First Edition: Jan. 28, 2021
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
KHN:
Huge Gaps In Vaccine Data Make It Next To Impossible To Know Who Got The Shots
As they rush to vaccinate millions of Americans, health officials are struggling to collect critically important information — such as race, ethnicity and occupation — of every person they jab. The data being collected is so scattered that there’s little insight into which health care workers, or first responders, have been among the people getting the initial vaccines, as intended — or how many doses instead have gone to people who should be much further down the list. (Pradhan and Schulte, 1/28)
KHN:
New Covid Cases Plunge 25% Or More As Behavior Changes
A dozen states are reporting drops of 25% or more in new covid-19 cases and more than 1,200 counties have seen the same, federal data released Wednesday shows. Experts say the plunge may relate to growing fear of the virus after it reached record-high levels, as well as soaring hopes of getting vaccinated soon. Nationally, new cases have dropped 21% from the prior week, according to Department of Health and Human Services data, reflecting slightly more than 3,000 counties. Corresponding declines in hospitalization and death may take days or weeks to arrive, and the battle against the deadly virus rages on at record levels in many places. (Jewett, 1/28)
KHN:
4 Vital Health Issues — Not Tied To Covid — That Congress Addressed In Massive Spending Bill
Late last month, before President Joe Biden took office and proposed his pandemic relief plan, Congress passed a nearly 5,600-page legislative package that provided some pandemic relief along with its more general allocations to fund the government in 2021.While the $900 billion that lawmakers included for urgent pandemic relief got most of the attention, some even bigger changes for health care were buried in the other parts of that huge legislative package. (Huetteman, 1/28)
KHN:
At Colorado’s Rural Edges, Vaccines Help Assisted Living Homes Crack Open The Doors
Bingo is back in the dining room. In-person visits have returned, too, though with masks and plexiglass. The Haven Assisted Living Facility’s residents are even planning a field trip for a private movie screening once they’ve all gotten their second round of covid-19 vaccines. Such changes are small but meaningful to residents in the Hayden, Colorado, long-term care home, and they’re due mostly to the arrival of the vaccine. (Bichell, 1/28)
KHN:
Can The US Keep Covid Variants In Check? Here’s What It Takes
The covid-19 variants that have emerged in the United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa and now Southern California are eliciting two notably distinct responses from U.S. public health officials. First, broad concern. A variant that wreaked havoc in the U.K., leading to a spike in cases and hospitalizations, is surfacing in a growing number of places in the U.S. This week, another worrisome variant seen in Brazil surfaced in Minnesota. If these or other strains significantly change the way the virus transmits and attacks the body, as scientists fear they might, they could cause yet another prolonged surge in illness and death in the U.S., even as cases have begun to plateau and vaccines are rolling out. (Barry-Jester, 1/28)
KHN:
Baby Blues: First-Time Parents Blindsided By ‘The Birthday Rule’ And A $207,455 NICU Bill
In the nine months leading up to her due date, Kayla Kjelshus and her husband, Mikkel, meticulously planned for their daughter’s arrival. Their long to-do list included mapping out their family’s health insurance plan and registering for baby gear and supplies. They even nailed down child care ahead of her birth. (Anthony, 1/27)
The Washington Post:
At First Coronavirus Briefing, White House Acknowledges Vaccinations Will Take Months
The week-old Biden White House acknowledged Wednesday that most Americans will need to wait months to get vaccinated, as top officials launched regular briefings on their coronavirus response by seeking to illustrate their fidelity to science and transparency. Andy Slavitt, one of five senior officials who held the briefing, said that the administration is working to increase the availability of vaccinations “with incredible urgency and purpose” but that “it will be months before everyone who wants a vaccine can get one.” (Goldstein and Sun, 1/27)
The Washington Examiner:
'Every American Is Not Going To Be Eligible By Spring': White House Resists Coronavirus Herd Immunity Date
