20% Of US Adults Say They Feel Lonely On A Daily Basis
October 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Gallup survey did not ask respondents why they were feeling that way. It’s the highest rate over the past two years but lower than the 25% peak during the pandemic years. Also: facing dementia alone, addressing gambling addiction in Massachusetts, co-responder programs in Colorado, and more.
Kids’ Lead Poisoning Rates 2 to 3 Times Worse In Cleveland Than In Flint, Mich.
October 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
A study showing elevated lead poisoning rates, shared Monday in Cleveland’s lead poisoning hearing, caused municipal leaders to call for a revision of City Hall’s landmark 2019 lead-safe law. Meanwhile in Missouri, lawmakers plan to study and regulate the effect of nuclear weapons production in the St. Louis area.
Health Systems Face New Challenges In The Wake Of Hurricane Milton
October 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Hospitals have been tested this month after back-to-back hurricanes, causing them to reevaluate what it means to be prepared. Meanwhile, water shortages and sewage leaks raise fears of potential spikes in illnesses and disease, and lead to some health services being cut.
Helene-Hampered Baxter Begins Bringing In IV Solutions From Abroad
October 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
The medical supply company is leaning on its plants in Canada, China, Ireland, and the U.K. to shore up reserves hurt by flooding of its North Carolina plant.
Former CEO Of Chicago Hospital Charged In $15M Embezzlement Scam
October 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Several others, including Loretto Hospital’s CFO, also have been charged in the scheme in which the administrators are accused of directing contracts to a particular businessman’s companies and accepting bribes to do so. More industry news is about layoffs and health system financial woes.
California Tests 5 More People For Bird Flu Amid Outbreak
October 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
In other news, whooping cough is on the rise nationwide, with more than 5 times as many cases so far this year compared with the same time frame last year. Also, 10 million pounds of meat are recalled due to listeria concerns, and scientists prove our sense of smell is not the “slow sense” once thought.
Odds Of Developing Type 2 Diabetes Is Greater In Kids Who Catch Covid
October 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
The risk of being diagnosed with the metabolic disorder was even more pronounced among children who were hospitalized with an infection, a study has found. More covid-related news examines why young ones are largely spared severe infection and how cancer diagnoses might have been missed.
Morning Briefing for Tuesday, October 15, 2024
October 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Medicare open enrollment, employer health plan costs, dementia, Harris and Trump’s health, storm fallout, overdoses, bird flu, and more.
Medicare Open Enrollment Kicks Off: Be Aware Of Plan Changes For 2025
October 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Enrollment in a 2025 Medicare plan opened for beneficiaries today. News outlets focus on an array of changes that could lead to “benefit disruption” which consumers should know about, in particular around Medicare Advantage choices and the prescription payment plan.
With Employer Insurance Costs Spiking, Workers Will Feel The Pinch
October 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
From premium cost increases to limits in doctor access, news outlets examine the ways that employers may modify their offered health insurance plans to adjust for the big bump in costs they are feeling from insurers.
Trump Says National Abortion Ban Is ‘Off The Table’ For Now
October 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, Florida’s Office of Election Crimes and Security says it has found “fraudulent petitions” used to get abortion measure on the ballot. Also, the American Hospital Association urges a federal appeals court to allow exceptions to the Idaho abortion ban to save women’s lives.
After Releasing Her Own Health Summary, Harris Challenges Trump To Follow Suit
October 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is reported to be in “excellent” health, according to a letter from her doctor released Saturday. A group of over 230 medical professionals also wants the 78-year-old Republican nominee to release his full medical records.
First Edition: October 15, 2024
October 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
California Hospitals Scramble on Earthquake Retrofits as State Limits Extensions
By Annie Sciacca
October 15, 2024
KFF Health News Original
California legislators for years have granted extensions on a 1994 law requiring hospitals to retrofit their buildings to withstand earthquakes. Gov. Gavin Newsom in September vetoed an extension for all hospitals but signed a bill granting relief to rural and “distressed” hospitals and some others.
Millions of Aging Americans Are Facing Dementia by Themselves
By Judith Graham
October 15, 2024
KFF Health News Original
In a health care system that assumes older adults have family caregivers to help them, those facing dementia by themselves often fall through the cracks.
Health Issues Motivating Black Women Voters for Harris
By Stephanie Armour
October 14, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Vice President Kamala Harris, now on the presidential campaign trail, is making inroads with a key voting bloc: Black women, who are rallying behind her because of her work on issues such as preserving abortion access, curbing gun violence and reducing maternal deaths. What has become clear is not just that this voting group supports […]
Journalists Talk Obesity, Oximeters, and Severe Weather’s Impact on Public Health
October 12, 2024
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media in recent weeks to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Medicare Advantage Plans’ Quality Ratings From CMS Fall Again
October 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
Only 40% of Medicare Advantage health prescription drug plans achieved a four-star rating or higher under the current criteria used by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to grade quality. The federal health agency has sought to make it harder to win top scores — in 2022, 68% of plans were four stars or higher.
Microsoft, Epic To Build New AI Tool Targeting Nurses’ Workload
October 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
Microsoft and Epic Systems are partnering on new AI tools geared toward nurses, in the hopes that the effort could lead to better quality care and less staff burnout. Studies show understaffed hospitals cause more health care-associated infections. Meanwhile, the AHA reports overall safety improvements.
