Canada Now Warns Its LGBTQ+ Travelers Of US Laws Targeting Them
August 30, 2023
Morning Briefing
Our friendly neighbors to the north are being warned of potentially unfriendly state and local laws that target LGBTQ+ people as part of an update to the travel advisory for the U.S. In other global health news, Danaher is buying a British bio reagents company that’s labeled “the Amazon of antibodies.”
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, August 30, 2023
August 30, 2023
Morning Briefing
Drug pricing and Medicare, NIH nominee, nursing homes, AI, the ‘Pirola’ variant, a data breach, air quality, and more are in the news.
Medicare And Pharma May Not See Big Impact At First From Drug Negotiations
August 30, 2023
Morning Briefing
After CMS released its list of selected medications for which it will negotiate prices, pharmaceutical companies denounced the process and news outlets report on the potential savings for Medicare and its beneficiaries.
Biden NIH Head Nominee Has Pledged To Not Work For Big Pharma Later On
August 30, 2023
Morning Briefing
The move, Politico says, is a major concession from the White House to Sen. Elizabeth Warren over ethics. Monica Bertagnolli, who was nominated to lead NIH months ago, agreed to limit her post-role employment options for 4 years. Also: generics patents, the No Surprises act, and more.
Pay Attention To ‘Pirola’ Covid Variant, Health Experts Warn
August 30, 2023
Morning Briefing
“It’s drastically different” from the dominant strains that are currently circulating, said one scientific adviser to the CDC. Meanwhile, Dr. Deborah Birx, who served as former President Donald Trump’s covid response coordinator, says not enough people are taking the newest surge seriously and that the new vaccine is coming weeks too late.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
August 30, 2023
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. For the long holiday weekend, we’ve included stories on cancer, aging, parenting, conservatorships, and more.
First Edition: Aug. 30, 2023
August 30, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations. Note to readers: KFF Health News’ First Edition will not be published Aug. 31 through Sept. 4. Look for it again in your inbox on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
A Move to Cut Drug Prices Has Patients With Rare Diseases Worried
By Markian Hawryluk
August 30, 2023
KFF Health News Original
A Colorado board has named five drugs it will review for affordability and potential cost caps. But patients with cystic fibrosis worry they will lose access to a life-changing therapy.
5 Things to Know About the New Drug Pricing Negotiations
By Arthur Allen and Rachana Pradhan and David Hilzenrath
August 30, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The Biden administration unveiled the first 10 drugs subject to price negotiations, taking a swipe at the pharmaceutical industry. But what does it mean for patients?
Artificial Intelligence May Influence Whether You Can Get Pain Medication
By Andy Miller and Sam Whitehead
August 30, 2023
KFF Health News Original
To contain the opioid crisis, health and law enforcement agencies have turned to technology to monitor doctor and patient prescription data. Experts have raised questions about how these systems work and worry about their accuracy and potential biases. Some patients and doctors say they’re being unfairly targeted.
Exclusive: CMS Study Sabotages Efforts to Bolster Nursing Home Staffing, Advocates Say
By Jordan Rau
August 29, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Research commissioned by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services analyzed only staffing levels below what experts have previously called ideal. Patient advocates have been pushing for more staff to improve care.
Asian Americans Have The Highest Exposure To Forever Chemicals: Study
August 29, 2023
Morning Briefing
A new study found different racial and socioeconomic groups are exposed to varying amounts of PFAS across the U.S., but Asian Americans are the most at risk. Health impacts from wildfire smoke are also in the news, with a report showing exposure in California may be reducing life expectancy.
Viewpoints: Jails Don’t Provide Any Addiction Assistance; Emotional Abuse Is Also Domestic Violence
August 29, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss drug withdrawal in jail, emotional abuse, AI in healthcare and more.
Morning Briefing for Tuesday, August 29, 2023
August 29, 2023
Morning Briefing
Medicare’s selects 10 drugs to negotiate, Medicaid unwinding, abortion, gun violence, and more are in the news. Plus, a new Bill of the Month.
Diabetes Drugs, Blood Thinner On Medicare’s List Of 10 Meds To Negotiate Prices
August 29, 2023
Morning Briefing
HHS released its list of 10 drugs that will be on the table for the first-ever price negotiations between Medicare and drugmakers. Included in the mix are medications that treat diabetes, autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and heart failure. The process is facing multiple court challenges.
Pressure Rises On Biden As Millions, Including Kids, Lose Medicaid
August 29, 2023
Morning Briefing
Congressional Democrats and health advocates are urging the Biden administration to do more to ensure people are protected as nearly 5.5 million are purged from Medicaid rolls, including about 1.1 million kids who have lost health coverage.
Ohio Abortion-Rights Group Sues Over ‘Blatant Inaccuracies’ In Ballot Text
August 29, 2023
Morning Briefing
The lawsuit asks the Ohio Supreme Court either to order the state ballot board to use the full text of a proposed abortion-rights amendment or to fix what they say is intentionally misleading text used in a summary. Other abortion news is from Michigan, Texas, Kentucky, and elsewhere.
More Details Released On Florida Gunman’s Mental Health Past
August 29, 2023
Morning Briefing
Black residents in Jacksonville demanded accountability from Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who they say has stoked a “war on our community” by pushing for major changes in how African American history is taught and declaring that Florida “is where woke goes to die.”
Vaccine Skepticism Grows As More People Question Rabies Shots For Pets
August 29, 2023
Morning Briefing
Also, CNN reports on changing immunity to covid, and CIDRAP reports that a few more BA.2.86 subvariant detections have been detected and that omicron may be less likely to lead to long covid.
Pfizer’s Tornado-Damaged Plant Likely To Reopen In A Few Months
August 29, 2023
Morning Briefing
The pharmaceutical giant said it has started releasing products from the Rocky Mount, North Carolina, facility that weren’t affected by the July 19 storm. Some of the products Pfizer makes at the plant include anesthesia, painkillers, and anti-infective medicines for use in hospitals.