Morning Briefing for Monday, April 15, 2024
April 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Abortion politics, measles warnings, kidney transplants, weight-loss drugs’ safety, alcohol misuse, hepatitis, and more are in the news.
Harris Blames Trump And His Supreme Court Picks For Abortion Bans
April 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
In surprise remarks in Los Angeles, Vice President Kamala Harris connected the Arizona Supreme Court’s controversial decision — “immoral,” according to Harris — upholding an 1864 abortion law to former President Donald Trump, via his three Supreme Court nominees. And in Arizona, a clinic plans remains open during the confusion.
Tourists Infected With Measles Visited Universal Studios, Las Vegas Strip
April 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Public health officials are warning others may have been exposed to measles after two separate events in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. More measles cases have also been reported in Georgia and Illinois. Also in the news: a rise in human leptospirosis cases in New York City.
CDC Says Covid Vaccine Not Connected To Cardiac Deaths Of Young Adults
April 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
The federal health agency investigated the records of 1,292 people in Oregon ages 16-30 who had died of “cardiac or undetermined” causes. In other research, a new study says there’s no evidence that covid causes childhood asthma.
Texas Hospital Promises Quick Restart To Paused Kidney Transplants
April 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center has been investigating a doctor accused of manipulating records for liver transplant candidates, and consequently paused its transplant program. Also in the news: telehealth plans from the Defense Health Agency, a crossroads for Veterans Affairs health care, and more.
European Drug Regulators Find No Suicide Links To Wegovy, Ozempic
April 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
The European Medicines Agency regulatory committee is the latest body to find no increased risk of suicide involved in taking the popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs. Meanwhile, AP reports on the slow start for the first drug shown to slow Alzheimer’s.
First Edition: April 15, 2024
April 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
When Rogue Brokers Switch People’s ACA Policies, Tax Surprises Can Follow
By Julie Appleby
April 15, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Some tax filers’ returns are being rejected because they failed to provide information about Affordable Care Act coverage they didn’t even know they had.
Swap Funds or Add Services? Use of Opioid Settlement Cash Sparks Strong Disagreements
By Aneri Pattani
April 15, 2024
KFF Health News Original
The national opioid settlements don’t prohibit using money for initiatives already supported by other means, but doing so could dilute the impact.
Alaska Is One Step Closer To Legalizing Subscription-Based Health Care
April 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
State lawmakers have approved a bill that would allow primary care providers to offer care based on a monthly fee, the Anchorage Daily News reported. It’s unclear whether Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy will sign the bill.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
April 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on Donald Trump’s new physician, a cadaver lab, the world’s oldest person, and more.
Viewpoints: WHO’s Changes Could Prevent Future Pandemics; India Is Trying New Way To Educate Patients
April 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle pandemic preparedness, patient education, youth gender medicine, and more.
Harris To Visit Arizona Today; Ex-Gov. Ducey Says Court Overstepped
April 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
Excerpts of her speech showed that Vice President Kamala Harris will warn voters that giving Donald Trump another term would only mean “more suffering.” And former GOP Gov. Doug Ducey, who expanded the court in 2016, said on X that the ruling was “not the outcome I would have preferred.”
Iowa’s High Court Weighs Abortion Ban After Contentious Back-And-Forth
April 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
The seven justices, all appointed to the bench by Republicans, will decide whether to let a law that bans abortions as early as six weeks of pregnancy take effect. Other abortion news is from Tennessee, Missouri, Florida, and Maine.
US Might Lose Elimination Status As Measles Cases Climb
April 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
Where are the cases coming from? A CDC report Thursday said most involved unvaxxed Americans who got infected in the Middle East and Africa, AP reported. Also: bird flu and data-sharing.
How Medicaid’s ‘Unwinding’ Affected Millions Of Americans
April 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
More than 20 million people were pushed off Medicaid during a nationwide review of eligibility. Also: A key U.S. senator says Medicare payments to physicians have “not kept up with the times.”
Organ Transplant Surgeon In Texas Accused Of Manipulating Database
April 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
The New York Times reported that officials are investigating claims that the surgeon, who oversaw the liver and kidney transplant programs at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston, altered a government database to make some of his own patients ineligible to receive new livers.
So Far, So Good For Chlamydia Vaccine: ‘This Is Desperately Needed’
April 12, 2024
Morning Briefing
In the phase 1 trial, scientists said the experimental vaccine was safe and induced an immune response. There is currently no vaccine for the sexually transmitted infection, which can cause infertility and eye infections.