Arizona Abortion Ban Will Be Enforced Starting June 8
April 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
The ban stemming from an 1864 law that the Arizona Supreme Court upheld will not be enforced until June, the state attorney general said. Fallout from the controversial court decision is also being felt in California, the legislature, and campaigns.
Lower-Income Patients Have Farther To Go For Abortion Care, Data Show
April 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
Axios maps the drive times to nearest clinics from states with strict bans in place, while Salon dives deeper into the cost of traveling for out-of-state care.
House Panel Will Confront UnitedHealth CEO Over Cyberattack
April 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
Andrew Witty is due to testify before a House subcommittee on May 1 regarding the Change Healthcare hack and its impact on the health industry and patients. Reports say some providers found the attack’s impact worse than the pandemic.
About 1 In 5 Could Get A Bird Flu Shot In An Emergency, Feds Say
April 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
About a fifth of the population could be vaccinated inside four months if the current bird flu outbreak crossed to people and began to spread. Meanwhile, bird flu vaccine development is “not where we need to be,” according to a top WHO official.
More Measles Cases Reported So Far This Year Than In All Of 2022: CDC
April 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
At least 125 cases across 17 states have been counted by the CDC. The most recent annual peak year for measles infections was 2022. In other news, the EPA has designated PFAS “forever” chemicals as a Superfund hazardous material.
Morning Briefing for Monday, April 22, 2024
April 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
Emergency health care, abortion law, bird flu, UnitedHealth hack, measles, nursing homes, covid, forever chemicals, and more are in the news.
First Edition: April 22, 2024
April 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Rural Jails Turn to Community Health Workers To Help the Newly Released Succeed
By Lillian Mongeau Hughes
April 22, 2024
KFF Health News Original
To reduce recidivism, some rural counties are hiring community health workers or peer support specialists to connect people leaving custody to mental health resources, substance use treatment, medical services, and jobs.
Journalists Take Stock of Opioid Settlement Payouts and Concierge Care Trend
April 20, 2024
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News staff made the rounds on state and local media in recent weeks to discuss stories they and their colleagues reported. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Medical Providers Still Grappling With UnitedHealth Cyberattack: ‘More Devastating Than Covid’
By Samantha Liss
April 19, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Medical providers say they’re still coping with the Change Healthcare cyberattack disclosed in February even though parent company UnitedHealth Group reported that much is back to normal and its revenue is up over last year.
Morning Briefing for Friday, April 19, 2024
April 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
Title IX revisions, ‘through-the-air’ viruses, monopolies, drug shortages, seasonal allergies, and more are in the news. Plus, your weekend reads.
Mass. Cancer Care Center Abruptly Closes, Leaving Patients In A Lurch
April 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
Steward Medical Group officials are hoping to reopen Brockton facility once they find a new physician. Meanwhile, Minnesotans will have to travel farther for in-patient care after Mahnomen converts to rural emergency hospital.
Arizona Physicians, Leery Of Breaking Law, Likely Won’t Do Abortions
April 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
Arizona doctors aren’t likely to chance prison time for performing procedures even though the state’s attorney general promises not to prosecute. Elsewhere, pharmacists are navigating unchartered waters that have them questioning why misoprostol, which is used for ailments other than abortion, is being prescribed.
Viewpoints: Climate Change Is Revving Up Allergies; Maybe Transgender Care Should Be Reassessed After NHS Report
April 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle seasonal allergies, transgender care, weight-loss drugs, and AI in health care.
Salmonella Poisoning Outbreak Prompts Trader Joe’s Basil Recall
April 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
Several agencies are looking into the outbreak, which has sickened 13 people across multiple states and is linked to a particular organic basil product. Havana syndrome, sicknesses from fake Botox, and more are also in the news.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
April 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on breast cancer, menopause, a death doula, noise pollution, and more.
Bill To Expand California Aid-In-Dying Law Withdrawn Before Hearing
April 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
California state Sen. Catherine Blakespear removed the bill she wrote days before its first hearing, saying other legislators are reluctant to take up the measure that would have been the nation’s most expansive aid-in-dying law. Other state news comes from Missouri, Connecticut, and elsewhere.
It’s Now Easier To Report Monopolistic Practices In Health Care Sector
April 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
The goal of the new federal portal, HealthyCompetition.gov, is to help lower the cost of health care and prescriptions, the Biden administration announced. Other health industry news is on Medicare device reimbursements, health chatbots, and more.
California Sets Strict Limit For Toxic Chromium-6 In Water Supply
April 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
The dangers of chromium-6 were widely known since the 1990s, but the new California safety limit for the carcinogenic heavy metal is said to be a “nation leading” standard. Also in the news: the CDC says record high heat health emergencies hit parts of the U.S. last year.
Florida Jury Rules J&J Talc Product Isn’t To Blame In Fatal Cancer Case
April 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based baby powder was not the cause of a woman’s death from ovarian cancer, a Florida jury decided in a case brought against the manufacturer. Separately, Eli Lilly warned shortages of its weight loss drug Zepbound would continue, with no quick fix in sight.