White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Tuesday contradicted President Biden's assessment of when every person in the United States would be inoculated against the coronavirus. "Every American is not going to be eligible by spring," she said, offering a different view than the one her boss offered less than 24 hours before. On Monday, Biden predicted after an event rolling out his "Made in America" proposal that anyone who wished to have a COVID-19 vaccine would "be able to do that this spring." (Lim, 1/26)
Modern Healthcare:
Biden Administration Warns Fully Meeting Vaccine Demand Could Take 'Months'
Members of the White House COVID-19 task force on Wednesday said the administration has reached its initial target of averaging 1 million vaccinations a day but warned it could take months before everyone who wants a vaccine can get one. In the first of the Biden administration's promised regular updates on the nation's pandemic response, Andy Slavitt, senior adviser to the task force, said 47 million doses have been distributed to states and long-term care facilities. But only 24 million have been administered, while an estimated 3.4 million people have received their second dose. (Ross Johnson, 1/27)
FierceHealthcare:
HHS Moves To Enable Recently Retired Doctors And Nurses To Deliver COVID-19 Vaccine
The Biden administration is moving to allow doctors and nurses that recently retired or are inactive to administer COVID-19 vaccinations as part of a broader strategy to ramp up vaccinations. The announcement was made Wednesday as part of a White House briefing on the state of the pandemic and efforts to increase the supplies of the vaccine. (King, 1/27)
The Hill:
White House Goes Full-Throttle On COVID-19 Relief Talks
The White House is moving forward with a range of meetings with lawmakers and other stakeholders as President Biden urges the passage of his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief proposal. Press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Wednesday that Biden and Vice President Harris are “engaged directly” with members of Congress on COVID-19 relief and described conversations as productive, though she did not provide specific details on any of their meetings. (Chalfant, 1/27)
The Hill:
Biden To Implement Special ACA Enrollment Period Amid Pandemic
President Biden will direct federal agencies on Thursday to open a special enrollment period for Affordable Care Act exchanges in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and review existing policies from the Trump administration that “limit Americans’ access to health care.” Those directives will come in the form of executive orders Biden plans to sign Thursday afternoon, including one that rescinds the Mexico City Policy that bans the use of U.S. funding for foreign organizations that provide or promote abortions. (Hellmann, 1/28)
The Washington Post:
Biden Kills Trump Plan On Opioid-Treatment Prescriptions
The Biden administration said Wednesday that it is canceling a last-minute plan by the Trump administration to let more physicians prescribe an opioid-treatment drug, despite exhortations from lawmakers and physician groups to keep it. “On January 14, 2021, HHS announced forthcoming Practice Guidelines for the Administration of Buprenorphine for Treating Opioid Use Disorder,” the White House’s drug policy office said in a message obtained by The Washington Post. “Unfortunately, the announcement was made prematurely. Therefore, the Guidelines previously announced cannot be issued at this time.” (Diamond, 1/27)
Stat:
Advocacy Groups Urge Against Woodcock As FDA Commissioner
As the Biden White House attempts to fashion its health policies, a coalition of consumer and patient advocacy groups is urging the administration not to tap Janet Woodcock, a long-standing Food and Drug Administration official, to head the embattled agency. (Silverman, 1/27)
The New York Times:
Millions Meant For Public Health Threats Were Diverted Elsewhere, Watchdog Says
A federal watchdog has found that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, which drew national attention last year when the Trump administration fired its director, has been used for the past 10 years as a “slush fund” to cover expenses unrelated to its core mission of fighting health threats like Ebola, Zika and the coronavirus. The 223-page report, issued Wednesday by the Office of Special Counsel, found that the Department of Health and Human Services diverted millions of taxpayer dollars intended for BARDA to finance vaccine research and pandemic preparedness into other government activities, and failed to inform Congress — a potential violation of federal law. (Stolberg, 1/27)
Becker's Hospital Review:
