Latest Morning Briefing Stories
New York Tries To Curb Soaring Maternal Mortality Rates With Doulas
Studies have shown that the birth coaches can help increase birth outcomes and reduce birth complications for the mother and the baby. “Maternal mortality should not be a fear anyone in New York should have to face in the 21st century,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Bystanders Can Save Lives In Mass Shooting Events—Especially If They’re Trained On Basic Strategies
A lot of the training focuses on making potential bystanders feel comfortable enough with knowing how to stop the bleeding to actually act if the situation were ever to arise.
A study has found that relying on data about doctor-diagnosed arthritis alone may miss almost half of cases in a younger population who may see doctors less often or ignore occasional joint symptoms. In other news on aging: thinning bones, the benefits of volunteering and Alzheimer’s.
How Scientists Decide When A Vaccine’s Risks Outweigh The Number Of People It Will Help
While the debate is theoretical, scientists can weigh possible risks versus the lives they know the vaccine will save. But a recent example of a controversial drug is throwing the issue into the global spotlight in a very real way. In other public health news: clinical trials and ethics; decoding a baby’s DNA; home health care workers and infection rates; a new type of self-harm in teenagers; and more.
School officials say even children that young are dealing with the fallout from the epidemic. One student in a Ohio school brought a heroin needle her father used into class because she didn’t want a younger sibling to step on it. “This is here. This is real,” said Joy Edgell, a principal of Belpre Elementary School.
Under the existing Obama-era rule, health insurers cannot place arbitrary limits or restrictions on health services that help a person transition from one gender to another. The Trump administration says a judge ruled part of that rule is unlawful.
VA Nominee Working Hard Behind Scenes To Quell Senators’ Skepticism Before Hearing
While Dr. Ronny Jackson is well liked by many, there are lawmakers who question his lack of managerial experience. “He’s got a great bedside manner you feel comfortable with,” says Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). “But it doesn’t mean he will be a good leader of the VA.”
Research Roundup: Prescribing Opioids To High-Risk Patients, PrEP Use Among Black Individuals
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
The bill, which passed the state Assembly, now moves to the Senate. Despite no evidence that the therapy works, some religious groups have said such a law would violate their constitutional rights.
Investigators Recommending Abundance Of Caution With Lettuce After E. Coli Outbreak Spreads
Fifty-three related E. coli infections have been reported in 16 states, according to the CDC. Officials are now telling consumers not to eat store-bought, chopped romaine lettuce.
Many physicians are being trained at hospitals that have been cited for deficiencies by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Declining Opioid Prescription Rates Show That Drumbeat Of Alarm Over Crisis Is Producing Results
But some advocates are now worried that patients with chronic pain are being undertreated. Meanwhile, NIH wants to conduct research on fentanyl, but the nationwide law-enforcement crackdown on opioid abuse means scientists are having a hard time getting permission to get samples of the illegal products they need to study. And the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on improving Medicaid, Medicare and other programs that cope with the effects of substance abuse.
An FDA advisory panel gave the green light to the drug, which treats epilepsy, and the full agency is expected to give its approval, as well, sometime in June.
The Washington Post takes a look at the impression Dr. Ronny Jackson has made on colleagues during his tenure serving as a White House physician under three presidents.
Trump Administration Cuts To Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Unlawful, Federal Judge Rules
The program had provided more than $100 million a year to 81 groups and institutions serving about 1.2 million teens, but the administration abruptly cut off grants last year, arguing that the programs were ineffective at curbing teenage pregnancy.
Ahead Of Midterms, Conservative Lawmakers Champing At Bit To Get Anti-Abortion Laws On Books
Anti-abortion lawmakers are hoping to get legislation in the pipeline to trigger a legal challenge for Roe v. Wade.
Biomedical Tattoos Hold Possibility Of Alerting Patients To Early Signs Of Cancer
Scientists have figured out a way to make cells turn dark like a tattoo when calcium levels in the blood is too high. In other public health news: gene therapy, concussions, categorizing sounds, homeopathic remedies, and autism.
Touted as a “breakthrough” discovery, a new paper challenges the traditional belief that keeping the liver cool while transporting it from donor to recipient will slow the dying process.
Some Good News About Marriage: Melanoma Patients Have Improved Survival Rates
Early detection is key, researchers say, and spouses play an important role by spotting unusual looking moles and encouraging visits to dermatologists.
HHS Secretary Back In Hospital To Be Treated For Intestinal Issue
HHS Secretary Alex Azar has been dealing with diverticulitis, a condition where pouches form in the colon wall and can become inflamed or infected.
