Morning Briefing for Monday, December 11, 2023
December 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
Gene therapies, abortion pill access, medical education, RSV, gun violence, mental health care, and more are in the news.
Cigna Abandons Merger Talks With Humana
December 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
Unenthusiastic stakeholders and a lack of progress in negotiations over price and other financial matters have led Cigna Group to give up on the idea of combining with Humana, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Access, Affordability Concerns Follow FDA OK Of Sickle Cell Gene Therapy
December 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
The FDA authorized on Friday a pair of gene therapies for sickle cell disease, one of which is the first to gain such approval using the CRISPR gene-editing system. News outlets report on costs and paths to patients for the treatments.
Supreme Court Weighs Hearing High-Stakes Abortion Pill Case
December 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
Supreme Court justices were expected to discuss on Friday whether to hear a case that would counter or uphold federal approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. If the court fails to take up the appeals, a lower court decision to limit the availability of the drug by mail would go into effect.
Minnesota’s First RSV Death Of The Season Was A 1-Year-Old
December 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
Amid rising RSV, Minnesota’s first death for this season was tragically young. Meanwhile, in California, Riverside County officials reported two flu-related deaths, and L.A. County reported one. Separately, researchers are making progress toward treating long covid symptoms.
CDC Issues Travel Warning After 3 Die From Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
December 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
The disease is spread by infected brown dog ticks. Other news is on a continuing outbreak of salmonella spread through cantaloupe, and chronic wasting disease.
Biden Demands Congress ‘Step Up’ To Deal With Gun Violence Epidemic
December 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
After the UNLV shooting, President Joe Biden on Friday stepped up his demands for action against gun violence. USA Today covers college professors calling the issue a “national menace.” Meanwhile, Wyoming Public Radio reports on how stigma prevents gun owners from seeking mental health help.
Viewpoints: How To Fix The RSV Infant Shot Shortage; Will The Public Trust New Sickle Cell Treatment?
December 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss the RSV vaccine, sickle cell treatment, long covid and more.
First Edition: Dec. 11, 2023
December 11, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Biology, Anatomy, and Finance? More Med Students Want Business Degrees Too
By Samantha Liss
December 11, 2023
KFF Health News Original
A majority of medical schools now offer dual MD-MBA programs, compared with just a quarter two decades ago. The number of medical students seeking a business degree has nearly tripled. This begs the question: Whom will these doctors serve more, patients or shareholders?
Watch: She Had a Home and a Good-Paying Job. Then Illness and Debt Upended It All.
By Noam N. Levey and Hannah Norman
December 11, 2023
KFF Health News Original
A chronic health diagnosis and medical debt reordered Sharon Woodward’s life.
Journalists Delve Into Gun Violence, Medicaid’s ‘Unwinding,’ Opioid Lawsuits, and More
December 9, 2023
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News and California Healthline staffers made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Under Dark Shadow Of UNLV Shooting, Gun Opponents Urge Congress To Act
December 8, 2023
Morning Briefing
Anti-gun activists from Connecticut and elsewhere visited lawmakers on Capitol Hill this week to again push for gun reforms. Next Thursday, Dec. 14, marks the 11th anniversary of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, that left 26 people dead, most of them children.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
December 8, 2023
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on cancer, phages, homelessness, mental health, and more.
Viewpoints: Hair Relaxers Have Hidden Health Dangers; How Do We Ensure AI In Health Care Is Ethical?
December 8, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss formaldehyde in hair relaxers, artificial intelligence in health care, drug pricing, and more.
Census Bureau Shift Could Overhaul How Government Defines Disabilities
December 8, 2023
Morning Briefing
Some disability advocates warn that a proposed change in questions by the Census Bureau could artificially lower the number of people counted as living with disabilities in the U.S. and impact needed resources and benefits.
Senators Launch Bipartisan Inquiry Of Private Equity Ownership Of Hospitals
December 8, 2023
Morning Briefing
This is not the first investigation into the issue. But Stat reports that the Senate Budget Committee probe encompasses hospitals in Rhode Island — home state of committee chair Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat — as well as hospitals in California, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere.
Deadline Is Today: FDA Soon To Decide On Sickle Cell Treatment Using CRISPR
December 8, 2023
Morning Briefing
The treatment, called exa-cel, would be the first approved medicine in the U.S. to use the gene-editing tool to alter DNA. In other pharma news, an unusual surge in stock trading before Abbvie’s big announcement Wednesday has raised eyebrows.
Michigan Expands Medicaid Coverage To Community Health Workers
December 8, 2023
Morning Briefing
CHWs, as they’re known, are trained public health professionals. The new benefit goes into effect Jan. 1. Other state health news is on California’s statewide minimum wage for health care workers, an investigation of a New York hospital’s weight-loss surgery rates, Ohio’s new marijuana law, and more.
Draft Defense Bill Requires Review Of Troops Discharged Over Covid Vaccine
December 8, 2023
Morning Briefing
A measure included in the current draft of the annual defense bill would require the Department of Defense to consider reinstating military personnel who left after refusing to comply with the Pentagon’s covid vaccine mandate.