Latest KFF Health News Stories
Federal Judge Blocks Order To Cut Funding For Transgender Care
U.S. District Court Judge Lauren King on Friday issued a preliminary injunction after previously granting a two-week restraining order on the matter, according to AP. Other states making news include Iowa, Connecticut, Tennessee, Florida, Illinois, and New York.
HHS Scrubs Public Comment On Health Rules, Rolling Back Transparency
Despite his pledge to “launch a new era of radical transparency,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is issuing a new rule today that effectively eliminates input from knowledgeable health care industry professionals. Reactions condemning Kennedy’s Friday announcement were swift.
Large Employers Warn Against Hospital ‘Cost-Shifting’ To Cover Medicaid Gap
The Purchaser Business Group on Health, which represents large businesses such as Walmart, Microsoft, and Salesforce, says hospital leaders shouldn’t look to businesses to make up any potential Medicaid losses, Modern Healthcare reported.
Vaccines An ‘Option’ Amid Deadly Measles Outbreak, HHS Chief Says
“The decision to vaccinate is a personal one,” Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote after suggesting the use of vitamin A as a treatment. Measles has no approved antiviral treatment. Studies have found the MMR vaccine is safe and effective. Meanwhile, vaccine resistance hardens in Texas as measles cases grow.
FDA, CDC Granted Exemption To Advise WHO On Shots For Next Flu Season
Data suggests this season’s vaccines were less effective for some children, but the composition change should address that. Meanwhile, the CDC says that although influenza activity is still elevated, this flu season appears to have peaked.
Editorial writers discuss these public health issues.
Government Shutdown Looms As GOP Brass Weigh Adding DOGE Cuts To Bill
The strategy, though not firm, would be to codify savings Elon Musk claims come from waste into the federal spending bill. It would effectively back Democrats into a corner over whether to keep the government open or allow, as they see it, President Donald Trump’s unconstitutional power grab.
Republicans Decry States’ Levies On Insurers, Providers For Medicaid Funds
To pay for President Donald Trump’s tax cuts, GOP lawmakers are leaning into restricting matching funds for provider taxes, a move that would put states in a bind to make up the difference. They allege states are inflating Medicaid costs.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today’s selections are on trust in health care, covid, ABLE accounts, gun violence, and more.
Doctors Call Out RFK Jr. Over Inaccurate Measles Information
“This is not usual,” one doctor said. “Any death of a child is one death too many, especially when it comes to vaccine preventable illnesses,” said another. Meanwhile, as cases crop up in Kentucky and New Jersey, the Trump administration and Texas officials are mum about vaccines available to prevent the disease.
Pentagon Bars Openly Transgender Troops From Serving Their Country
Meanwhile, The New York Times says the actual number of transgender troops serving is more than two-thirds lower than previously estimated. Other news includes Iowa and Missouri pushing to limit transgender rights and care; medical groups opposing Trump’s definition of “sex;” and more.
Private Equity Sycamore Might Take Over Walgreens, Carve It Into Three
The deal is not yet finalized. Other news includes: tariffs on the pharmaceutical industry and what it means for medicine; Pfizer putting emphasis on merit in the face of DEI overhaul; and more.
Wyo. Governor Signs Legislation That Effectively Ends Surgical Abortions
The new law requires clinics providing procedural abortions to be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers and will likely force the only such clinic to close, Wyoming Public Radio reported. Plus: Montana lawmakers have shelved an abortion travel ban.
HPV Vaccine Uptake Greatly Improved Cervical Cancer Prevention: CDC
The study shows an almost 80% drop in rates of cervical precancers among women ages 20-24 from 2008 to 2022, correlating to vaccine uptake. Simultaneously, an mRNA pancreatic cancer vaccine is showing promise in a small, early-stage trial.
Flu Vaccine Manufacturers In A Tight Spot After Canceled FDA Meeting
An HHS spokesman said the FDA will “make public its recommendations to manufacturers in time for updated vaccines to be available for the 2025-2026 influenza season.” It’s possible it might use the recommendations of a WHO panel that meets today to pick the strains for next season’s shots.
First Edition: Friday, Feb. 28, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Dangers Of The Anti-Vax Movement Come Into Focus As Child Dies In Texas Measles Outbreak
Editorial writers examine these public health issues.
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of the latest health research and news.
Malpractice Standards Change From ‘Medical Custom’ To ‘Evidence-Based’
The American Law Institute’s guidelines — which it approved last year but now are published — pointed out that medical decision-making has changed in the past 40 years “away from subjective judgments and reliance on authorities toward a formal analysis of evidence,” MedPage Today said.