Starting Next Year, California Will Cap Annual Health Care Cost Increases
April 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
The new rule, approved Wednesday, will limit increases to 3% each year and will be phased in over five years, beginning in 2025 with a 3.5% limit. In other news, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has launched an investigation into the price of weight loss drugs.
FTC’s New Noncompete Ban Quickly Challenged By Lawsuit
April 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is among the groups that have already mounted a legal challenge to the Federal Trade Commission’s rule banning noncompete agreements. Separately, Republican lawmakers are targeting the health sector’s vertical integration habits.
Illinois Bill Aims To Prohibit Insurers’ Use Of ‘Step Therapy’ Treatments
April 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Chicago Tribune reports on a bill that would limit insurers’ ability to insist on patients trying alternate, often cheaper treatments before approving a physician-prescribed one. Separately, in New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul revealed a major investment in mental health services.
Doctors Get New Weapon To Battle UTIs
April 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
It’s the first time in two decades a new antibiotic — Pivya, as it will be marketed in the U.S. — has been approved to treat urinary tract infections. Also in the news: risks of antipsychotics for people with dementia, how “dallying” delayed the menthol tobacco ban, and more.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, April 25, 2024
April 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
Abortion and EMTALA, Arizona’s ban, genetic studies, the opioid crisis, health care cost increases, bird flu, covid, and more are in the news.
Divided Supreme Court Justices Spar With Both Sides Over Emergency Abortion
April 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
Arguments were heard on conflicts between the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, or EMTALA, and Idaho’s near-total abortion ban. The female Supreme Court justices strongly questioned the Idaho law, while the more conservative members of the bench floated three ways they could justify siding with Idaho over the Biden administration.
First Edition: April 25, 2024
April 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Genetics Studies Have a Diversity Problem That Researchers Struggle To Fix
By Lauren Sausser
April 25, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Researchers in Charleston, South Carolina, are trying to build a DNA database of 100,000 people to better understand how genetics affects health risks. But they’re struggling to recruit enough Black participants.
Mandatory Reporting Laws Meant To Protect Children Get Another Look
By Kristin Jones
April 25, 2024
KFF Health News Original
The state is looking at ways to weed out false reporting of child abuse and neglect as the number of reports reaches a record high.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Abortion — Again — At the Supreme Court
April 24, 2024
Podcast
For the second time in as many months, the Supreme Court heard arguments in an abortion case. This time, the justices are being asked to decide whether a federal law that requires emergency care in hospitals can trump Idaho’s near-total abortion ban. Meanwhile, the federal government, for the first time, will require minimum staffing standards for nursing homes. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News’ 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.
Medicare Stumbles Managing a Costly Problem — Chronic Illness
By Phil Galewitz
April 24, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Nearly a decade ago, Medicare launched a program to help the two-thirds of beneficiaries with chronic conditions by paying their doctors an additional monthly fee to coordinate their care. The strategy has largely failed to live up to its potential; only about 4 percent of potentially eligible beneficiaries in the traditional Medicare program are enrolled, […]
Nonprofit Health Care Sector Could Dodge FTC’s Broad Noncompete Ban
April 24, 2024
Morning Briefing
The agency determines it doesn’t have the authority to regulate hospital and insurance companies that operate as not-for-profits. The sweeping changes might be tied up in the courts for years.
White House Revises Suicide Prevention Plans, Mentions Social Media
April 24, 2024
Morning Briefing
Amid rising suicide rates, the updated national strategy emphasizes health equity and the mental health impacts of social media. Actor Ashley Judd and singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc helped promote the new plan; both lost loved ones to suicide.
We’re All Breathing More Toxic Air Now Than 25 Years Ago: Report
April 24, 2024
Morning Briefing
The American Lung Association report shows recent air samples have the worst toxic particle pollution in the 25 years of study. Climate change and wildfires are likely to blame. Meanwhile, Massachusetts will deploy 200 air sensors in communities across the state to sample pollution.
Study Highlights Trans Women’s Advantages, Disadvantages In Sports
April 24, 2024
Morning Briefing
The study, paid for by the International Olympic Committee, showed trans women have substantial grip strength but lower jumping ability and lung function compared to athletes whose gender was assigned at birth — debunking theories some politicians espouse when enacting trans sports bans.
Doctors’ Skepticism Is Thwarting Wider Rollout Of Alzheimer’s Drug
April 24, 2024
Morning Briefing
Read recent pharmaceutical developments in KFF Health News’ Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, April 24, 2024
April 24, 2024
Morning Briefing
Health care price fixing, air and water safety, bird flu, emergency care and abortion, suicide, hospital mergers, and more are in the news.
Inactive Bird Flu Virus Fragments Found In Pasteurized Milk: FDA
April 24, 2024
Morning Briefing
The FDA said Tuesday it had detected bird flu viral remnants in pasteurized milk but stressed that there was no actual risk from this source to consumers. Separately, reports show the H5N1 virus may have jumped to U.S. dairy herds earlier than thought.
