Most Americans Aren’t Thinking About Covid This Holiday Season: Most Americans are unconcerned about covid risks this holiday season. According to a new survey, approximately 75% of adults expressed little or no worry about getting infected with the coronavirus, while two-thirds downplayed the risk of transmission to loved ones. Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Danger of Silicosis In California Workers Ignored: The deaths of workers like Leon, some barely at middle age, have alarmed California lawmakers and regulators as dozens of cases of the suffocating illness have emerged among people who cut and grind countertops. Read more from the Los Angeles Times.
Below, check out the roundup of California Healthline’s coverage. For today's national health news, read KFF Health News’ Morning Briefing.
More News From Across The State
San Francisco Chronicle:
Big Changes Coming To Medi-Cal, Health Plan For 40% Of Californians
Some big changes are coming to Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid health care program for low-income people, next year. Starting Jan. 1, two groups of people that had not been eligible for full-scale Medi-Cal will gain access: low-income adults ages 26-49 and some people who are disabled or older than 64. On the other hand, some current Medi-Cal enrollees will lose coverage as the state finishes unwinding the federal “continuous coverage” program that kept people on Medicaid in the pandemic, even if they no longer qualified. (Pender, 11/19)
Modern Healthcare:
UCLA Health Sues Mattel Over Reneged $49M Donation Promise
UCLA Health is suing Mattel Inc. over a $49 million pledge it alleges the toymaker failed to honor. Mattel, the company behind Barbie and Fisher-Price brands, agreed in 2017 to donate $49 million incrementally over 12 years to the Regents of the University of California, on behalf of UCLA Health, and the UCLA Foundation to expand care at UCLA's children's hospital in west Los Angeles. Mattel paid $2 million in 2017, and the health system renamed the facility UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, according to a lawsuit filed Nov. 9 by UCLA in the Superior Court of California. (Hudson, 11/17)
California Healthline:
'Dying Broke' Special Report: Extra Fees Drive Assisted Living Profits
The add-ons pile up: $93 for medications, $50 for cable TV. Prices soar as the industry leaves no service unbilled, out of reach for many families. (Rau, 11/20)
NBC News:
Neck Injection Could Improve Smell Issues In Some Long Covid Patients
New research from Jefferson Health in Philadelphia suggests that a procedure called stellate ganglion block is somewhat effective at reducing parosmia in patients who suffered from the condition for at least six months after their Covid illness and didn’t respond to pharmaceutical or topical therapies. (Bendix, 11/20)
California Healthline:
Is Novavax, The Latecomer Covid Vaccine, Worth The Wait?
People with special medical considerations are hoping the Novavax shot will bring fewer headaches, fevers, and less fatigue than have been reported by those taking mRNA vaccines. (Maxmen, 11/20)
Axios:
Why Some People Who Got The COVID-19 Vaccine Aren't Getting Boosted Now
About 6 in 10 adults who previously got a COVID-19 vaccine have not received an updated shot this fall — and about half of them don't plan to get one, according to a new KFF survey. The survey shows decreasing public concern about COVID near the beginning of respiratory virus season, including among people who've previously protected themselves against COVID. (Millman, 11/17)
Stat:
Respiratory Viruses Appear To Be Falling Back Into Seasonal Order
In the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic, something strange happened: For a year or two, illnesses that used to emerge like clockwork when fall and winter arrived — flu, RSV, and the myriad viruses that cause colds — did not sicken us. (Branswell, 11/20)
CIDRAP:
COVID Data Show Small Rise Ahead Of The Holidays
After declining trends since the end of September, US COVID indicators rose slightly last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its latest updates. The rise comes just ahead of Thanksgiving gatherings and as other respiratory viruses such as flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) continue to increase. In a survey update today, the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) found that Americans' concerns about COVID-19 are lagging, which it says may explain lukewarm uptake of the updated vaccine. (Schnirring, 11/17)
CIDRAP:
Organized Efforts To Debunk COVID Untruths Helped, But More Work Needed
A systematic review by Brown University researchers of studies on countering COVID-19 misinformation finds that only 18% included public health measures such as vaccination, and some seemed to give credence to conspiracy theories and other unproven claims. The review also revealed challenges in studying health misinformation, including a need for more study of measures aimed at stemming video-based misinformation. The team also said inconsistent definitions of misinformation make it hard to evaluate intervention studies. (Van Beusekom, 11/17)
Los Angeles Times:
Neighborhoods Get Little Guidance About Toxic Risks After Massive Tustin Hangar Fire
Johnny Schillereff and his wife, Kori, never worried about their home’s proximity to the historic Tustin hangars. If anything, the cavernous wooden structures made the Columbus Square neighborhood where they settled after moving from Newport Beach three years ago even more attractive. (Fry, 11/19)
Los Angeles Times:
Demolition Of Burned Tustin Hangar Underway; Asbestos Levels Low
The scorched remains of a World War II blimp hangar in Tustin are being razed as air quality officials call nearby asbestos levels “below any level of concern” while continuing to urge neighbors to take safety precautions. (Vincent, 11/19)
The Wall Street Journal:
They Believe Pesticides Caused Their Cancers. Proving It Is Almost Impossible.
