Hospitals In At Least 3 States Working To Recover From Cyberattack
August 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
The attack last week hit Prospect Medical Holdings, a private equity company that operates 16 hospitals and 165 outpatient facilities across California, Texas, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania. In some places, emergency departments were forced to close, and health providers reverted to pen and paper.
Appeal Blocks Medical Complications Exemption From Texas Abortion Ban
August 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Texas attorney general issued a late-night appeal resulting in a suspension of an earlier injunction from Travis County Judge Jessica Mangrum. This had, for a short while, exempted people with medically complicated pregnancies from Texas’ punitive abortion ban.
FDA Approves Fast-Acting Pill For Postpartum Depression
August 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
Zurzuvae is the first treatment for postpartum that can be taken at home. It works in days, compared with other depression treatments that take weeks.
First Edition: Aug. 7, 2023
August 7, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
As Many American Cities Get Hotter, Health Systems Face Off Against Heatstroke
By Drew Hawkins, Gulf States Newsroom
August 7, 2023
KFF Health News Original
With millions of Americans suffering under relentless heat waves this summer, more people are seeking medical attention for heat-related illnesses. As temperatures get more extreme, hospitals, fire departments, and ambulance crews are preparing to treat more patients for heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
The NIH Ices a Research Project. Is It Self-Censorship?
By Darius Tahir
August 7, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The National Institutes of Health appeared to be digging into health misinformation. But then the federal agency stepped back. It can’t quite explain why, sometimes even offering contradictory explanations.
Journalists Zero In on Opioid Settlement Cash, Congress, and the Medicaid Unwinding
August 5, 2023
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
A menudo, adolescentes con adicciones pasan por el proceso de desintoxicación sin medicamentos
By Markian Hawryluk
August 4, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Una nueva investigación ha descubierto que la mayoría de las áreas de Estados Unidos carecen de instalaciones que ofrezcan desintoxicación supervisada por personal médico para pacientes menores de 18 años.
Viewpoints: Why Is Paxlovid Not Being Prescribed?; FDA Must Make Our Food Supply Safer
August 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss antivirals, food-borne illness, assisted suicide and more.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
August 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on “Oppenheimer,” the Mütter Museum, sensory processing disorder, amputations, and more.
New York Extends Medicaid Telehealth Coverage Through End Of 2024
August 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
Among other news from across the states: Connecticut is calling for the closure of a nursing home; a former first-round NBA draft pick is sentenced to prison for health care fraud; proponents of water re-use tackle the end-user “yuck” problem, and more.
Lingering Summer Heat Waves Will Hit Health Of Over 50 Million In US: Data
August 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
Federal health officials warn about the extreme heat conditions, which are expected to extend through August in many areas and put millions of Americans at risk of health impacts. The Los Angeles Times reports the “heat dome” will again hit that region this weekend.
Morning Briefing for Friday, August 4, 2023
August 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
RSV shots, covid, Medicare, drug shortages, weight loss, addiction treatment, telehealth, youth mental health, and more are in the news.
Nearly All Younger Americans Have Mental Health Challenges: Survey
August 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
A startling set of figures is reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, covering a Harris Poll/Blue Shield of California survey: nearly 90% of teens and young adults say they have regular mental health issues. Separately, a study reported in Stat links childhood stress with old-age problems.
White House Held Private Meeting With Drug Stakeholders Over Shortages
August 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
Stat says the in-person meeting of the drug shortage task force with representatives from hospitals, drugmakers, pharmacies and more was a rare occurrence, and its goal was tackling shortages of cancer drugs. Also: staff cuts at biotech startup Celsius, cystic fibrosis medications access, and more.
Medicare Cuts 2024 Payments For Safety Net Hospitals By Almost $1B
August 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
The CMS cut of $957 million to a fund destined to help pay hospitals that treat poor and uninsured patients is more than eight times larger than one proposed in April, Stat says. Also in the news: Cigna reports a net income fall, people want weight-loss drugs despite the costs, and more.
Democratic House Leadership Endorses Anti-Abortion Texas Rep. Cuellar
August 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
The endorsement of what Politico says is the Democrats’ last anti-abortion lawmaker is a “sharp reversal” of how Rep. Henry Cuellar was mostly abandoned by top figures last year. Other abortion-related news is from Missouri, Wyoming, Guam, and elsewhere.
Global Early Warning System For Disease Outbreaks Is In Jeopardy
August 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
ProMED, the disease surveillance network that identified the beginnings of the covid pandemic and other emerging outbreaks, is at risk of collapsing. A plan by the International Society for Infectious Diseases to start charging for the service has led some senior moderators to suspend work and call for new management.
American Academy Of Pediatrics Reaffirms Position On Gender Treatments
August 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
The American Academy of Pediatrics says it continues to back gender-related medical care for children — treatments that have been banned in 19 states — but is commissioning a review of the latest research on effectiveness in youth.
CDC Recommends RSV Shot For Babies Under 8 Months, Some Toddlers
August 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
The CDC’s panel of vaccine advisers unanimously endorsed the RSV shot for infants as well as kids between 8- and 19 months old who may be at increased risk of severe disease. The recommendations were officially accepted by CDC Director Mandy Cohen.