Category: Public Health

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Health Spending? Only Congress Knows

Top negotiators in Congress have agreed to a framework for government spending into next year, but there are details to iron out before a vote — such as the scheduled Medicare payment cuts that have providers worried. Also, the Biden administration reopens its program allowing Americans to request free covid-19 home tests, as hopes for pandemic preparedness measures from Congress dim. Rachel Cohrs of Stat, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Rebecca Adams of KHN join KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey to discuss these topics and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.

COVID-19 tests are free again amid case uptick

The U.S. resumed its program that ships four free COVID-19 tests to every household Dec. 15 as the mostly vaccinated but scarcely boosted nation braces for a winter surge in cases. 

US hospitals see rise in invasive strep A infections behind 15 UK deaths

At least four children’s hospitals in the U.S. are seeing an increase in severe strep A infections, NBC News reported Dec. 14. 

Long COVID-19 on death certificates: 5 CDC report notes

Long COVID-19 has contributed to the deaths of at least 3,544 people in the U.S., according to a CDC analysis of death certificates published Dec. 14. Experts who reviewed the report say the findings are almost certainly an undercount. 

'Not in the clear yet' on RSV: 4 physician survey notes

Emergency room and critical care physicians continue to see significant levels of respiratory syncytial virus activity, according to survey data published Dec. 14. 

New York expires emergency order on polio

New York’s executive order on polio is “no longer necessary” as the number of positive wastewater samples has declined, health officials said Dec. 12. Efforts to increase vaccination uptake, however, will continue as coverage rates in affected are…

Are You an Optimist? Could You Learn to Be? Your Health May Depend on It.

Multiple studies show a strong association between higher levels of optimism and healthy aging. We ask some dedicated optimists what might explain the connection.

A snapshot of flu, COVID-19 & RSV: 3 notes

Respiratory virus activity is already high, and health experts anticipate the upcoming holiday season to accelerate virus spread. 

Winter COVID-19 surge looms, experts say

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are steadily rising nationwide, suggesting a winter surge may be near. At present, however, the duration, magnitude and scope of such a surge is still unclear, experts told The Atlantic.

Adults who took Paxlovid 50% less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19: 10 CDC findings

Adults who were prescribed Paxlovid for mild to moderate COVID-19 were 50 percent less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19, according to the CDC’s COVID-19 Weekly Tracker published Dec. 9.