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New Federal Medicaid Rules Require One Month of Work. Some States Demand More.

Starting next year, about 18.5 million adults will be subject to new Medicaid work rules in 42 states and Washington, D.C. Applicants must show they’ve been working for at least a month before receiving benefits. Some Republican-controlled states want to triple the required work period.

As US Birth Rate Falls, Feds’ Response May Make Pregnancy More Dangerous

A funding notice for Title X shifts the program’s emphasis from contraception to fertility, family formation, and addressing conditions that could cause infertility, including endometriosis. Experts say these priorities overlook key demographic trends, epidemiology, prevention of unwanted pregnancies, and the nation's high maternal mortality.

Rural Health Payout

Rural Nebraska Dialysis Unit Closes Despite the State’s $219M in Rural Health Funding

A rural Nebraska dialysis unit that was hemorrhaging money closed, upending patients’ lives. That’s despite a federal rural health program that granted the state more than $200 million this year to improve health care in rural communities.

Medi-Cal Immigrant Enrollment Is Dropping. Researchers Point to Trump’s Policies.

A KFF Health News analysis found Medi-Cal lost almost 100,000 immigrants without legal status in the second half of 2025. California officials say it’s not clear if immigrants are losing coverage faster than other populations, but researchers said the most obvious driver is fear of the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

States Change Custody Laws To Keep Children of Detained Immigrants Out of Foster Care

As President Donald Trump’s heightened immigration enforcement continues across the country, some states are updating temporary guardianship laws to keep the children of detained and deported immigrants out of state custody.

Weekly Podcast

What the Health? From KFF Health News: Abortion Pills, the Budget, and RFK Jr.

Daily Cartoon

‘OR Lost and Found?’

Used with the permission of Dave Coverly. Cartoons are the property of their respective artists and are subject to copyright laws. Do not reproduce or redistribute this cartoon without permission of the artist.

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