MedPAC Endorsing 2024 Medicare Payment Increases To Congress
December 12, 2022
Morning Briefing
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has hammered out draft recommendations asking Congress to boost 2024 Medicare payment rates for hospitals and clinicians by at least 1% over what the law prescribes, and likely higher for safety-net facilities.
Appeals Court: Catholic Providers Can Deny Gender Care To Trans People
December 12, 2022
Morning Briefing
News outlets report on a unanimous ruling from a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which supported an earlier North Dakota federal judge’s ruling against HHS rules barring sex discrimination. Thus the Catholic health providers can deny trans care on religious grounds.
CDC Gives Green Light To Omicron Vaccines For Some Infants
December 12, 2022
Morning Briefing
Children ages 6 months old through 5 years may now receive a third shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as long as they already received their first two doses. In other vaccine news, a study of people in 21 countries found that vaxxed people look down on unvaxxed people, but not vice versa.
OSHA About To Set Permanent Health Worker Rules On Masks, Covid Vaccines
December 12, 2022
Morning Briefing
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration sent a final version of the health worker safety regulation to the White House budget office for review. The draft version has already sparked controversy in the medical community.
Masks Again Recommended By Officials In NYC, Other Major Cities
December 12, 2022
Morning Briefing
With the “tripledemic” of covid, flu, and RSV filling up hospitals and medical offices, health authorities in New York City, Los Angeles, and elsewhere are urging people to again break out the face coverings.
First Edition: Dec. 12, 2022
December 12, 2022
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
KHN Investigation: The System Feds Rely On to Stop Repeat Health Fraud Is Broken
By Sarah Jane Tribble and Lauren Weber
December 12, 2022
KFF Health News Original
A months-long KHN examination of the system meant to bar fraudsters from Medicaid, Medicare, and other federal health programs found gaping holes and expansive gray areas through which banned individuals slip to repeatedly bilk taxpayer-funded programs.
In Rural America, Deadly Costs of Opioids Outweigh the Dollars Tagged to Address Them
By Aneri Pattani and Rae Ellen Bichell
December 12, 2022
KFF Health News Original
Some people say it’s reasonable for densely populated areas to receive more settlement funds, since they serve more of those affected. But others worry this overlooks rural communities disproportionately harmed by opioid addiction.
Journalists Explain Medicaid Work Requirements and Hospital Price Transparency
December 10, 2022
KFF Health News Original
KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Decisiones financieras de los hospitales juegan un papel en la escasez de camas pediátricas para pacientes con VRS
By Liz Szabo
December 9, 2022
KFF Health News Original
Los hospitales optimizan los ingresos tratando de mantener sus camas llenas al 100 %, y llenas de pacientes con condiciones que las aseguradoras reembolsan bien.
New Colorado Parents Leave Hospitals With Their Babies — And Naloxone
December 9, 2022
Morning Briefing
The Colorado Sun reports on an initiative to tackle the opioid crisis that has expanded from giving take-home naloxone doses to overdose patients to people in the labor and delivery unit. Other health news from across the states include bacteria in hospital water, an oyster recall, and more.
Want To Lower Risk Of Death? Try Moving Vigorously A Few Times A Day
December 9, 2022
Morning Briefing
NBC News reports on new research showing bursts of intense movement for a few minutes three to four times a day is associated with up to 40% lower risk of premature death over seven years. Separately, data show watching a stressful soccer game is linked to risks of cardiovascular events.
Citing Concerns, Medical Centers Resist Being A ‘Rural Emergency Hospital’
December 9, 2022
Morning Briefing
Side Effects Public Media reports on how some overstretched rural hospitals, suffering inflation impact and staff shortages, are rebuffing the new federal Rural Emergency Hospital designation over concerns about its possible effect on in-patient services.
New Alzheimer’s Drug Reopens Medicare Coverage Possibility: Official
December 9, 2022
Morning Briefing
Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said the “door is really open” for evaluating Alzheimer’s drug coverage now that a new therapy has shown more promising patient data compared to Aduhelm.
Studies Show Mpox Vaccine Works Well, Is Safe
December 9, 2022
Morning Briefing
News outlets report on studies into the effectiveness of the Jynneos vaccine which showed that people who got one or two doses contracted mpox at substantially lower rates, and that the shots were safe. Separately, a CDC report examines the impact of vaccinations on the U.S. outbreak.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
December 9, 2022
Morning Briefing
Each week, KHN finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on bodybuilding, mental health, asbestos, and more.
Morning Briefing for Friday, December 9, 2022
December 9, 2022
Morning Briefing
TGIF! Today’s roundup covers covid vaccines, mpox, abortion law, rural health care, at-capacity hospitals, and more. Plus, weekend reads.
Paxlovid, Other Antivirals Work On Omicron Subvariants, Study Finds
December 9, 2022
Morning Briefing
The research is especially good news since previous research has found that monoclonal antibodies aren’t effective against subvariants BQ.1.1 and XBB.
FDA Authorizes Bivalent Covid Shots For Kids
December 9, 2022
Morning Briefing
Both Pfizer’s and Moderna’s covid vaccines are included in the authorization, which applies to third-dose shots for children as young as 6 months old. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to quickly follow the move by the Food and Drug Administration.