Latest Morning Briefing Stories

New Laws Keep Pandemic-Weary California at Forefront of Health Policy Innovation

KFF Health News Original

Gov. Gavin Newsom approved many consequential health care bills by his bill-signing deadline Wednesday, including a ban on the sale of menthol and other flavored tobacco products, the creation of a state generic drug label and better coverage for mental health disorders.

The Mask Hypocrisy: How COVID Memos Contradict the White House’s Public Face

KFF Health News Original

When in public, President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence join crowded rallies where many do not wear masks. Behind the scenes, the White House is recommending states adopt mask mandates and even fines — leaving it up to local officials to handle the consequences.

‘You’re Going to Release Him When He Was Hurting Himself?’

KFF Health News Original

Daniel Prude’s family knew he needed psychiatric care and tried to get it for him. Instead, his encounter with police hours after he was released from Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York, proved fatal.

‘No Mercy’ Explores the Fallout After a Small Town Loses Its Hospital

KFF Health News Original

Listen to “Where It Hurts,” each episode debuting on Tuesdays, from Sept. 29 through Nov. 10. When Mercy Hospital Fort Scott shut its doors, locals lost care. Health workers lost jobs. The hole left behind is bigger than a hospital. Season One is “No Mercy.”

Health on Wheels: Tricked-Out RVs Deliver Addiction Treatment to Rural Communities

KFF Health News Original

Even when COVID-19 forced many addiction treatment clinics to scale back, Colorado continued to serve patients with addiction problems through an innovative program that married low-tech with high-tech. The state brought clinics on wheels to remote, underserved towns and used telehealth to connect patients with doctors.

Heartbreaking Bills, Lawsuit and Bankruptcy — Even With Insurance

KFF Health News Original

With health insurance that can leave him on the hook for more than a quarter of his salary every year, a Kentucky essential worker who has heart disease is one of millions of Americans who are functionally uninsured. At only 31, he has already been through bankruptcy and being sued by his hospital. This year, he faced a bill for more than $10,000.

California Expands Privacy Protection to Public Health Workers Amid Threats

KFF Health News Original

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom expanded a confidential address program to public health officials in the wake of ongoing threats made against them tied to pandemic safety precautions such as masks and stay-at-home orders.

A Fair to Remember: County Fairs Weigh Risk of Outbreak Against Financial Ruin

KFF Health News Original

The threat of COVID-19 forced many county fairs to cancel this year. But some rural communities that depend on the annual economic and cultural boost decided to go ahead despite a pattern of outbreaks.

How Families Are Keeping Halloween From Turning Into a COVID Nightmare

KFF Health News Original

Parents are turning to spooky scavenger hunts, pumpkin-carving and movie nights as alternatives to trick-or-treating. Health professionals have their own advice on how to safely celebrate Halloween during the pandemic.

Colleges’ Opening Fueled 3,000 COVID Cases a Day, Researchers Say

KFF Health News Original

In a draft study, researchers correlated cellphone data showing students’ back-to-campus movements and county infection rates to quantify how the coronavirus spread as colleges and universities reopened for the fall semester.

Native Americans Feel Double Pain of COVID and Fires ‘Gobbling Up the Ground’

KFF Health News Original

Tribal leaders have worked to keep the coronavirus off their reservations because of its deadly impact on Native populations. But careful avoidance of the COVID virus has handcuffed the tribes as they face a devastating fire season.