Research Roundup: New Antibiotics; Phage Therapy; Avian Influenza
May 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Viewpoints: The Comstock Act Must Be Eliminated; Chronic Pain Sufferers Deserve Better Management Options
May 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle reproductive rights, chronic pain, bird flu, and health care hiring.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, May 16, 2024
May 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
“Less-lethal” projectiles, maternal health, overdoses, weight-loss drug costs, Medicare, covid, migraines, and more are in today’s news.
Annual Overdose Deaths Drop For Only Second Time In Decades Of Drug Crisis
May 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
CDC data show that the number of fatal drug overdoses in 2023 fell from 111,000 in 2022 to more than 107,000. The drop is a rare occurrence in the nation’s epidemic. One expert told AP that “any decline is encouraging,” but that it is “premature to celebrate or to draw any large-scale conclusions.”
Seeking Price Drop, Sanders Warns Wegovy Could Ruin Health Care System
May 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
Americans are paying substantially more for popular weight-loss medications, a report released by Sen. Bernie Sanders’ office says. Separately, even though the price of anti-obesity drugs is high, Medicare could save about $500 million a year by covering them.
Spotlight Falls On ‘Two-Midnight Rule’ For Medicare Patient Hospital Stays
May 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
Modern Healthcare reports on how providers and Medicare Advantage companies are reacting to the new policy that allows more patient visits to be categorized as higher-cost inpatient care. Separately, reports explain how Blackstone Equity Healthcare is lowering costs.
Covid Research Group Loses Funding, May Be Banned Over Reporting Lapses
May 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
EcoHealth Alliance plans to contest the ruling by the Department of Health and Human Services. In other news, as funding for pandemic-era initiatives dwindles, the CDC’s program to provide uninsured adults free covid vaccines will end early.
PETA Condemns Xenotransplantation After Death Of Historic Kidney Patient
May 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
The transplant of a genetically altered pig kidney into a human was hailed as a milestone, but PETA’s Senior Science Policy Manager Julia Baines alleged the organ transplant was a failure in a statement. Massachusetts General Hospital said there was no indication the organ was related to the death of the patient.
Study Highlights Hospital Covid Death Risks As Higher Than For Influenza
May 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
Scientists have estimated that during the past winter respiratory virus season, hospitalized covid patients were at 35% higher risk of death from any cause than patients with the flu. The risk is actually down, however, from the previous winter’s 61% figure.
First Edition: May 16, 2024
May 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Medics at UCLA Protest Say Police Weapons Drew Blood and Cracked Bones
By Molly Castle Work Brett Kelman
Updated May 16, 2024
Originally Published May 16, 2024
KFF Health News Original
In contrast to police statements, volunteer medics said they treated serious wounds as UCLA’s pro-Palestinian protest was besieged by police and counterprotesters, including some injuries that appeared to be caused by “less lethal” projectiles fired by cops.
California’s $12 Billion Medicaid Makeover Banks on Nonprofits’ Buy-In
By Angela Hart
May 16, 2024
KFF Health News Original
California’s Medicaid program is relying heavily on community groups to deliver new social services to vulnerable patients, such as security deposits for homeless people and air purifiers for asthma patients. But many of these nonprofits face staffing and billing challenges and haven’t been able to deliver services effectively.
Addiction Treatment Homes Say Montana’s Funding Fixes Don’t Go Far Enough
By Katheryn Houghton
May 16, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Montana has created a voucher program to help cover room and board costs at low-intensity residential programs for people with addiction. Those running the homes say bridging that care is urgent but that the program’s funding falls far below the need.
Federal Panel Prescribes New Mental Health Strategy To Curb Maternal Deaths
By Cheryl Platzman Weinstock
May 16, 2024
KFF Health News Original
The leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States — including suicides and fatalities linked to substance use disorders — stem from mental health conditions. Now a federal task force has recommended strategies to help women who are at risk during or after pregnancy.
Médicos que atendieron a manifestantes en la protesta estudiantil en la UCLA dicen que la policía dejó huesos rotos y hemorragias
By Molly Castle Work Brett Kelman
May 16, 2024
KFF Health News Original
La protesta de la UCLA, que reunió a miles de personas que se oponen a los continuos bombardeos de Israel sobre la Franja de Gaza, comenzó en abril y alcanzó un peligroso crescendo en mayo, cuando manifestantes pro Israel y la policía se enfrentaron a los activistas y a los que los apoyaban.
Proponen estrategia federal de salud mental para frenar muertes maternas
By Cheryl Platzman Weinstock
May 16, 2024
KFF Health News Original
La depresión perinatal afecta a un 20% de las mujeres en Estados Unidos durante el embarazo, el posparto o ambos.
The Psychedelics-As-Medicine Movement Spreads to California
By Bernard J. Wolfson
May 15, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Ecstasy, “magic mushrooms” and other psychedelic drugs could soon be recognized as therapeutic in California — one of the latest states, and the biggest, to consider allowing their use as medicine. Legislation by state Sen. Scott Wiener (D) and Assembly member Marie Waldron (R) would allow the therapeutic use of psilocybin, mescaline, ecstasy and dimethyltryptamine […]
Insurers Brace For Expected Medicare Advantage Losses Next Year
May 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
CVS Health and Humana are making moves ahead of anticipated drops in Medicare Advantage memberships in 2025. Meanwhile, low Medicare Advantage pay further stresses rural hospitals.
Critics Highlight Health Implications Of North Carolina Protester Mask Ban
May 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Republican supporters of the proposed ban say it was triggered by student protests, but some note it could also limit how you can wear masks in public for health reasons. Also in the news: California’s Prop 1 fund allocations will begin in July, ahead of schedule.
Relyvrio Manufacturer Withdraws Ineffective ALS Drug From Sale
May 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Withdrawing the drug is actually Amylyx Pharmaceuticals making good on a promise to put patients first: In a large study, Relyvrio was found not to help patients who have Lou Gehrig’s disease. Among other news, Roche received FDA approval for its HPV self-test kits.
