Employers Use Patient Assistance Programs to Offset Their Own Costs
By Julie Appleby
December 6, 2022
KFF Health News Original
Some insurers and employers are tapping into assistance programs meant for individual patients. The concern: Some costly drugs could be harder for patients to access.
Viewpoints: Abortion Rules Based On Lies Must Be Corrected; Should Insurance Cover IVF?
December 5, 2022
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss reproductive health care, chronic illness, euthanasia and more.
STDs Surging In Georgia, Hit Highest Levels In A Decade
December 5, 2022
Morning Briefing
New cases include gonorrhea and syphilis in particular, and a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says public health officials think many reasons are driving the surge, including falling condom use. Separately, the Ohio measles outbreak is continuing to grow.
Believing Marijuana Helps Your Pain May Make It So: Study
December 5, 2022
Morning Briefing
A study finds that people reporting pain relief from marijuana may be benefiting from a placebo effect. Separate research says poison center reports of child marijuana use rose 245% between 2000 and 2020. News on a puzzling medical emergency in a Van Nuys Middle School also continues.
In Military Families, Frequent Moves Can Hinder Kids With Disabilities
December 5, 2022
Morning Briefing
A report from the American Homefront Project highlights how frequent moves affect health care and schooling, particularly special education. Also: warnings over skin-whitening creams, better ways to measure skin tone, risks of Brazilian butt lifts, and more.
After Pandemic Pause, Medical Malpractice Suits Hit Hospitals Hard
December 5, 2022
Morning Briefing
Rising malpractice suits, delayed by the arrival of the pandemic, are hitting hospitals harder than expected, according to a report in Stat. In other news, a children’s hospital doctor was charged with sex crimes; a Texas man was arrested for threatening a doctor; threats over trans care; and more.
CVS Experiments With Remote Prescription-Filling By Pharmacists
December 5, 2022
Morning Briefing
Some 400 of CVS’ 30,000 pharmacists are taking part in a trial where they can prepare prescriptions in locations away from the stores where patients require medications. The goal is to improve store working conditions and patient experience. Other news includes obesity drugs, vitamins, and more.
Ind. Abortion Ban Blocked; Inquiry Into Doctor Who Helped Girl, 10, Will Go On
December 5, 2022
Morning Briefing
The same judge ruled in both cases on Friday. The ban was blocked after a challenge by Jewish, Muslim, and other non-Christian women.
As Cases Drop, Mpox Public Emergency Will End In February
December 5, 2022
Morning Briefing
The Department of Health and Human Service plans to not renew the public health emergency status of mpox after January 31, now that case numbers have fallen. In other news, a new mRNA vaccine candidate has also been developed. But experts say it’s not “mission accomplished” yet.
Military Covid Vaccine Mandate Could Go; Officials Press For Keeping It
December 5, 2022
Morning Briefing
Democratic chair of the House Armed Services Committee is reportedly concerned a rollback of the military vaccine mandate may happen in a new version of the National Defense Authorization Act, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says he wants mandates to stay, to keep protecting troop health.
So You Say You Haven’t Had Covid. You’re Probably Mistaken, Study Finds.
December 5, 2022
Morning Briefing
Researchers tested 1,574 people from August 2021 to May 2022, and 44% of them said they had never had covid. But serologic testing found that 42% of them had antibodies that indicated a previous infection. Meanwhile, new research shows that SARS-CoV-2 can live on some groceries for days.
Morning Briefing for Monday, December 5, 2022
December 5, 2022
Morning Briefing
Monday’s roundup covers flu, RSV and covid holiday surges, vaccine mandates, abortion law, CDC, Mpox, malpractice, drug misuse, and more.
Holiday Season Ushers In Another Unwelcome Covid Surge
December 5, 2022
Morning Briefing
It’s not just flu and RSV on the rise: Covid cases also increased following Thanksgiving gatherings, with hospitalizations up to the highest point in three months. Wastewater readings confirm another surge in some U.S. areas.
Flu At ‘High’ Level In Nearly Every State, With Hospitalizations On The Rise
December 5, 2022
Morning Briefing
Thanksgiving week saw the number of people admitted to the hospital for flu nearly double. And RSV remains another big contributor to the respiratory illnesses plaguing the U.S.
First Edition: Dec. 5, 2022
December 5, 2022
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Much of the CDC Is Working Remotely. That Could Make Changing the Agency Difficult.
By Sam Whitehead
December 5, 2022
KFF Health News Original
Like many U.S. workplaces, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention went remote during the pandemic. Most of the agency’s staff members haven’t returned to the office full time, raising concerns about the CDC’s ability to reform itself after recent stumbles.
Assisted Living Facilities Pressed to Address Growing Needs of Older, Sicker Residents
By Judith Graham
December 5, 2022
KFF Health News Original
Assisted living was meant to be a home-like setting where older adults could interact with other residents while receiving help with daily tasks such as bathing and dressing. But as the concept has become more popular, residents are now older and sicker than in the past, and a panel of experts is calling for more focus on their medical and mental health needs.
Journalists Discuss Medicaid Rules, Opioid Settlement Funds, and the Public Health Workforce
December 3, 2022
KFF Health News Original
KHN 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.
Empresas de capital riesgo invierten en el negocio de los ensayos clínicos de medicamentos. ¿Cuál es el riesgo para los pacientes?
By Rachana Pradhan
December 2, 2022
KFF Health News Original
Para lanzar un nuevo fármaco al mercado, la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos (FDA) exige a las farmacéuticas estudios exhaustivos para demostrar su seguridad y eficacia. Conseguir que un medicamento salga al mercado unos meses antes, y con menos gastos de lo habitual, puede traducirse en beneficios millonarios para el fabricante.
Viewpoints: Health Care Providers Should Be Screening For Anxiety; We Need Many More Child Psychologists
December 2, 2022
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle mental health and more public health issues.