States Seek Crackdown on Toxic Ingredients in Cosmetics to Close Gaps in Federal Oversight
By Michael Scaturro
February 23, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Washington state regulators found formaldehyde, lead, and arsenic in lipstick, powder foundations, skin lotions, and hair products marketed to and popular with women of color. Now legislators there are seeking to ban the products and, like at least a dozen other states, make up for lax federal rules.
Looming Cuts to Emergency SNAP Benefits Threaten Food Security in Rural America
By Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez
February 23, 2023
KFF Health News Original
In a few weeks, pandemic-era emergency boosts to SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, will be rolled back across 32 states, putting more pressure on food pantries to fill the gaps and exacerbating challenges for rural areas, where a greater share of people are enrolled in the program compared with metro areas.
California dice que ya no puede costear las pruebas de covid ni las vacunas para los migrantes
By Don Thompson
February 22, 2023
KFF Health News Original
El estado mantiene tres centros de recursos sanitarios —dos en el condado de San Diego y uno en el condado de Imperial— que realizan pruebas y vacunaciones contra covid y otros exámenes de salud, y han atendido a más de 300,000 migrantes desde abril de 2021.
CDC To Probe Ohio Derailment Site; Operator Must Pay For Cleanup
February 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
CDC epidemiologists and environmental health scientists are in Ohio, Politico says. Meanwhile, the EPA has ordered the train operator, Norfolk Southern, to pay all cleanup costs. Other health news is from Utah, Florida, New York, Georgia, Connecticut, North Carolina, and elsewhere.
FDA May Approve RSV Vaccine From Pfizer On Expedited Basis
February 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
Pfizer said Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration is expected to make a decision on its respiratory syncytial virus vaccine in August. Separately, Teva has secured FDA approval for a modified formulation of its nervous system disorders drug Asustedo.
Study Highlights High Fatality Of Mpox For People With Advanced HIV
February 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
News outlets cover the results of the first major study of mpox among people with advanced cases of HIV, showing it often causes severe illness and has a high death rate. Among other news, a study finds Hispanic and Black veterans are having to wait longer to see health specialists.
Different Takes: Americans Are Struggling With Mental Health. Here Are Ways To Help.
February 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
Opinion writers discuss mental health care in America.
Apremilast Shows Promise In Treating Alcohol Use Disorder; Ivermectin Shown Ineffective Against Covid
February 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, February 22, 2023
February 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
A failed covid drug trial, orphan drugs, Medicare Advantage enrollment, hospital prices, vaccines, mpox, and more are in today’s news.
Though Covid Hit Screenings, New Cancer Cases Didn’t Surge: Report
February 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
An analysis of health records showed that though cancer screenings dropped off during the pandemic, there was no significant uptick in certain types of cancer cases. Meanwhile, a different study links low wages to higher mortality risk for middle age workers.
CMS Warns 500 Hospitals Missing Price Transparency Requirements
February 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
As an early step in increased efforts to enforce transparency rules, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says that 300 of the 500 facilities have addressed the cited issues and are now compliant. In other news: hospitals feel greater lawmaker scrutiny of outpatient billing, and CMS overhauls hospice inspections.
Medicare Advantage Enrollment Reaches 31 Million Though Is Slowing
February 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
In an analysis by the Chartis Group, enrollment in Medicare Advantage 2023 plans is up 5.5%. Last year’s signups grew 9% over the previous year. Other news relates to inpatient claim denials, Medicare drug pricing negotiations, and more.
20 Democratic Governors Move To Protect Abortion Rights
February 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
The coalition’s goal is to expand abortion access in their respective states even as bans continue to be enacted elsewhere. In Ohio, an abortion rights campaign released its proposal to amend the state constitution.
Merck’s Covid Drug Not Effective At Preventing Household Transmission
February 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
Merck and Co’s late-stage trials failed to show that its oral antiviral Lagevrio, also known as molnupiravir, cut the risk of preventing covid from spreading to others living in the same house. Merck had hoped to build a case for use of the medication as prophylactic treatment.
First Edition: February 22, 2023
February 22, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
California Says It Can No Longer Afford Aid for Covid Testing, Vaccinations for Migrants
By Don Thompson
February 22, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Gov. Gavin Newsom is winding down state assistance for health care services to migrants seeking asylum. He’s lobbying the Biden administration to increase aid along the state’s southern border.
Proposed Medicare Advantage Changes Cannot Accurately Be Called ‘Cuts,’ Experts Say
By Madison Czopek, PolitiFact and Yacob Reyes, PolitiFact
February 22, 2023
KFF Health News Original
CMS advanced two proposed changes that could affect Medicare Advantage plans. One would allow the government to recover past overpayments. As a result, it could reduce those insurers’ profits, leading them to increase enrollees’ out-of-pocket costs or reduce benefits. But it’s inaccurate to characterize the changes as “cuts.”
A Bitter Battle Over the ‘Orphan Drug’ Program Leaves Patients’ Pocketbooks at Risk
By Sarah Jane Tribble
February 22, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Patients who depend upon special drugs to treat rare diseases are caught in the crossfire as drugmakers and the FDA battle over regulations that reward companies for developing treatments for relatively small pools of patients.