Millions Allocated To Vaccine Research Fund Misused For Years, US Special Counsel Says
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel said millions of dollars in federal HHS funding intended for vaccine research and emergency preparedness were misused for at least a decade, The Hill reported Jan. 27. Congress appropriated the funding to HHS's Office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. The money, meant for that agency's Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, was allegedly spent on administrative expenses, legal services, unrelated salaries and, in one instance, the removal of office furniture, according to a report from HHS's Office of Inspector General cited by the Hill. (Carbajal, 1/27)
The Hill:
Vaccine Research Funding Misused For Decade, Says Special Counsel Office
Federal officials have misused a fund intended for vaccine research to pay for unrelated expenses since at least 2010, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel alleged in letters to President Biden and Congress on Wednesday. Millions of dollars that Congress appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for vaccine research and emergency preparedness for public health threats was instead spent on administrative expenses, legal services, unrelated salaries and in one case, the removal of office furniture. (Hellmann, 1/27)
The Washington Post:
House Opens Investigation Of Pandemic Ventilator Purchases Overseen By White House
A House subcommittee is investigating a government deal to buy $70 million worth of ventilators for the coronavirus pandemic response that a Washington Post investigation found were inadequate for treating most covid-19 patients. Last spring, as part of its effort to increase the number of ventilators amid the crisis, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Defense Logistics Agency purchased 11,200 AutoMedx SAVe II+ ventilators from Combat Medical Systems, which distributes the devices. But the ventilators were inadequate for treating covid-19 patients and remain in warehouses, according to Stephanie Bialek, a spokeswoman for the Strategic National Stockpile. (Albergotti and Gregg, 1/27)
Becker's Hospital Review:
House Investigates HHS Ventilator Deal
HHS and the Defense Logistics Agency purchased 11,200 ventilators, called the AutoMedx SAVe II+, from AutoMedx and distributor Combat Medical Systems last spring, according to the Post. An investigation by the Post found the ventilators were inadequate for treating most COVID-19 patients, and they've sat unused in warehouses. Adrian Urias, co-founder of AutoMedx and current shareholder, advised the Trump administration's coronavirus task force on ventilator purchases, according to the Post. The House has requested documents and communications from AutoMedx and Combat Medical related to the deal and a description of the negotiations with the government. (Anderson, 1/27)
Politico:
Second Police Officer Died By Suicide Following Capitol Attack
A second police officer who responded to the violent insurrection that rocked the Capitol Building on Jan. 6 has died by suicide, according to testimony obtained by POLITICO. Acting Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee told House appropriators during a closed-door session on Tuesday that Jeffrey Smith, a D.C. Police officer, and Capitol Police Officer Howard Liebengood both “took their own lives in the aftermath of that battle.” (Emma and Ferris, 1/27)
Politico:
Lawmakers Demand Answers On Covid Outbreak, Guard Deployments
Frustrated lawmakers on Wednesday demanded a better accounting of the scope of a Covid outbreak among the National Guard members deployed to the Capitol, and answers on why thousands of troops are being forced to remain on duty in Washington, D.C., through March for an unspecified threat. “That is a really dense force packed into just a few blocks — that’s more than we have in Iraq and Afghanistan combined,” said Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.). “If there is not a very clear threat and a very clear mission then send them home.” (Seligman and Desiderio, 1/27)
The Wall Street Journal:
Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine Works Against Mutations Found In U.K, South Africa Variants, Lab Study Finds
A Pfizer Inc. laboratory study found that coronavirus mutations identified in the U.K. and South Africa had only small impacts on the effectiveness of antibodies generated by the company’s Covid-19 vaccine. The antibodies were slightly less effective against mutations in the variant identified in South Africa, according to the study. It was posted Wednesday on the online server bioRxiv, which publishes scientific papers before they have been peer-reviewed. (Hernandez, 127)
