Officials Try To Keep Medicare Part D Premiums Steady As Elections Loom
August 5, 2024
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reports on nurse visits that are less about treating Medicare Advantage recipients and more about allowing insurers to get more government cash.
Morning Briefing for Monday, August 5, 2024
August 5, 2024
Morning Briefing
KFF Health News is on Instagram and TikTok ! Watch our videos and follow along as we break down health care headlines and policy.
First Edition: Monday, Aug. 5, 2024
August 5, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Harris’ California Health Care Battles Signal Fights Ahead for Hospitals if She Wins
By Bernard J. Wolfson Phil Galewitz
August 5, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Kamala Harris fought health care consolidation during her tenure as California’s attorney general, and she could escalate the fight nationally if she wins in November. Still, the pace of mergers has accelerated.
‘I Feel Dismissed’: People Experiencing Colorism Say Health System Fails Them
By Chaseedaw Giles
Illustration by Oona Zenda
August 5, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Colorism — a form of prejudice and discrimination in which lighter skin is favored over darker skin — has been associated with mental health conditions such as depression, low self-esteem, and anxiety. But skin tone often goes unaddressed with therapists and clinical specialists.
Shingles Vaccine May Stall Dementia, and Vaccine Mandates Save Lives, Studies Suggest
August 3, 2024
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News senior fellow and editor-at-large for public health Céline Gounder discussed vaccines in a couple of recent media appearances.
Viewpoints: Guns To Blame For US Youth Suicide Rate Growth; Why Are ACL Tears More Prevalent In Women?
August 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss youth suicide and guns, ACL tears, caregiving, and liquid biopsy.
VA Slip-Ups Made During Full Disability Claim Assessments Cost $100M
August 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
An inspector general’s report found that about 75% of claims were improperly processed. More military health news is on delayed claim payments and a burn pit registry.
Experimental Medicaid Waiver Program Begins In New York
August 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
Crain’s New York Business reports on the “1115 waiver” program that kicks off this month. Medicaid cash will be used in new ways, such as paying for housing, nutrition, and transportation. In Florida, meanwhile, Medicaid enrollment numbers went down another 59,000 in June.
Popping An Aspirin Regularly Might Lower Colorectal Cancer Risk: Study
August 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
The benefits are especially pronounced for people who live unhealthy lifestyles. Also in the news: FDA approval for an immunotherapy treatment for rare sarcomas; the shortage of blood culture bottles; Eli Lilly’s weight loss drug shortage; and more.
2 Texas Farmworkers Had Bird Flu; Flies In Japan May Be Spreading Virus
August 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
The flies involved are a type of blowfly that is attracted to rotting meat and active in winter. The flies are suspected in the bird flu deaths of nearly 2,000 wild cranes in southern Japan.
As Heat Deaths Rise, Air Conditioning Is A Health Necessity, Expert Says
August 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
Researchers examine energy inequality and the effect it has on public health. Meanwhile, Death Valley — already the hottest place on Earth — just registered the highest average July temperature ever recorded anywhere: 108.5 F. Other reports note that wildfires are causing unhealthy, smoky conditions across much of Colorado.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
August 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today’s selections are on childhood obesity, the Paris Olympics, CRISPR, and more.
Morning Briefing for Friday, August 2, 2024
August 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
Abortion laws, urgent care, health care fraud, hospital star ratings, VA slip-ups, cancer, and more are in the news. Plus, your weekend reads.
Abortion Still Allowed In Utah As Legality Of Trigger Law Gets A Look
August 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
In Arizona, with an 1864 abortion ban put on hold, the attorney general contemplates taking the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Meanwhile, an Equity Forward analysis found that states have increased spending on anti-abortion centers by almost $500 million.
Feds Offer Potentially Huge Rewards For Health Care Fraud Whistleblowers
August 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
Under a pilot program from the Justice Department, whistleblowers might receive up to 30% of the first $100 million in net proceeds forfeited in a case and up to 5% of proceeds between $100 million and $500 million, Becker’s reported.
More Hospitals Performed Badly In CMS’ 2024 Star Ratings Than In 2023
August 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
In other news, Medicare reimbursements for inpatient hospital care will go up 2.9% in fiscal 2025, higher than the 2.6% that was proposed in April. Plus: updates on Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, Steward Health Care, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, and more.
First Edition: Aug. 2, 2024
August 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Urgent Care or ER? With ‘One-Stop Shop,’ Hospitals Offer Both Under Same Roof
By Phil Galewitz
August 2, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Hospitals in several states are partnering with a private equity-backed company to offer combined emergency and urgent care in a single building. But patients may not realize prices vary between the two services — often by a lot.
