West Virginia City Once Battered by Opioid Overdoses Confronts ‘Fourth Wave’
By Taylor Sisk
March 13, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Years of struggle prepared residents in Cabell County, West Virginia, to confront the latest wave of the opioid epidemic as mixtures of fentanyl and other drugs claim lives nationwide.
Secret Contract Aims to Upend Landmark California Prison Litigation
By Don Thompson
March 13, 2024
KFF Health News Original
California has commissioned an exhaustive study of whether its prisons provide a constitutional level of mental health care, which it could use to try to end one of the lawsuits that have federal courts overseeing the state’s prisons. But corrections officials won’t disclose even basic details of the consultants’ contract, including its cost to taxpayers.
Movimientos en contra de las vacunas perjudican a los niños más vulnerables
By Amy Maxmen
March 12, 2024
KFF Health News Original
La desinformación, junto con un movimiento por el derecho de los padres que aleja la toma de decisiones de la salud pública, ha contribuido a las tasas de vacunación infantil más bajas en una década.
Tal vez tu crédito ya no se destruya por una cuenta médica impaga
By Molly Castle Work
March 12, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Rob Bonta, fiscal general de California, anunció que está apoyando una legislación para impedir que la deuda médica aparezca en los informes de crédito del consumidor.
Scientists Now Say A Second Flu Strain Could Be Forced Into Extinction
March 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
Recently, one flu strain was found to have gone extinct during the covid pandemic, influencing this year’s flu shots. Scientists say it may be possible to eradicate a second strain, of the total four, too. Also in the news: early ovarian cancer detection.
Viewpoints: Health Care Cyberattacks Are On The Rise; Measles Is Much Worse Than Some Parents Realize
March 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle health care cyberattacks, measles, CRISPR, and Pharmacy Benefit Managers.
CDC To Assist With Measles Outbreak At Chicago Migrant Shelter
March 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Chicago Department of Public Health reports 3 more cases at the shelter, prompting a team of CDC experts to join efforts to stem infections. Measles cases in California are in the news, as well as the impact of growing vaccine delays or hesitancy.
IVF For Injured Single Vets, Same-Sex Couples To Be Covered By VA
March 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Department of Veterans Affairs had faced legal challenges alleging its IVF coverage was discriminatory. Meanwhile, in Minnesota, Democratic lawmakers push to boost coverage rules and protect access to IVF treatments.
Health Providers Urge CMS To Extend Hospital-At-Home Waiver Program
March 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
Johns Hopkins, Henry Ford Health, and the American Medical Association were among groups who signed a letter sent to congressional leaders Monday. Other news is on Steward Health, the VA’s EHR system, a nurse’s strike in Chicago, and more.
Study Highlights Doctors’ Failures To Give Opioid Addiction Drugs To Kids
March 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Boston Globe reports on a recent study that showed only 5% of pediatricians surveyed had ever prescribed two common opioid addiction treatments. Also in the news: Changes in methadone treatments are coming.
Lawsuit Settlement In Florida Unwinds Some ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Rules
March 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
The settlement says teachers and students can discuss LGBTQ+ matters and “largely” cancels impacts of signature legislation from Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Washington Post says. His office noted the law is still in effect.
Walgreens Settles Charges Of Infant Formula Price Inflation In New York
March 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
New York Attorney General Letitia James had accused Walgreens of inflating prices after the Abbott Labs recall led to a formula shortage. Also in the news: A child died from flu in Michigan; 10 states sue over a “sham” women’s cancer charity; and more.
Morning Briefing for Tuesday, March 12, 2024
March 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
Anti-vaccine movement, Biden’s budget, measles, IVF, opioid addiction, nursing staffing, flu strains, and more are in the news.
Biden’s Budget Proposal Reinforces His Health Policy Priorities
March 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
The White House released its proposed budget blueprint for FY2025 on Monday. Included health care provisions would: increase HHS discretionary spending by 1.7%; focus on Medicare solvency; invest in federal responses to cyberattacks; address coverage for people in states that did not expand Medicaid; and other measures.
First Edition: March 12, 2024
March 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
California Voters Are Skeptical That More Money Is the Answer to Homelessness
By Angela Hart
March 12, 2024
KFF Health News Original
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature ballot measure to address mental illness, addiction, and homelessness with a $6.4 billion bond and other reforms, is barely ahead in the ongoing ballot count. The slim margin reflects a growing unease among Californians over the governor’s homelessness initiatives.
How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Pits Parental Rights Against Public Health
By Amy Maxmen
March 12, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Framed in the rhetoric of choice, Tennessee’s new law governing childhood vaccinations is among more than a dozen recently passed or pending nationwide that set parental freedom against community and children’s health.
A New $16,000 Postpartum Depression Drug Is Here. How Will Insurers Handle It?
By April Dembosky, KQED
March 12, 2024
KFF Health News Original
A pill form of an effective drug for postpartum depression hit the market in December, but most insurers do not yet have a policy on when or whether they will pay for it. The hurdles to obtain its predecessor medication have advocates worried.
Colorado Isn’t Giving up on Its Drug Importation Dream
By Phil Galewitz
March 11, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Colorado hopes to join Florida to become only the second state authorized to import prescription drugs from Canada. But they’re hitting the same hurdles: drugmakers — and the FDA. Colorado officials recently amended their 2022 importation application with the Food and Drug Administration, in the process revealing new correspondence that shows the state’s so-far fruitless […]
Republican Lawmakers Refusing To Adjust Unclear Abortion Bans
March 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
AP reports on how lawmakers aren’t planning to adjust any abortion bans even though medical professionals complain about risks from unclear exception rules. Stat notes there’s been a failure to even define what abortion is.