First Edition: Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024
December 17, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Trump Threat to Immigrant Health Care Tempered by Economic Hopes
By Vanessa G. Sánchez
December 17, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Donald Trump’s second term is reigniting mistrust in health services among California immigrants, making it harder for community health workers to get people enrolled in Medi-Cal. Yet the president-elect is also seen as someone who could improve their lives with a better economy, even if that means forgoing health care.
Trump’s Picks for Top Health Jobs Not Just Team of Rivals but ‘Team of Opponents’
By Stephanie Armour and Julie Rovner
December 17, 2024
KFF Health News Original
The president-elect’s choices to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, FDA, and CDC, hold positions on issues including abortion and vaccination that are often at odds.
Inmigrantes temen por su salud bajo Trump, pero tienen esperanzas en la economía
By Vanessa G. Sánchez
December 17, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Los inmigrantes sin papeles han temido durante mucho tiempo que participar en programas gubernamentales los convierta en blanco fácil de las autoridades migratorias, y la elección de Trump ha exacerbado estas preocupaciones, según defensores comunitarios.
Texas AG Sues New York Doctor Accused Of Prescribing Abortion Pills
December 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
The case is one of the first challenges to the shield laws passed to protect physicians post Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, Black women face racial inequality in maternal health care; Missouri pregnancy resource centers close.
CEO Was Aware Of UnitedHealthcare’s PR Problem Before Shooting
December 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
CEO Brian Thompson months ago warned fellow executives that the average American did not understand the company’s role in the nation’s health system. Also, the CEO of parent company UnitedHealth Group acknowledged the U.S. health system is not as good as it should be.
US Obesity Declines; Weight Loss Drug Craze May Be Partly Responsible
December 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
The dip was slight but was the first such decline in a decade. Separately, a study links Ozempic with an increased risk of a rare form of vision loss, and another study links seed oils with an increased risk of colon cancer.
Louisiana Reports First Human Bird Flu Case; California Hits 34th
December 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, California announces a second recall for raw milk; respiratory illnesses are on the rise across the U.S.; Florida sees a huge increase in dengue cases; and more.
Rhode Island Health Benefits System Targeted In Major Cyberattack
December 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
The system, RIBridges, is used to apply for insurance coverage, Medicaid, food stamps, and other public assistance, The Boston Globe reported. Other health news is from North Carolina, Wyoming, Boston, California, and elsewhere.
GW Hospital Residents Plan 3-Day Work Stoppage If Deal Isn’t Struck
December 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
Hundreds of resident physicians at George Washington University are prepared to strike Tuesday if their union can’t reach a deal with the medical school over issues like mental health support and raises. Other industry news stories report on insurance coverage, Medicare payments, and more.
Morning Briefing for Monday, December 16, 2024
December 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
Opioid settlement cash, hospital safety, medical debt, childhood vaccines, abortion pills, obesity rates decline, bird flu, and more.
RFK Jr. Hopes To Win Over The Senate With Less Talk About Vaccines
December 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s plan is to play down his vaccine skepticism, and play up healthy food and chronic disease prevention in his attempt at confirmation to lead HHS. Meanwhile, Sen. Mitch McConnell, who battled polio as a child, said in a statement: “Efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed — they’re dangerous.”
Biden Urged To Ratify Equal Rights Amendment By House Dems
December 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
The amendment was first proposed 101 years ago and, if ratified, House Democrats believe it would enshrine sex equality in the Constitution. Other news stories are about women’s health research, protections for detained migrant kids’ health, and more.
Congress Pushes To Prevent Shutdown Before Holiday Break
December 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
Also in the news: Pelosi is on the mend after hip surgery, and what to look for in health care in 2025.
First Edition: Monday, Dec. 16, 2024
December 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Native American Patients Are Sent to Collections for Debts the Government Owes
By Katheryn Houghton and Arielle Zionts
December 16, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Federal law says Native Americans aren’t liable for medical bills the Indian Health Service promises to pay. Some are billed anyway as a result of backlogs or mistakes from the agency, financial middlemen, or health systems.
Helicopters Rescued Patients in ‘Apocalyptic’ Flood. Other Hospitals Are at Risk, Too.
By Lauren Sausser and Holly K. Hacker
December 16, 2024
KFF Health News Original
The helicopter evacuation of 70 people from a Tennessee hospital during Hurricane Helene is considered a success story. The building was destroyed by floodwaters, but no one died. In hindsight, why was it built next to a river?
How Are States Spending Opioid Settlement Cash? We Built a Database of Answers
By Aneri Pattani
Data visualizations by Lydia Zuraw
December 16, 2024
KFF Health News Original
From addiction treatment to toy robot ambulances, we uncovered how billions in opioid settlement funds were used by state and local governments in 2022 and 2023. Find out where the money went.
Download the Data: Opioid Settlement Expenditures
By Lydia Zuraw
December 16, 2024
Page
We encourage any news organization to use the data and localize it for your own reporting.