California Hospitals Scramble on Earthquake Retrofits as State Limits Extensions
By Annie Sciacca
California legislators for years have granted extensions on a 1994 law requiring hospitals to retrofit their buildings to withstand earthquakes. Gov. Gavin Newsom in September vetoed an extension for all hospitals but signed a bill granting relief to rural and “distressed” hospitals and some others.
Watch: ‘Breaking the Silence Is a Step’ — Beyond the Lens of ‘Silence in Sikeston’
By Cara Anthony
KFF Health News Midwest correspondent Cara Anthony discusses her reporting for the “Silence in Sikeston” multimedia project, which explores the impact of a 1942 lynching and a 2020 police killing on a rural Missouri community — and what it led her to learn about her own family’s past.
Happening in Springfield: New Immigrants Offer Economic Promise, Health System Challenges
By Stephanie Armour
Donald Trump put Springfield, Ohio, in a harsh spotlight by spreading misinformation about its legal Haitian population. But what is really happening in this small city is a microcosm of the health care challenges immigration hot spots throughout the country are facing.
Older Men’s Connections Often Wither When They’re on Their Own
By Judith Graham
Older men who find themselves living alone tend to have fewer close personal relationships than older women. They’re vulnerable, physically and emotionally, but often reluctant to ask for help.
Daily Edition for Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Extreme heat and meth use, health ballot measures, TikTok lawsuit, Medicare coverage, drug prices, vaccines, and more
Employers Haven’t a Clue How Their Drug Benefits Are Managed
By Arthur Allen
The Big Three pharmacy benefit managers say they return nearly all the rebates they get from drugmakers to the employers and insurers who hire them. But most employers seem to doubt that.
An Arm and a Leg: ‘Baby Steps’ in the Fight Against Facility Fees
By Dan Weissmann
An extra $99 fee on top of a copay for a checkup didn’t sit right with a listener. Turns out, state legislators across the country aren’t buying it either.
Poppy Seed Brew Triggers Morphine Overdose, Drawing Attention of Lawmakers
By David Hilzenrath
Illustration by Lydia Zuraw
Poppy seeds contaminated with opioids can be used to make a deadly brew, a watchdog says.
Calif. Ballot Measure Targets Drug Discount Program Spending
By Angela Hart
Californians in November will weigh in on a ballot initiative to increase scrutiny over the use of health-care dollars — particularly money from a federal drug discount program — meant to support patient care largely for low-income or indigent people. The revenue is sometimes used to address housing instability and homelessness among vulnerable patient populations. Voters […]
Daily Edition for Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Should The Tijuana River Valley Be A Superfund Site?: The San Diego County Board of Supervisors today is expected to consider whether to petition the EPA to inspect the Tijuana River Valley and determine if it qualifies for federal assistance to clean it. “It’s not just sewage; it’s horrendous chemicals, too,” one witness says. Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
