Biden Will Reveal $3 Billion Plan To Replace Hazardous Lead Pipes
May 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
President Joe Biden is set to announce the initiative today, with funding from the $15 billion in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Separately, the FDA appears to have overrun on a plan to ban formaldehyde from hair relaxers — the proposal was due to be announced in April.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, May 2, 2024
May 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
Maternal death rates, Arizona abortion ban, bird flu vaccines, cybersecurity, morphine regulation, mental health, and more are in the news.
‘Long Way To Go’: Maternal Deaths Decrease, But Racial Disparities Persist
May 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
A CDC report shows that the spike in maternal death rates reported in 2021 fell significantly in 2022 — returning to pre-pandemic levels. But an alarming pattern remains: Far more Black pregnant patients are dying than white, Asian, or Hispanic.
Two Bird Flu Vaccines Are Ready For Humans, If Needed
May 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
As the government girds for a potential human outbreak, it is finding that food products — milk, sour cream, cheese, and ground beef — are still safe for consumption.
UnitedHealth CEO Faces Blistering Questions At Hearings On Change Hack
May 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty faced criticisms from Senate and House committees on Wednesday over his company’s cybersecurity that led to the ransomware attack on subsidiary Change Healthcare. He also answered questions about the company’s response to the incident that compromised private data for as many as a third of Americans.
Arizona Senate Rescinds Abortion Ban With Little Help From GOP Lawmakers
May 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, is expected to sign the measure, which then would reinstate the law allowing for elective abortions up to 15 weeks. Meanwhile, women are reeling after Florida’s strict six-week abortion law takes hold.
First Edition: May 2, 2024
May 2, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Is Wrong About a Ban on NIH Research About Mass Shootings
By Louis Jacobson, PolitiFact
May 2, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Since 2020, the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies have collectively funded millions of dollars in gun-related research, including studies addressing mass shootings.
‘Breaking a Promise’: California Deficit Could Halt Raises for Disability Workers
By Vanessa G. Sánchez
May 2, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Families of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities say Gov. Gavin Newsom is reneging on an expected pay increase for care workers. If the delay goes through, it could impede services and invite legal challenges from advocates.
DIY Gel Manicures May Harm Your Health
By Tarena Lofton
May 2, 2024
KFF Health News Original
A TikTok user claims to have developed an allergy from DIY gel nails. What gives? An allergist weighed in. Let’s walk through what happened in this viral video.
FDA: Brain Biopsies Performed With ‘False Justification’ At Mount Sinai
May 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
Patients desperate for relief from debilitating diseases were asked to participate in research study, prompting a review by the Food and Drug Administration. In other news, a treatment to restore brain cells for patients with Timothy syndrome shows promise for treating other genetic conditions.
Controversial Generic Drug ‘Skinny Labels’ Saved Medicare Billions
May 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
Read recent pharmaceutical developments in KFF Health News’ Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Viewpoints: Is Home Research Hurting The Doctor-Patient Relationship?; What To Look For With H5N1
May 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss doctor-patient relationships, bird flu, colorectal cancer, and the health of children.
Class-Action Lawsuit OK’d Against Florida’s ‘Unwinding’ Of Medicaid
May 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
The suit alleges Florida did not properly tell people that they were going to be disenrolled from the program. Meanwhile, Mississippi lawmakers might vote this week on a proposal to expand Medicaid.
Walmart’s Closure Of Clinics Is Part Of Larger Retail Retreat From Health Care
May 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
Walmart will shut down all 51 of its health clinics and its virtual care services, citing costs and the challenges of reimbursements as the force behind its change of strategy.
Watchdog Report: Hospital Patient Grades Up For First Time Since Covid
May 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit watchdog organization, finds that the improved patient experience scores in at least 70% of hospitals have helped drive an improvement in overall safety grades for spring 2024.
Scientists: Influenza A Virus Found In Wastewater Triggers Bird Flu Concerns
May 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
A new study about the possible spread of H5N1 through dairy cattle includes observations of spiking levels of influenza A virus in wastewater samples. Meanwhile, the USDA is testing ground beef for bird flu particles, though it stresses meat is safe.
Trump: Pandemic Office Isn’t Needed; Biden Campaign Slams His Words
May 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
“Pandemic preparedness isn’t abstract to the millions of Americans that lost a loved one” during former President Trump’s covid leadership, Biden campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz said, after Donald Trump said the preparedness office was “a way of giving out pork.”
CDC: Rural Americans More Likely Than Urban Americans To Die Early
May 1, 2024
Morning Briefing
The federal data, published in a report Tuesday, covers 2010 through 2022 and finds rural Americans to be at higher risk of early death from one of the five leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory disease.
