California’s Homelessness Crisis Is Homegrown, Study Finds
By Angela Hart
June 20, 2023
KFF Health News Original
University of California researchers found at least 90% of adults experiencing homelessness became homeless while living in the state, and many suffer depression and anxiety living without stable housing.
Medical Exiles: Families Flee States Amid Crackdown on Transgender Care
By Bram Sable-Smith and Daniel Chang and Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez and Sandy West
June 20, 2023
KFF Health News Original
As more states restrict gender-affirming care for transgender people, some are relocating to more welcoming destinations, such as California, Illinois, Maryland, and Nevada, where they don’t have to worry about being locked out of medical care.
Dementia Can Take a Toll on Financial Health, as Some Families Learn the Hard Way
By Sarah Boden, WESA
June 20, 2023
KFF Health News Original
People with dementia and their families often find themselves with few legal rights when dealing with financial scams or the mismanagement of their assets. Research reveals financial troubles can be both an early sign and a painful symptom of cognitive decline.
Journalists Cover Air Quality, Tick Risks, and … Brazilian Butt Lifts?
June 17, 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.
Se hacen públicos por primera vez los pagos a los gobiernos locales por el acuerdo sobre opioides
By Aneri Pattani
June 16, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Algunos estados, como Carolina del Norte y Colorado, han publicado en internet los detalles de su distribución. Pero en la mayoría de los lugares es complicado.
Doctor Lands in the Doghouse After Giving Covid Vaccine Waivers Too Freely
By Brett Kelman
June 16, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Richard Coble issued vaccine waivers to patients in at least three states without examining them. He was exposed by a Nashville TV station that bought a waiver for a Labrador retriever named Charlie.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
June 16, 2023
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on the medical profession, wheelchairs, cancer, grief, and more.
Biden Admin Emphasizes Youth Mental Health Services In Letter To Governors
June 16, 2023
Morning Briefing
With Congress unlikely to pass new gun safety legislation, the Biden administration is making an effort to bolster access to mental health services for young people, particularly those affected by gun violence, Bloomberg reports. Meanwhile, Texas bans trans athletes from college sports.
More Americans With HIV Hit By Rare Meningococcal Infections Last Year
June 16, 2023
Morning Briefing
New data from the CDC show nearly 10% of all meningococcal disease cases in 2022 were among people with HIV. Other news covers links between alcohol consumption and 61 different diseases, a marijuana product recall over salmonella contamination, and more.
Upper-Midwest Air Quality Alerts Triggered By Canadian Smoke Plumes
June 16, 2023
Morning Briefing
Worsened air quality is expected across parts of the U.S. as potentially unhealthy smoke from the ongoing wildfires in Canada again swirls. Also in environmental health news: fluoride in Boston drinking water, West Nile virus in Nevada mosquitoes, and more.
Using BMI Is Pervasive in Health Care. Moving Away Will Take Time, Experts Warn.
June 16, 2023
Morning Briefing
While the American Medical Association has now moved to displace body mass index as a metric for obesity, BMI is enmeshed throughout medicine — including insurance matters. In other news, more teens with severe obesity are turning to surgery and weight loss drugs.
Morning Briefing for Friday, June 16, 2023
June 16, 2023
Morning Briefing
Updating the covid booster, naloxone pricing, hospital profits, abortion trends, BMI, mental health, and more. Plus, weekend reads.
Controversial Covid Lab Leak Theory Reenergized By Claims Of ‘Patients Zero’
June 16, 2023
Morning Briefing
A report in Forbes shines a new light on the controversial theory that covid leaked from a research facility in Wuhan, China: This time it’s alleged via info from multiple “anonymous sources inside the U.S. government” that scientists at the facility were the first to be infected. Other news outlets also discuss the topic.
Elective Surgeries And Hospital Profits Rise, But Supply Chain Still A Problem
June 16, 2023
Morning Briefing
Revenues appear to be up as more patients receive care, and many patients are scheduling non-urgent surgeries such as knee replacements that had been postponed during the pandemic. However, the supply chain shortages that have forced many health systems to cancel procedures will likely continue into 2024.
Supreme Court Rejects Challenge To Native American Adoption Rights Law
June 16, 2023
Morning Briefing
News outlets report on a Supreme Court ruling rejecting a challenge to the Indian Child Welfare, which ABC News says has long been hailed by tribes for giving priority to Native American families for adopting Native children. Black maternal mortality, and breastfeeding are also in the news.
Long Waits, Far Travel: Survey Shows State-By-State Abortion Trends
June 16, 2023
Morning Briefing
A national research project collecting statistics from every U.S. abortion clinic finds that nationwide legal abortion dropped by nearly 25,000 in the first 9 months after the Dobbs decision, while increasing in states where the procedure remains legal, FiveThirtyEight reports. From the states, a decision is expected soon from the Iowa Supreme Court on that state’s 6-week ban.
Groups Battling High Naloxone Pricing Not Invited To White House Summit
June 16, 2023
Morning Briefing
Two prominent organizations advocating for more affordable pricing for overdose-reversal medications are conspicuously missing from the White House guest list for its Tuesday “naloxone summit,” Stat reports. Also, find out how much cities and counties are expected to receive from opioid settlements with some pharmaceutical companies.
FDA Panel: Fall’s Covid Boosters Should Be Modified To Target XBB Variant
June 16, 2023
Morning Briefing
The FDA’s panel of vaccine experts unanimously recommended that the next round of covid boosters be updated to target the XBB strain. As the FDA next determines which strain to include, Pfizer says it can more rapidly modify its shot for XBB.1.5, but that others would take longer.
First Edition: June 16, 2023
June 16, 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 on Monday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. Look for it again in your inbox on June 20.