, medical debt, and more are in the news.