Latest KFF Health News Content

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Feds Scrapping Office That Researched, Coordinated Response To Long Covid

Morning Briefing

The health care system could wind up providing long and costly care for Americans plagued by lingering effects of a covid infection, one HHS staffer warns. An estimated 23 million people have long covid.

23AndMe Users Rush To Remove Genetic Information After Bankruptcy

Morning Briefing

Customers concerned about privacy attempted to delete their data but struggled to receive deletion confirmation, The Wall Street Journal reported. In other news: the FDA approves a lab-grown blood vessel; UK drugmaker GSK Plc is studying its shingles vaccine for expanded use as dementia prevention; and more.

Supreme Court Case Involving Planned Parenthood Could Wreck Medicaid

Morning Briefing

The case asks the Supreme Court to render much of federal law unenforceable, in an attempt to hurt abortion providers, Vox reports. In other Medicaid news: CDPAP program extends enrollment period; Ohio Medicaid delays confirmed by providers despite denial by state officials; and more.

Europe Is Warning Travelers To Be Careful In America If They Are LGBTQ+

Morning Briefing

The United States has long warned its own citizens to be careful if traveling to an unstable country. In a flip of the script, several nations are now telling their citizens to be careful in the United States.

Trump Administration Will Import Eggs As Prices Spike Due To Bird Flu

Morning Briefing

Turkey and South Korea have signed on to send eggs to the U.S., and more deals are in the works. Hundreds of millions of eggs are expected to be imported. Also: the measles outbreak grows, surpassing last year’s total count; tuberculosis is on the rise; and more.

Abortion A Key Issue In Wis. Election That Could Alter State’s High Court

Morning Briefing

The state’s Supreme Court is considering whether to reactivate a 19th-century law crafted when married women had no legal identity and could not vote. The winner of the election could sway how the court rules. Also, New Jersey, Texas, Wyoming, and Missouri weigh abortion issues.

Residency Match Rates Largely Stable As Pool Of Applicants Grows

Morning Briefing

Notably, there was renewed interest in emergency medicine and pediatrics. Also, nursing is the most competitive major at the University of California. Other industry news includes a nurses strike at Butler Memorial Hospital, doctors’ frustration with the health care system, and more.

Ovarian Cancer Test Less Effective For Black, Native American Patients

Morning Briefing

The Washington Post reports on a study that looked at the common CA-125 blood test and discovered that Black and Native American women were 23% less likely to have an elevated level when diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Also in public health news: ChatGPT and loneliness; why fentanyl deaths are dropping; ADHD and TikTok; and more.

Parents, Educators Worry As Oversight Of Special Education Is Moved To HHS

Morning Briefing

Some education experts called the move illegal and expressed concern that continued federal funding would come with stipulations. Others warned that school districts might seek tax increases to make up for any gaps. Plus: HHS officials are bracing for steep layoffs.

Rikers To Be Replaced With 4 Facilities, With One Dedicated To Mental Health

Morning Briefing

According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the new site will be a “state-of-the-art mental health facility,” CBS News reported. Other states making the news are Illinois, California, Alabama, New Hampshire, Montana, and South Carolina.

New Studies Link Red Meat Allergy To Two More Types Of Tick

Morning Briefing

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is potentially life-threatening and is estimated to affect 450,000 Americans. Also: E-reminders for the flu vaccine might lower uptake of the covid vaccine; educating caregivers of Down syndrome adults about Alzheimer’s; and more.

Trump Orders End To Education Dept.; Funds For Rural Projects, Poor Unclear

Morning Briefing

Although the administration vowed to preserve funding formulas for schools, staffing cuts might complicate efforts that ensure students with disabilities, or those from high-poverty or rural schools, get the support they need.