KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Boosting Confusion
November 18, 2021
KFF Health News Original
Federal health officials appear poised to extend a recommendation for covid boosters to all adults, following moves by some governors and mayors to broaden the eligible booster pool as caseloads rise. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration finally has a nominee to head the agency: former FDA chief Robert Califf. And Medicare premiums for consumers will likely rise substantially in 2022, partly due to the approval of a controversial drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Tami Luhby of CNN, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Dan Weissmann, host of the “An Arm and a Leg” podcast.
Grassroots Groups Lead Way on Closing Colorado’s Infant Mortality Gap
By Rae Ellen Bichell
June 10, 2022
KFF Health News Original
Colorado is among about 15 states that have met federal goals to reduce infant mortality, an important indicator of overall population health. Breaking down the data by race and ethnicity, though, makes clear that major gaps remain.
Have a Case of a Covid Variant? No One Is Going to Tell You
By Christina Jewett and JoNel Aleccia and Rachana Pradhan
February 25, 2021
KFF Health News Original
As experts race to get an approved test for covid variants, officials are severely restricted from sharing information about the cases. That makes it harder to protect others.
Majority Of $1.25B Mallinckrodt Opioid Payout At Risk In Bankruptcy Plan
August 24, 2023
Morning Briefing
The company has reached a plan for bankruptcy for the second time in three years, The New York Times says. The plan would cancel the majority of the previous settlement plan in return for a final payout of just $250 million. Also in the news: AI takes a role in tackling opioid addiction.
Behind The Byline: Finding a ‘Superstar’ to Interview
By Jenny Gold
June 1, 2021
KFF Health News Original
Check out KHN’s video series — Behind The Byline: How the Story Got Made. Come along as journalists and producers offer an insider’s view of health care coverage that does not quit.
Medicare Cuts 2024 Payments For Safety Net Hospitals By Almost $1B
August 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
The CMS cut of $957 million to a fund destined to help pay hospitals that treat poor and uninsured patients is more than eight times larger than one proposed in April, Stat says. Also in the news: Cigna reports a net income fall, people want weight-loss drugs despite the costs, and more.
Medicare Could Save $245B Over A Decade If It Covered Obesity Drugs
August 3, 2023
Morning Briefing
Axios reports on a startling statistic from new research, showing how much taxpayer money could be saved over 10 years if Medicare covered weight-loss meds. Meanwhile, Stat reports that the popularity of the GLP-1 drugs has “alarmed” insurers, and patients are braced for them to halt coverage.
Researchers Link Chronic Constipation With Cognitive Decline
July 21, 2023
Morning Briefing
A study finds that defecation frequency may impact cognitive function. Also in the news, the benefits of maternal strep B vaccines, health care disruptions linked to preventable hospital admissions, and goals of building a real-life “bionic” person.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, January 11, 2023
January 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s roundup covers suspicious deaths, covid vaccines, mental health, abortion pills, 340B program, Medicare, flu, guns, and more.
Study: Arthritis Drug Boosts Effect Of ‘Morning-After’ Pill For Up To 3 Days
August 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
Researchers found that using piroxicam, a common arthritis anti-inflammatory drug, with Levonorgestrel, or Plan B, significantly increased the typical effectiveness window of 24 hours. In other news, Facebook’s parent company is criticized for rating reproductive health for adults-only.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': SCOTUS Ruling Strips Power From Federal Health Agencies
June 28, 2024
Podcast
In what will certainly be remembered as a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has overruled a 40-year-old precedent that gave federal agencies, rather than judges, the power to interpret ambiguous laws passed by Congress. Administrative experts say the decision will dramatically change the way key health agencies do business. Also, the court decided not to decide whether a federal law requiring hospitals to provide emergency care overrides Idaho’s near-total ban on abortion. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Victoria Knight of Axios, and Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too.
Despite All the Talk, Covid Vaccination Does Not Infect People With Shingles
By Julie Appleby
April 30, 2021
KFF Health News Original
Covid-19 vaccinations do not infect recipients with shingles or any form of herpes virus, despite some misleading headlines.
You Don’t Have to Suffer to Benefit From Covid Vaccination — But Some Prefer It
By Arthur Allen
April 28, 2021
KFF Health News Original
In the times of smallpox, vaccination was accompanied by blood, sweat, fire and brimstone. Nowadays, a slight fever may make you feel as if you’ve earned the reward of immunity from covid. But you’re protected even without a nasty reaction to the vaccine.
El vínculo con la esclerosis múltiple impulsa una vacuna contra el virus Epstein-Barr
By Liz Szabo
October 19, 2022
KFF Health News Original
Los científicos llevan años intentando desarrollar vacunas contra este virus. Sin embargo, recientemente varios avances en la investigación médica han dado más urgencia a la búsqueda y más esperanzas de éxito.
American Red Cross Warns Of Emergency Blood Supply Shortage
January 9, 2024
Morning Briefing
The American Red Cross said it was experiencing the lowest number of blood donors in 20 years, with hospitals demanding blood products faster than the organization can replenish supplies. Also in the news: Bayer to expand in U.S., despite blood thinner fails; the “better” ApoB cholesterol test; and more.
Global Vaccine Program COVAX Will End Dec. 31; Gave Out Nearly 2B Doses
December 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
The program is estimated to have averted at least 2.7 million deaths, the World Health Organization said Tuesday. In other covid news, subvariant JN.1 is on the move, and fast.
In His Continued Sparring With Fauci, Sen. Rand Paul Oversimplified the Science
By Julie Appleby
March 29, 2021
KFF Health News Original
The Kentucky lawmaker was right that a recent study offered evidence that vaccination and previous infection appear to neutralize covid-19. But experts say that doesn’t mean people should be complacent.
Do You Have Health Care and Health Policy Questions? We Want to Hear From You!
March 8, 2021
Page
Whether it’s health coverage, surprise medical bills, or navigating the ins and outs of the coronavirus, it’s no secret that the American health system can be confusing. KFF Health News wants to hear the health care and health policy questions you would like answered by health reporters from our newsroom.
Conservative Justices Seem Poised to Overturn Roe’s Abortion Rights
By Julie Rovner
December 1, 2021
KFF Health News Original
A majority of the members of the Supreme Court seemed sympathetic Wednesday during arguments to Mississippi’s assertion that the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized the procedure throughout the country, was wrongly decided.
La catarata de información sobre la inscripción a Medicare no explica bien las opciones de Medigap
By Harris Meyer
November 9, 2021
KFF Health News Original
En parte porque las políticas sobre el acceso y los costos de Medigap cambian dependiendo del estado, o por la información confusa, muchos beneficiarios no eligen lo que más les conviene.