San Francisco Tries Tough Love by Tying Welfare to Drug Rehab
By Ronnie Cohen
May 13, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Facing an overdose epidemic and public fury over conditions on the streets, famously tolerant San Francisco will start requiring welfare recipients to undergo drug screening, and treatment if necessary, to receive cash public assistance.
First Responders, Veterans Hail Benefits of Psychedelic Drugs as California Debates Legalization
By Bernard J. Wolfson
May 13, 2024
KFF Health News Original
California lawmakers have modified a psychedelic drug bill that was vetoed last year, narrowing it to allow only supervised use of psilocybin mushrooms, ecstasy, and other hallucinogens rather than decriminalize more broadly. The current bill would establish new state agencies to regulate the program.
Journalists Demystify Bird Flu, Brain Worms, and New Staffing Mandates for Nursing Homes
May 11, 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.
Viewpoints: Telemedicine May Be What Saves Reproductive Rights; AI Is The Future Of New Medications
May 10, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss telemedicine, AI in health care, bird flu, and more.
Republicans Target NIH For Changes If They Win Senate Control Next Year
May 10, 2024
Morning Briefing
Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana, says reforms at the federal health agency are “overdue.” Separately, an NIH official will appear later this month before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic to answer questions about the covid pandemic timeline.
Novavax And Sanofi Join Forces To Develop Combination Covid-Flu Vaccine
May 10, 2024
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, infectious disease experts are monitoring the newest covid variant — known as FLiRT — as concerns grow over a summer uptick in cases.
New Maps Improve Deep Brain Stimulation For OCD Therapy
May 10, 2024
Morning Briefing
CNN covers improvements in deep brain stimulation treatments. Also, an experimental spinal cord implant helped a patient with Parkinson’s disease to walk. A gene therapy trial that allowed a baby born with profound deafness to hear is also in the news.
WHO’s New Guidance Aims To Head Off Bloodstream Infections From Catheters
May 10, 2024
Morning Briefing
Peripheral intravenous catheters are commonly used for hospital inpatients, but the WHO wants to improve poor practices in insertion and maintenance that can cause infections. Also in the news: Merck’s endometrial cancer therapy fails; Novo Nordisk targets new obesity drugs; more.
Company Issues Broad Recall Of Nuts Over ‘Undeclared Allergen’ Risk
May 10, 2024
Morning Briefing
Elsewhere, a mobile app has been recalled after patients with diabetes were injured when their insulin pumps unexpectedly stopped working. Also in the news: how muscle guarding, loneliness, and alcohol affect the body.
Florida Medicaid Unwinding Cut Coverage, CHIP From 600,000 Kids
May 10, 2024
Morning Briefing
Report writers examining Medicaid review processes wrote that Florida was one of the states prioritizing “hasty” removal of kids from support programs. Also in the news: a slowdown in deadly overdoses in L.A. County homeless people; more.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
May 10, 2024
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on weight loss, syphilis, mental health, lead poisoning, and more.
Morning Briefing for Friday, May 10, 2024
May 10, 2024
Morning Briefing
Ascension hack, bird flu, IVF benefits, NIH, Planned Parenthood funds, covid shot, Medicaid, and more are in the news. Plus, weekend reads.
Cyberattack Against Ascension Is Latest Hack To Disrupt Patient Care
May 10, 2024
Morning Briefing
News outlets report that patients of some of hospital chain Ascension’s facilities have had procedures delayed or been diverted to other hospitals. Doctors have also lost access to some records.
The Time To Act On Bird Flu Is Now, FDA Chief Advises Lawmakers
May 10, 2024
Morning Briefing
Although the risk to humans is still low, a proactive stance—incorporating protective gear, research, and vaccine readiness—could stem the spread of the virus afflicting mainly poultry and cattle. Meanwhile, the CDC is coming up against resistance over its push for PPE for farm workers.
Gay Couple Launches Class-Action Lawsuit Against NYC For IVF Benefits
May 10, 2024
Morning Briefing
New York City only provides in vitro fertilization benefits to employees who are women or heterosexuals. A first-of-its-kind class-action lawsuit alleges that policy is discriminatory to gay men.
Missouri Governor Signs Bill Targeting Planned Parenthood Funding
May 10, 2024
Morning Briefing
The measure blocks Medicaid reimbursements to health centers affiliated to abortion providers, which the Missouri Independent notes will impact Planned Parenthood’s health services to low-income patients. Meanwhile a Colorado abortion assistance fund is seeing rising demand, much from Texas.
First Edition: May 10, 2024
May 10, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Their First Baby Came With Medical Debt. These Illinois Parents Won’t Have Another.
By Noam N. Levey
May 10, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Millions of new parents in the U.S. are swamped by medical debt during and after pregnancy, forcing many to cut back on food, clothing, and other essentials.
Democrats Seek To Make GOP Pay for Threats to Reproductive Rights
By Samantha Liss
May 10, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Democrats running for office are using abortion rollbacks to galvanize voters, with abortion rights ballot initiatives amplifying their lines of attack. In Missouri, the leading Democratic candidate for the Senate also blames Republican Sen. Josh Hawley for threatening access to IVF.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Newly Minted Doctors Are Avoiding Abortion Ban States
May 9, 2024
Podcast
For the second year in a row, medical school graduates across specialties are shying away from applying for residency training in states with abortion bans or significant restrictions, according to a new study. Meanwhile, Medicare’s trustees report that the program will be able to pay its bills longer than expected — which could discourage Congress from acting to address the program’s long-term financial woes. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins University schools of nursing and public health and Politico Magazine, and Anna Edney of Bloomberg News join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.