FiercePharma:
First Moderna, Now Pfizer-BioNTech Working On Booster Shot Amid Rise Of COVID-19 Variants
Pfizer and partner BioNTech are developing booster shots so that their COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty can protect against new, highly contagious variants, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said Tuesday, according to Bloomberg. “Every time a new variant comes up we should be able to test whether or not [our vaccine] is effective,” Bourla was quoted as saying. “Once we discover something that it is not as effective, we will very, very quickly be able to produce a booster dose that will be a small variation to the current vaccine.” (Liu, 1/27)
Los Angeles Times:
Questions Surround Death Of Person Who Got COVID Vaccine
The death of a person last week in Placer County who had recently received a COVID-19 vaccination is under investigation by multiple agencies. Officials from the Placer County public health department and the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that the person, who died Thursday, had tested positive for the coronavirus in late December and had been given a vaccine several hours before dying. Placer County Public Health did not administer the vaccine and did not clarify in the statement whether the person had received the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech shot. (Pinho, 1/26)
Orange County Register:
Health Care Worker Dies After Second Dose Of COVID Vaccine, Investigations Underway
Tim Zook’s last post on Facebook brimmed with optimism. “Never been so excited to get a shot before,” he wrote on Jan. 5, above a photo of the Band-Aid on his arm and his COVID-19 vaccination card. “I am now fully vaccinated after receiving my 2nd Pfizer dose.” Zook, 60, was an X-ray technologist at South Coast Global Medical Center in Santa Ana. A couple of hours later, he had an upset stomach and trouble breathing. By 3:30 p.m. it was so bad his colleagues at work walked him to the emergency room. “Should I be worried?” his wife, Rochelle, texted when she got the news. “No, absolutely not,” he texted back. “Do you think this is a direct result of the vaccine?” she typed. “No, no,” he said. “I’m not sure what. But don’t worry.” (Sforza, 1/26)
SF Gate:
Death Of Northern California Man Several Hours After COVID-19 Vaccine Probed
A Northern California man died Thursday several hours after receiving a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to Placer County Public Health and the Placer County Sheriff's Office. The man previously tested positive for the coronavirus in late December. "There are multiple local, state, and federal agencies actively investigating this case; any reports surrounding the cause of death are premature, pending the outcome of the investigation," a statement from the sheriff's office said. "Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased." (Graff, 1/25)
Fox News:
Second California Patient Dies Soon After COVID-19 Vaccination, Investigations Underway
X-ray technician Tim Zook’s health went into a sharp decline after receiving the second shot and he was eventually transferred to the University of California, Irvine Medical Center where he died Jan. 9. ... An investigation was underway into Zook's death after he allegedly developed an onslaught of medical issues following the second dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. ... The news comes amid reports of a separate patient in Placer County who tested positive for COVID-19 in late December, was vaccinated Thursday and died several hours after receiving the shot, the Placer County Sheriff's office announced Saturday. That case also involves an active investigation into the cause of death. (Rivas, 1/27)
USA Today:
'COVID Arm': Moderna Vaccine Rash A Harmless Side Effect, Doctors Say
An angry red rash being called “COVID arm” is a harmless but annoying response in some people who get the Moderna vaccine. Aside from sometimes being itchy, it doesn't appear to be dangerous and people who get it should not hesitate to get their second dose of the vaccine, doctors say. There is no indication the reaction is anything but a topical – and brief – response as the body’s immune system goes to work, said Dr. Esther Freeman, director of global health dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital. “We want to reassure people that this is a known phenomenon. Having a big red splotch on your arm for a couple of days may not be fun but the reality is there's no need to panic and no reason not to get your second shot,” she said. (Weise, 1/27)
The Hill:
