Justices Set To Hear High-Stakes Case On Emergency Care And Abortion
April 24, 2024
Morning Briefing
News outlets examine what’s at stake when the Supreme Court hears arguments today related to how federal law applies to emergency health care in places where abortion is banned. Separately, some states and cities want to collect more patient data related to reproductive health.
Strapped FTC Fails To Fully Scrutinize Hospital Mergers: Study
April 24, 2024
Morning Briefing
A new study finds that the FTC does not have enough money or staff to properly review proposed hospital acquisitions for antitrust risks, which has led to higher health care prices and less industry competition. Other FTC news relates to price fixing.
First Edition: April 24, 2024
April 24, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Neumáticos tóxicos están matando a los peces. ¿Qué pasa con los humanos?
By Jim Robbins
April 24, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Durante décadas, las preocupaciones sobre la contaminación automovilística se han centrado en lo que sale del tubo de escape. Ahora, investigadores y reguladores dicen que se necesita prestar más atención a las emisiones tóxicas de los neumáticos mientras los vehículos circulan por las carreteras.
Tire Toxicity Faces Fresh Scrutiny After Salmon Die-Offs
By Jim Robbins
April 24, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Tires emit huge volumes of particles and chemicals as they roll along the highway, and researchers are only beginning to understand the threat. One byproduct of tire use, 6PPD-q, is in regulators’ crosshairs after it was found to be killing fish.
FTC Chief Says Tech Advancements Risk Health Care Price Fixing
By Julie Rovner David Hilzenrath
April 23, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Technological advances including the widespread use of algorithms make it easier for companies to fix prices without explicitly coordinating, Lina Khan said at a KFF event.
Supreme Court May Lean Toward Laws That Ban Public Sleeping
April 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
A Supreme Court majority may support an Oregon city that banned sleeping or camping in public spaces in an effort to target homeless people. Protesters who are against moves to penalize homelessness gathered outside the court, concerned about the case’s implications.
Indiana Eclipse-Watching Party Might Have Been A Measles Exposure Event
April 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
The gathering at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis on April 8 might have resulted in multiple people being exposed to measles, since an infected individual was in attendance. Meanwhile, a measles case in West Virginia is the first confirmed one in 15 years.
Louisiana Schools Told To Disregard Title IX Rules For Trans Students
April 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Biden administration’s new Title IX rules include more protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, but Cade Brumley, Louisiana’s superintendent of education, contends those rules conflict with state laws.
Viewpoints: The US Is Ready To Tackle A Bird Flu Pandemic; Black Maternal Health Care Sorely Lacking
April 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers examine H5N1, disparities in maternal health care, gene therapy, and psychiatry.
HHS Props Up Privacy Protections For Abortion Patients And Providers
April 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
The new rule, in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, lets providers rebuff efforts from those who seek to use health care info in criminal cases. Meanwhile, doctors are keeping a close eye on a case before the Supreme Court that looks at EMTALA.
CMS Enacts New Rules Meant To Boost Medicaid Payment Transparency
April 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
States and Medicaid insurers will be required to annually report how payments are spent, and at least 80% of Medicaid payments must go toward wages for home care services. CMS also ordered states to create “one-stop-shop” websites so people can compare quality ratings.
It’s Likely Your Medical Data Was Stolen In UnitedHealth Hack
April 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
UnitedHealth Group said in a news release that stolen files obtained by hackers “could cover a substantial proportion of people in America.” It has paid a ransom to try to prevent the data from being released. Also in the news: Cardinal Health; AI and patient safety; and more.
Hospitals Push For Medicare Advantage Boost To Cover 340B Drugs
April 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Hospitals are arguing that since a Supreme Court ruling has reversed cuts made to 340B rates in 2018, Medicare Advantage reimbursement must be adjusted accordingly. Separately, a study shows drug representatives who meet with doctors have no effect on cancer patients’ survival rates.
Morning Briefing for Tuesday, April 23, 2024
April 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Nursing home staffing, Medicaid “unwinding,” medical record privacy, Medicare Advantage, homelessness, measles, and more are in the news.
Nursing Homes Slam Staffing Rule: ‘How Can [We] Hire More RNs When They Do Not Exist?’
April 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Biden administration on Monday finalized a mandate for nursing homes to hire more nurses and aides, KFF Health News and others reported. Providers balked at the rule, saying it will siphon workers from other long-term care settings and only adds to the worker shortage from the pandemic.
First Edition: April 23, 2024
April 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
California Legislators Debate Froot Loops and Free Condoms
By Don Thompson
April 23, 2024
KFF Health News Original
California state lawmakers this year are continuing their progressive tilt on health policy, debating bills banning an ingredient in Froot Loops and offering free condoms for high schoolers.
Para frenar las muertes por fentanilo, reparten kits para revertir las sobredosis puerta por puerta
By Nicole Leonard, WHYY
April 23, 2024
KFF Health News Original
En Philadelphia, funcionarios esperan que este enfoque proactivo transforme a la naloxona en un artículo que esté en los botiquines, para evitar que las personas mueran por sobredosis, especialmente los residentes negros.
Unsheltered People Are Losing Medicaid in Redetermination Mix-Ups
By Aaron Bolton, MTPR
April 23, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Some of the nearly 130,000 Montanans who have lost Medicaid coverage as the state reevaluates eligibility are homeless. That’s in part because Montana kicked more than 80,000 people off the program for technical reasons rather than income ineligibility. For unhoused people who were disenrolled, getting back on Medicaid can be extraordinarily difficult.
