First Edition: June 26, 2024
June 26, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Closing of Rural Hospitals Leaves Towns With Unhealthy Real Estate
By Taylor Sisk
June 26, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Dozens of small cities and towns across the United States struggle not just with health care access and the loss of jobs, but also with the burden of what to do with big, empty buildings.
California’s $25 Health Care Hourly Wage Relies on Federal Boost, State Worker Exemption
By Don Thompson
June 26, 2024
KFF Health News Original
California’s nation-leading $25 minimum wage for health workers relies on a significant boost in federal funding. It also leaves out thousands of state employees under an agreement that is expected to win approval from state lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom in the coming days.
Los Angeles County Approves Medical Debt Relief for Residents
By Molly Castle Work
June 25, 2024
KFF Health News Original
The most populous county in the U.S. is buying up and retiring millions of dollars in residents’ medical debt as part of its plan to tackle a $2.9 billion burden. But some health experts worry the initiative could incentivize hospitals to pursue debtors rather than boost financial assistance to patients.
Viewpoints: What’s The Next Step In The Reproductive Rights Battle?; Here’s What It’s Like Living With Long Covid
June 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle abortion rights, long covid, U.S. health insurance, and more.
Supreme Court First: Deciding Whether Minors Will Have Transgender Rights
June 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
The court also is weighing in on disability bias, antitrust, the Feres doctrine, and religious covid-vaccine exemptions.
Texas Infant Deaths Increased Nearly 13% In Wake Of Strict Abortion Law
June 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
In the rest of the U.S., infant mortality rates climbed just 2% over the same period, an analysis shows. Among other news: Republican anti-abortion ballot initiatives are falling short; Democrats are aiming to repeat success at the polls with abortion-rights candidates; and more.
Health Providers Must Allow EHR Access Or Face Consequences: HHS
June 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
A final rule from the Health and Human Services Department aims at discouraging “information blocking,” where providers bar authorized users from electronic health records. Separately, inconsistencies in EHR symptom data fields are highlighted.
Bill Would Stop Real Estate Investment Trusts From Owning Hospitals In Mass.
June 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
In the wake of the Steward Health Care System collapse, state lawmakers included a provision in a health care oversight bill that would ban hospitals leasing their sites from REITs — a first-of-its-kind crackdown in the U.S. Also in the news: Hartford HealthCare, Oscar, Centene, and more.
Novo Nordisk To Build Second US Factory To Meet Ozempic Demand
June 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
As the company faces supply and cost criticisms, Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk A/S says it will spend $4.1 billion to build a manufacturing plant in Clayton, North Carolina, to manufacture the popular drugs Ozempic and Wegovy.
Minnesota City Starts Chlorinating Water To Stem Legionnaires’ Outbreak
June 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
Officials have not found the cause of the outbreak, but they know it is linked to the city’s water system. In other news, USDA epidemiologists found that Michigan poultry infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus likely got it from dairy cows.
Morning Briefing for Tuesday, June 25, 2024
June 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
Gun violence public health crisis, drug prices, mental health struggles, infant deaths, electronic health records, and more are in the news.
Surgeon General: Gun Violence Is A Public Health Crisis
June 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
“The safety and well-being of our children and future generations are at stake,” Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said in an advisory note that also called for a national “commitment” to stop gun violence. Separately, 7 states show progress against the youth mental health crisis.
First Edition: June 25, 2024
June 25, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Therapists Learn How To Help Farmers Cope With Stress Before It’s Too Late
By Tony Leys
June 25, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Many farmers have traditionally handled their own problems, whether it’s a busted tractor or debilitating anxiety. “With the older generation, it’s still, ‘Suck it up and get over it,’” says an Iowa mental health advocate and farmer.
US Surgeon General Declares Gun Violence ‘a Public Health Crisis’
By Rachana Pradhan Fred Clasen-Kelly
June 25, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Gun violence is the No. 1 cause of death for children and teens in America. Vivek Murthy says the toll extends beyond deaths, as survivors deal with “a lifetime of physical and mental health impacts” and those who witness shootings become traumatized.
An Arm and a Leg: Meet the Middleman’s Middleman
By Dan Weissmann
June 25, 2024
Podcast
Why are patients facing bigger bills than they expect for out-of-network care? In this episode of “An Arm and a Leg,” the show explains the hidden mechanics of MultiPlan, a data firm that helps health insurers set these rates and make bigger returns.
Covid Cases Climbing Across Country As New Variant Is Poised To Dominate
June 24, 2024
Morning Briefing
Western states are nearing a “high” level of infection with the summer surge starting earlier this year. Meanwhile, as bird flu continues its spread, farmers are urged to step up measures to protect their workers and herds.
Morning Briefing for Monday, June 24, 2024
June 24, 2024
Morning Briefing
ACA’s preventive services provision, HIV, abortion access, hospital prices, Medicaid, covid cases climb, vaping, and more are in the news.