WHO Advises Against Pregnant Women Taking Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday advised against pregnant women taking the Moderna coronavirus vaccine unless they are a health care worker or have preexisting conditions... According to the organization, the Moderna vaccine needs more data and clinical trials on pregnant women before the WHO can recommend it for pregnant women. The Pfizer vaccine has enough data for the WHO to recommend it for pregnant women. (Lonas, 1/27)
The Washington Examiner:
US Hits Trump Goal Of 20M Vaccinated A Month Late
Over 20 million Americans have now been vaccinated for the coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That milestone was reached nearly a month late. On Dec. 9, then-Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said that 20 million people would be vaccinated by the end of 2020. (Hogberg, 1/27)
FierceHealthcare:
Docs Call On Biden To Include Medical Groups In COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
Medical practices are largely being left out of the COVID-19 vaccine efforts, a survey from the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) found. The survey, which reflected responses from 403 medical group practices, showed 85% of independent practices actively seeking the COVID-19 vaccine for their patients received some as of Jan. 21-24. Nearly half (45%) of hospital- or health system-owned practices seeking vaccines still hadn't gotten any. (Reed, 1/27)
The Wall Street Journal:
U.S. Hospitalizations Down For 15th Day In A Row
The U.S. saw further declines in the number of people hospitalized because of Covid-19, while newly reported cases hovered around 150,000 for the third day in a row. Hospitalizations, which totaled 107,444 as of Wednesday, have been on the decline since Jan. 12 when the figure was at 131,326, according to the Covid Tracking Project. The number of people in intensive care units also fell slightly to 20,497. (Hall, 1/28)
Bloomberg:
Covid Cases Drop Most In U.S. West, But Relief May Be Brief
In the span of two weeks, states in the U.S. West pushed down coronavirus case averages by 43%, outstripping the decline in other regions, which all have seen numbers retreat from peaks this month. Almost every state in the West reported cases falling or flat Tuesday, and every region in the country has seen its seven-day average drop at least 20% since Jan. 12, according to data from the Covid Tracking Project. Some states, like California and Oregon, had numbers drop by more than a third in the course of a week. Such improvements inspired California Governor Gavin Newsom to ease social-distancing measures earlier this week. The relaxed policies, combined with more-contagious strains gaining traction in the state, could lay the groundwork for numbers to spike again. (Querolo, 1/27)
Axios:
Coronavirus Cases Fall In 41 States
New coronavirus infections fell by 16% over the past week — the third straight week of significant improvement. Yes, but: The U.S. is still averaging roughly 165,000 new cases per day, meaning the virus is still spreading largely unchecked. And the rise of more contagious variants will ensure that Americans’ risk remains high. (Baker and Witherspoon, 1/28)
Los Angeles Times:
Coronavirus Cases Among L.A. Firefighters Drop Sharply
The number of Los Angeles firefighters testing positive for the coronavirus has dropped significantly since the city fire agency began offering its members vaccinations, Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said in a memo to firefighters this week. In the memo dated Tuesday and obtained by The Times, Terrazas said the Los Angeles Fire Department has seen a “sharp decline” in cases since firefighters started getting the shots Dec. 28. A chart included with the memo shows that the LAFD was averaging more than 15 new cases a day before the vaccination program. The number soon plummeted. In the most recent week, the department has averaged fewer than five new cases a day. (Smith and Welsh, 1/27)
The Hill:
CDC Projects US Could See Up To 514K Coronavirus Deaths By Feb. 20
The United States is projected to record as many as 514,000 deaths from the coronavirus by Feb. 20 based on the country's current trajectory, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Wednesday. Speaking at the Biden administration's first formal public health briefing on the pandemic, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said the agency predicts the country is on pace for between 479,000 and 514,000 COVID-19 deaths by Feb. 20. (Samuels, 1/27)
Becker's Hospital Review:
N95 Mask Demand Will Remain High This Year, 3M CEO Predicts
