After Covid, Medicare Advances Are Now Worsening Hospital Debt
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
Roll Call reports that one of the pandemic “lifelines” Medicare threw to the health industry is now becoming another “stone around their necks” for a few hospitals. And Axios covers a Medicare experiment to push states to control and lower their health care spending.
HHS Inspector General Says Nursing Homes Aren’t Ready For Disasters
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Office of the Inspector General surveyed 168 nursing homes last year to examine their readiness to respond to public health emergencies or natural disasters. Most of them were not prepared. Separately, Axios reports potential problems from a nursing home inspector shortage.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, September 7, 2023
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
Fall covid boosters, abortion rates, Medicare, nursing home preparedness, extreme heat, psychedelic use, guns, and more are in the news.
FDA May Approve Updated Covid Boosters As Early As Friday: Report
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
NBC News reports that the FDA plans to greenlight new versions of the covid booster updated to target the XBB.1.5 omicron subvariant, and that the shots could be available to the public by next week. In other covid news: global case trends, masks, and long covid.
Abortion Rose So Far This Year In Most States Where It’s Still Legal: Study
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
New research from the Guttmacher Institute determines that abortions rose in nearly every state where the procedure remains legal. The largest increase is seen in states that border ones with total abortion bans, showing that people are “highly motivated” to travel, the researchers say.
First Edition: Sept. 7, 2023
September 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Hollywood’s A-List Health Insurance Is Jeopardized by the Labor Strikes
By Jackie Fortiér, LAist
September 7, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Hollywood actors and writers who qualify for their union health plans get a very good deal compared with other Americans. But not working during the strike threatens their eligibility in the system.
‘Like a Russian Roulette’: US Military Firefighters Grapple With Unknowns of PFAS Exposure
By Patricia Kime and Hannah Norman
September 7, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Federal research linking “forever chemicals” to testicular cancer confirms what U.S. military personnel long suspected. But as they seek testing for PFAS exposure, many wonder what to do with the results. There’s no medical treatment yet.
Most States Have Yet to Permanently Fund 988. Call Centers Want Certainty.
By Christina Saint Louis
September 7, 2023
KFF Health News Original
For rural Americans, who live in areas often short of mental health services and die by suicide at a far higher rate than urbanites, the federally mandated crisis phone line is one of the few options to connect with a crisis counselor.
Sin mantas, peluches, ni en brazos de sus padres: cómo hacer que los bebés duerman seguros
By Colleen DeGuzman
September 6, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Algunas advertencias claras: los bebés no deben dormir con mantas, peluches o protectores que puedan provocar asfixia o estrangulamiento. Tampoco en brazos de los padres.
Spending Goes Up When PCPs Affiliate With Health Systems: Study
September 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
A new study, reported by Axios, is said to “challenge claims by the hospital industry” that consolidation results in less spending: Instead, it shows primary care physicians affiliated with health systems drive up spending on patient care. Also in the news: physicians’ pay.
California Pharmacies Make Millions Of Mistakes Every Year, Data Show
September 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
A story in the Los Angeles Times covers the millions of errors discovered by the regulatory board and argues that the pharmacies are also “fighting to keep that secret.” Among other news: a ban on HRT for young trans people in Georgia, maternity care suffering in anti-abortion states, and more.
McConnell Shows No Sign Of Stroke, Seizure: Capitol Doctor
September 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
Politico and NPR cover reassurances from Capitol physician Brian Monahan over the health of Mitch McConnell: the Senate Minority Leader is, reportedly, fine despite appearing to freeze mid-conversation last week. Also in the news: 1 in 3 HHS appointees leave for industry jobs.
Study: People With ADHD Are More Likely To Attempt Suicide
September 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
Researchers also found that ADHD was associated with an 18% higher chance of developing PTSD after a trauma, CNN reported. If the person had both ADHD and depression, the risk of PTSD rose by 67%. Other news is on autism, cardiac arrest, eating disorders, and more.
Mpox Vaccine Proves Highly Successful; Resistance To Cefiderocol Is Increasing
September 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
Read recent pharmaceutical developments in KFF Health News’ Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, September 6, 2023
September 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
Mental health stigmas, Medicare spending, covid variants and vaccines, RSV, Narcan, pharmacy mistakes, ADHD, and more are in the news.
Medicare’s Per-Person Spending Slows Down, And No One Can Explain Why
September 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
The New York Times explores the mystery behind why Medicare’s spending per beneficiary has yet to spike to expected levels — a saving grace for the federal budget but not one that experts don’t understand.
As Variants Fuel Covid Uptick, New Vaccine Shows Promising Effectiveness
September 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
What’s known is that covid cases and hospitalizations are on the rise. What’s not known is how bad this latest surge might prove to be. News outlets round up the latest study data on the new variants of concern. Meanwhile, Moderna released lab results that shows its new vaccine offers a strong immune response to BA.2.86.