Social Security Chief Testifies in Senate About Plans to Stop ‘Clawback Cruelty’
By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group
March 21, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Commissioner Martin O’Malley testifies to two Senate panels that his agency will stop the “injustices” of suspending people’s monthly benefits to recover alleged overpayments. The burden will be on the Social Security Administration to prove the beneficiary was to blame.
Study Links Newly Identified Bacteria With Aggressive Colon Cancer
March 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
The discovery could pave the way for future treatments that target the bacteria, which is said to shield tumor cells from the actions of cancer drugs. Also in the news: the struggle of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease.
First Neuralink Patient Appears Online, Mind-Controlling His Computer
March 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
The patient, a 29 year-old diving accident victim, appeared on a livestream showing off the implant in action. Also in the news, a study found people with darker skin are more likely to have overestimated readings from pulse oximeters.
California’s Mental Health Bond Proposition 1 Passes With Thin Margin
March 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
Now it’s been passed, the San Francisco Chronicle explains Prop. 1 will see a $6.4 billion bond fund used to boost mental health services in the state. AP also reports California wants to up doctor’s payments for seeing Medicaid patients.
Alabama Lawmakers Advance ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Law For Schools
March 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
The proposed legislation would prohibit classroom discussions or instruction on gender identity or sexual orientation issues in public schools through 12th grade, when kids are typically aged 17 to 19, up from the current 5th grade ban.
Research Roundup: Covid Vaccines And Infections; AMR
March 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of health policy studies and briefs.
Viewpoints: Is Chemo Always Essential In Treating Cancer?; Florida Is Fumbling The Measles Outbreak
March 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss cancer treatment, the measles outbreak in Florida, the baby formula crisis, and more.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, March 21, 2024
March 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
Drug pricing, U.S. life expectancy, health worker burnout, cyberattacks, STDs, “male menopause,” and more are in the news.
US Life Expectancy Rises, But Overdose Deaths Rise As Well
March 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
Politico reports on an increase in U.S. life expectancy, after a two-year dip, while Stat reports on a record number of overdose deaths — yet, there are “signs of leveling off” for the U.S. overdose rate. Global fertility rates are also in the news.
Social Security Capping Overpayment Clawbacks At 10% Of Monthly Benefit
March 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley said Wednesday that in addition to the monthly limits beneficiaries will not have to prove that they weren’t at fault for the overpayments, and that waivers will be easier to request.
House Advances Bill That Aims To Reduce Burnout For Health Workers
March 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
The House is working on legislation that targets burnout and mental health challenges for medical professionals. A separate bill would revise the time periods under which CBO would score preventive care legislation.
Pharma Industry Aims To Keep Orphan Drugs Exempt From Price Limits
March 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
Stat reports the pharma industry and “allies” are pushing back at state efforts to cap drug costs with a plan to keep drugs that combat rare diseases exempt from price caps. Separately, Wegovy may be on the Medicare price negotiation list.
Cyberattack Insurance In The Spotlight After UnitedHealth Hack
March 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, UnitedHealth Group said its Change Healthcare subsidiary’s systems for handling medical claims were back online, about a month after the attack. Also in the news: Medicare Advantage, hospital staff shortages, and more.
Doctors Warn Climate Change Is Fueling Infectious Diseases
March 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
Shorter, milder winters, warming oceans, and other conditions caused by a warming planet are contributing to the spread of infectious disease, according to experts. Meanwhile, news reports cover shigella cases, the measles outbreak, hepatitis deaths, syphilis, and more.
First Edition: March 21, 2024
March 21, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Sitios de telesalud prometen una cura para la “menopausia masculina” a pesar de prohibiciones
By Michael Scaturro
March 21, 2024
KFF Health News Original
En anuncios de Google, Facebook y otros medios, los sitios web de telemedicina sobre testosterona pueden prometer una solución rápida para la “lentitud” y la libido baja en los hombres. Pero los médicos dicen que no hay pruebas de su eficacia.
Biden Said Medicare Drug Price Negotiations Cut the Deficit by $160B. That’s Years Away.
By Amy Sherman, PolitiFact
March 21, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Savings estimated by the Congressional Budget Office from allowing the federal government to negotiate Medicare drug prices are based on a 10-year cumulative projection.
Rapid Rise in Syphilis Hits Native Americans Hardest
By Cecilia Nowell
March 21, 2024
KFF Health News Original
With U.S. syphilis rates climbing to the worst level in seven decades, public health experts and the federal Indian Health Service are scrambling to detect and treat the disease in Native American communities, where babies are infected at a higher rate than in any other demographic.
Telehealth Sites Promise Cure for ‘Male Menopause’ Despite FDA Ban on Off-Label Ads
By Michael Scaturro
March 21, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Most healthy men produce sufficient testosterone as they age. Yet online ads and telehealth sites are promoting testosterone drugs with flawed promises of boosting libido and busting stomach fat.
A Battle Between Drugmakers and Insurers Hits Patients in the Wallet
By Julie Appleby
March 20, 2024
KFF Health News Original
There’s a long-running battle between insurers and drugmakers over financial assistance programs that purport to help patients afford expensive drugs. And lately, insurers have been losing ground as lawmakers, regulators and courts weigh in. The issue is whether coupons and other copay aid many patients get from drugmakers should count toward annual insurance deductibles and […]