Mike Roman, CEO and chairman of 3M, told CNBC Jan. 26 that the company expects demand for N95 masks to be strong throughout 2021. N95 masks are considered the best option to protect against COVID-19, CNBC reports. ... NPR reported Jan. 27 that hospital workers are still being asked to ration and reuse their supplies of N95s. The administration of President Joe Biden has invoked the Defense Production Act to prioritize manufacturing of N95 masks and other medical supplies. (Anderson, 1/27)
The Washington Post:
China Expands Anal Swab Coronavirus Tests, Saying It's More Accurate Than Throat Method
Months-long lockdowns. Entire city populations herded through the streets for mandatory testing. The people of China could be forgiven for thinking they had seen it all during the coronavirus pandemic. But now they face a new indignity: the addition of anal swabs — yes, you read that right — to the testing regimen for those in quarantine. (Dou, 1/27)
Becker's Hospital Review:
Cedars-Sinai Opens COVID-19 Recovery Program
Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai Medical Group launched a COVID-19 Recovery Program to treat patients cleared of the novel virus who still have lingering symptoms weeks or months later, according to a Jan. 26 news release. To be eligible for treatment in the program, patients must be referred by a physician, have had a confirmed COVID-19 infection and be experiencing persistent symptoms. (Carbajal, 1/27)
Becker's Hospital Review:
Cardiologists To Lead First US Study Of Rare Inflammatory Condition In Children
Two pediatric cardiologists will co-lead the nation's first long-term clinical trial for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C, a rare inflammatory condition potentially linked to COVID-19, reports The Salt Lake Tribune. Ngan Truong, MD, a pediatric cardiologist at University of Utah Health and Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, and Jane Newburger, MD, a pediatric cardiologist at Boston Children's Hospital, will oversee the five-year study. (Bean, 1/27)
The Hill:
Health Experts Concerned About Increasingly Drug-Resistant Germs Amid Pandemic
Health experts are warning that precautionary measures taken to protect people against COVID-19 could be inadvertently furthering the spread of harmful, drug-resistant bacteria and fungi. According to an analysis published Wednesday by The New York Times, nursing homes and hospitals have not tracked these germs as closely due to diverted attention to the pandemic, and there have been isolated outbreaks of various drug-resistant infections in Florida, New Jersey and California, as well as globally in India, Italy, Peru and France. (Castronuovo, 1/27)
The New York Times:
With All Eyes On Covid-19, Drug-Resistant Infections Crept In
As Covid-19 took hold over the last year, hospitals and nursing homes used and reused scarce protective equipment — masks, gloves, gowns. This desperate frugality helped prevent the airborne transfer of the virus. But it also appears to have helped spread a different set of germs — drug-resistant bacteria and fungi — that have used the chaos of the pandemic to grow opportunistically in health care settings around the globe. (Richtel, 1/27)
Becker's Hospital Review:
Focus On COVID-19 Facilitated Spread Of Drug-Resistant Infections, Experts Say
The reuse of personal protective equipment in healthcare settings amid COVID-19 likely allowed drug-resistant infections to spread easier, The New York Times reported Jan. 27. The Times cited a number of reports showing isolated outbreaks of various drug-resistant infections in Florida, New Jersey and California, as well as in several other countries. Particularly concerning to health officials are growing cases of Candida auris, a fungus the CDC calls a "serious global health threat." Between October 2019 and November 2020, the number of C. auris infections in the U.S. increased from 952 to 1,625, according to data cited by the Times. (Carbajal, 1/27)
Becker's Hospital Review:
Heart Disease Remains No.1 Cause Of Death Worldwide, AHA Says
Heart disease is still the leading cause of death worldwide, with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic likely to extend that ranking for years to come, according to the American Heart Association's Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics — 2021 Update published Jan. 27. The data, published in the AHA's Circulation journal, reports more than 523.2 million cases of heart disease in 2019 worldwide, with nearly 18.6 million deaths. Each of those numbers rose significantly since 2010, according to the update. (Carbajal, 1/27)
The New York Times:
