Nikki Haley Wants ‘Consensus’ on Contraception. It’s Not That Easy.
By Julie Rovner
February 22, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Nikki Haley, the last candidate standing between Donald Trump and the GOP presidential nomination, insists that being “unapologetically pro-life” doesn’t make her anti-birth control. “Let’s find consensus,” she urged at a GOP presidential debate in November. “Let’s make sure we make contraception accessible.” If only consensus were that easy. In some conservative circles, contraception is […]
Research Roundup: C. Diff; HPV Vaccine; Heart Disease; Heart Attack
February 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Different Takes: Has Alabama’s ‘Personhood’ Ruling Destroyed IVF Options?
February 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
Opinion writers examine the possible aftermath of the Alabama IVF ruling.
Viewpoint: How Safe Are Our Cleaning Products?; Sharp Increases In Malaria Cases Must Be Brought Under Control
February 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle cleaning product health concerns, malaria, gene therapy, and more.
FDA Issues Warning On Smartwatches That Claim To Measure Blood Sugar
February 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
AP and Reuters report on the FDA’s warning about noninvasive smartwatches and rings that claim to measure blood sugar levels without a needle. Other health tech news is on the use of AI in fighting burnout, addiction apps leaking sensitive data, and more.
Study: ‘Dozens’ Of Obstetricians Stop Practicing After Idaho Abortion Ban
February 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
Data also show only two obstetricians moved to Idaho in the past 15 months. Also in the news: An anti-abortion group’s video may soon be part of sex education classes; Georgia GOP senators seek to ban “sexually explicit” books from school libraries, reduce sex education, and force displays of the Ten Commandments; and more.
Intellectual Rights For Vaccines, Drugs At Issue In Pandemic Treaty Talks
February 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
Democratic senators are raising concerns over measures in a possible WHO pandemic treaty that could weaken intellectual property protections for pharmaceutical companies and medical device makers. Other news stories report on the ACA, voters’ top health issues, abortion politics, and more.
Analysis Of CDC Data Reveals Side Effects Of Covid Shot Mandates
February 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
An analysis of CDC data suggests that state-level covid shot mandates didn’t really impact uptake and may even have lowered vaccine coverage — for flu vaccinations, too. Meanwhile, another child measles case was confirmed in Florida amid an outbreak.
As Acute Phase Of Pandemic Faded, Death Rate Disparities Remerged
February 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
New research shows that disparities in pre-covid all-cause mortality rates persisted after the acute phase of the pandemic — showing the disparities are endemic, and that even a global health shock didn’t upset demographic death rate differences in the U.S.
Though More Health Staff Were Recruited In 2023, Shortages Remain
February 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
Modern Healthcare reports that despite a “monumental” effort to boost health industry staffing levels back to pre-pandemic norms, the gains aren’t enough to offset understaffing problems. Separately, health workers are pushing for confidential mental health treatments.
Mississippi May Follow Georgia With Medicaid Work Requirements
February 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
AP reports that while some Mississippi Republican lawmakers are warming to the idea of expanding Medicaid, they seem set on requiring new enrollees to have a job. Also in the news: a possible medical debt erasure in Illinois; Oklahoma’s anti-trans laws in the spotlight; and more.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, February 22, 2024
February 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
IVF treatment, measuring blood sugar, doctor shortages, pandemic treaty talks, vaccine mandates, Medicaid, and more are in the news.
Alabama Hospital Stops IVF Procedures Following Frozen Embryos Ruling
February 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
The University of Alabama at Birmingham health system is pausing in vitro fertilization treatments while health providers across the state assess the impact of the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling that frozen embryos are “children.” The change has left patients with pending appointments uncertain and fearful about future steps.
First Edition: Feb. 22, 2024
February 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Health Care Workers Push for Their Own Confidential Mental Health Treatment
By Katheryn Houghton
February 22, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Montana may join about a dozen other states in creating “safe havens” that keep health care professionals from facing scrutiny from licensure boards for seeking mental health or addiction treatment.
Lawsuits Claim South Carolina Kids Underwent Unnecessary Genital Exams During Abuse Investigations
By Lauren Sausser
Illustration by Oona Zenda
February 22, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Lawsuits allege that several children under 18 in South Carolina have undergone examinations of their private parts during child abuse investigations — even when there were no allegations of sexual abuse. There’s a growing consensus in medicine that genital exams can be embarrassing, uncomfortable, and even traumatic.
Viewpoints: Changes Needed In How We Treat Opioid Addiction; ACA Is A Success That Should Be Expanded
February 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle opioid use disorder, ACA, medical aid in dying, and more.
Long Covid Is More Common Among Young Adults Than Older Americans
February 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
Census Bureau data shows that 1 in 4 people infected with the covid virus experienced symptoms for longer than 3 months — or what’s known as long covid. The age group with the most cases of long covid is adults aged 25 to 39.
New Study Highlights Cancer-Causing Properties Of US Food Additives
February 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
Newsweek covers new research out of France into links between common food additives found in U.S. ultra-processed foods and certain forms of cancer. Also in the news, Johnson & Johnson’s blood cancer therapy gets FDA approval; Iowa has fastest-growing rate of new cancer in the U.S.; and more.