Category: Public Health

An overlooked population with high rates of Type 1 diabetes

The highest prevalence of Type 1 diabetes is among middle-aged and older adults, though data on these populations remain sparse, according to a study by Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 

Readers Speak Up About Women’s Health Issues, From Reproductive Care to Drinking

KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.

2 states where COVID-19 cases are likely to grow

Only Texas and Kansas were anticipated to see a growth in COVID-19 infections as of March 30, the CDC said.

CDC tells clinicians to watch for bird flu in new health alert

The CDC is warning clinicians and state health departments to watch for bird flu cases after a Texas resident was infected, presumably from dairy cattle.

Biden Is Right About $35 Insulin Cap but Exaggerates Prior Costs for Medicare Enrollees

Most Medicare enrollees likely were not paying a monthly average of $400 — as President Joe Biden stated — before the insulin cap took effect. However, because costs and other factors result in widely varying prices, some Medicare enrollees might have paid that much in a given month.

KFF Health News’ ‘What the Health?’: Florida Limits Abortion — For Now

The Florida Supreme Court handed down dual abortion rulings this week. One said voters will be allowed to decide in November whether to create a state right to abortion. The other ruling, though, allows a 15-week ban to take effect immediately — before an even more sweeping, six-week ban replaces it in May. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is doubling down on his administration’s health care accomplishments as he kicks off his general election campaign. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins University schools of nursing and public health, and Tami Luhby of CNN join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews health care analyst Jeff Goldsmith about the growing size and influence of UnitedHealth Group in the wake of the Change Healthcare hack.

US taking bird flu 'very seriously,' CDC says: 5 notes

While health officials say the threat avian flu poses to humans remains low, the situation is being closely monitored and taken “very seriously,” the CDC director told ABC News in an April 3 report — days after a person in Texas tested positive for bir…

Feds Join Ranks of Employers with Generous Fertility Benefits

Starting this year, federal employees can choose plans that cover a broad menu of fertility services, including up to $25,000 annually for in vitro fertilization procedures. At the same time, politics around IVF and reproductive health have become a central issue in the current election-year debate.

Heat Protections for California Workers Are in Limbo After Newsom Abandons Rules

Proposed rules to protect millions of workers from potentially dangerous heat inside workplaces are dead after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration refused to sign off. Labor advocates and state regulators are calling for emergency regulations before temperatures soar this summer.

California Universities Are Required to Offer Abortion Pills. Many Just Don’t Mention It.

One year after California became the first state to require public universities to provide abortion pills to students, LAist found that basic information for students to obtain the medication is often nonexistent.