Kansas Lawmakers Send Unproven ‘Abortion Reversal’ Bill To Governor
April 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
The procedure involves administering a high dose of the progesterone to “reverse” the use of mifepristone. One attempt to conduct a formal study on the treatment was halted after a test subject went to the hospital for hemorrhaging.
Scale Of Justice Thomas’ Undisclosed Donor-Bankrolled Travel Renews Supreme Court Ethics Debate
April 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
ProPublica’s report detailing years of luxury travel quietly accepted by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas from a prominent Republican donor has prompted calls for action by some congressional Democrats. Ethics experts that spoke to news outlets cited concerns about a further erosion of public trust in the high court’s decisions.
Morning Briefing for Friday, April 7, 2023
April 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
Medicaid, transgender health, VA health records, abortion, medical devices, covid, fentanyl, and more are in the news. Plus, weekend reads.
Biden Administration Wades Into Transgender Debate With Proposed Athletics Rule
April 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Education Department proposed a regulation Thursday that would allow schools to limit participation of nonbinary and transgender students on university and K-12 school sports teams but would not allow schools to “categorically” ban them from teams. Separately, the Supreme Court refused to reinstate a ban on transgender athletes in West Virginia.
First Edition: April 7, 2023
April 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
High Inflation and Housing Costs Force Many Americans to Delay Needed Care
By Stephanie Colombini, WUSF
April 7, 2023
KFF Health News Original
A recent Gallup Poll suggests that Americans are putting off medical care because of costs. Inflation and rising rents make it harder for people to make ends meet.
No-Cost Preventive Services Are Now in Jeopardy. Here’s What You Need to Know.
By Julie Appleby
April 7, 2023
KFF Health News Original
A federal judge’s recent ruling on the Affordable Care Act is by no means the final word. Even parsing its impact is complicated. Here are key issues to watch as the case works its way through the legal system.
Montana May Require Insurers to Cover Monitoring Devices for Diabetes
By Keely Larson
April 7, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Montana is one of several states considering expanding coverage of continuous glucose monitors, but insurance companies and some providers argue that not all people with diabetes need them.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': The ‘Unwinding’ of Medicaid
April 6, 2023
Podcast
As of April 1, states were allowed to begin reevaluating Medicaid eligibility for millions of Americans who qualified for the program during the covid-19 pandemic but may no longer meet the income or other requirements. As many as 15 million people could lose health coverage as a result. Meanwhile, the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund is projected to stay solvent until 2031, its trustees reported, taking some pressure off of lawmakers to finally fix that program’s underlying financial weaknesses. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post, and Amy Goldstein of The Washington Post join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Daniel Chang, who reported the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” feature about a child not yet old enough for kindergarten whose medical bill landed him in collections.
Research Roundup: Pneumonia; IDH-Mutant Glioma; Obesity; And More
April 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Report Reveals Decades Of Sexual Abuse Accusations Against Baltimore Priests
April 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
More than 150 Catholic priests and clergy members associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore were accused of repeated sexual abuse of at least 600 children in events dating to the 1940s. The Baltimore Sun covers advice on how to process this type of traumatic revelation.
Diagnoses Of ADHD Are Soaring, And Women Are Most Affected
April 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
Fox News reports on a new study that says while diagnoses of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder have been climbing steadily across the U.S., the spike in numbers has been most significant among women. Meanwhile, new research shows that gun violence is becoming more lethal.
Trans People’s Rights, Gender Care Targeted By Bills In Several States
April 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
News outlets cover a long list of legal moves that target the ability of young trans people to access gender affirming care, play on sports teams, and access bathrooms. In North Dakota, 10 such bills were passed in just one day. But in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, signed an order protecting access to gender care.
Pfizer RSV Vaccine Highly Effective Against Severe Infant Infections
April 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
The experimental vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus was found to be 82% effective at stopping later, severe infections in infants when given to expectant mothers in the second half of pregnancy. Cancer treatments, cancer drug shortages, futuristic new drugs, and gut health are also in the news.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, April 6, 2023
April 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
Abortion laws, air quality link to dementia, covid origins, RSV vaccine, Medicare Advantage denials, military suicides, and moer are in the news.
Michigan Officially Repeals Unenforceable 1931 Abortion Ban
April 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
A state constitutional amendment meant the old ban was no longer in effect, but Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other Democrats wanted to be on the safe side. Meanwhile, in New Mexico, the Democratic governor signed a bill protecting abortion providers from prosecution or extradition.
White House Moves To Crack Down On Medicare Advantage Care Denials
April 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
Final regulations issued Wednesday mean Medicare Advantage plans won’t be able to reject coverage of care that would otherwise be covered for those enrolled in the traditional Medicare program, Stat explains. Nursing home payments, hospital executive compensation, and more are also in the news.
Wars Not Linked To Spikes In Soldier Suicide Rates: Study
April 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
A study reported by the Military Times shows that even though there was an uptick in U.S. service member suicides during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, historically combat is not solely accountable for surges in troop suicide numbers. Separately, worries over mismanagement of military traumatic brain injuries.
Covid Origins: Updated Chinese Study Confirms Presence Of Raccoon Dog
April 6, 2023
Morning Briefing
Wednesday’s study, published in the journal Nature, “confirmed the existence” of the animal and others susceptible to the coronavirus at the Wuhan market, The New York Times reported. But researchers stressed that they found no direct evidence that a raccoon dog was infected and have not ruled out a scenario in which people gave the virus to animals.