Viewpoints: New Options Are Needed In The War On Antibiotic Resistance; Loneliness Has A Negative Impact
January 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss antibiotic resistance, American loneliness, educating kids about fentanyl, and more.
Researchers Find Protein Clues In Blood Samples Of Long Covid Sufferers
January 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
The causes of long covid are proving elusive, but a possible breakthrough may have come via research into the changed mix of proteins in the blood of people who have long covid. A Senate HELP hearing heard patients and experts talking about the illness this week.
CMS Is Testing New Community-Based Mental Health Service Model
January 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
The goal of the new behavioral health services system is to boost access and quality. Meanwhile in New Jersey, a new law lifts one barrier for providing online therapy in hopes of aiding the mental health crisis. Serious police failures during the Uvalde mass shooting are also in the news.
Biden-Harris Election Campaign Will Champion Abortion Rights
January 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign will highlight abortion rights in the lead up to the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade case, and warn that a Republican-led White House could try to enforce a national abortion ban.
To Tackle Financial Distress, Hospitals, Health Systems Are Turning To Mergers
January 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
Modern Healthcare looks into the phenomenon of rising health care mergers and acquisitions being driven by financial pressures on health providers in the aftermath of the pandemic. Separately, Stateline explains how private equity-backed hospitals can see cutbacks and closures.
Insurance Marketplace Sign-Ups In Missouri Are Up 35% Over Last Year
January 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
Data on the record enrollments come from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Similarly, a record number of Marylanders signed up for coverage through the Maryland Health Connection, and ACA sign-ups during open enrollment in Connecticut are also at record highs.
Another Study Finds Zika Virus Could Be Used To Treat Cancer
January 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
Researchers found that the deadly virus can be successfully used to tackle cancerous tissue in mice, and, stunningly, the treatment had very highly efficacy, and required just one injection. Separately, research into Zika infections in people found that reinfection is actually possible.
Morning Briefing for Friday, January 19, 2024
January 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
Hospital bills, drug prices hiked, stopgap funding, long covid, mental health services, and more are in the news. Plus, your weekend reads.
Congress Passes Stopgap Bill That Funds Health Agencies Until March
January 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
Funding for federal health care programs was extended until March 1 or March 8 by the temporary spending measure passed by the House and Senate Thursday, including HHS, FDA, VA, community health centers, special diabetes programs, some medical education programs, and more.
Drugmakers Raise Retail Prices On 775 Drugs Like Ozempic, Xolair, Shingrix
January 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
Drugs and vaccines for weight loss, asthma, shingles, heart disease, osteoporosis, and other conditions were among the medications for which prices will be hiked the most. The price of a handful of drugs will be dropped including some insulin products and antidepressants.
First Edition: Jan. 19, 2024
January 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
In This Oklahoma Town, Most Everyone Knows Someone Who’s Been Sued by the Hospital
By Mitchell Black and Noam N. Levey
January 19, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Hospitals nationwide face growing scrutiny over how they secure payment from patients, but at one community hospital, the debt collection machine has been quietly humming along for decades.
Insurance Doesn’t Always Cover Hearing Aids for Kids
By Colleen DeGuzman
January 19, 2024
KFF Health News Original
California’s governor vetoed a bill extending insurance coverage for kids with hearing loss, but most states now require it.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': The Supreme Court vs. the Bureaucracy
January 18, 2024
Podcast
The Supreme Court this week heard oral arguments in a case that could radically alter the way federal agencies — including the Department of Health and Human Services — administer laws passed by Congress. A decision in the case is expected this spring or summer. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is struggling over whether to ban menthol cigarettes — a move that could improve public health but also alienate Black voters, the biggest menthol users. Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine, Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Darius Tahir, who reported and wrote the latest KFF Health News-NPR “Bill of the Month” feature about a lengthy fight over a bill for a quick telehealth visit.
Biden Cracks Down on Prior Authorization — But There Are Limits
By Lauren Sausser
January 18, 2024
KFF Health News Original
More than a year after it was initially proposed, the Biden administration announced a final rule yesterday that will change how insurers in federal programs such as Medicare Advantage use prior authorization — a long-standing system that prevents many patients from accessing doctor-recommended care. “When a doctor says a patient needs a procedure, it is […]
New Mexico Alleges Kids On Facebook, Instagram Are Often Sexually Harassed
January 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
Newly unredacted material about Meta’s child-safe policies is showing up during a lawsuit filed by New Mexico that alleges failures to protect young users of the social media platforms. Separately, Iowa is suing video social media platform TikTok over inappropriate content shown to children.
Research Roundup: Transplants; Fungal Diseases; C. Diff; Covid
January 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News offers a selection of health policy studies and briefs.
Viewpoints: How Does The Public Health Sector Regain Public Trust?; The Danger Of Weight Loss-Drugs
January 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle public health, weight-loss drugs, ACA and more.
US Cancer Data Has A Dichotomy: Deaths Are Falling, But Cases Are Up
January 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
Though cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the U.S., new data from the American Cancer Society show that deaths from cancer are falling. ABC News notes that colon and breast cancer cases in younger people are showing a troubling uptick.
If You’re A Minority Child In The US, Your Health Care Is Worse: Report
January 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
Surprising no one, a meta-analysis of studies into health care quality for minority children in the U.S. found that quality is universally worse than it is for white kids. Reports also show that women and minorities in the U.S. experience more medical misdiagnoses.