Despite Doctors’ Concerns, Pharmacists Get More Leeway to Offer Treatment With Testing
In the battle against covid, pharmacies became a key place for consumers to seek vaccines and testing. Some states are expanding pharmacists’ work to include directly prescribing drugs for customers who seek some routine, point-of-care tests, such as those for flu or strep throat. But doctor groups oppose the move.
‘The Danger Is Still There’ ― As Omicron Lurks, Native Americans Are Wary of Boosters
Federal data shows that vaccination rates for American Indians and Alaska Natives were some of the highest in the nation, but tribes say resistance has slowed efforts to boost members.
Los retrasos en el diagnóstico y tratamiento del autismo aumentaron durante la pandemia
La pandemia retrasó muchos servicios médicos críticos, entre ellos los del autismo. Estos tratamientos son esenciales para los niños recién diagnosticados.
Delays for Autism Diagnosis and Treatment Grew Even Longer During the Pandemic
Despite increased public awareness, research advances, and wider insurance coverage for autism therapies, children often wait months — in some cases more than a year — to get an autism diagnosis and begin intervention services. The waits can be longer for Black and Latino children, and families in rural areas are also disadvantaged, without access to providers.
Covid and Schizophrenia: Why This Deadly Mix Can Deepen Knowledge of the Brain Disease
Recent studies from around the world have found that people with schizophrenia are as much as five times as likely to die from covid-19 as the general population. Scientists think the findings suggest schizophrenia is not just a disease of the brain, but also a disease of the immune system.
Journalists Recap Coverage of the Ongoing Pandemic and Lead Risks in Schools’ Drinking Water
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.
Watch: Omicron Subvariant Is Nothing to Sneeze At, Explains KHN’s Public Health Expert
A KHN public health expert discusses the new covid subvariant, seasonal allergies, and the debate over whether Americans will need a fourth vaccination.
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: The ACA Turns 12
Although its fate was in doubt more than a few times, the Affordable Care Act turned 12 this week. Year 13 could be pivotal in determining how many Americans receive ACA health insurance, and at what price. Meanwhile, three leading credit bureaus agreed to stop using most medical debt to measure U.S. consumers’ creditworthiness. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, and KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.
El futuro en la vigilancia de enfermedades infecciosas puede estar… en el popó
El lodo que se recolecta de las aguas residuales, adonde se arrojan las heces de la comunidad, puede ser clave para detectar no solo covid, sino otras enfermedades infecciosas.
Health Officials See Bright Future in Poop Surveillance
Sewage surveillance is proving so useful in mapping covid trends that many public health officials say it should become standard practice in tracking infectious diseases. Whether that happens will depend on the nation’s ability to make it viable in communities rich and poor.
Patients With Vulnerable Immune Systems Worry Vaccine Exemptions May Put Them in Peril
Montana’s governor pushed the state’s health workers to seek religious exemptions to a federal mandate to be vaccinated against covid, but the number who have done so is unknown.
Pfizer CEO Pushes Yearly Shots for Covid. Not So Fast, Experts Say.
A corporate CEO’s call for a fourth mRNA shot struck those closely watching the pandemic as self-serving. It creates public pressure for a fourth dose of vaccine before government experts have time to assess the evidence and settle on the best course forward.
Sharing Covid Vax Facts Inside ICE Detention, One Detainee at a Time
Thousands of ICE detainees nationwide have tested positive for covid; 11 have died. Medical providers in California are volunteering to educate immigrants awaiting trial or deportation about covid treatment and vaccination.
Médicos voluntarios comparten información sobre las vacunas de covid con detenidos de ICE
Los detenidos dicen que confían en ellos. Doctores hablan por teléfono con personas en centros del ICE y ofrecen información confiable sobre las vacunas.
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: We May Be Done With Covid, But Covid’s Not Done With Us
The White House makes a move as a new wave of covid threatens. President Joe Biden brings in Dr. Ashish Jha to take over the executive branch effort. Meanwhile, it remains unclear if and when Congress can come up with the funds to continue much of the federal anti-covid effort. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.
It Was Already Hard to Find Evusheld, a Covid Prevention Therapy. Now It’s Even Harder.
At least 7 million immunocompromised people could benefit from the monoclonal antibody injections designed to prevent covid-19. The government says it has enough doses for a fraction of those in need ― and it doesn’t have the money to buy more.
Covid’s ‘Silver Lining’: Research Breakthroughs for Chronic Disease, Cancer, and the Common Flu
Billions of dollars invested in mRNA vaccines and covid research could yield health care dividends for decades to come.
Readers and Tweeters Remain Vigilant on Masking and Billing
KHN gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
Listen: What We’ve Learned After Two Years of the Pandemic
KHN Editor-in-Chief Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal joins the CNN podcast “Reliable Sources” and reflects on the societal trauma that covid-19 has wrought.
Pandemic Medical Innovations Leave Behind People With Disabilities
As the country enters Year 3 of the pandemic emergency, people with disabilities across the U.S. are still finding it difficult to use innovations in telemedicine, teleworking, and testing.
