California Hospitals Scramble on Earthquake Retrofits as State Limits Extensions
By Annie Sciacca
October 15, 2024
KFF Health News Original
California legislators for years have granted extensions on a 1994 law requiring hospitals to retrofit their buildings to withstand earthquakes. Gov. Gavin Newsom in September vetoed an extension for all hospitals but signed a bill granting relief to rural and “distressed” hospitals and some others.
Millions of Aging Americans Are Facing Dementia by Themselves
By Judith Graham
October 15, 2024
KFF Health News Original
In a health care system that assumes older adults have family caregivers to help them, those facing dementia by themselves often fall through the cracks.
Health Issues Motivating Black Women Voters for Harris
By Stephanie Armour
October 14, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Vice President Kamala Harris, now on the presidential campaign trail, is making inroads with a key voting bloc: Black women, who are rallying behind her because of her work on issues such as preserving abortion access, curbing gun violence and reducing maternal deaths. What has become clear is not just that this voting group supports […]
Journalists Talk Obesity, Oximeters, and Severe Weather’s Impact on Public Health
October 12, 2024
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media in recent weeks to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Medicare Advantage Plans’ Quality Ratings From CMS Fall Again
October 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
Only 40% of Medicare Advantage health prescription drug plans achieved a four-star rating or higher under the current criteria used by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to grade quality. The federal health agency has sought to make it harder to win top scores — in 2022, 68% of plans were four stars or higher.
Microsoft, Epic To Build New AI Tool Targeting Nurses’ Workload
October 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
Microsoft and Epic Systems are partnering on new AI tools geared toward nurses, in the hopes that the effort could lead to better quality care and less staff burnout. Studies show understaffed hospitals cause more health care-associated infections. Meanwhile, the AHA reports overall safety improvements.
Teva Settles DOJ’s Kickback, Price-Fixing Charges For $450 Million
October 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries will pay $450 to settle the Department of Justice’s investigation into allegations of price fixing and misuse of funds for kickbacks. Other pharmaceutical news reports on weight loss drugs.
15.5 Million US Adults Have ADHD; Most Struggle To Access Treatment
October 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
Also in research-related news, the neurons in children with autism are different from in children without; an effort to improve the accuracy of Parkinson’s diagnoses; the progress of vaccines designed to prevent cancer; and more.
A Third Of HS Students Experience Racism, Affecting Mental Health
October 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
A CDC study found that nearly 1 in 3 U.S. high school students reported experiencing racism at school. Researchers found those experiences led to a greater number of mental health issues and a higher risk of suicide and substance use. Also in public health news: a recall over listeria, a recall of Fisher-Price Snuga Swings, and more.
California Logs 4th Human Bird Flu Case
October 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
The nationwide total of cases this year is at 18, and all but one of the people who tested positive had been exposed to sick cattle or poultry. Also in the news, Iowa and 19 other states sue over federal nursing home staffing requirements.
Morning Briefing for Friday, October 11, 2024
October 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s newsletter covers the rise of abortion as an election issue for young women, the health impacts of hurricanes, racism impacting high school students’ health, and more.
Floridians Urged To Avoid Floodwaters Teeming With Bacteria After Milton
October 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, successive storms are taking a toll on the mental health of those whose lives were abruptly upended. Also, a Daytona Beach medical manufacturing facility will resume IV fluid operations today after it closed as Milton neared.
Abortion Access Is Limited in Western NC As Sole Clinic Recovers From Helene
October 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Asheville clinic still does not have must-needed running water, and staffing the facility might be tricky, officials say. Separately, North Dakota’s abortion ban will remain paused while a challenge to the law winds its way through the court system.
Harris Fields Questions From Latino Voters On Health Care Access And Costs
October 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris said at a Univision town hall Thursday in Las Vegas that a key to securing health care for more people is through a path to citizenship for Dreamers. Other election news examines how Biden administration policies would fare under a second Trump White House.
First Edition: Friday, Oct. 11, 2024
October 11, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Colorado’s Naloxone Fund Is Drying Up, Even as Opioid Settlement Money Rolls In
By Claire Cleveland
October 11, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Since Colorado created a pool of money to pay for naloxone in 2019, it has distributed more than half a million doses of the opioid reversal drug to hundreds of organizations throughout the state. Now, its main funding stream is drying up.
Extended-Stay Hotels, a Growing Option for Poor Families, Can Lead to Health Problems for Kids
By Andy Miller Renuka Rayasam
Updated October 16, 2024
Originally Published October 11, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Extended-stay hotels are often a last resort for low-income families trying to avoid homelessness. But hotel living can lead to — or exacerbate — various physical and mental health issues for children, say advocates for families and researchers who study homelessness.
Abortion Emerges as Most Important Election Issue for Young Women, Poll Finds
By Alex Wayne Rebecca Adams
October 11, 2024
KFF Health News Original
A KFF survey found significant shifts among women voters since late spring — all in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris.
El aborto es el tema electoral más importante para las mujeres jóvenes, según una encuesta
By Alex Wayne Rebecca Adams
October 11, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Casi 4 de cada 10 mujeres menores de 30 años encuestadas en septiembre y principios de octubre dijeron que el aborto es la cuestión más importante a la hora de emitir su voto.
