First Edition: Aug. 4, 2023
August 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Survey: Americans Want Weight Loss Drugs Despite High Cost
By Julie Appleby
August 4, 2023
KFF Health News Original
A new poll reveals enthusiasm for a pricey new generation of weight loss drugs, but interest drops if users potentially have to deal with weekly injections, lack of insurance coverage, or a need to continue the medications indefinitely to avoid regaining weight.
As Water Reuse Expands, Proponents Battle the ‘Yuck’ Factor
By Jim Robbins
August 4, 2023
KFF Health News Original
As drought and climate change threaten water supplies, municipalities around the country are ramping up water reuse efforts. But they have to overcome the “yuk” factor.
Teens With Addiction Are Often Left to Detox Without Medication
By Markian Hawryluk
August 4, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Facilities that offer medically managed substance use treatment for patients under 18 are few and far between in the United States. A Denver hospital is trying to help fill the gap.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Congress Is Out. The Presidential Campaign Is In.
August 3, 2023
Podcast
Congress is in recess until after Labor Day, and lawmakers won’t have much time when they return to get the government funded before the next fiscal year. Meanwhile, the Republican campaign for president has begun in earnest, and while repealing the Affordable Care Act is no longer the top promise, some candidates have lively ideas about what to do with federal health programs. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KFF Health News’ chief Washington correspondent, Julie Rovner, to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Phil Galewitz, who reported the latest KFF Health News-NPR “Bill of the Month,” about how a bill that should never have been sent created headaches for one patient.
Look Up Your Hospital: Is It Being Penalized by Medicare?
By Jordan Rau
August 3, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Each year, Medicare punishes hospitals that have high rates of readmissions and high rates of infections and patient injuries. Check out which hospitals have been penalized.
Más niños pequeños se intoxican al inhalar la nicotina líquida de los cigarrillos electrónicos
By Liz Szabo
August 3, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Miles de menores al año están expuestos a la nicotina líquida de los cigarrillos electrónicos, también conocidos como vapeadores. Para un niño pequeño, incluso unas pocas gotas pueden ser fatales.
Research Roundup: Candida Auris; Myopia; Covid
August 3, 2023
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Viewpoints: Men Are The New Targets Of Diet Culture; How Efficient Is AI At Finding Cancer?
August 3, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle diet culture, AI in cancer detection, mental health and more.
Syphilis Spiking In Kansas City Area; Florida Doctors Quell Leprosy Worries
August 3, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Kansas City Star reports that even as syphilis is growing more prevalent, the drugs used to treat the infection are in short supply. Separately, WMFE says that doctors are trying to stem worries over a spike in leprosy cases in Central Florida because the illness is easily treated.
Experts Worry Sheltering From Heat Waves Could Drive Up SAD Cases
August 3, 2023
Morning Briefing
As well as obvious immediate health risks from extreme heat, now ABC News reports psychiatric experts are concerned that as more people are forced to stay indoors, it could drive a “mental health emergency” of summer seasonal affective disorder cases. The U.S. loneliness epidemic is also in the news.
Medicare Could Save $245B Over A Decade If It Covered Obesity Drugs
August 3, 2023
Morning Briefing
Axios reports on a startling statistic from new research, showing how much taxpayer money could be saved over 10 years if Medicare covered weight-loss meds. Meanwhile, Stat reports that the popularity of the GLP-1 drugs has “alarmed” insurers, and patients are braced for them to halt coverage.
Study Links Delayed Medical Device Recalls To CEOs’ Share Holdings
August 3, 2023
Morning Briefing
A new study suggests the percentage of CEO stock ownership in a company correlates with the speed the company issues medical device recalls: perhaps unsurprisingly, more shares equals slower recalls. Also in the news: a shortage of Black Widow spider bite drugs, CVS is reducing expenses, and more.
Report: Telehealth Is Healthier For The Planet
August 3, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Wall Street Journal reminds us the health care industry causes about 5% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, with U.S. systems alone accounting for a quarter of that. Hence the focus on telehealth, which is said to be helping health systems lower their carbon footprint.
Parkinson’s Breakthrough Could Lead To Potential Treatment
August 3, 2023
Morning Briefing
A team at UConn Health has discovered a regulator compound that may help development of therapeutic compounds for the brain disease. Other news is on cancer research and non-opioid pain therapies.
Tydemy Birth Control Pills Recalled Over Concerns Of Lower Effectiveness
August 3, 2023
Morning Briefing
CBS News explains the recall of two lots of Lupin Pharmaceuticals’ combination hormone pills: Due to issues with some ingredients, the pills’ effectiveness could be lowered. No “adverse events” linked to the batches have yet been reported. Also in the news: AI ultrasound tech, and more.
Covid’s Summer Spike Is Driving Up Hospitalizations
August 3, 2023
Morning Briefing
The specter of covid is casting a shadow in the summer sun: The Hill reports on certain U.S. counties where hospitalizations from the virus have tripled, and CBS reports a 28% hospitalization rise in New Jersey. Also in the news: details on the next covid boosters, and don’t pick your nose! — it’s linked to catching covid.
For A Blip In Time, Uninsured Rate Hits All-Time Low
August 3, 2023
Morning Briefing
About 7.7% of Americans didn’t have insurance as of March, a CDC survey shows. But that number has almost certainly already grown as states have kicked nearly 4 million people off Medicaid this year, including many who are eligible for it.
Infectious-Disease Expert Jeanne Marrazzo To Succeed Fauci At NIH
August 3, 2023
Morning Briefing
News outlets cover federal officials’ choice of Jeanne M. Marrazzo, an infectious-disease expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, as the next director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Science reports her selection is being praised by researchers and AIDS activists.