Viewpoints: Missouri Must Put Abortion Up To Voters; Kids Online Safety Act Is A Necessity
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle abortion, safety rules for social media, viral hepatitis, and more.
House Committee Alleges China Is Helping To Fuel US Fentanyl Crisis
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
A special House committee released a report that alleges the Chinese government is subsidizing core materials used in the production of fentanyl to fuel the ongoing drug crisis in the U.S. Meanwhile, news reports say San Francisco officials want to expand methadone access to help combat addiction.
Elevance Health Partners With Private Equity For New Primary Care Company
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
The insurer has partnered with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice to build a new company that’s focused on primary health care. Meanwhile, the FTC’s effort to block Novant Health’s $320 million acquisition of two hospitals is backed by North Carolina.
Mine Safety Group Sets Stricter Rules To Guard Against Black Lung Disease
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Mine Safety and Health Administration acted, NPR reports, after investigative reporting exposed a “once-hidden epidemic” of severe, deadly black lung disease affecting miners. Other research shows that younger adults are aging faster than ever, and that trend is linked to early-onset cancers.
For Now, Transgender Children In Ohio Can Access Care After Ban Is Blocked
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Franklin County Judge Michael J. Holbrook ordered a hold on the law for at least two weeks, pending a possible longer-term order to stop the ban from being implemented. Also: How Idaho’s ban on youth gender care has affected families.
Obesity Drug Is Promising For Patients With Sleep Apnea, Eli Lilly Reports
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
In other news, a trade association issued new labeling guidelines for melatonin following a CDC report that children were requiring medical care after taking the dietary supplement.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, April 17, 2024
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Cybersecurity, future pandemics, abortion laws, the fentanyl crisis, primary care access, obesity drugs, medical device recall, and more are in the news.
UnitedHealth Skips Hearing Focused On Change Ransomware Attack
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee raised questions about UnitedHealth Group’s cybersecurity practices, whether the insurer paid the ransom, and on the risks of industry consolidation. But the company did not send a representative to answer those queries.
Montana Group Begins Signature Drive To Put Abortion On November Ballot
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights must get 60,000 signatures by June 21 to qualify. Meanwhile, Arizona lawmakers on both sides of the aisle set their sights on repealing the state’s antiquated near-total ban.
White House Launches Plan To React Quickly To Future Pandemics
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Part of the strategy involves strengthening health partnerships with key countries around the world. Although the plan’s critics say it might not go far enough, President Joe Biden said, “it will make the United States stronger, safer and healthier than ever before.”
First Edition: April 17, 2024
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
To Stop Fentanyl Deaths in Philadelphia, Knocking on Doors and Handing Out Overdose Kits
By Nicole Leonard, WHYY
April 17, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Facing widening racial disparities in overdose deaths, Philadelphia officials are sending workers and volunteers to knock on doors across the city, aiming to equip households with naloxone and other drug overdose prevention supplies. City officials hope a proactive approach will normalize naloxone as an everyday item in people’s medicine cabinets and prevent overdoses, especially among Black residents.
Paris Hilton Backs California Bill Requiring Sunshine on ‘Troubled Teen Industry’
By Molly Castle Work
April 17, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Celebrity hotel heiress Paris Hilton is expanding her campaign for more public reporting on residential therapeutic centers’ use of restraints and seclusion rooms in disciplining teens, setting her sights on legislation in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.
Native Americans Have Shorter Life Spans. Better Health Care Isn’t the Only Answer.
By Arielle Zionts
April 17, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Social services, such as parenting classes and economic development programs, can help increase the life spans of Native Americans, some health experts say. But insurers don’t always cover these services.
FDA Announces Recall of Heart Pumps Linked to Deaths and Injuries
By Daniel Chang and Holly K. Hacker
Updated April 16, 2024
Originally Published April 16, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Some pumps used in end-stage heart failure caused a buildup of biological material that blocks blood flow from the device to the heart’s aorta. The FDA’s recall affects nearly 14,000 devices.
Paris Hilton apoya ley en California que exige a la “industria de los jóvenes problemáticos” transparencia sobre cómo los tratan
By Molly Castle Work
April 16, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Estos programas no tienen supervisión federal y han sido expuestos por disturbios, agresiones e incluso muertes de menores, lo que ha generado una resistencia para proteger los derechos de los jóvenes.
Why Opioid Settlement Money Is Paying County Employees’ Salaries
By Aneri Pattani
April 16, 2024
KFF Health News Original
More than $4.3 billion in opioid settlement money has landed in the hands of city, county and state officials to date — with billions more on the way. But instead of using the cash to add desperately needed treatment, recovery and prevention services, some places are using it to replace existing funding. Local officials say […]
Biden Admin In A Time Crunch Over Health Policy Rules For Medicaid, More
April 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
In order to avoid the risk of key policy rules on Medicaid, tobacco, reproductive health, and more being repealed by the next Congress, the White House has “just weeks” to finalize its decisions, Axios notes. Separately, a new bill aims to repeal mandatory Medicaid estate collections.
CMS Mulling Further Crackdown On Insurers’ Prior Authorization Policies
April 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure agreed that patient and provider frustrations with insurers’ prior authorization requirements have risen in recent years, Modern Healthcare reports. Elevance, Cerebral, Cedars-Sinai, and other industry names are also in the news.
Probe Of Mishandled Botox Shots Grows; 19 Women Sickened In 9 States
April 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
NBC News reported that the CDC is unsure whether the cases stem from fake products, contamination, or poor hygiene. Also in the news: weight-loss drugs, a treatment for Angelman syndrome, and more.