Farmworkers and families in Greenfield believe cancer cases in their community were caused by pesticide used in nearby fields. Establishing whether pesticide or another environmental exposure caused cancer in a particular person is difficult. Many factors influence whether someone develops cancer, and the interplay among those forces isn’t fully understood. (Abbott and Sanchez, 11/19)
The Hill:
Senate Democrats Demand Answers From Manufacturers Over RSV Drug Shortage
In a letter led by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) sent Friday, the lawmakers asked manufacturers AstraZeneca and Sanofi for more information about the current supply of nirsevimab, when the companies first became aware of the shortage, and why they were so unprepared for the demand. “As our nation braces for the 2023-2024 RSV season, we are concerned that health care providers and families are having difficulty accessing this new immunization product that can be used to prevent severe RSV infections in infants,” the senators wrote. (Weixel, 11/17)
Fresno Bee:
KinderMed Pain & Fever For Kids And Infants Recalled
The possibility of “Acetaminophen instability” got all lots of KinderMed Infants’ Pain & Fever and KinderMed Kids’ Pain & Fever medicine recalled by distributor KinderFarms. (Neal, 11/19)
CBS News:
Court Orders Balance Of Nature To Stop Sales Of Supplements After FDA Lawsuits
A federal court ordered the brand Balance of Nature to stop producing and selling its dietary supplement products this week, after the Food and Drug Administration accused the two Utah-based companies behind it of repeatedly breaking the law in how they made and marketed their supplements. The FDA says the company marketing Balance of Nature, Evig LLC, and its CEO Lex Howard had flouted years of federal warnings about overstepping limits in what they could claim about diseases their supplements could cure or prevent. (Tin, 11/17)
Reuters:
Bayer Ordered To Pay $1.56 Billion In Latest US Trial Loss Over Roundup Weedkiller
A Missouri jury ordered Bayer (BAYGn.DE) to pay $1.56 billion to four plaintiffs who claimed the company's Roundup weedkiller caused injuries including cancer, a verdict that could intensify investor pressure on the German drugs and agricultural chemicals company to change its legal strategy. The Cole County, Missouri jury found on Friday that Bayer's Monsanto business was liable for claims of negligence, design defects and failing to warn plaintiffs of the potential dangers of using Roundup, according to court documents. (Hals, 11/19)
AP:
No More Thanksgiving 'Food Orgy'? New Obesity Medications Change How Users Think Of Holiday Meals
For most of her life, Claudia Stearns dreaded Thanksgiving. As a person who struggled with obesity since childhood, Stearns hated the annual turmoil of obsessing about what she ate — and the guilt of overindulging on a holiday built around food. Now, after losing nearly 100 pounds using medications including Wegovy, a powerful new anti-obesity drug, Stearns says the “food noise” in her head has gone very, very quiet. (Aleccia, 11/20)
Reuters:
Boom In Weight-Loss Drugs To Drive Up US Employers' Medical Costs In 2024 - Mercer
Booming demand for newer weight-loss and diabetes drugs is expected to accelerate the rise in medical expenses for employers in the United States next year, staff health benefits consultant Mercer said on Friday. GLP-1 medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could contribute between 50 and 100 basis points to the trend, Mercer's Chief Health Actuary, Sunit Patel, told Reuters in an interview. (Leo and Mandowara, 11/17)
Politico:
Newsom TV Ad Hits DeSantis On Abortion As Fox Debate Looms
California Gov. Gavin Newson is sending a warning shot at Florida’s Ron DeSantis over abortion ahead of their anticipated clash on Fox News later this month. On Sunday, Newsom is debuting a new TV ad that accuses the Republican governor and presidential candidate of pushing policies that criminalize women and doctors who pursue abortions after six weeks. The ad, narrated by Newsom, shows pictures of a woman and a doctor under a “Wanted” sign and states that their possible arrest is “by order of Governor Ron DeSantis.” (Cadelago, 11/19)
California Healthline:
New Social Security Report Shows Growing Overpayment Problem Tops $23B
Social Security has been overpaying recipients for years, then demanding the money back, leaving people with bills for up to tens of thousands of dollars or more. (Hilzenrath and Fleischer)
California Healthline:
US Military Says National Security Depends On ‘Forever Chemicals’
PFAS chemicals are found in hundreds of products and weapons used by the U.S. military. Defense Department officials say a blanket ban on these man-made substances would threaten military readiness. (Kime, 11/20)
The (Santa Rosa) Press Democrat:
Santa Rosa Studying More Stringent Regulations To Curb Youth Smoking
Santa Rosa is considering new regulations to crack down on access to tobacco products among young people. City officials have proposed requiring businesses that sell cigarettes and other tobacco products to obtain a retail license and capping the number of retailers in the city that can sell tobacco. (Pineda, 11/18)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Whitburn Pushed To Relax San Diego Cannabis Rules As His Chief Of Staff Collected Tens Of Thousands From The Industry, Records Show
In the summer of 2021, a lobbyist representing a Riverside County cannabis dispensary met privately with Jesus Cardenas, then chief of staff to newly elected San Diego Councilmember Stephen Whitburn. (McDonald, 11/19)
