Category: Public Health

Lack of Affordability Tops Older Americans’ List of Health Care Worries

Rising health care costs are fueling anxiety among older Americans covered by Medicare. They’re right to be concerned.

'Walking pneumonia' surge observed at Cook Children's

Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, began seeing a rise of mycoplasma pneumonia in patients in April, and since then, they’ve unexpectedly increased.

ED visits for COVID on the rise: 4 updates

COVID-19 activity is rising in many areas of the country ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, hinting at the start of a summer surge, the CDC said in a June 28 update. 

Supreme Court OKs Local Crackdowns on Homelessness, as Advocates Warn of Chaos

In a momentous 6-3 decision that could affect communities across the nation, the U.S. Supreme Court gave local officials and law enforcement more authority to fine and penalize homeless people living outside. Advocates for homeless people predict the ruling will lead to more sickness and death.

KFF Health News’ ‘What the Health?’: SCOTUS Ruling Strips Power From Federal Health Agencies

In what will certainly be remembered as a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has overruled a 40-year-old precedent that gave federal agencies, rather than judges, the power to interpret ambiguous laws passed by Congress. Administrative experts say the decision will dramatically change the way key health agencies do business. Also, the court decided not to decide whether a federal law requiring hospitals to provide emergency care overrides Idaho’s near-total ban on abortion. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Victoria Knight of Axios, and Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too.

COVID gets tougher to distinguish

Gone are the days of hallmark COVID-19 symptoms. While loss of taste and smell, and persistent cough were once tell-tale signs of the respiratory infection, symptoms today vary widely, with tests being the only sure-fire way to confirm a diagnosis, phy…

1st Biden-Trump Debate of 2024: What They Got Wrong, and Right

A debate marked by President Joe Biden’s faltering performance featured clashes over insulin costs, inflation, abortion, immigration, and Jan. 6.

Republicans Are Downplaying Abortion, but It Keeps Coming Up

Torn between a base that wants more restrictions on reproductive health care and a moderate majority that does not, it seems many Republicans would rather take an off-ramp than a victory lap when it comes to abortion. But they can’t escape talking about it.

$2 Million Disbursed to Victims and Community Groups in Wake of Super Bowl Mass Shooting

The United Way of Greater Kansas City gave $1.2 million to victims and $832,000 to 14 community groups Thursday, hoping to reach other victims from the violence at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade, as well as those working to prevent gun violence.

CDC recommends RSV vaccines for all adults over 75

Respiratory syncytial virus vaccinations are now recommended for all adults over age 75 and for high-risk adults between ages 60 and 74, the CDC announced June 26.