Viewpoints: US Health Insurance Is Broken; EBSA Will Hold Insurance Providers Accountable For Care
October 25, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle health insurance in America as well as dementia villages, spicy food and nursing staffing.
Fetterman Decries School Lunch Resolution Over Gender Discrimination
October 25, 2023
Morning Briefing
Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, took issue with a school lunch resolution from Sen. Roger Marshall, a Republican from Kansas, over the notion that school lunch could be denied to a student based on a provider’s religious discrimination over the student’s gender. In other news, “farm to school” food efforts expand.
Potential Breakthroughs For ADHD, Dwarfism, And More
October 25, 2023
Morning Briefing
Read recent pharmaceutical developments in KFF Health News’ Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
HHS Says Nursing Homes Will Get Covid Shots After Delay Complaints
October 25, 2023
Morning Briefing
Some nursing homes had complained of struggles to obtain doses of the updated covid vaccines for their residents, with blame aimed at the shift from government distribution to commercial models. The CDC director says that although only 3% of Americans have gotten new shots, the program is on track.
Doctor Trying To Rescind Mifepristone Supports Cancer Therapy That Uses It
October 25, 2023
Morning Briefing
Dr. George Delgado is now a member of the scientific advisory board of Res Nova Biologics, which is developing a breast cancer treatment using the abortion drug. Explaining this contradiction, Delgado said, “The effects of the abortion pill in life-saving as opposed to a life-taking scenario is extremely exciting.” Plus: breakthroughs for cervical cancer, breast cancer, and more.
Your Friendly Nurse Likely Experienced More Workplace Harassment Recently
October 25, 2023
Morning Briefing
The expectation of an upbeat “bedside manner” from medical staff seems at odds with new findings from the CDC that show workplace harassment of health care workers doubled between 2018 and 2022 — and that harassed workers suffered more anxiety, depression, and burnout.
To Untangle Differing Diet Trends, NIH Spends $190 Million On National Study
October 25, 2023
Morning Briefing
10,000 volunteers will take part in the Nutrition for Precision Health study, which is designed to find how different people metabolize and respond to various diets. In other news, allaying worries from workers who sit all day, scientists find that about 20 minutes of exercise may balance out the sitting.
Dozens Of States Allege Instagram’s Tech Is Addictive, Harming Young Users
October 25, 2023
Morning Briefing
The lawsuit accuses Meta, Instagram’s parent company, of using allegedly addictive features that hurt children’s mental health. As reports highlight the ongoing youth mental health crisis, researchers find young adults in the U.S. experience anxiety and depression twice as frequently as teens.
Psychedelic Mushrooms Had Role In Airline Incident, Alaska Pilot Says
October 25, 2023
Morning Briefing
The off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot tried to shut off an aircraft’s engines during a flight Sunday. Speaking to investigators, he said he’d been sleepless and dehydrated since using the mushrooms and was suffering depression long-term. News outlets explain some risks of using magic mushrooms.
Facing Limited Supplies, CDC Changes RSV Shot Guidance For Infants
October 25, 2023
Morning Briefing
The updated guidance, coming as RSV cases are rising in parts of the U.S., says providers must prioritize administering some doses of nirsevimab (Beyfortus) to infants at highest risk of developing severe RSV. Meanwhile, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) indicated he’d vote “no” on the confirmation for the NIH director.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, October 25, 2023
October 25, 2023
Morning Briefing
Abortion stats, youth mental health, RSV and covid shot shortages, harassment of nurses, drug pricing, hunger, and more are in the news.
US Abortions Ticked Up Slightly In Year After Roe Was Overturned
October 25, 2023
Morning Briefing
Nationally, the total number of legal abortions rose 0.2% above the previous year, according to the first full-year census of U.S. abortion providers since the Dobbs decision. The analysis shows significant increases in states where it’s legal, with corresponding large drops in states where abortion bans were enacted.
Georgia Supreme Court Keeps Abortion Ban In Place During Legal Challenge
October 25, 2023
Morning Briefing
Georgia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a lower court’s ruling that the state’s 6-week ban on abortion was invalid, and decided that the law will remain active while the case is sent down to a lower court.
First Edition: Oct. 25, 2023
October 25, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
California Expands Paid Sick Days and Boosts Health Worker Wages
By Don Thompson
October 25, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation expanding paid sick leave to five days, extending bereavement leave to miscarriages and failed adoptions, and approving an eventual $25-an-hour health care minimum wage. Still, in a possible sign of national ambitions, the Democrat vetoed free condoms in schools and refused to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms.
Residents of a Rural Arkansas County Grapple With Endemic Gun Violence
By Renuka Rayasam
October 25, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Rural gun homicides have often been overshadowed by violence in cities. But they are taking their toll on small communities ill-equipped to deal with the challenges.
Viewpoints: We Are Starting To See Climate Change For The Health Danger It Is; How To End Hospital Violence?
October 24, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle climate change, hospital violence, AI in health care and more.
14-Year-Old Invents Soap To Treat Skin Cancer, Wins Top Young Scientist Prize
October 24, 2023
Morning Briefing
Heman Bekele, who’s only in the ninth grade, developed a compound-based bar of soap designed to treat melanoma — with a delightful upshot, in this era of high medical bills, of a price of only 50 cents a bar. It earned him the top prize from 3M and Discovery Education.
Ways To Save Medicare Money May Not Be Popular With Voters, Industry
October 24, 2023
Morning Briefing
News outlets explore test models and policy debates over how Medicare spending could be reduced. Other insurance and health industry reports on older physicians, cybersecurity, premiums, and more.
Being Homeless In San Francisco Dramatically Raises Your Death Risk
October 24, 2023
Morning Briefing
A new study shows that being unhoused in San Francisco means you’re 16 times more likely to suddenly die than local residents with homes. Among other news, psychedelic mushrooms go on sale in Oregon; Ohio’s medical marijuana is among the cheapest; Narcan is stocked in New York City high schools; and more.