An Addiction Meds Lawsuit May Lead To More Protection For Patients
January 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
The suit — which awarded back pay and damages to a former Tennessee correctional officer who was forced to resign for taking Suboxone to treat opioid use disorder — is the first time the Department of Justice has used the Americans with Disabilities Act to settle a claim over discrimination against opioid medication use.
Everyone Likes Their Jobs Better Than Health Care Workers: Survey
January 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
Data from the Qualtrics 2023 Healthcare Experience Trends Report, which compares the health sector to 27 other industries, show health coming in last place for employee satisfaction, and only half of health workers think their pay is fair. Also: chatbot AI therapy, nurse-patient ratios, and more.
Newly Identified Gonorrhea Strains Show Signs Of Antibiotic Resistance
January 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
The CDC is investigating with public health officials in Massachusetts where the strains were identified in 2 patients. Both were cured with the standard antibiotic but genetic profiling prompted a warning that the bacteria “is becoming less responsive to a limited arsenal of antibiotics.”
1,300 Nursing Homes Had Covid Infection Rates Of 75% In 2020: Data
January 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
A study by the HHS’ Office of the Inspector General found that over 1,300 U.S. nursing homes experienced extremely high covid infection rates in 2020. Meanwhile, other research shows that first-wave covid patients had a much higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease for at least 18 months.
USDA Cracking Down On Foods Inappropriately Labeled ‘Organic’
January 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Department of Agriculture issued a new rule Thursday that sets requirements for foods to qualify as “organic,” a step in stronger oversight efforts aimed at stamping out fraud.
FDA Refuses Accelerated Approval Request For Eli Lilly Alzheimer’s Drug
January 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
Eli Lilly has been declined an accelerated approval process for its Alzheimer’s drug donanemab, a treatment for people in the early stage of the disease. The company says, however, that a Phase 3 study of the drug is on track. The FDA is said to be seeking more data.
March For Life Arrives In Washington, DC; Focus Falls On Anti-Abortion Goals
January 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
News outlets cover the annual “March for Life” protest against legal abortion, and on what the antiabortion movement and Republican party may target next, now that Roe v. Wade is over. Other abortion-related news is from Indiana, Minnesota, Maryland, and Missouri.
Morning Briefing for Friday, January 20, 2023
January 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
Friday’s roundup covers the Supreme Court leak, Medicare, Medicaid, prescription drugs, health care workers, and more. Plus, weekend reads.
Debt Ceiling Showdown Carries High Stakes For Medicare, Medicaid
January 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
Lawmakers missed the deadline for lifting the debt ceiling last night. As negotiations continue — in which Republicans’ efforts to cut Medicare and Medicaid play a significant role — CNBC reports on potential delays in Medicare and Social Security payments to beneficiaries.
Supreme Court Still Hasn’t Found Who Leaked Abortion Decision
January 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
The court released a 20-page report Thursday describing its investigation into the leaked draft majority opinion that ultimately overturned Roe v. Wade. The probe has failed to identify the culprit among the 82 employees who had access to the document and found no evidence of hacking.
First Edition: Jan. 20, 2023
January 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Luring Out-of-State Professionals Is Just the First Step in Solving Montana’s Health Worker Shortage
By Keely Larson
January 20, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Two proposals would make it easier for professionals with out-of-state licenses to work in Montana, but that tactic likely won’t be enough to fill the demand for mental health providers.
NFL Has Been Slow to Embrace Mental Health Support for Players
By Mark Kreidler
January 20, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The shocking on-field cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin traumatized some players and underscores the need for more consistent mental health support in a league whose athletes are trained to show no weakness.
The ‘KHN Health Minute’ Debuts on CBS News Radio
January 20, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Launched Jan. 12, the “Health Minute” brings original health care and health policy reporting from the KHN newsroom to the airwaves each week.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': As US Bumps Against Debt Ceiling, Medicare Becomes a Bargaining Chip
January 19, 2023
Podcast
The debt ceiling crisis facing Washington puts Medicare and other popular entitlement programs squarely on the negotiating table this year as newly empowered Republicans demand spending cuts. Meanwhile, as more Americans than ever have health insurance, the nation’s health care workforce is straining under the load. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Victoria Knight of Axios join KHN’s chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.
Research Roundup: Omicron In Pregnancy; High Blood Pressure; Alzheimer’s
January 19, 2023
Morning Briefing
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Intermittent Fasting Not Linked To Long-Term Weight Loss, Study Shows
January 19, 2023
Morning Briefing
A study undermines intermittent fasting as a weight control trick, while a different study shows that people with a higher BMI metabolize vitamin D differently. Meanwhile, there’s pushback on the new AAP childhood obesity treatment guidelines
University’s Staff Demand Raises Amid Rising Student Mental Health Concerns
January 19, 2023
Morning Briefing
University of Illinois at Chicago faculty are asking for significant pay rises partly because student mental health needs have become so severe and time consuming to address. Separately, Yale University launched new policies for helping students with mental health problems.
Missouri Mulls Law Extending Medicaid For New Mothers And Babies
January 19, 2023
Morning Briefing
The bipartisan legislation debated Wednesday would extend insurance coverage for low-income mothers from the current 60 days after giving birth to 12 months. Problems in nursing homes in Connecticut and California, trans health care targeted in Florida universities, and more are also in the news.
San Francisco’s Opioid Death Epidemic Only Slightly Declines: Data
January 19, 2023
Morning Briefing
Data reported by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner show that opioid drug deaths, driven by fentanyl, did fall slightly for the second year in a row. But the San Francisco Chronicle notes the crisis continues, and city efforts to limit deaths only resulted in the figures falling by 3% in 2022.