Meningococcal Vaccine Shows Positive Trial Results; Jynneos Proves Highly Protective Against Mpox
March 15, 2023
Morning Briefing
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Assisted Suicide Will Be Allowed For First Non-Resident in Vermont
March 15, 2023
Morning Briefing
In other health news from across the country: more postpartum health care coverage, and a Pennsylvania county is offering to mail up to 10 free condoms directly to residents at their request.
Arkansas Makes It Easier To Sue Minors’ Trans Care Providers
March 15, 2023
Morning Briefing
Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed new legislation that will go into effect in the summer. Anti trans-care moves in Georgia are also reported.
Mortality Rate Of US Children, Teens Surged In Recent Years
March 15, 2023
Morning Briefing
The increase — nearly 11% in 2020 and more than 8% in 2021 — was driven not by deaths from covid but from fatal injuries from things like firearms, drugs, and cars. Only for infants younger than 1 was no significant increase in mortality found.
Google Leverages AI Tech To Help With Medicaid Reenrollments
March 15, 2023
Morning Briefing
As part of Google’s annual Check Up event this week, the tech giant revealed several health care initiatives, including a conversational AI tweak to its search product designed to support users who are trying to reenroll in Medicaid.
FDA Authorizes Pfizer Covid Booster For Kids As Young As 6 Months
March 15, 2023
Morning Briefing
The shot is for children who were previously vaccinated with three doses of the original vaccine. In other covid-related news, operators of an upscale Los Angeles care facility for dementia patients were charged Tuesday with felony elder abuse.
High-Stakes Hearing Today On Abortion Medication
March 15, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Texas judge’s decision could have huge implications for abortion care across the country. Abortion news from Ohio and Arkansas is also reported.
Biden Signs Executive Order To Close Gun-Buying Loopholes
March 15, 2023
Morning Briefing
Speaking with families in Monterey Park, California, who suffered a mass shooting in January, the president revealed the order directing the Department of Justice to ensure licensed gun dealers conduct required background checks before gun purchases. News outlets note Biden’s options to stop gun violence are limited.
EPA Proposes First Federal Limits On Forever Chemicals In Drinking Water
March 15, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Environmental Protection Agency said limits on toxic PFAS products would save thousands of lives and prevent serious illnesses, including cancer. Public water systems will be required to monitor supplies for six PFAS chemicals and alert the public if levels pass proposed standards.
Biden Wants To Fine Drugmakers Who Hike Prices
March 15, 2023
Morning Briefing
The federal government will fine companies who increase prices faster than the rate of inflation — but only for 27 specific medications, and it won’t happen until 2025.
Novo Nordisk Also Cutting Price Of Insulin
March 15, 2023
Morning Briefing
The giant drugmaker is following Eli Lilly’s lead by dropping the list price of several products, some as much as 75%. Sanofi, the other major insulin manufacturer, said that it is “continually listening to patients, patient advocates, caregivers, and others to better understand additional actions we could take to address access or affordability challenges.”
¿Ayudan las nuevas guías sobre opioides a los pacientes con dolor crónico?
By Sam Whitehead and Andy Miller
March 15, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Las recomendaciones dejaron a muchos pacientes lidiando con las consecuencias para la salud mental y física de la reducción rápida de la dosis o la suspensión abrupta de los medicamentos que habían estado tomando durante años, lo que conlleva riesgos de abstinencia, depresión e incluso suicidio.
FDA Looks Into Dental Device After KHN-CBS News Investigation of Patient Harm
By Brett Kelman and Anna Werner, CBS News
March 15, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The FDA’s interest in the AGGA dental device follows a KHN-CBS News investigation, according to a former agency official.
First Edition: March 15, 2023
March 15, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Two Counties Square Off With California Over Mental Health Duties
By Angela Hart
March 15, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The state wants to stop paying Kaiser Permanente for treating severely mentally ill Medi-Cal patients in Sacramento and Solano counties and force the counties to take on the task. The counties’ leaders say they can’t afford it.
New CDC Opioid Guidelines: Too Little, Too Late for Chronic Pain Patients?
By Sam Whitehead and Andy Miller
March 15, 2023
KFF Health News Original
In November, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines for prescribing opioids for pain, allowing physicians more flexibility. But doctors, patients, and advocates wonder if the updated standards will be too little, too late to help chronic pain patients in a country still focused on fighting the ongoing opioid crisis.
Estrés pandémico, pandillas y miedo impulsaron un aumento de tiroteos adolescentes
By Liz Szabo
March 14, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Investigaciones muestran que los adolescentes expuestos a la violencia armada tienen el doble de probabilidades que otros de cometer un delito violento grave dentro de los dos años luego del trauma, lo que perpetúa un ciclo difícil de romper.
Viewpoints: Abortion Foes Stoke Fear In Patients; Anti-Abortion Laws Creating Obstetric Deserts
March 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss reproductive health care and more public health issues.