At Least 4 States Hit By 911 Outages; Services Restored In Some Areas
April 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
Landlines and mobile phones were unable to connect to the emergency phone line in parts of South Dakota, Nebraska, Texas, and Nevada on Wednesday, with service now partially restored. The cause is being investigated.
GOP Again Quashes Efforts To Restore Abortion In Arizona
April 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
The state Senate might vote in the next few weeks to reverse the near-total abortion ban, but it’s not certain the House will approve the measure.
Report: Every State Shows Racial, Ethnic Inequalities In Health Care
April 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
News outlets note that this is true even for states with “robust” health systems, and the best health outcomes, new data from the Commonwealth Fund shows. Also in the news: botched executions for Black prisoners, toxic water supply in a majority Latino city, and more.
Texas’ Planned Medicaid Changes Could Upend Coverage For 1.8 Million
April 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
Under the proposal, three top nonprofit children’s health plans would be bounced as the state looks to shift coverage to more for-profit companies.
Hospitals’ Trauma Care Prices Differed Wildly In 2023: Study
April 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
A new study found prices were so unpredictable between hospitals that some insured patients needing trauma care even ended up with more bills than uninsured people did. Stat, meanwhile, covers tech startups who are making money out of hospital price transparency rules.
First Edition: April 18, 2024
April 18, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
The Path to a Better Tuberculosis Vaccine Runs Through Montana
By Jim Robbins
April 18, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Researchers at the University of Montana have pitched in to develop a more effective vaccine in the fight against an ancient disease that still kills an estimated 1.6 million people a year worldwide.
En Montana, investigan una nueva y poderosa vacuna contra la tuberculosis
By Jim Robbins
April 18, 2024
KFF Health News Original
La tuberculosis mata a 1.6 millones de personas anualmente, en especial en zonas pobres del planeta.
Medicare’s Push To Improve Chronic Care Attracts Businesses, but Not Many Doctors
By Phil Galewitz Holly K. Hacker
April 18, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Most Medicare enrollees have two or more chronic health conditions, making them eligible for a federal program that rewards physicians for doing more to manage their care. It shows promise in reducing costs. But not many doctors have joined.
Paris Hilton Speaks up for California’s ‘Troubled’ Teens
By Molly Castle Work
April 17, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Heiress Paris Hilton is on a mission to shine a light on the “troubled teen industry,” a largely unregulated multibillion-dollar industry that is gaining public scrutiny for alleged abuse of vulnerable youths. Hilton told state lawmakers in Sacramento on Monday she was subjected to abuse disguised as therapy decades ago when she was housed in […]
HIV Drugs May Also Be Effective Alzheimer’s Treatment; Antibiotics May Make Cough Last Longer
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Read recent pharmaceutical developments in KFF Health News’ Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Viewpoints: Missouri Must Put Abortion Up To Voters; Kids Online Safety Act Is A Necessity
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle abortion, safety rules for social media, viral hepatitis, and more.
House Committee Alleges China Is Helping To Fuel US Fentanyl Crisis
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
A special House committee released a report that alleges the Chinese government is subsidizing core materials used in the production of fentanyl to fuel the ongoing drug crisis in the U.S. Meanwhile, news reports say San Francisco officials want to expand methadone access to help combat addiction.
Elevance Health Partners With Private Equity For New Primary Care Company
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
The insurer has partnered with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice to build a new company that’s focused on primary health care. Meanwhile, the FTC’s effort to block Novant Health’s $320 million acquisition of two hospitals is backed by North Carolina.
Mine Safety Group Sets Stricter Rules To Guard Against Black Lung Disease
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Mine Safety and Health Administration acted, NPR reports, after investigative reporting exposed a “once-hidden epidemic” of severe, deadly black lung disease affecting miners. Other research shows that younger adults are aging faster than ever, and that trend is linked to early-onset cancers.
For Now, Transgender Children In Ohio Can Access Care After Ban Is Blocked
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Franklin County Judge Michael J. Holbrook ordered a hold on the law for at least two weeks, pending a possible longer-term order to stop the ban from being implemented. Also: How Idaho’s ban on youth gender care has affected families.
Obesity Drug Is Promising For Patients With Sleep Apnea, Eli Lilly Reports
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
In other news, a trade association issued new labeling guidelines for melatonin following a CDC report that children were requiring medical care after taking the dietary supplement.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, April 17, 2024
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Cybersecurity, future pandemics, abortion laws, the fentanyl crisis, primary care access, obesity drugs, medical device recall, and more are in the news.
UnitedHealth Skips Hearing Focused On Change Ransomware Attack
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee raised questions about UnitedHealth Group’s cybersecurity practices, whether the insurer paid the ransom, and on the risks of industry consolidation. But the company did not send a representative to answer those queries.
Montana Group Begins Signature Drive To Put Abortion On November Ballot
April 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights must get 60,000 signatures by June 21 to qualify. Meanwhile, Arizona lawmakers on both sides of the aisle set their sights on repealing the state’s antiquated near-total ban.
