Premium Cigars ‘Entirely Unregulated At Federal Level’ After Ruling
August 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled against the FDA on Wednesday, vacating an FDA rule classifying premium cigars such that they could be regulated just like cigarettes. The agency said in a brief it was worried over the deregulated status of cigars, but the judge argued state laws protected the public.
Number of American Adults With Long Covid Fell Over The Past Year
August 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
A new CDC report says that 7.5% of U.S. adults 18 and over were experiencing long covid symptoms in June 2022, but by June 2023 the figure had fallen to 6%. CIDRAP reports that the percentage of sufferers who said their symptoms affected daily life remained unchanged.
Hospital Survey Reveals Widespread Drug Shortages, Care Rationing
August 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
An American Society of Health-System Pharmacists survey found 99% of hospital pharmacists reported some drug shortages, and 1 in 3 health systems had to delay, modify or cancel care. Also in the news: warnings over “compounded” weight loss drugs like weight-loss medication Wegovy.
Cano Health Trims 700 Workers; UnitedHealth Cutting Back On Prior Authorizations
August 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
Modern Healthcare also reports that Cano Health is exiting four markets and exploring a sale. UnitedHealthcare, meanwhile, is said to be cutting back on some prior authorization rules ahead of federal curbs. Also in the news: how medical bills can be bumped up by hospital mergers.
VA Extends Deadline For Applications For Toxic Substance Payouts
August 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act broadened Veteran Affairs health care benefits to veterans exposed to toxic substances, and though hundreds of thousands reportedly signed up, technical hitches hit the system. As a result, the Department of Veterans Affairs extended the deadline until Aug. 14.
Morning Briefing for Friday, August 11, 2023
August 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
Medicaid unwinding, record suicides, opioid deal blocked, health worker shortages, veteran health, long covid, and more are in the news.
Biden Administration Reveals $100 Million Plan To Boost Nurse Workforce
August 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
To cope with the ongoing shortages, Department of Health and Human Services officials revealed a $100 million investment with the goal of training more registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and more. Also in the news: 18% of health employees use ChatGPT regularly at work.
More People In US Killed Themselves Last Year Than Ever Before
August 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
CDC data shows that 49,500 died by suicide in 2022. That record number alarms federal health officials who are urging renewed efforts to build up access and acceptance of mental health services. The head of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention also points to the spike in suicides by firearms.
Supreme Court Halts Purdue’s Opioid Settlement Over Sackler Family Immunity
August 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
As requested by the Biden administration, the Supreme Court justices will review a provision of the $6 billion Purdue Pharma settlement with state and local governments that would shield the Sackler family from civil lawsuits over its alleged role in the opioid crisis.
CMS Dials Up Public Pressure On States Over Medicaid Enrollment Red Tape
August 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services publicly released warning letters sent to all states over the high number of people losing Medicaid coverage for reasons other than eligibility. At least 36 states are believed to be falling short in one of the key areas of concern: paperwork problems, long call center wait times, or slow application processing.
First Edition: Aug. 11, 2023
August 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
New Alzheimer’s Drug Raises Hopes — Along With Questions
By Judith Graham
August 11, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Clinics serving Alzheimer’s patients are working out the details of who will get treated with the new drug Leqembi. It won’t be for everyone with memory-loss symptoms.
A Blood Test That Screens for Cancer: Does It Do More Harm Than Good?
By Mark Kreidler
August 11, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The first of a new wave of cancer-detection blood tests likely saved Gilbert Milam Jr.’s life. But many cancer researchers, wary of overtesting, argue it’s premature to prescribe the Galleri test widely.
Your Exorbitant Medical Bill, Brought to You by the Latest Hospital Merger
By Elisabeth Rosenthal
August 11, 2023
KFF Health News Original
After decades of unchecked mergers, health care is the land of giants, with huge medical systems monopolizing care in many cities, states, and even whole regions of the country. This decreases patient choice, impedes innovation, erodes quality of care, and raises prices. And federal regulators have been slow to act.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': On Abortion Rights, Ohio Is the New Kansas
August 10, 2023
Podcast
Nearly a year to the day after Kansas voters surprised the nation by defeating an anti-abortion ballot question, Ohio voters defeated a similar, if cagier, effort to limit access in that state. This week, they rejected an effort to raise the threshold for approval of future ballot measures from a simple majority, which would have made it harder to protect abortion access with yet another ballot question come November. Meanwhile, the number of Americans without health insurance has dropped to an all-time low, though few noticed. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post, and Emmarie Huetteman of KFF Health News join KFF Health News’ chief Washington correspondent, Julie Rovner, to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Kate McEvoy, executive director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors, about how the “Medicaid unwinding” is going, as millions have their eligibility for coverage rechecked.
Lo que hay que saber para no perder Medicaid
By Samantha Liss
August 10, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Gran parte de los beneficiarios de Medicaid que perdieron la cobertura fue porque no completaron el papeleo necesario para permanecer en el seguro.
Research Roundup: Delirium; Breast Milk; Covid Vaccines
August 10, 2023
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of health policy studies and briefs.
Viewpoints: What Is Causing The Rise In Covid Variant EG.5?
August 10, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss variant EG.5, Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs, internet delusions, and more.
Worries Over Another Legionnaires’ Disease Cluster In New Jersey
August 10, 2023
Morning Briefing
NJ.com says the state Health Department is investigating cases among nine residents in Passaic and Bergen counties, where another cluster was detected last winter. Also: Washington State reported a second case of tick-borne anaplasmosis, and a woman in Dallas died from West Nile virus.
Regular Use Of Common Acid Reflux Drug Linked With Dementia Risks
August 10, 2023
Morning Briefing
Proton pump inhibitors, when used for more than four years, could lead to a much higher risk for developing dementia, a report in USA Today says. Separate research links a loss of the sense of smell with warnings of future Alzheimer’s disease. Also: a new blood test to predict Alzheimer’s risk.