A New Era of Vaccines Leaves Old Questions About Prices Unanswered
By Elisabeth Rosenthal
October 27, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The CDC’s RSV vaccination recommendations beg the question: How much should an immunization that will possibly be given to millions of Americans cost to be truly valuable?
Smaller Employers Weigh a Big-Company Fix for Scarce Primary Care: Their Own Clinics
By Phil Galewitz
October 27, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Company health clinics are most common at large workplaces, but some small employers say they see advantages, too: healthier workers, lower costs, and better access to primary care.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': The New Speaker’s (Limited) Record on Health
October 26, 2023
Podcast
The House finally has a new speaker: Mike Johnson (R-La). He’s a relative newcomer who’s been a lower-level member of the House GOP leadership. And while he’s an outspoken opponent of abortion and same-sex marriage, his record on other health issues is scant. Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health appears on track to be getting a new director, and Georgia’s Medicaid work requirement experiment is off to a very slow start. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Michael Cannon, director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.
Viewpoints: Red Meat Consumption Has Health Consequences; Why Are Young People Getting So Sick?
October 26, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers examine red meat consumption, disability in young Americans, abortion and more.
Bags Of Precut Onions Linked To Salmonella Outbreak In 22 States
October 26, 2023
Morning Briefing
73 people fell ill, including 15 who were hospitalized, in a salmonella outbreak linked to bagged, precut onions. Consumers who have relevant bags from Gills Onions of Oxnard should not eat or serve them, health officials said. Meanwhile, in San Diego a restaurant is linked to 13 E. coli cases.
Research Roundup: Pneumonia; Vitamin C; Heart Balloons; And More
October 26, 2023
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of health policy studies and briefs.
As Hacks Hit Health Care, Biden Admin Launches New Cybersecurity ‘Toolkit’
October 26, 2023
Morning Briefing
The goal of the new toolkit, available at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency website, is to help health care services protect their systems, and it includes both basic cyber hygiene and complex tools. Meanwhile, key Republicans signaled opposition to CMS nursing home staff rules.
Since Roe V. Wade Ended, Abortions Have Risen 6% In California
October 26, 2023
Morning Briefing
In other news, U.S. senators are exploring a new way to go around Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s military blockade over Pentagon abortion rules.
Advisers Say High-Risk Men Should Get Mpox Shots Even After Outbreak
October 26, 2023
Morning Briefing
Government health experts advised the CDC director that gay and bisexual men at high risk for mpox infection should get vaccinated after the current outbreak comes to an end. Among other news, an anti-mask mandate passes in the Senate; Texas’ House approves a ban on covid shot mandates; more.
Millions More Americans Were Hit By Hunger In 2022 Than 2021
October 26, 2023
Morning Briefing
Food insecurity rose across the U.S. in 2022 according to new Department of Agriculture data, with 10.3 million more people living in households hit by hunger than in 2021. The upswing ended a nearly decade-long decrease in reported food insecurity.
Flu Shots May Lower Alzheimer’s Risk; Adult ADHD Tied To Dementia
October 26, 2023
Morning Briefing
In surprising news, researchers found regular vaccinations against flu and other infectious diseases may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and associated dementias. Separately, new research shows adult ADHD is linked to a higher likelihood of developing dementia.
Speaker Johnson Has Pushed For Medicare, Medicaid Cuts And Defunding Planned Parenthood
October 26, 2023
Morning Briefing
News outlets examine the past positions and potential future agenda of newly-elected House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, on key health issues like Medicare, Medicaid, abortion, SNAP, and others.
Senate Committee Advances NIH Nomination Of Bertagnolli
October 26, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Wednesday voted 15-6 to advance the nomination of Monica Bertagnolli to head up NIH. In other news from the Hill, Sen. Bernie Sanders’ measure on drug pricing takes a political blow.
Survey: Over Half Of American Adults Struggled With Health Bills This Year
October 26, 2023
Morning Briefing
A new Commonwealth Fund survey shows over half of working-age Americans said they’ve struggled to afford health services this year — evidence of the high cost of care, even for the insured. Meanwhile, another poll shows nearly 6 in 10 respondents worry over health care costs in retirement.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, October 26, 2023
October 26, 2023
Morning Briefing
The new speaker’s health record, gun violence, medical bills, hunger, suicide, cybersecurity, Alzheimer’s, and more are in the news.
‘Person Of Interest’ In Maine Shootings Is A Certified Firearms Instructor, Has Mental Health History
October 26, 2023
Morning Briefing
At the time of publication, police were still searching for the man, identified from surveillance video as Robert Card, 40, of Bowdoin, Maine. A police bulletin said Card had been placed in a mental health facility this summer. The number of victims isn’t yet clear, with at least 16 killed in two shootings.
First Edition: Oct. 26, 2023
October 26, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Doubts Abound About a New Alzheimer’s Blood Test
By Judith Graham
October 26, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Quest Diagnostics is selling a blood test online to consumers. But results may not be reliable or easy to interpret. And it isn’t covered by insurance.
Storing Guns Away From Home Could Reduce Suicides, but Legal Hurdles Loom
By Aaron Bolton, MTPR
October 26, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Safe storage maps show gun owners where to put their firearms for safekeeping if they experience a mental health crisis. The idea has support among some gun enthusiasts, but legal obstacles threaten wider adoption.