Tension Builds in Transgender Policy Debate in Montana
By Keely Larson
April 21, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Two transgender lawmakers are trying to lay the groundwork for LGBTQ-friendly policies in a conservative state, but tensions are running high as the legislative session nears its end.
The Biden Administration Vowed to Be a Leading Voice on Opioid Settlements But Has Gone Quiet
By Aneri Pattani
April 21, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Billions of dollars are headed to state and local governments to address the opioid crisis. Policy experts and advocates expect the federal government to play a role in overseeing the use of the money. Failure to do so, they say, could lead to wasted opportunities. And, since Medicaid helps pay health care costs, the feds could have a claim to portions of states’ opioid settlements.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Will They or Won’t They (Block the Abortion Pill)?
April 20, 2023
Podcast
The Supreme Court is considering the future of the abortion pill mifepristone, after GenBioPro sued the FDA over limitations that effectively block generic production of the drug, a major part of the market. Congress is considering proposals that would impose Medicaid work requirements, crack down on pharmacy benefit managers, and more. And President Joe Biden moved to expand health coverage to young immigrants known as “Dreamers.” Rachel Cohrs of Stat, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico join KFF Health News’ Mary Agnes Carey to discuss these issues and more.
Research Roundup: All About Covid
April 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
This week, KFF Health News spotlights health studies reported by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP).
Viewpoints: No Direct Link Between Pediatric Hepatitis And Covid; What’s Driving Anorexia Up?
April 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle pediatric hepatitis, anorexia, and suicide.
Different Takes: Medical Marijuana Can Help End Opioid Addiction; OTC Narcan Has Some Drawbacks
April 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
Opinion writers discuss medical marijuana, opioids and mifepristone.
California Supreme Court Upholds Forced Mental Health Treatment Law
April 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
A challenge had been made to a law sponsored by Gov. Gavin Newsom, which requires thousands of mentally ill Californians to accept court-ordered treatment, but the state Supreme Court upheld the law. Also: a red flag gun bill in Michigan, postpartum Medicaid coverage in Alaska, and more.
First-Of-Its-Kind Study Finds ‘Mild’ Autism Diagnoses Outpacing ‘Profound’ Cases
April 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
The new study, released Wednesday and reported by AP, examines for the first time how many American children are being diagnosed with relatively mild autism symptoms versus more serious ones. Other news is on strep, RSV, strokes, and bike crash injuries.
Doctors, Researchers Push Back Against FDA’s Opioid Effectiveness Study
April 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Food and Drug Administration plans to investigate whether opioids are effective as long-term treatments for chronic pain, but Stat notes that some argue the study could be biased in favor of opioids’ efficacy. Meanwhile the nation’s first state-regulated overdose prevention center will open in 2024.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, April 20, 2023
April 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
Abortion pill access, NIH, Medicaid, SNAP, vaccine confidence, opioids, malpractice, mental health, obesity, and more are in the news.
House Republicans Take Aim At Trans Sports Rights; Bill Will Die In Senate
April 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
NBC News reports that the House is “expected” to pass legislation that would bar transgender women and girls from competing on female school athletics teams, but it will “go nowhere in the Democratic-controlled Senate” and President Joe Biden would be expected to veto the legislation.
AMA Warns Medical Malpractice Premiums Are Surging In Some States
April 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
Modern Healthcare notes the American Medical Association went as far as warning that increased premiums threaten access to health care in areas seeing the biggest rises. In other news, Elevance Health reports higher profits, Amazon partners with 3M for health AI solutions, and more.
Another Covid Side Effect: Confidence In Childhood Vaccines Declined
April 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
Reuters reports on a new study out from UNICEF that found that globally, people lost faith in routine childhood vaccines during the pandemic. In other covid and vaccine news: a new booster, vaccine messaging, long covid, and more.
Veterans Affairs Department Launching Five-Year Study Of Gulf War Syndrome
April 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
Veterans of operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the early 1990s have been plagued by joint pain, fatigue, rashes, memory issues, and digestive problems. Other military news is on mental health care, moldy Army barracks, medical training for the battlefield, and more.
GOP Debt Limit Bill Targets Health Care Programs
April 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy unveiled a bill that would raise raise the debt limit into next year in exchange for deep federal spending cuts and policy changes. Health care programs included in the mix include Medicaid, SNAP, and covid relief funds. President Joe Biden says the proposal is a nonstarter.
Cancer Center Director To Be Nominated For Top Job At NIH
April 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
The White House is expected to tap Monica Bertagnolli, a cancer surgeon who is the current chief of the National Cancer Institute, to be chief at the National Institutes of Health.
Republican Bid To Reverse VA Abortion Rule Narrowly Fails In Senate
April 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
In a 51-48 vote Wednesday, senators rejected a Republican-backed resolution to repeal a Department of Veterans Affairs policy that has expanded some abortion services for veterans. The Hill also reports on how abortion politics more broadly are roiling Congress and statehouses.
Supreme Court Punts On Abortion Pill Decision Until Friday
April 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
Full FDA-approved access to mifepristone remains in place for now after the Supreme Court justices on Wednesday delayed issuing a decision on whether to allow new restrictions on the drug that is used for medication abortions and to manage miscarriages. Still, patients face confusion navigating the legal limbo.
First Edition: April 20, 2023
April 20, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
An Arm and a Leg: A $229,000 Medical Bill Goes to Court
By Dan Weissmann
April 20, 2023
Podcast
Lisa French was told her surgery would cost $1,337. But the hospital sent her a bill for $229,000, then sued her. The case went all the way to the Colorado Supreme Court. The court’s ruling could have major implications for determining a “reasonable price” in health care.