Exoskeleton Allows Disabled Doctor To Perform Surgery While Standing
July 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
Newsweek reports on what’s being called “medical history:” a device designed to support surgeons who have to to stand for long periods has now allowed a disabled doctor in Spain to perform surgery standing up for the first time. Also in the news, lab-grown human eggs, regrowing teeth, and more.
More Americans Are Seeking Mental Health Care In A ‘Therapy Boom’
July 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
Media outlets cover news that Americans of all ages, gender and race are seeking mental health treatment than two decades ago. It represents a mental health crisis growing across the country, but also improving attitudes to therapy, Axios says. Also in the news: salmonella, aspirin, TB, and more.
Defense Bill With Anti-Abortion Clause Won’t Pass: National Security Adviser
July 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
News outlets cover a prediction from national security adviser Jake Sullivan who said the Republican-controlled House’s annual defense policy bill, with amendments that target abortion, gender care, and other social issues, has “zero” chance of passing. Separately, worries that “deep” cuts to health spending will hit the HHS and CDC.
CDC Data Show Hints Of A Covid Uptick
July 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
Fresh data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows rising covid activity. On the good news-side of the ledger: California’s covid hospitalizations are near an historic low. Also in the news: worries of cross-species covid infections.
Progress Reported For 2 Experimental Alzheimer’s Treatments
July 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals says that patients in a small study that received its gene-silencing treatment showed benefits for 6 months. And another experimental Alzheimer’s drug from Acumen Pharmaceuticals cleared an initial safety test.
Morning Briefing for Monday, July 17, 2023
July 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
Alzheimer’s drugs, extreme heat and air quality, abortion access, obesity, covid, a mental health care “boom,” and more are in the news.
Iowa’s 6-Week Abortion Ban Now In Effect
July 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the law Friday night, which prohibits most abortion after 6 weeks. A judge is weighing a temporary block on the measure. Separately, Senate Democrats ask the Department of Justice to protect patients ability to travel across state lines for an abortion.
ERs Treat More Heatstroke Cases As Temperatures Hit Record Highs
July 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
“They’re coming in essentially unresponsive and they’re cooked,” a Phoenix doctor tells NBC News. The dangerous heat is leading to bad sunburns, organ failure, and other heat-related illnesses. Meanwhile, poor air quality from wildfire smoke invades other parts of the nation.
First Edition: July 17, 2023
July 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Readers and Tweeters See Ways to Shore Up Primary Care
July 17, 2023
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
In Older Adults, a Little Excess Weight Isn’t Such a Bad Thing
By Judith Graham
July 17, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Researchers have found that while obesity at any age risks harming health, a few extra pounds in later life isn’t cause for concern.
Viewpoints: FDA’s Approval Of OTC Opill Is A Win; Is Aspartame Good Or Bad?
July 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss OTC birth control pills, aspartame, gender in medical research and more.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
July 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on aging and longevity, how memory affects child abuse survivors’ mental health, weight loss drugs, and more.
Syphilis Cases Soaring In Houston, Particularly For Women
July 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Houston health department said new infections rose by 57% from 2019 to 2022. The outbreak is higher among women, jumping from 295 cases in 2019 to 674 cases in 2022. Other state health news covers Texas’ new school safety law, nuclear waste in Missouri, psychedelics in California, and more stories.
J&J Sues Scientists Who Linked Cancer Cases To Talc Products
July 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
Reuters covers the legal action by Johnson & Johnson, which has been embroiled in a complex and expensive legal dispute over its talc products. In other industry news: progress is reported for Caribou Bioscience’s CAR-T cancer therapy; Roche speeds up infusions of an MS drug; and more.
Morning Briefing for Friday, July 14, 2023
July 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
OTC birth control, deadly heat, Medicare physician pay, covid shot pricing, aspartame, trans health, STDs, and more are in the news.
Texas Sued To Prevent Its Gender Care Ban For Minors Taking Effect
July 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
Five families of transgender youth in Texas, plus 3 health care workers, are suing the state to prevent the ban from taking effect in September. In Florida, meanwhile, medical boards have issues new rules for trans health care after laws restricted what care could be offered by providers.
CMS Proposes 3.3% Cut To Base Pay For Physicians In 2024
July 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released its proposed Physician Fee Schedule rule Thursday. If enacted, some specialists would face steeper cuts from Medicare, while other practitioners’ pay could rise. Physicians faced similar cuts that went into effect this year, though Congress averted some.
36% Of Covid Survivors Had Symptoms After 2 Years: Study
July 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
An Italian study finds a startlingly high number of people with symptoms long after they had a covid infection. Separate research showed that covid vaccine boosters did protect cancer patients from poor outcomes. Also in the news: “superagers,” brain tumor treatments, and more.
During The Pandemic Cannabis Sent Many More Young People To ERs: CDC
July 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
CDC data showing emergency department visits by young people related to cannabis spiked during the pandemic, with female cannabis-involved ED visit ratios often beating male ratios. Also: “forever” chemicals in North Carolina, the 988 crisis line’s anniversary, and more.