Walgreens Staff Plan ‘Pharmageddon’ Walkout To Protest Unsafe Conditions
October 30, 2023
Morning Briefing
A nationwide work stoppage is planned Monday through Wednesday by some pharmacy workers from Walgreens and other drugstore chains, CNBC reports.
A Month Ago, Maine Police Tried To Do Mental Health Check On Gunman
October 30, 2023
Morning Briefing
Law enforcement allegedly visited the home of Robert Card in September, but they gave up looking for him after he didn’t turn up. A month before that, Card tried to buy a gun silencer but was refused after disclosing on a form that he had mental health issues.
Viewpoints: More Midwives Can Help US Birth Equity; Ozempic Use Has Direct Effect On Junk Food Purchases
October 30, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers weigh in on birth inequity, Ozempic, mental health, and more.
First Edition: Oct. 30, 2023
October 30, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Dads Drive Growth in California’s Paid Family Leave Program
By Phillip Reese
October 30, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The number of men in the state taking paid family leave to bond with a new child has risen nearly 20% since the start of the pandemic.
When That Supposedly Free Annual Physical Generates a Bill
By Julie Appleby
October 30, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Completing a routine depression screening questionnaire during an annual checkup is cost-free under federal law. But, as one woman discovered, answering a doctor’s follow-up questions might not be.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
October 27, 2023
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on organ donation, hospice, therapy, abortion, and more.
Viewpoints: Is Your Online Pharmacy Illegal?; Ohio Governor Misleads On Abortion Amendment
October 27, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle illegal pharmacies, abortion, racism in health care, and more.
Shuttered Wastewater Tracking Sites Are Hindering Covid Surge Detection
October 27, 2023
Morning Briefing
Wastewater tracking is an effective way to identify new covid outbreaks, but a quarter of the U.S.’s test sites are indefinitely closed over a contract dispute between a testing company and the CDC. Separately, data show that just 2% of children have received updated covid shots.
Military Suicides Dipped In 2022, Bucking A Worrying Upward Trend
October 27, 2023
Morning Briefing
The pattern, reported by the AP, isn’t particularly simple, however: While overall suicide deaths in the U.S. military are slightly down, reversing a decade-long rise, deaths from suicide were up among active-duty troops. Meanwhile, the Europe-wide salmonella outbreak is linked to chicken and chicken kebab products.
New York Bans Corporal Punishment In Private Schools
October 27, 2023
Morning Briefing
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the law on Wednesday after it was unanimously approved by the state legislature earlier. Meanwhile, in Florida, a decision over cheap drug imports from Canada is delayed, and in Montana, rural volunteers are trying to make up gaps in the EMT service.
CDC Data Shine Spotlight On Health Care Worker Mental Health, Burnout
October 27, 2023
Morning Briefing
Against a backdrop of data showing nearly half of health care workers often felt burned out in 2022, lawmakers introduced a bill to support additional funding for nursing programs in community colleges. Modern Healthcare reports on the impacts of California’s new health care minimum wage bill.
Don’t Give Probiotics To Preterm Babies, FDA Warns After A Death
October 27, 2023
Morning Briefing
The risk comes from potentially invasive and fatal infections or disease carried by live organisms in the probiotics. Among other news, the FDA gave approval for a treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy; the agency also approved an ulcerative colitis treatment from Eli Lilly.
Democratic Lawmakers Aim For Paid Time Off Following A Pregnancy Loss
October 27, 2023
Morning Briefing
Miscarriages are common, affecting an estimated 10% to 20% of known pregnancies. While some employers support staff after a miscarriage, there’s no national program. The bill would also push the NIH to educate the public about miscarriages.
Maine’s ‘Yellow Flag’ Gun Law Scrutinized After Mass Shooting
October 27, 2023
Morning Briefing
State law does restrict the possession of guns by people suffering mental challenges who are deemed to be a danger to themselves or others, AP reported. The “yellow flag” law requires a medical professional’s opinion. Other states, however, go further with “red flag” laws that allow the temporary confiscation of a person’s firearms.
HRSA Policy Change Could Mean Some Outpatient Clinics Lose 340B Discounts
October 27, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Health Resources and Services Administration reversed a policy change which could hit some hospital outpatient clinics’ eligibility for the 340B drug discount program. The change was made in 2020 to expedite the certification process, and hospitals had expected it to remain permanent.
Morning Briefing for Friday, October 27, 2023
October 27, 2023
Morning Briefing
Vaccine, HIV relief funds, “yellow flag” gun laws, health worker burnout, 340B discounts, covid, miscarriages, and more are in the news.
Over $1 Billion In AIDS Relief Funding Held Up By Abortion Politics
October 27, 2023
Morning Briefing
Republican congressional lawmakers are holding up President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief funds — a global program that has been reauthorized with bipartisan support since its 2003 inception — after a conservative group said it indirectly funded overseas abortions. The Biden administration and other groups dispute the claim.
First Edition: Oct. 27, 2023
October 27, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Watch: California and Feds Invest in Health Care for Homeless People
October 27, 2023
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News senior correspondent Angela Hart discusses big developments in street medicine, both statewide and nationally.