Aetna To Expand Coverage For Gender-Affirming Surgeries
Allison Escolastico, a 30-year-old transgender woman, has wanted breast augmentation surgery for a decade. By 2019, she finally thought her insurance company, Aetna, would pay for it, only to find that it considered the procedure cosmetic, not medically necessary, and refused to cover it. “I knew from my case, it wasn’t cosmetic,” said Ms. Escolastico, who contacted a lawyer after she lost her appeal last year. “I knew I had to fight for this,” she said. (Abelson, 1/26)
FierceHealthcare:
Nearly Half Of Adults Older Than 65 Don't Have Online Medical Accounts That Could Connect Them With COVID-19 Vaccines
Older adults are being prioritized for COVID-19 vaccines because they are among the most vulnerable to complications from the novel coronavirus. But they are also less likely to be using the tech tools such as online patient portals that would help notify them about vaccine availability and appointment scheduling, according to newly analyzed data from National Poll on Healthy Aging, based at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. Nearly half (45%) of individuals between the ages of 65 and 80 said they had not set up an account with their health provider’s online portal system, the analysis found. (Reed, 1/27)
Becker's Hospital Review:
12 States With The Most Rural Hospitals At Risk Of Closure
Across the U.S., more than 800 hospitals — 40 percent of all rural hospitals in the country — are either at immediate or high risk of closure, according to a report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. More than 500 rural hospitals in the U.S. were at immediate risk of closure before the COVID-19 pandemic because of financial losses and lack of reserves to maintain operations. The hospitals identified as being at immediate risk of closure had a cumulative negative total margin over the most recent three-year period, and their financial situation has likely deteriorated because of the pandemic. (Ellison, 1/27)
Becker's Hospital Review:
Former St. Jude Director Dies
Joseph V. Simone, MD, a former St. Jude Children's Research Hospital director who helped lead the first curative treatment for childhood leukemia, died Jan. 21, the Memphis, Tenn.-based hospital said. He was 85. "Dr. Simone was an extraordinary leader and a giant in the field of oncology," James Downing, MD, president and CEO of St. Jude, said in a news release. "Our hospital — in truth, the world — owes a great debt of gratitude to him for his many accomplishments. A visionary and a world-class clinician, he was, most importantly, a man of principle." (Gooch, 1/27)
Stat:
A Thermostat For Blood Pressure Could Help Patients With Spinal Cord Injuries
Paralysis or the loss of mobility are among the most pressing and clear consequences of a spinal cord injury. But many patients also face lesser-known complications that can disrupt their daily lives in other ways. One of the most common problems is orthostatic hypotension, or not being able to maintain a stable blood pressure when switching positions between sitting, standing, or lying down. (Gaffney, 1/27)
Fox News:
Lyme Disease Cases In US Could Be 10 Times Higher Than Currently Reported, CDC Study Finds
Between 30,000 and 40,000 cases of this disease are reported to the federal agency each year, current estimates show. But in a report released earlier this month, the CDC estimated that some 476,000 Americans were diagnosed with Lyme disease annually between 2010 and 2018 — about 10 times higher than what’s currently reported. To reach this conclusion, the CDC reviewed billing codes on health insurance claims between 2010 and 2018. To start, they counted the number of cases that were officially diagnosed with the disease and were prescribed antibiotics to treat it. Using certain statistical tools, they then estimated the number of cases among the rest of the population, including those without insurance and those over the age of 65. (Farber, 1/27)
Politico:
Food Stamp Spending Jumped Nearly 50 Percent In 2020
Federal spending on the country’s largest nutrition assistance program increased by nearly 50 percent in 2020 amid the economic shock of the pandemic, according to newly released data from the Agriculture Department. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, still known to many as food stamps, cost nearly $90 billion in fiscal year 2020, USDA said Wednesday. That’s a major jump from just over $60 billion in 2019. (Bottemiller Evich, 1/27)
The Hill:
Food Stamp Spending Climbed 50 Percent In 2020 As Result Of Pandemic
Nearly 44 million Americans currently rely on the program, a jump from roughly 36 million in 2019.
