Coronavirus
Local Officials in China Hid Coronavirus Dangers From Beijing, U.S. Agencies Find
Edward Wong et al., The New York Times
Trump administration officials have tried taking a political sledgehammer to China over the coronavirus pandemic, asserting that the Chinese Communist Party covered up the initial outbreak and allowed the virus to spread around the globe. But within the United States government, intelligence officials have arrived at a more nuanced and complex finding of what Chinese officials did wrong in January.
Trump administration rejects idea of testing the country back to pre-pandemic normal
Cassidy Morrison, Washington Examiner
A further massive increase in the availability of tests for the coronavirus could functionally end the pandemic and return life to normal, many public health experts and economists say. The Trump administration’s coronavirus testing czar, though, rejects the idea.
American Indians, Alaska Natives hit harder by COVID-19, U.S. CDC says
Mrinalika Roy, Reuters
American Indians and Alaska Natives have been hit harder by COVID-19 than the U.S. white population and have been more likely to become infected by the novel coronavirus at a younger age, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report showed on Wednesday.
Many Americans still don’t have coronavirus testing access
Caitlin Owens, Axios
Even after months of building up testing capacity, more than 67 million Americans — or 20% of the population — live far away from a coronavirus testing site, according to a new analysis by GoodRx.
COVID-19 fatality rates fall as treatments improve
Reid Wilson, The Hill
The percentage of those infected with the coronavirus who die of COVID-19 is falling in most states, a sign that the battle against the virus is entering a new phase.
Trump touts convalescent plasma as a coronavirus treatment
Andrea Shalal, Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday touted the use of convalescent plasma as a treatment for COVID-19 and suggested a reported decision by regulators to put on hold an emergency authorization for its use could be politically motivated.
As Covid-19 cases in prisons climb, data on race remain largely obscured
Eileen Guo, Stat News
By mid-August, jails, prisons, and other detention centers accounted for all of the top 10 Covid-19 clusters in the country. This week, the number of Covid-19 deaths among inmates and correctional officers passed 1,000, with more than 160,000 infected.
What if We Worried Less About the Accuracy of Coronavirus Tests?
Kim Tingley, The New York Times Magazine
Accuracy is everything, typically, when we take a diagnostic test — an incorrect result can lead to anguish and erroneous, if not harmful, treatment.
Trail of bubbles leads scientists to new coronavirus clue
Lauran Neergaard, The Associated Press
A doctor checking comatose COVID-19 patients for signs of a stroke instead stumbled onto a new clue about how the virus may harm the lungs — thanks to a test that used tiny air bubbles and a robot.
Payers
Aetna, Cleveland Clinic launching co-branded health plan
Paige Minemyer, FierceHealthcare
The Aetna Whole Health – Cleveland Clinic plan will be offered to employers in northeast Ohio. It includes a coordinated care model through Cleveland Clinic’s providers, including the Cleveland Clinic Quality Alliance’s network of employed and independent community physicians.
Providers
New York City emergency medical workers prepare for layoffs
Tom Winter, NBC News
The head of New York City’s emergency medical services union said Wednesday the city is preparing to lay off hundreds of its members as the budget crisis grows amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Pediatrics Group Offers ‘Long Overdue’ Apology for Racist Past
Emma Goldberg, The New York Times
Dr. Roland B. Scott was the first African-American to pass the pediatric board exam, in 1934. He was a faculty member at Howard University, and went on to establish its center for the study of sickle cell disease; he gained national acclaim for his research on the blood disorder. But when he applied for membership with the American Academy of Pediatrics — its one criteria for admission was board certification — he was rejected multiple times beginning in 1939.
Trump Cites the V.A. as a Central Achievement. But Troubles Simmer.
Jennifer Steinhauer, The New York Times
Mr. Trump’s signature plan to expand veteran access to health care outside the department’s own health care centers has been hobbled by the coronavirus pandemic.
Pharma, Biotech and Devices
Drugmakers crack down on 340B discounts, demand data
Rachel Cohrs, Modern Healthcare
Drugmakers in recent weeks have taken increasingly aggressive actions to crack down on 340B drug discounts through contract pharmacies and demand more data from healthcare providers.
VA problems raise worries about mail slowdown, prescriptions
Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill
Concern is growing among Democrats and advocacy groups that slowdowns in the mail could leave millions of people without access to needed medications.
Bayer Warned of Essure Complaint Rise Long Before Sales Halt
Jef Feeley and Edvard Pettersson, Bloomberg
A Bayer AG official warned the company of increased government scrutiny of injuries from its Essure contraceptive implant years before it was pulled from the market, according to recently unsealed court documents.
Health IT
With Virtual Reality, Caregivers Can Become Patients
Kerry Hannon, The New York Times
The company’s software allows users to peer into the body and mind of someone confronted with aging issues: cognitive decline such as Alzheimer’s, age-related vision and hearing loss, or neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and dementia.
Opinions, Editorials and Perspectives
Past Spending Has Not Bought Us Security. This Must Change.
Gwen DuBois, Morning Consult
The United States spends more on traditional defense than the next ten nations combined, more on nuclear weapons systems than any other nation, and we spend more on health care per capita than other developed countries. Still, recent statistics revealed that life expectancy in the United States was the lowest compared to 10 other wealthy nations and infant mortality was the highest.
Research Reports
Over 67 Million Americans Lack Access to COVID-19 Testing: Where Are These ‘Testing Deserts’?
Tori Marsh, GoodRx
More than 67 million Americans, or 20% of the U.S. population, live far from a COVID-19 testing site, according to new research from GoodRx. While some only have to drive 3 miles to get a test, people in almost 17,000 census tracts have to drive an average of 22 miles to the nearest testing site.
General
Teachers could stay in classroom if exposed to COVID-19
Jeff Amy, The Associated Press
New guidance from the President Donald Trump’s administration that declares teachers to be “critical infrastructure workers” could give the green light to exempting teachers from quarantine requirements after being exposed to COVID-19 and instead send them back into the classroom.
Scam Alert: Things a COVID Contact Tracer Wouldn’t Say
Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News
State officials and federal agencies warn there’s a new phone scam circulating: Some callers posing as COVID-19 contact tracers try to pry credit card or bank account information from unsuspecting victims.
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