House Rejects Trump-Favored Spending Deal That Stripped Out Health Measures
December 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
Lawmakers must now come up with a Plan C after a version of a stopgap spending bill – that had the seal of approval of incoming President Donald Trump after he scuttled the first version of a deal – was voted down 174-235 Thursday night. The deadline toward a government shutdown is tonight.
How Many Women Are Dying Under Abortion Bans? States Aren’t Tracking, CDC Isn’t Pushing
December 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
ProPublica reports that the CDC and NIH have underdelivered on pledges to measure maternal deaths and long-term injuries in states with abortion bans. Texas’ decision not to review such deaths in the first two years of its state’s near-total ban is being challenged by some House members. Meanwhile, a new report finds that hospitals are providing minimal guidance to doctors.
During Covid, Vaccine Injury Claims Rose, But Reimbursements Were Low
December 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
A GAO report finds that while less than 3% of injury claims were eligible for compensation. Half of the claims related to the covid vaccine, but the majority of the money paid out was for flu vaccine claims. Also in the news, a deep-dive into outsized medical bills; and more.
FDA Confirms Shortage Over For Lilly’s Weight Loss Drugs; Copies Must Come Off Market
December 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
A lawsuit forced the FDA to reassess its ruling on the availability of tirzepatide, the active ingredient in the popular drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound from Eli Lilly. As a result, the agency also told pharmacies and online companies selling off-brand copies of those drugs that they must come off the market.
Fast-Growing Outbreak Of Bird Flu Hits Nation’s Largest Milk Producer
December 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
California’s dairy industry has been clobbered in recent months by a rampant outbreak of bird flu among its cattle, leading to recalls of raw milk and a state of emergency being called by the governor. Meanwhile, the first human case has been identified in Wisconsin. Other news reports on covid, norovirus, and more.
Ascension Alerting 5.6M Patients, Staff Of Data Breach
December 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
The cyberattack happened earlier this year, the company disclosed. Other industry news comes from CVS, Gilead, Ionis, and more.
What Are ‘Healthy’ Foods? New Rules Say What Items Can Carry That Claim
December 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
According to updated FDA guidelines, a product qualifies for a “healthy” claim on food labels if it has certain amounts of at least one of the food groups: dairy, grains, fruits, vegetables and protein. Other news examines: veteran suicides, painkillers, product recalls, and more.
FDA Approves ARC-EX Device For Non-Invasive Spinal Cord Stimulation
December 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, synthetic gel aids in recovery after spinal surgery; Pittsburgh researchers create helper robots for people with ALS; a study finds nerve stimulation is effective against treatment-resistant depression; and more.
Morning Briefing for Friday, December 20, 2024
December 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
Bird flu, health price transparency, the shutdown countdown, maternal mortality, vaccines, “healthy” food. and more. Plus, weekend reads
First Edition: Friday, Dec. 20, 2024
December 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Employers Press Congress To Cement Health Price Transparency Before Trump’s Return
By Julie Appleby
December 20, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Donald Trump’s first administration advanced rules forcing hospitals and insurers to reveal prices for medical services. Employers don’t want to risk backtracking during Trump’s second administration.
Readers Offer ‘Solo Agers’ Support and Reflect on Ancestors
December 20, 2024
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
‘Bill of the Month’: The Series That Dissects and Slashes Medical Bills
By Elisabeth Rosenthal
December 20, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Since 2018, readers and listeners sent KFF Health News-NPR’s “Bill of the Month” thousands of questionable bills. Our crowdsourced investigation paved the way for landmark legislation and highlighted cost-saving strategies for all patients.
How America Lost Control of the Bird Flu, Setting the Stage for Another Pandemic
By Amy Maxmen
December 20, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Exclusive reporting reveals how the United States lost track of a virus that could cause the next pandemic. Problems like the sluggish pace of federal action, deference to industry, and neglect for the safety of low-wage workers put the country at risk of another health emergency.
Cómo Estados Unidos perdió el control de la gripe aviar, abriendo las puertas a otra pandemia
By Amy Maxmen
December 20, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Casi un año después del primer brote de gripe aviar en el ganado, el virus no muestra señales de detenerse. El gobierno estadounidense no consiguió eliminar el virus de los tambos cuando estaba confinado a un puñado de estados.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': End-of-Year Chaos on Capitol Hill
December 19, 2024
Podcast
Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate successfully negotiated an enormous end-of-Congress health package, including bipartisan efforts to address prescription drug prices — only to see it blown up at the last minute after Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump applied pressure. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court accepted its first abortion-related case of the term, and the attorney general of Texas sued a doctor in New York for prescribing abortion pills to a Texas patient. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, and Victoria Knight of Axios join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF President and CEO Drew Altman about what happened in health policy in 2024 and what to expect in 2025.
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December 19, 2024
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Federal ACA Marketplace Enrollment Lagging
By Julie Appleby
December 19, 2024
KFF Health News Original
It’s open enrollment season for the Affordable Care Act — and there are ongoing challenges. First up, enrollment. New and returning sign-ups through healthcare.gov — the federal marketplace that serves 31 states — are well below last year’s rate. New enrollments were just over 730,000 in early December, compared with 1.5 million at the same time last year. To give consumers in those states more time to […]
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
December 19, 2024
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of the latest health research and news.