Morning Briefing for Friday, May 5, 2023
May 5, 2023
Morning Briefing
Covid deaths, debt default risks, abortion, research monkey supplies, covid, mental health, and more are in the news. Plus, weekend reads.
Medicare, Medicaid Payments On The Line As Debt Default Nears
May 5, 2023
Morning Briefing
With only a handful of congressional working days remaining before it’s estimated the U.S. would default on its debt for the first time, experts speaking to Axios warn that the health care system and patients would be rocked by such a failure.
As Research Monkey Supply Dwindles In US, Worries Over Future Research
May 5, 2023
Morning Briefing
Animal research is in the news because the U.S. medical research system is running out of monkeys. The Wall Street Journal says a continuing supply crunch was worsened by covid, and AP reports a panel advised expanding U.S. breeding programs. Elon Musk’s brain chip research is also in the news.
Abortion Ban After 12 Weeks Passes NC Senate, Setting Up Likely Veto Fight
May 5, 2023
Morning Briefing
Abortion access in the Southeast would shrink further with legislation fast tracked through North Carolina’s legislature that reduces the window from 20 weeks to 12 in which the procedure can be performed in the state. Republicans have enough votes to override a likely veto from Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat.
Covid Fatalities Dropped In 2022 But Still 4th Leading Cause Of Death In US
May 5, 2023
Morning Briefing
CDC data shows that covid accounted for 500 deaths a day last year, but those numbers represent a 47% drop from 2021. Death rates from heart disease and cancer increased during the pandemic.
First Edition: May 5, 2023
May 5, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Montana Passes Significant Health Policy Changes in Controversial Session
By Keely Larson
May 5, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The recently ended legislative session was marked by Medicaid reimbursement hikes, abortion restrictions, anti-LGBTQ+ statutes, behavioral health spending, and workforce and insurance measures.
Lead Contamination Surfaces in Affluent Atlanta Neighborhood
By Andy Miller
May 5, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The Environmental Protection Agency recently confirmed high lead levels in an upscale Atlanta neighborhood. The location stands in contrast to many polluted sites investigated by the federal Superfund program — often in former industrial or waste disposal areas where environmental racism has left marginalized groups at risk.
Can a Fetus Be an Employee? States Are Testing the Boundaries of Personhood After ‘Dobbs’
By Bram Sable-Smith
Illustration by Oona Zenda
May 5, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Laws granting rights to unborn children have spread in the decades since the U.S. and Missouri supreme courts allowed Missouri’s definition of life as beginning at conception to stand. Now, a wrongful death lawsuit involving a workplace accident shows how sprawling those laws — often intended to curb abortion — have become.
El gobierno alerta sobre tarjetas de crédito para pagar facturas médicas
By Noam N. Levey
May 4, 2023
KFF Health News Original
La Oficina de Protección Financiera del Consumidor estimó en su informe que, en solo tres años, de 2018 a 2020, las personas han estado pagando $1,000 millones en intereses diferidos de tarjetas de crédito médicas y otros financiamientos médicos.
Durante la pandemia, se duplicó el número de niños heridos por armas de fuego en cuatro grandes ciudades
By Sammy Caiola, WHYY
May 4, 2023
KFF Health News Original
El trabajo en Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Ángeles y Nueva York halló que los niños negros no hispanos tenían 100 veces más probabilidades que los blancos no hispanos de ser víctimas de tiroteos mortales y no mortales.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Health Programs Are at Risk as Debt Ceiling Cave-In Looms
May 4, 2023
Podcast
A warning from the Treasury Department that the U.S. could default on its debt as soon as June 1 has galvanized lawmakers to intervene. But there is still no obvious way to reconcile Republican demands to slash federal spending with President Joe Biden’s demand to raise the debt ceiling and save the spending fight for a later date. Meanwhile, efforts to pass abortion bans in conservative states are starting to stall as some Republicans rebel against the most severe bans. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.
Florida Moves To Tighten Restrictions On Pharmacy Benefit Managers
May 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
The News Service of Florida reminds us that PBMs are “an important — and controversial” part of the health care system, as part of a report on lawmakers’ plans to increase restrictions on the work of PBMs. Separately, Florida lawmakers advanced higher consequences for assaults on medical staff.
So Many Americans Want Obesity Drug Wegovy, Its Maker Is Cutting Supplies
May 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
The weight loss drug, currently in the spotlight, comes from Danish maker Novo Nordisk. Nordisk just reported strong first-quarter finances, but said high demand from the U.S. will cause it to reduce supplies of some dose strengths. In related news, employers tackle requests to cover the drug and states combat unauthorized versions.
Novel Procedure Treats Fetus’ Blood Vessel Malformation In The Womb
May 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
Stat reports on a first-of-its-kind procedure carried out at the Boston Children’s Hospital to treat the rare vein of Galen malformation. Separately, researchers say hormone therapy after breast cancer can be safely paused to allow for pregnancies. Also: beta blockers, CAR-T research, health tech, and more.
Research Roundup: HIV; Mpox; E.Coli; Long Covid
May 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Your Bottles Of Shampoo, Lotion? They May Contain Multiple Toxic Chemicals
May 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
News outlets cover a study giving a detailed look at potential indoor air quality effects from common household products, many of which contain at least one chemical linked to cancer or reproductive problems. Other research shows more American women are avoiding unwanted pregnancies.
Pandemic-Era Telehealth Prescribing Powers Will Stay In Place A Bit Longer
May 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
Doctors will be able to continue to prescribe some drugs without in-person visits while the Drug Enforcement Administration finalizes new telemedicine rules. The agency received a record 38,000 comments on its earlier plan to roll back permission with next week’s end to the federal covid emergency.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, May 4, 2023
May 4, 2023
Morning Briefing
RSV vaccine approval, Alzheimer’s therapy, medical credit cards, telehealth, covid, abortion, weight loss drugs, and more are in the news.