The increase in spending can also be attributed to a move by Congress last year to increase benefit levels on an emergency basis amid the pandemic, with the average monthly benefit increasing from $130 in 2019 to $161 in 2020, according to the USDA data. (Castronuovo, 1/27)
The Washington Post:
Coronavirus Hunger Crisis: For These Families, Every Meal Is Now A Struggle
Hunger is a hidden hardship that the pandemic has made visible, a persistent crisis that the pandemic has made worse. Across America, people are lining up for food — on foot and in cars, at churches and recreation centers and in school parking lots, in wealthy states and poorer ones. They are parents and grandparents, students and veterans, employed and underemployed and jobless. ... In Pennsylvania and New Mexico, Maryland and California, The Post spent time with people living with hunger, and the people trying to help them. (1/27)
USA Today:
Federal Government Wants Americans To Buy Groceries Online, But Most People On SNAP Can’t
The federal government has said Americans should stay home and buy groceries online, leading to a 300% explosion in online food shopping. But a majority of Americans who depend on food stamps have no choice but to shop in person because the federal government allows online shopping with SNAP benefits only in limited circumstances in 47 states. For those who are able to shop on the web, the costs can be shocking for families who barely have enough to eat in part because SNAP benefits cannot be used to pay for delivery fees or tips. (Ruiz-Goiriena, 1/24)
The Washington Post:
Subway’s Tuna Is Not Tuna, But A ‘Mixture Of Various Concoctions,’ A Lawsuit Alleges
Subway describes its tuna sandwich as “freshly baked bread” layered with “flaked tuna blended with creamy mayo then topped with your choice of crisp, fresh veggies.” It’s a description designed to activate the saliva glands — and separate you from your money. It’s also fiction, at least partially, according to a recent lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint alleges the ingredient billed as “tuna” for the chain’s sandwiches and wraps contains absolutely no tuna. A representative of Subway said the claims are without merit. Not only is its tuna the real deal, the company says, but it’s wild-caught, too. The star ingredient, according to the lawsuit, is “made from anything but tuna.” (Carman, 1/27)
USA Today:
Rate Of Traffic Deaths Rises During COVID As Open Roads Tempt Drivers To Speed Up
The rate of traffic deaths jumped in the first half of 2020, and safety experts blame drivers who sped up on roads left open when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down businesses and limited commuting. The new research also showed that even small increases in speed led to much deadlier outcomes in vehicle crashes. A crash that is easily survivable at 40 miles per hour can be fatal at 50 mph or more, according to the study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The results are particularly disquieting due to widespread reports of excessive speeding during the pandemic. (Bomey, 1/28)
The Hill:
Utah Republican Proposes State Bill Requiring Watching Video Before Abortion
A Utah Republican lawmaker proposed a bill in the state House of Representatives on Wednesday that would require women to watch a video that includes ultrasounds of a developing fetus before undergoing an abortion. State Rep. Steve Christiansen (R) introduced a bill in the Utah House that would mandate women to sign a document in front of a health care witness saying they’ve watched the Utah Department of Health video, under the penalty of perjury, before an abortion procedure. (Coleman, 1/27)
The Washington Examiner:
Oklahoma Attempts To Return $2M Surplus Of Hydroxychloroquine
The Oklahoma attorney general's office said it will attempt to return a $2 million stockpile worth of hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malarial drug once described by former President Donald Trump as a potential treatment for COVID-19, a spokesman said Wednesday. The stockpile of 1.2 million hydroxychloroquine pills was sent to Oklahoma in April from a supplier in California, FFF Enterprises, a private pharmaceutical company, the Frontier reported. (Deese, 1/27)
The Hill:
Inslee Rebukes Hospital Over Vaccine Appointments For Donors
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) castigated a Bellevue-based hospital system over an email in which leadership offered appointments for coronavirus vaccinations to major donors. “We’re pleased to share that we have 500 new open appointments in the Overlake COVID-19 vaccine clinic, beginning this afternoon and tomorrow (Saturday, Jan. 23) and next week,” Molly Stearns, chief development officer at Overlake Medical Center & Clinics, said in the email, according to The Seattle Times. (Budryk, 1/27)
The Guardian:
'Have We Learned Nothing?' California Faces Backlash For Lifting Stay-Home Order
California’s decision to lift its stay-at-home order is drawing backlash from health experts and frontline workers who warn that a premature reopening could prolong the crisis and further devastate hard-hit communities. Citing projections that hospital capacity would improve in coming weeks, the governor, Gavin Newsom, announced Monday that he was rescinding the statewide shutdown order. The move returned counties to a tiered system of localized reopenings and allowed certain sectors to partially resume business, including salons, restaurants and churches. (Levin, 1/27)