Axios:
Older Americans Are Embracing Cannabis Now More Than Ever
The number of U.S. seniors who report using cannabis has climbed in recent years, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In 2022, 8.4% people age 65 or older said they used marijuana in the past year, a significant increase from about 0.4% of seniors who reported using it in the past year when polled in 2007. (Knutson, 11/17)
The Associated Press:
Officials Stock Up On Overdose Antidote Naloxone After Fentanyl-Laced Letters Disrupt Vote Counting
The suspicious letters sent to vote centers and government buildings in six states this month were undeniably scary, some containing traces of fentanyl or white powder, accompanied by not-so-veiled threats and dubious political symbols. Harkening back to the anthrax attacks that killed five people in 2001, the mailings are prompting elections officials already frustrated with ongoing harassment and threats to reach out to local police, fire and health departments for help stocking up on the overdose reversal medication naloxone. (Johnson and Komenda, 11/18)
USA Today:
Why Suicide Hotline Number 988 Is Still Not Running At Full Capacity
While the 988 Lifeline has likely helped millions of people in crisis since its launch in July 2022, mental health experts say the nationwide public health program is far from perfect. The lack of stable funding, lack of awareness and the absence of mental health resources have prevented the lifeline from realizing its full potential, experts say. “It’s an entry point for people who haven’t had access before, but it’s ultimately still limited,” said Angeleena Francis, ...executive director of AMFM Healthcare (Rodriguez, 11/20)
CNN:
How To Help Teens Can Avoid Diet Culture This Holiday Season
The fact that diet culture all over social media targets grown women is bad enough, but such messaging also trickles down to tweens and teens. (And let’s be honest, a lot is aimed directly at young people too.) It couldn’t happen at a worse time: There’s been a noticeable spike in eating disorders, particularly among adolescent girls, since the beginning of the pandemic. (Hurley, 11/18)
The Washington Post:
Women’s Body Temperatures Are No More Variable Than Men’s, Study Finds
Women’s body temperatures are no more variable than men’s, despite menstrual cycles and hormonal variability, a recent monitoring study suggests. The analysis, published in the journal Biology of Sex Differences, casts doubt on an idea that has long colored biomedical research — that ovarian cycles make females unsuited for drug trials and other clinical experiments. (Blakemore, 11/18)
NBC News:
New Study Reveals Racism May Increase The Risk Of Stroke In Black Women
Black women who reported experiencing racism may be at an increased risk of having a stroke, a new study finds. Participants who said they experienced racism in employment, housing and interactions with police had an estimated 38% higher chance of experiencing all types of strokes compared to Black women who didn’t perceive experiencing racism, the study found. (Bellamy, 11/17)
The Bakersfield Californian:
State Removes All Inmates From Cal City Prison, Remaining Staff Working To Close Facility
Nearly a decade after they arrived, all inmates have been moved out of a facility in California City leased when the state needed more space. Alia Cruz, spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, confirmed last week that at the facility owned by CoreCivic, "all incarcerated individuals have been transferred to other institutions or placed on parole if qualified." (Elliott, 11/19)
CBS News:
Why Is There Lead In Some Applesauce? FDA Now Screening Cinnamon Imports, As Authorities Brace For Reports To Climb
The Food and Drug Administration has begun screening incoming shipments of cinnamon from multiple countries, the agency announced this week, as reported illnesses have climbed to 34 in the investigation of lead poisonings linked to pouches of cinnamon-flavored applesauce. The FDA has ramped up its investigation in recent weeks, after authorities in North Carolina first warned of the possible link to applesauce when investigating cases of lead poisonings in the state. (Tin, 11/17)
Los Angeles Daily News:
Successful Aging: What You Need To Know About Family Caregivers
It’s National Family Caregivers Month. President Biden issued a proclamation that encourages all of us to reach out and honor those who provide needed care to family members, friends and neighbors and to thank them. (Dennis, 11/19)
Los Angeles Times:
Rosalynn Carter, Wife And Advisor To Jimmy Carter, Has Died
Rosalynn Carter, the formidable first lady who helped modernize and expand the role of a U.S. president’s wife as she sat in on White House Cabinet meetings, spoke freely and pushed for mental health reform, has died. Carter, who with her husband, Jimmy, remained steadfastly committed to public service after returning to private life, died peacefully at home Sunday in Plains, Ga., with family by her side, the Carter Center said in a statement. The nation’s oldest living first lady was 96. (Nelson and Beyette, 11/19)
NBC News:
Rosalynn Carter, Former First Lady And Tireless Humanitarian Who Advocated For Mental Health Issues, Dies At 96
Rosalynn Carter, the Georgia-bred former first lady and humanitarian who championed mental health care, provided constant political counsel to her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, and modeled graceful longevity for the nation, died Sunday, according to the Carter Center. She was 96. (Arkin, 11/19)