Newsom Boosted California’s Public Health Budget During Covid. Now He Wants To Cut It.
By Angela Hart
May 20, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Two years after increasing state and local public health budgets by $300 million annually, Gov. Gavin Newsom proposes to slash the funding in the face of California’s $45 billion deficit.
Medicaid Unwinding Deals Blow to Tenuous System of Care for Native Americans
By Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez
May 20, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Although Native American and Alaska Native adults are enrolled in Medicaid at higher rates than their white counterparts, many tribal leaders feel they’ve been left in the dark as states roll through the tumultuous Medicaid unwinding that started last year.
Journalists Broach Topics From Treating Shooting Victims to Sunscreen Safety
May 18, 2024
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News and California Healthline staffers made the rounds on national and local media in the last couple of weeks to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Justice Department Files To Have Florida’s CHIP Lawsuit Dismissed
May 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Biden administration asked a federal judge Tuesday to dismiss Florida’s suit challenging federal guidelines issued for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which operates in Florida as a program called KidCare. Other federal news covers tariffs, Medicaid cuts, telehealth, and more.
CDC Warns Mpox May Surge Again, Urges Vaccination
May 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
The CDC also noted that a deadlier version of mpox is hitting the Democratic Republic of Congo, though no cases of that subtype have yet been identified outside Africa. Other public health news is on military jets “rumbling,” a Yogi tea recall, the health risks of warming waters, and more.
Microsoft Research Head: ChatGPT Not Suitable For Making First Diagnoses
May 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Microsoft’s head of research Peter Lee said that while the use of AI in medicine is exciting, the current technology is perhaps too error-prone, biased, and susceptible to inventing information to be used as a tool to help physicians make important initial diagnoses.
Study: HPV Vaccines Lower Cancer Risks In All Socioeconomic Groups
May 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Researchers found that England’s HPV program was linked to dramatically reduced risk of cervical cancer for all women, no matter their background. Also in the news: a digital “twin” of the human heart boosts treatment decisions; data integrity in science journals; and more.
California’s Proposal For Universal Health Care Collapses
May 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
The dream of CalCare — a state insurance program for all residents with no premiums, deductibles or copays — is no more, having been scrapped in committee during a state appropriations hearing. And California also failed to advance a bill to tackle the sale of anti-aging products to kids under 13.
Viewpoints: GLP-1’s Can Tackle Much More Than Obesity; H5N1 Doesn’t Have To Turn Into The Next Covid
May 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss weight-loss drugs, bird flu, abortion, and health centers.
Morning Briefing for Friday, May 17, 2024
May 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Cannabis reclassification, opioid settlement funds, maternal mental health, mpox, CHIP, cancer risks, bird flu, and more are in the news.
With Nod From White House, Feds Proceed With Cannabis Reclassification
May 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
In other news, California lawmakers for a fourth year block an effort to legalize the use of psychedelics in therapeutic settings.
Senators Urge Bipartisan Action To Address Maternal Mental Health
May 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) team up to take on the high rate of maternal mortality. In other news, a study has found that SARS-CoV-2 is tied to severe maternal morbidity. Elsewhere, a Georgia OB-GYN thinks her state offers a cautionary tale regarding abortion bans.
First Edition: May 17, 2024
May 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Clean Needles Save Lives. In Some States, They Might Not Be Legal.
By Ed Mahon, Spotlight PA Sarah Boden, WESA
May 17, 2024
KFF Health News Original
As billions of dollars from settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors go to state and local governments, efforts to reduce the epidemic’s harm can be hamstrung by drug paraphernalia laws. Health authorities say distributing clean syringes to users can save lives, but in states like Pennsylvania, it may be illegal.
Watch: John Oliver Dishes on KFF Health News’ Opioid Settlements Series
May 17, 2024
KFF Health News Original
A recent broadcast of “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” frequently cited KFF Health News in its examination of how billions of dollars from the opioid settlements are being spent.
The Lure of Specialty Medicine Pulls Nurse Practitioners From Primary Care
By Michelle Andrews
May 17, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Nurse practitioners have been viewed as a key to addressing the shortage of primary care physicians. But data suggests that, just like doctors, they are increasingly drawn to better-paying specialties.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Bird Flu Lands as the Next Public Health Challenge
May 16, 2024
Podcast
Public health authorities are closely watching an unusual strain of bird flu that has infected dairy cows in nine states and at least one dairy worker. Meanwhile, another major health system suffered a cyberattack, and Congress is moving to extend the availability of telehealth services. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Atul Grover of the Association of American Medical Colleges about its recent analysis showing that graduating medical students are avoiding training in states with abortion bans and major restrictions.
States Are Failing New And Expecting Moms In Mental Health, Report Finds
May 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Biden administration’s plan to stem untreated conditions during pregnancy includes “data and research; prevention, screening and diagnosis; intervention and treatment; community practices; and community engagement.”
Experts Warn Of Energy Drink Health Risks For Youngsters
May 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
In other news, research shows certain vegetarian diets — including less-restrictive versions like a lacto-ovo diet — reduce risks of cancer, heart disease, and early death. And food safety regulators are looking into possible pesticide contamination in certain Indian spice blends.
Hawaii Study: Respiratory, Lung Issues Plague Many Maui Wildfire Survivors
May 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Washington Post and AP report on a new University of Hawaii study on the effects of the Lahaina wildfire. Researchers found, among other things, that up to 74% of the 679 people surveyed had elevated blood pressure levels, meaning a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Other news from around the nation comes from California, Missouri, North Carolina, West Virginia, Connecticut, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana, and more.
