After Idaho’s Strict Abortion Ban, OB-GYNs Stage a Quick Exodus
By Sarah Varney
May 2, 2023
KFF Health News Original
At least two Idaho hospitals are ending labor and delivery services, with one citing the state’s “legal and political climate” and noting that “recruiting replacements will be extraordinarily difficult” as doctors leave.
Community Paramedics Don’t Wait for an Emergency to Visit Rural Patients at Home
By Arielle Zionts
May 2, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Community paramedicine is expanding nationwide, including in rural areas, as health care providers, insurers, and state governments recognize its potential to improve health and save money.
Listen: How Are States Spending Money From the Opioid Settlements? It’s Not Easy to Know
May 1, 2023
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News senior correspondent Aneri Pattani appeared on NPR’s “1A” on May 1 to discuss issues related to how opioid settlement funds are being distributed.
Morning Briefing for Monday, May 1, 2023
May 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
Medicaid work requirements, abortion access, covid tracking, variants, ChatGPT, gene therapy, youth mental health, and more are in the news.
Viewpoints: Abortion Travel Laws Set Dangerous Precedent; Do Masks Work?
May 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss abortion, covid, the effects of loneliness, and Biden’s “moonshot.”
Nevada Doctors Warn Of Surprising Surge In Child Brain Infections
May 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
Researchers at the Southern Nevada Health District said there were 18 cases of pediatric brain abscesses in Clark County in 2022, compared to roughly five annual cases previously. The first sales of medical marijuana in Georgia, gender care access in Missouri, and more are also in the news.
Breast Density Changes Possibly Linked To Cancer Risks: Study
May 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
Scientists found that while breast density declines with age, a slower rate of decline in one breast may be linked to higher cancer risks in that breast. Other research suggests that speaking two languages may help stave off dementia in later life.
When Patients Question ChatGPT, It May Be More Empathetic Than Docs
May 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
A new study covers interesting terrain in the ongoing march of artificial intelligence: when pitched against real doctors answering patient queries, OpenAI’s ChatGPT tool showed more empathy. Axios notes, “the chatbot won. It wasn’t close.” High hospital running costs, and more are also in the news.
Progress In Gene-Based Therapies For Heart Attacks, Sickle Cell Disease
May 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
Gene-edited cells may be useful for repairing hearts damaged by heart attacks, according to new research. Separately, a “competitive biotech race” is underway to treat sickle cell disease. And gene therapy for tackling Duchenne muscular dystrophy is also reported.
CDC Will Stop Community-Level Covid Tracking
May 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday it will rely more heavily on covid hospitalization data. Meanwhile, two new omicron subvariants — XBB.1.16 and XBB.1.9.1 — are gaining more ground in the U.S. Also: Moderna CEO’s pay, long covid, and Pfizer’s RSV shot availability.
Doctors Trying Different Care For Newborns In Opioid Withdrawal
May 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
More babies are being kept with their mothers instead of being separated and put on morphine. A new study has shown that infants treated this way stayed in the hospital about half as long as infants treated by older methods.
Study Shows Teens Suffer Later In Life From Difficult Early Romances
May 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
A new study finds that toxic, controlling teenage dating relationships may increase later risk for problems like drug use and mental or physical health problems. Meanwhile, CDC data shows teen eating disorders have been more severe and prevalent during covid than ever.
Alito Says He Suspects Who Leaked His Dobbs Decision Draft
May 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
While he told The Wall Street Journal in an interview that he doesn’t have the “level of proof that is needed to name somebody,” Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito believes the motive was an attempt to halt the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
House Debt Limit Bill Passage Puts Pressure On Senate
May 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
Democratic leaders in the Senate say the measure passed by the House last week — that includes controversial work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP recipients, among other health policies — is dead on arrival. But the economic clock is ticking for lawmaker action.
First Edition: May 1, 2023
May 1, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Millions Are Stuck in Dental Deserts, With No Access to Oral Health Care
By Lauren Peace, Tampa Bay Times
May 1, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Vulnerable and marginalized communities are getting left behind in dental deserts, where patient volume exceeds provider capacity or too few dentists are willing to serve the uninsured or those on Medicaid.
For California Teen, Coverage of Early Psychosis Treatment Proved a Lifesaver
By Samantha Young
May 1, 2023
KFF Health News Original
A Medi-Cal patient illustrates how early schizophrenia treatments can yield big benefits. Advocates want California to expand such services to more people living with severe mental illness, which they argue will not only improve lives but also save money over time.
Journalists Discuss Enduring Effects of Long Covid and Handling of Opioid Settlement Funds
April 29, 2023
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Texas Bill Would Prosecute Fentanyl Deaths As Murder
April 28, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Dallas Morning News said the bill won early approval from the Texas House on Thursday, even as protesters opposed the idea. In California, bills to target people in the fentanyl supply chain were blocked over concerns of mass incarceration. And Pennsylvania is set to ban supervised drug sites.