FDA Reports Quality Lapses At Indiana Drug Factory That Novo Is Buying
February 8, 2024
Morning Briefing
The facility in Bloomington, Indiana, belonged to contract drugmaker Catalent. FDA inspectors found issues including a “pest” on the manufacturing line. Novo is buying Catalent to boost Wegovy production. Also: A report says FDA oversight of foreign firms making U.S. market drugs is weak.
Facing Backlash, Ohio Scraps Plans To Limit Gender Care For Adults
February 8, 2024
Morning Briefing
Ohio’s proposed restrictions would have been the toughest on transition-related care for adults in the country, trans rights advocates said. Separately, a survey shows that transgender Americans have been experiencing economic and health disparities for years.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, February 8, 2024
February 8, 2024
Morning Briefing
Thanks to everyone who entered our Health Policy Valentines contest! We received many fabulous entries. Be sure to read the Morning Briefing on Feb. 14 to see who won!
La FDA finalmente prohibiría peligroso químico en productos para alisar el cabello
By Ronnie Cohen
February 8, 2024
KFF Health News Original
El primer estudio que vinculó los alisadores de cabello con el cáncer de útero, publicado en 2022, encontró que el uso frecuente de estos químicos duplica con creces el peligro.
First Edition: Feb. 8, 2024
February 8, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Cities Know That the Way Police Respond to Mental Crisis Calls Must Change. But How?
By Nicole Leonard, WHYY and Kate Wolffe, CapRadio and Simone Popperl
February 8, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Cities are experimenting with new ways to meet the rapidly increasing demand for behavioral health crisis intervention, at a time when incidents of police shooting and killing people in mental health crisis have become painfully familiar.
FDA’s Plan to Ban Hair Relaxer Chemical Called Too Little, Too Late
By Ronnie Cohen
February 8, 2024
KFF Health News Original
The FDA’s recent notice that it would move to ban formaldehyde in hair-straightening products comes more than a decade after researchers raised alarms about health risks. Scientists say a ban would still leave many dangerous chemicals in hair straighteners.
Even in Bright-Blue California, Abortion Is on the Ballot
By Molly Castle Work
February 7, 2024
KFF Health News Original
The race to replace the late Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein is in full swing in California. Although the state enshrined abortion rights into its constitution, the prospect of a national abortion ban has the candidates vying for a Senate seat putting a spotlight on reproductive rights. Or, at least the Democrats are. Steve Garvey, a […]
National Nurses Survey Finds Rising Violence Against Staff
February 7, 2024
Morning Briefing
Nearly half of nurses said they’d experienced increasing workplace violence, prompting many to think of quitting, a new survey found. Also in health industry news, Amazon is laying off workers in its One Medical and pharmacy divisions; Premier will sell all or part of Contigo Health; and more.
Common Plastics Linked To Tens Of Thousands Of Premature Births
February 7, 2024
Morning Briefing
A Lancet Planetary Health study reports plastics are linked to many U.S. preterm births each year, ultimately driving medical bill costs up by billions. Separately, while Latina and other women of color are disproportionately hit by abortion bans, they often aren’t part of the legal or media narratives.
47% Of Transgender Americans Have Considered Moving To Another State
February 7, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Hill reports on a new survey that shows exactly how unsettling anti-LGBTQ+ laws are to trans people in the U.S., with nearly half of those polled considering moving elsewhere. Also in the news: Even though Medicaid unwinding is only half done, 10 million people are off the rolls.
Minorities Are Underrepresented In Staph Antibiotic Trials: Study
February 7, 2024
Morning Briefing
Read recent pharmaceutical developments in KFF Health News’ Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Perspectives: Nothing Can Stop Another Drug Debacle Like Aduhelm
February 7, 2024
Morning Briefing
Read recent commentaries about pharmaceutical issues.
Viewpoints: Hypertension Woefully Undertreated Worldwide; Academic Medicine Can Affect Social Change
February 7, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss hypertension, medical schools, ACA, and more.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, February 7, 2024
February 7, 2024
Morning Briefing
Medicaid ‘unwinding,’ PBMs and drug prices, mental health care, guns, violence against nurses, covid, RSV vaccines, and more are in the news.
Census Bureau Halts Planned Changes To Disability Survey Questions
February 7, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Census Bureau has reconsidered its plan for now to change the questions it uses in the annual American Community Survey to gather information related to disabilities. The agency received thousands of comments, many of which cited concerns that the policy shift would undercount people with sight, hearing, mobility, or other functional disabilities.
House Panel Advances Bill To Restrict PBMs To Charging Flat Service Fees
February 7, 2024
Morning Briefing
The bipartisan measure on pharmacy benefit manager reforms would also ban spread pricing — a common PBM practice of charging insurers more than they pay pharmacies.
Federal Court Rejects Free Speech Argument Against Covid Mask-Wearing
February 7, 2024
Morning Briefing
A federal appeals court said Monday that refusing to wear a covid mask was not protected as free speech under the First Amendment, in a case where New Jersey residents had challenged mask-wearing rules at school board meetings. Also: Paxlovid costs; rising covid rates; and more.
Michigan School Shooter’s Mother Found Guilty Of Manslaughter
February 7, 2024
Morning Briefing
Jennifer Crumbley has been found guilty for her responsibilities related to securing the weapon and the mental state of her son, who killed four students in an Oxford, Michigan, high school in 2021. Also: the White House is readying a push for gun violence prevention.
Colorado avanza con proyectos para conectar a trabajadores agrícolas con servicios de salud mental
By Vignesh Ramachandran
February 7, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Los proyectos de ley en consideración abordarían la creciente necesidad de tratar los problemas de salud mental en áreas rurales, que se han visto exacerbados por los impactos de la pandemia y el cambio climático.