The Latest: Workers Are More Likely to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine When Their Employers Encourage It

Plus, states are pushing to regulate pharmacy drug brokers, and few adults report being aware of new hospital price transparency rules.

June 30, 2021 KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor: June 2021   As more employers return to in-person work, the latest KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor report shows that workers are more likely to have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine when their employer encourages it or provides paid sick leave to get the vaccine and recover from side effects. About two-thirds of workers report that their employer is encouraging vaccinations, and half say that their employer is providing paid time off for workers to get the vaccine and recover from any side effects. (News Release, Report) States Step Up Push to Regulate Pharmacy Drug Brokers   Under pressure to rein in skyrocketing prescription drug costs, states are targeting companies that serve as conduits for drug manufacturers, health insurers and pharmacies. More than 100 separate bills regulating those companies, known as pharmacy benefit managers, have been introduced in 42 states this year. The flood of bills comes after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling late last year backed Arkansas' right to enforce rules on such companies. (KHN, Fortune) Few Adults Are Aware of Hospital Price Transparency Requirements   Few Americans realize that starting this year hospitals are required to post prices of common health services on their websites in a format patients can access and use, data from the KFF Health Tracking poll shows. Federal regulations that took effect January 1 require this price transparency for hospitals to allow patients to compare prices across hospitals and "shop" for lower-price care. The new survey data finds that 9% of adults nationwide are aware that hospitals must disclose this information online. (News Release, Issue Brief) Without Enough Boots on the Ground, California's Vaccination Efforts Falter   Gov. Gavin Newsom routinely boasts that California has "one of the highest vaccination rates in the United States of America." But Newsom, facing a recall election this fall, rarely mentions that the state's covid vaccine uptake has largely stagnated in Black and Latino neighborhoods hardest hit by the coronavirus, and in rural outposts where opposition to vaccines runs rampant. California's 61 local public health departments have been stunted by years of declining revenue, budget cuts and staff reductions that have stymied their ability to conduct the expensive and time-consuming public health outreach campaigns necessary to combat vaccine skepticism and hesitancy. (KHN, Los Angeles Times) Special Coverage: COVID-19 Coronavirus The latest news and analysis on the coronavirus outbreak. You can find a complete list of recent releases on KFF.org and KHN.org. Without Enough Boots on the Ground, California's Vaccination Efforts Falter (KHN, Los Angeles Times) Covid's Lingering Effects Can Put the Brakes on Elective Surgeries (KHN, NBC News) Analysis: Why We'll Likely Never Know Whether a Covid Lab Leak Happened in China (KHN, Los Angeles Times) Children and Covid: Journalists Explore Grief and Vaccine Side Effects (KHN) KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor: June 2021 (News Release, Report) Latest Data on COVID-19 Vaccinations by Race/Ethnicity (Issue Brief) Updated: COVID-19 Coronavirus Tracker – Updated as of June 30, 2021 (Interactive) Updated: State COVID-19 Data and Policy Actions (Interactive) Updated: Medicaid Emergency Authority Tracker: Approved State Actions to Address COVID-19 (Interactive) Tracking COVID-19 New Global Confirmed Cases (on 6/29): 384,664 Share of Population Vaccinated with 1+ Doses (as of 6/29): 56.2% Total U.S. Deaths (as of 6/29): 604,474 News and Headlines News and headlines from Kaiser Health News (KHN) and California Healthline (CHL). Follow KHN on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and CHL on Facebook  and Twitter, for the latest updates. States Step Up Push to Regulate Pharmacy Drug Brokers (KHN, Fortune) Desperate for Home Care, Seniors Often Wait Months With Workers in Short Supply (KHN, NPR) A Hospital Charged $722.50 to Push Medicine Through an IV. Twice. (KHN, NPR) Doctors' Lobby Scores 'Major Victory' on Bill to Hold Physicians Accountable (KHN, San Diego Star-Tribune) Latest news summaries from the KHN Morning Briefing Data and Analysis The latest in health policy data and analysis from KFF. Few Adults Are Aware of Hospital Price Transparency Requirements (News Release, Issue Brief) The Status of Medicaid Expansion in Missouri and Implications for Coverage and Cost (Policy Watch Post) Updated: Medicaid Waiver Tracker: Approved and Pending Section 1115 Waivers by State (Issue Brief) The Buzz See what's driving health policy conversation on social media. Follow KFF on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates and perspectives. Filling the need for trusted information on national health issues, KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California. kff.org  |  khn.org Did someone forward this to you? Click here to subscribe to The Latest. This email was sent to albarkahslamet.ssss@blogger.com. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Or, permanently unsubscribe from all future emails.  If you need help or have questions, please send an email to subscriptions@kff.org. Please do not reply to this email as this address is not monitored. KFF 185 Berry Street Suite 2000 San Francisco, CA 94107