States Have Until Dec. 31 To Report On Medicaid Enrollment Problems
September 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
CMS also wants states to have plans in place to fix deficiencies and has set a Dec. 31, 2026, deadline for them to become fully compliant with enrollment policies. Also: California’s social media law, gender-affirming care in Missouri, emergency services in Wyoming, and more.
CMS To Unveil Five-Pronged Plan To Reduce Health Care Cyberattacks
September 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
The strategy will be outlined in the coming months, Modern Healthcare reported. In other news, Lehigh Valley Health Network has agreed to pay $65 million to settle a case in which it was accused of failing to safeguard sensitive patient information, including nude photos of cancer patients.
First Edition: Monday, Sept. 23, 2024
September 23, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Across North Carolina, Medical Debt Exacts a Heavy Toll
By Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer Noam N. Levey
September 23, 2024
KFF Health News Original
The state has among the highest levels of medical debt in the country, data shows.
She Was Accused of Murder After Losing Her Pregnancy. SC Woman Now Tells Her Story.
By Lauren Sausser
September 23, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Amari Marsh, now 23, was a student at South Carolina State University when she lost her pregnancy in 2023. She was charged with murder and faced at least 20 years in prison. A grand jury cleared her in August. Now she’s sharing her story.
How North Carolina Made Its Hospitals Do Something About Medical Debt
By Noam N. Levey Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer
Illustration by Oona Zenda
September 23, 2024
KFF Health News Original
State officials threatened to withhold public money from hospitals, pioneering a strategy that could become a national model.
Florida’s New Covid Booster Guidance Is Straight-Up Misinformation
By Arthur Allen Daniel Chang Sam Whitehead
September 23, 2024
KFF Health News Original
State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo spread more anti-vaccine misinformation by telling Floridians to avoid mRNA vaccines. Vaccine experts and historians can’t remember another state health leader urging residents to avoid an FDA-approved vaccine.
La nueva guía de Florida sobre los refuerzos de covid es pura desinformación
By Arthur Allen Daniel Chang Sam Whitehead
September 23, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Clínicos y científicos denuncian este mensaje como una táctica de miedo con motivación política que también debilita los esfuerzos para proteger contra enfermedades como el sarampión y la tos ferina.
Journalists Give Insights Into Opioid Settlements and Picking a Nursing Home
September 21, 2024
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News and California Healthline staff took to the airwaves recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
September 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today’s selections are on racism in health care, sickle cell, autism, the gun violence epidemic, and more.
Florida Accused Of Overreach As It Uses Taxpayer Cash To Fight Abortion Issue
September 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
Even as Republican leaders seek to preserve the state’s six-week abortion ban, Florida health officials are warning providers that they face regulatory actions if they don’t offer life-saving care to pregnant women in emergency situations.
Cigna Scaling Back Medicare Advantage Offerings In 8 States In 2025
September 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
Modern Healthcare reports that the move by group’s health insurance unit will affect members of certain health plans in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. Meanwhile, Atrium Health cancels many past medical debt judgments.
Ex-Outcome Health Executive Gets 7 Months In Prison For Role In $1B Fraud
September 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
Ashik Desai was the star witness against his bosses in a trial last year, the Chicago Tribune reports. Other news is on Optum layoffs, Allina Health, the Mayo Clinic, and more.
FDA Catches Indian Drugmaker Destroying Crucial Inspection Papers
September 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
The documents were needed to verify testing and manufacturing practices at Granules, a company in Telangana, India, that supplies generic medications to the U.S., officials say. More pharmaceutical news is on migraine meds, HIV supplies, inhalers, and more.
LA County Public Health Announces 2 More Cases In Dengue Cluster
September 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
The two new locally acquired cases are from the same area where the first case was reported last week. In other state news: vaccine hesitancy and the Minnesota measles outbreak; an “epidemic” of antipsychotic drugs in Mississippi nursing homes; and more.
Mpox Vaccines Administered In Africa For The First Time
September 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
Several hundred high-risk individuals were inoculated in Rwanda. Meanwhile, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warned that the outbreak in Africa is still not under control, with cases rising in several countries.
Congress OKs $3 Billion Stopgap For VA
September 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
The appropriations measure comes with a stipulation that the department explain why it has a budget shortfall. Also, veterans at five facilities in the Pacific Northwest and Ohio are being alerted that prescription drug copayments soon will be required once again.
Scientists Pinpoint Which Animals May Have Spread Covid At Wuhan Market
September 20, 2024
Morning Briefing
The list of animals included the raccoon dog, hoary bamboo rat, dog, European rabbit, Amur hedgehog, Malayan porcupine, Reeves’s muntjac, Himalayan marmot, and masked palm civet. The new research doesn’t prove that the animals were infected by the virus, CNN explains, but that their DNA was found very near the virus, creating a strong possibility the animals were infected at the market. NPR takes an even deeper dive into the market’s “Stall A.”
