FDA Urged To Relax Decades-Old Tissue Donation Restrictions for Gay and Bisexual Men
By Rae Ellen Bichell
May 24, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Federal regulations prevent gay and bisexual men from donating tissue, such as corneas, ligaments, and blood vessels. Similar restrictions have been relaxed or lifted for donated blood and organs in recent years.
The Case of the Armadillo: Is It Spreading Leprosy in Florida?
By Sam Ogozalek, Tampa Bay Times
May 24, 2024
KFF Health News Original
A single Central Florida county reported 13% of all U.S. leprosy cases in 2020. Researchers have teamed up to investigate whether armadillos are passing the bacteria that cause the disease to humans — which is especially concerning as the animals expand their range farther north.
Reclaman revisar viejas restricciones que previenen que hombres gay y bisexuales donen tejidos
By Rae Ellen Bichell
May 24, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Defensores piden que las pautas para los tejidos donados por hombres gays y bisexuales sean las mismas que aplican al resto del cuerpo humano.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Anti-Abortion Hard-Liners Speak Up
May 23, 2024
Podcast
While Republican candidates in many states downplay their opposition to abortion, the most vehement wing of the movement, which helped overturn Roe v. Wade — those who advocate prosecuting patients, outlawing contraception, and banning IVF — are increasingly outspoken. Meanwhile, some state legislatures continue to advance new restrictions, like a proposal moving in Louisiana to include abortion medications mifepristone and misoprostol on the list of the most dangerous drugs. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins schools of public health and nursing and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Shefali Luthra of The 19th about her new book on abortion in post-Roe America, “Undue Burden.”
Wyoming Dept. Of Corrections Switches To New Medical Services Provider
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Wyoming Public Radio explains that the change comes after years of working with the same “embattled” medical company. Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, the governor is reportedly at odds with hospitals over proposed changes to state Medicaid payments.
Research Roundup: Ancient Viral DNA; Long Covid; Bacterial Priority Pathogens List; Flu Vaccines
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of health policy studies and briefs.
Viewpoints: Cost Isn’t The Only Barrier To New Sickle Cell Treatments; What’s Behind Health Worker Burnout?
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers examine CRISPR, health care worker burnout, Havana Syndrome, and more.
‘Expanding Public Health Concern’: 1 in 9 US Kids Has ADHD Diagnosis
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
According to a new report from the CDC, more than 7 million American kids ages 3 to 17 received a diagnosis of ADHD in 2022, an increase of 1 million from 2016. Other health and wellness news is on ADHD medications in adulthood, ultraprocessed foods, fish oil supplements, and more.
Record Number Of Teens Are Obtaining And Dying From Fentanyl
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Fatal opioid overdoses among youth ages 12 to 17 has doubled since the start of the covid pandemic, according to The Washington Post’s analysis of CDC data. Pediatricians have been startled by the spike and say that treatment options for patients that young are limited.
More Americans Prefer Daily Dose Of Weed Over Alcohol, Analysis Finds
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
In other news, cannabis-using teens are a greater risk of developing a psychotic disorder, study says. Meanwhile, a former drug czar sounds the alarm on the cannabis industry, likening it to Big Tobacco.
Vaccines Largely Did Their Job In Warding Off Long Covid, Study Finds
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
In another study, scientists are looking at a new antiviral to help ailing covid patients, but the high level of immunity in the population is complicating efforts to test obeldesivir in humans.
Companies Illegally Making Millions Off Veterans Filing For PACT Benefits
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Federal law prohibits charging veterans for help in applying for restitution for wartime injuries. Even so, a Washington Post review found that as many as 100 unaccredited companies are charging vets anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 for help filing claims.
Democrats Want Contraception Rights Vote To Expose GOP Policies
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Senate will vote in June on legislation designed to protect contraception access, expecting Republicans to block the bill and show their cards on what’s expected to be a key campaign issue. Meanwhile, in Texas, an anti-abortion doctor was appointed to the state maternity committee.
Bankruptcy Filing Is A Farce, J&J Litigants Contend In Latest Lawsuit
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
The plantiffs argue J&J’s efforts put money out of reach in a settlement over talc-based products; the company says that isn’t so. In other news, a long-acting insulin product from Novo Nordisk was linked to safety risks; gene splicing might be key to long-lasting obesity drugs; and more.
Miami Now US Epicenter Of Surge In Dengue Fever Infections
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Cases of dengue fever have more than doubled versus the same period last year. Separately, a mosquito sample in Houston has tested positive for West Nile virus, and experts say more kinds of ticks are hitting Illinois in a longer season.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, May 23, 2024
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Bird flu case, medical death, teen opioid overdoses, marijuana use, PACT benefits, birth control access, ADHD, and more are in the news.
Michigan Dairy Worker Is Second Human In US Infected With Bird Flu
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, wastewater surveillance monitoring will pick up nationally in the coming weeks. And clues from Texas identify the state as the likely ground zero for the H5N1 spread.
First Edition: May 23, 2024
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Los Angeles County Launches Ambitious Plan To Tackle Medical Debt. Hospitals Groan.
By Molly Castle Work
May 23, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Los Angeles County, the nation’s most populous county, is spearheading a comprehensive plan to tackle a $2.9 billion medical debt crisis. Hospitals are still getting on board with the project, which is helmed by the public health department.
Clues From Bird Flu’s Ground Zero on Dairy Farms in the Texas Panhandle
By Amy Maxmen
May 23, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Dairy farmers and veterinarians in northern Texas furiously investigated a mysterious illness among cattle before the government got involved. Their observations are telling.