Viewpoints: Cost Isn’t The Only Barrier To New Sickle Cell Treatments; What’s Behind Health Worker Burnout?
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers examine CRISPR, health care worker burnout, Havana Syndrome, and more.
‘Expanding Public Health Concern’: 1 in 9 US Kids Has ADHD Diagnosis
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
According to a new report from the CDC, more than 7 million American kids ages 3 to 17 received a diagnosis of ADHD in 2022, an increase of 1 million from 2016. Other health and wellness news is on ADHD medications in adulthood, ultraprocessed foods, fish oil supplements, and more.
Record Number Of Teens Are Obtaining And Dying From Fentanyl
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Fatal opioid overdoses among youth ages 12 to 17 has doubled since the start of the covid pandemic, according to The Washington Post’s analysis of CDC data. Pediatricians have been startled by the spike and say that treatment options for patients that young are limited.
More Americans Prefer Daily Dose Of Weed Over Alcohol, Analysis Finds
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
In other news, cannabis-using teens are a greater risk of developing a psychotic disorder, study says. Meanwhile, a former drug czar sounds the alarm on the cannabis industry, likening it to Big Tobacco.
Vaccines Largely Did Their Job In Warding Off Long Covid, Study Finds
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
In another study, scientists are looking at a new antiviral to help ailing covid patients, but the high level of immunity in the population is complicating efforts to test obeldesivir in humans.
Companies Illegally Making Millions Off Veterans Filing For PACT Benefits
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Federal law prohibits charging veterans for help in applying for restitution for wartime injuries. Even so, a Washington Post review found that as many as 100 unaccredited companies are charging vets anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 for help filing claims.
Democrats Want Contraception Rights Vote To Expose GOP Policies
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Senate will vote in June on legislation designed to protect contraception access, expecting Republicans to block the bill and show their cards on what’s expected to be a key campaign issue. Meanwhile, in Texas, an anti-abortion doctor was appointed to the state maternity committee.
Bankruptcy Filing Is A Farce, J&J Litigants Contend In Latest Lawsuit
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
The plantiffs argue J&J’s efforts put money out of reach in a settlement over talc-based products; the company says that isn’t so. In other news, a long-acting insulin product from Novo Nordisk was linked to safety risks; gene splicing might be key to long-lasting obesity drugs; and more.
Miami Now US Epicenter Of Surge In Dengue Fever Infections
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Cases of dengue fever have more than doubled versus the same period last year. Separately, a mosquito sample in Houston has tested positive for West Nile virus, and experts say more kinds of ticks are hitting Illinois in a longer season.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, May 23, 2024
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Bird flu case, medical death, teen opioid overdoses, marijuana use, PACT benefits, birth control access, ADHD, and more are in the news.
Michigan Dairy Worker Is Second Human In US Infected With Bird Flu
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, wastewater surveillance monitoring will pick up nationally in the coming weeks. And clues from Texas identify the state as the likely ground zero for the H5N1 spread.
First Edition: May 23, 2024
May 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Los Angeles County Launches Ambitious Plan To Tackle Medical Debt. Hospitals Groan.
By Molly Castle Work
May 23, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Los Angeles County, the nation’s most populous county, is spearheading a comprehensive plan to tackle a $2.9 billion medical debt crisis. Hospitals are still getting on board with the project, which is helmed by the public health department.
Clues From Bird Flu’s Ground Zero on Dairy Farms in the Texas Panhandle
By Amy Maxmen
May 23, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Dairy farmers and veterinarians in northern Texas furiously investigated a mysterious illness among cattle before the government got involved. Their observations are telling.
California Pays People With Addiction To Stay Clean — With Feds’ Blessing
By Angela Hart
May 22, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Led by California, a few states are testing an experimental program that pays people to stop using hard drugs. The Golden State was the first to win approval from the Biden administration to cover the sobriety payments, with Medicaid wrapping it into an ambitious health-care initiative spearheaded by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to provide the […]
WHO Says The World Is Seeing Rising STI Infections
May 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
In particular chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis, all curable, are driving over a million daily infections, according to new WHO data. In other news, microplastics are found in human testicles, a study says teens are drinking too much caffeine, and more.
FDA Staff Voice Concern Over Eagerly Awaited Blood-Based Colon Cancer Test
May 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
The remarks about the Shield test, made by Guardant Health, came ahead of Thursday’s meeting with outside advisers. Other pharmaceutical news is on alcohol-associated liver disease, weight loss drugs, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, and more.
‘A Major Step Forward’: HIV Vaccine Candidate Sparks Immune Response
May 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
Read recent pharmaceutical developments in KFF Health News’ Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Viewpoints: Why Hasn’t Polio Been Eradicated?; Here’s Why Americans Are Always Fatigued
May 22, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss polio, sleep deprivation, nuclear testing, and digital health.
