KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': New Year, New Congress, New Health Agenda
Health is unlikely to be a top priority for the new GOP-led 119th Congress and President-elect Donald Trump. But it’s likely to play a key supporting role, with an abortion bill already scheduled for debate in the Senate. Meanwhile, it’s unclear when and how the new Congress will deal with the bipartisan bills jettisoned from the previous Congress’ year-end omnibus measure — including a major deal to rein in the power of pharmacy benefit managers. In this “catch up on all the news you missed” episode, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.
Daily Edition for Thursday, January 9, 2025
Hospitals Open For Now As LA Fires Worsen: Hospitals in Los Angeles County remained operational as of Wednesday evening, though several health systems have shuttered clinical locations and physician offices in affected areas. Health systems are also keeping watch for related utility shutoffs. Read more from Becker’s Hospital Review.
Daily Edition for Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Thousands Evacuate As Fire Tears Through Southern California: Gregg Champion was trying to reach his Pacific Palisades business Tuesday when he was met with flames so intense he could feel their heat and smoke so dense he struggled to breathe. Champion, 56, was about 100 yards away from the door of his business, the drug treatment and addiction center Start-Up Recovery on Paseo Miramar, when personnel battling the Palisades fire stopped him. “If you go any further, you will die,” a firefighter told him. Read more from the Los Angeles Times.
Climate Change Threatens the Mental Well-Being of Youths. Here’s How To Help Them Cope.
By Bernard J. Wolfson
The growing toll of climate-related disasters is a risk to the emotional well-being of young people. An Orange County, California, pediatric emergency doctor wants to add questions about climate change to standard mental health screenings conducted in pediatricians’ offices and other settings where kids seek care.
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Daily Edition for Tuesday, January 7, 2025
3 Sickened After Eating Death Cap Mushrooms: Three Monterey County residents were hospitalized after eating poisonous mushrooms allegedly purchased from an unlicensed vendor operating out of a van in a supermarket parking lot in East Salinas. Health officials are concerned the vendor may be selling mushrooms at multiple locations. Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle and Salinas Californian.
Biden Administration Bars Medical Debt From Credit Scores
By Noam N. Levey
The move, which comes less than two weeks before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office, represents a challenge to the new administration.
Health Care AI, Intended To Save Money, Turns Out To Require a Lot of Expensive Humans
By Darius Tahir
Despite the hype over artificial intelligence in medicine, the systems require consistent monitoring and staffing to put in place and maintain. Checking whether an algorithm has developed the software equivalent of a blown gasket can be complicated — and expensive.
An Arm and a Leg: A Listener Fighting the Good Fight
By Dan Weissmann
A medical resident who listens to “An Arm and a Leg” is pushing for change with the American Medical Association and at the hospital where he works.
Daily Edition for Monday, January 6, 2025
Independent Pharmacy Will Open Jan. 13 In Santa Rosa: A new, independently owned pharmacy, Santa Rosa Pharmacy, is coming to the downtown area, aimed at filling the need not just for prescriptions but also for personalized community care. Previously, Tuttle’s Pharmacy served the area for nearly eight decades before selling its two locations to Rite Aid in early 2024. Read more from The Press Democrat.
