Morning Briefing for Tuesday, December 19, 2023
December 19, 2023
Morning Briefing
Medical devices malfunctioning, high medical bills, Medicaid, covid variants, abortion access, health wearables, and more are in the news.
HHS Warns 9 States Where ‘Alarming’ Number Of Kids Have Lost Medicaid
December 19, 2023
Morning Briefing
Those states are responsible for 60% of children in the U.S. losing Medicaid coverage between March and September. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra sent letters urging their Republican governors to take advantage of CMS tools to make it easier for families to reenroll.
Viewpoints: This Is Why People Are Skipping Covid Boosters; Soldiers’ Own Weapons Are Hurting Them
December 19, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle covid boosters, brain injury in soldiers, sickle cell, and more.
First Edition: Dec. 19, 2023
December 19, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
New Doula Benefit ‘Life-Changing’ for California Mom
By Molly Castle Work
December 19, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Doulas, independent workers who act as advocates for birthing parents, have been shown to help prevent pregnancy complications and improve the health of both mothers and babies. California’s Medicaid program started covering their services this year, but some doulas say bureaucratic obstacles and inadequate pay prevent their effective use.
Patients Facing Death Are Opting for a Lifesaving Heart Device — But at What Risk?
By Daniel Chang and Holly K. Hacker
December 19, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The HeartMate 3 is considered the safest mechanical heart pump of its kind, but a federal database contains more than 4,500 reports in which the medical device may have caused or contributed to a patient’s death.
When a Quick Telehealth Visit Yields Multiple Surprises Beyond a Big Bill
By Darius Tahir
December 19, 2023
KFF Health News Original
For the patient, it was a quick and inexpensive virtual appointment. Why it cost 10 times what she expected became a mystery.
When Medical Devices Malfunction
December 19, 2023
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Featured Stories More From The Project Dental Device Investigation Credits Reporters Daniel ChangBrett KelmanFred SchulteNicole Keller, CBS NewsAnna Werner, CBS News Data Reporter Holly Hacker Photographers Eric HarkleroadMatt PendletonAsh Ponders Illustrator Oona Tempest Editors John HillkirkKelly JohnsonSabriya Rice Producers Eric HarkleroadDavid HicksLynne ShallcrossOona TempestLydia Zuraw Copy Editors Terry ByrneGabe Brison-Trezise
Social Security Chief Apologizes to Congress for Misleading Testimony on Overpayments
By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group
Updated December 18, 2023
Originally Published December 18, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi sent the letter days after KFF Health News and Cox Media Group reported that the agency has been demanding money back from more than twice as many people as she’d disclosed in October testimony.
Ketamine In Public Spotlight After Its Role In Actor Matthew Perry’s Death
December 18, 2023
Morning Briefing
Actor Matthew Perry’s death — now revealed to be a result of “acute effects” of ketamine — is renewing scrutiny on the “booming” business of clinics prescribing the anesthetic drug for depression and anxiety.
WHO Says It’s ‘Appalled’ By Destruction Of Northern Gaza Hospital
December 18, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Kamal Adwan Hospital has been effectively destroyed, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, with the WHO now concerned about diarrhea, jaundice, and respiratory infections. Meanwhile, UN officials called for an investigation into the Israeli military raid targeting the hospital.
Different Takes: War Is Destroying Public Health Systems; Caregiver Reform Is Needed To See Real Change
December 18, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers examine wars effects on health care, caregivers, patient advocacy and more.
CMS Offering States Millions To Create Holistic Approach To Maternal Health
December 18, 2023
Morning Briefing
Modern Healthcare reported that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will give up to $17 million over 10 years to as many as 15 states to create initiatives designed to tackle the maternal health crisis. Medicaid covers about 40% of childbirths, it noted.
GOP Looks To Thwart 2024 Abortion Ballot Measures; Dems Lean Into Issue
December 18, 2023
Morning Briefing
Abortion politics are helping to shape the 2024 elections landscape. Politico reports that some conservative Republicans are testing a new strategy to keep abortion-related referendums off of state ballots. On the other side, The Hill examines Democrats’ plans to seize on the high-profile case of a Texas woman blocked from terminating a pregnancy by the state’s Supreme Court.
Wandering Assisted-Living Residents Dying In ‘Alarming Numbers’: Report
December 18, 2023
Morning Briefing
An investigation by The Washington Post shines a spotlight on to the number of people dying after they wander away from assisted-living care facilities. In other health industry news: a call for life science postdocs to get a pay hike; the merger of Elevance Health and Blue Cross of Louisiana; and more.
‘Nightmare For A Pharmacist’: Current Conditions Set Stage For Mistakes
December 18, 2023
Morning Briefing
CNN takes a deeper look at the current situation facing pharmacists across the country, where staff shortages and increased demand stretch pharmacists thin, and where mistakes can have legal and deadly consequences. Other pharma news is on weight-loss drugs, gender-affirming care, and more.
Girls More Than Twice As Likely To Contract HIV, UNICEF Study Finds
December 18, 2023
Morning Briefing
The problem, the agency says, is gender inequality, limited access to health care, and poor educational programs that put girls at particular risk for HIV worldwide. Conversely, reports say an effort to boost health care for the homeless in Boston led to a drop in HIV rates among drug users.
Missouri Becomes Last State In US To Start Prescription Monitoring Service
December 18, 2023
Morning Briefing
The goal is to block drug-seeking behavior by some patients and to prevent cross-medication interactions. Professionals who dispense controlled substances now have to log patient and prescription data. Meanwhile, in New York City, efforts progress toward banning solitary confinement in prison.