How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Pits Parental Rights Against Public Health
By Amy Maxmen
March 12, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Framed in the rhetoric of choice, Tennessee’s new law governing childhood vaccinations is among more than a dozen recently passed or pending nationwide that set parental freedom against community and children’s health.
A New $16,000 Postpartum Depression Drug Is Here. How Will Insurers Handle It?
By April Dembosky, KQED
March 12, 2024
KFF Health News Original
A pill form of an effective drug for postpartum depression hit the market in December, but most insurers do not yet have a policy on when or whether they will pay for it. The hurdles to obtain its predecessor medication have advocates worried.
Colorado Isn’t Giving up on Its Drug Importation Dream
By Phil Galewitz
March 11, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Colorado hopes to join Florida to become only the second state authorized to import prescription drugs from Canada. But they’re hitting the same hurdles: drugmakers — and the FDA. Colorado officials recently amended their 2022 importation application with the Food and Drug Administration, in the process revealing new correspondence that shows the state’s so-far fruitless […]
Republican Lawmakers Refusing To Adjust Unclear Abortion Bans
March 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
AP reports on how lawmakers aren’t planning to adjust any abortion bans even though medical professionals complain about risks from unclear exception rules. Stat notes there’s been a failure to even define what abortion is.
Manufacturer Of Failed ALS Drug Relyvrio Is Considering Withdrawing It
March 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
Though the FDA approved the drug less than two years ago, Amylyx’s ALS drug has now failed a large clinical trial. Separately, the FDA is delaying approval for an experimental Alzheimer’s drug so it can examine its effectiveness.
Insurers Are Making It Hard To Get At-Home Ventilators
March 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
A report says doctors are complaining that insurers’ delays and denials are impacting patients who need a machine’s help to breathe. Also in the news: UnitedHealth quietly bought lots of outpatient centers, for the most part without announcing it had done so.
Oregon Governor Will Sign Bill To Reverse Decriminalization Of Drug Use
March 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
Three years after adopting the most liberal drug laws in the nation, a new Oregon bill would reintroduce criminal penalties for drug use, while also allowing officials some latitude in pushing for treatment or jail for offenders. Other regional public health news is reported from Maryland, California, Colorado, and Texas.
Proportion Of US Prisoners Aged 55 Or Over Has Risen Dramatically
March 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
NPR notes that the proportion of prisoners who may be defined as “geriatric” is now about five times the 30 years-ago figure, and that prisons aren’t ready for this. Also in the news: organ age, an infant swing recall, and more.
Viewpoints: Insurance Companies Can Drop Patients Whenever; Choosing Between Doctor Vs. Urgent Care
March 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers examine insurance companies, urgent care, covid, and disabilities in academia.
Public Health Experts Worry As Trump Ramps Up Anti-Vax Messaging
March 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
The former president has been threatening to withhold money from schools with vaccine or mask mandates. Meanwhile, in West Virginia, Republican state lawmakers advanced a bill paring back a strict public school vaccine mandate.
Morning Briefing for Monday, March 11, 2024
March 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
Medical debt, a covid anniversary, Paxlovid, Medicare payments, cancer navigators, vaccines, abortion law, ALS, and more are in the news.
Medicare To Offer Loans To Providers Feeling Pinch From Change Hack
March 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Saturday that it will provide advances to hospital, health groups, and other medical providers that have been financially impacted by delayed payments from Change Healthcare after its system outage caused by a ransomware attack. HHS is also urging UnitedHealth, the parent company, to expedite payments.
Insurers Agree To Cover Cancer Navigators As Part Of Moonshot Program
March 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
As part of President Joe Biden’s push to expand his cancer moonshot program, more than six large insurers have agreed to cover services offered by cancer navigators who help patients through the complicated medical treatment options and process.
Covid Pandemic Declared 4 Years Ago Today: It’s Killed Nearly 1.2 Million Americans
March 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
News outlets examine the impact covid has had on the U.S. over those last 4 years, including how some patients aren’t getting Paxlovid, how long covid is still hurting many people as the pandemic fades, and how the virus can persist in blood and tissue.
First Edition: March 11, 2024
March 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
An Arm and a Leg: The Medicare Episode
By Dan Weissmann
March 11, 2024
Podcast
On this episode of “An Arm and a Leg,” host Dan Weissmann breaks down the complicated and expensive world of Medicare with practical tips to pick the right plan and avoid penalties.
Why Covid Patients Who Could Most Benefit From Paxlovid Still Aren’t Getting It
By Arthur Allen
March 11, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Price worries, bureaucratic obstacles, and “I’m-over-covid-itis” slow uptake of a drug that’s complicated to take but often effective.
California Attorney General Boosts Bill Banning Medical Debt From Credit Reports
By Molly Castle Work
March 11, 2024
KFF Health News Original
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has thrown his weight behind state Sen. Monique Limón’s legislation to bar unpaid medical bills from showing up on consumer credit reports. If passed, California would join just a few other states with such protections.
Biden Said State of the Union Is Strong and Made Clear His Campaign Is Off and Running
By KFF Health News and PolitiFact staffs
March 8, 2024
KFF Health News Original
President Joe Biden used his roughly 68-minute address to Congress to counter lackluster public approval ratings and draw clear contrasts between his administration’s policies and those of Donald Trump and some congressional Republicans. Abortion and health care were in the spotlight.
Hospitales de California y defensores buscan financiación estable para retener a navegadores de salud conductual
By Vanessa G. Sánchez
March 8, 2024
KFF Health News Original
En 2022, el año más reciente del que se dispone de datos, 7,385 californianos murieron por sobredosis relacionadas con opioides, de los cuales el 88% involucró fentanilo, un opioide sintético que puede ser 50 veces más potente que la heroína.