Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: Thursday, July 3, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations. Note to readers: The First Edition will not be published Friday or Monday in observance of July Fourth. Look for it again in your inbox on Tuesday, July 8.
Opinion writers discuss these public health issues.
Senate Megabill That Would Erode Social Safety Net Now Heads To House
Hospital associations on Tuesday slammed the legislation, which would devastate millions of sick or poor Americans. The bill passed 51-50 on a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance after three Republicans joined Democrats in opposing it.
Federal Judge Pauses RFK Jr.’s Mass Firings, Calling Them Unlawful
Tuesday’s order blocked the layoffs and organizational changes at HHS. Judge Melissa DuBose of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island said the changes far exceeded Kennedy’s authority. Andrew Nixon, RFK Jr.’s spokesperson, said they are considering next steps.
Social Security ‘Resurrects’ Immigrants From Death List; Benefits Still Blocked
They’ll instead be flagged as “unverified.” An unnamed administration official told The New York Times that it would achieve the same goal by alerting third parties that they may not be eligible for services. Also, 20 states have sued over the administration’s use of immigrants’ Medicaid data.
UnitedHealthcare Reaches Agreement With Cancer Center Over Coverage
The multi-year agreement announced Tuesday between UnitedHealthcare and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center will let some 19,000 UnitedHealthcare and Oxford health plan members remain in-network for their cancer care. Also in the news: Ascension Health, Sharp HealthCare, Mass General Brigham, and more.
Wyoming Confirms Its First Measles Case In 15 Years
The patient is an unvaccinated child. Other states making news: New Mexico, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and elsewhere.
Scientists Find Microplastics In Reproductive Fluids Of Men, Women
The presence of microplastics in semen and follicular fluid were not entirely unexpected. But the lead research author added: “What did surprise us, however, is how widespread it is. This is not an isolated finding — it appears to be quite common.” Plus: hormone therapy and breast cancer; antibiotic resistance in cow manure; and more.
First Edition: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Senate Passes Trump’s Megabill With Medicaid Cuts, Other Health Provisions
The massive tax and immigration bill passed the Senate Tuesday by a 51-50 vote, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tiebreaker. The legislation, which must go back to the House, offsets some of the new spending with measures that aim to cut back on Medicaid and food assistance for the poor.
Editorial writers tackle these public health topics.
Megabill Amendment That Would Have Helped Rural Hospitals Fails
The measure would have created a top marginal tax rate for high-income earners and would have fully offset the cost of expanding the hospital relief fund, The Hill reports. The Senate also is voting on the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, Planned Parenthood funding, SNAP cuts, and more.
HHS Renews Funding For States’ Cancer Prevention, Tracking Programs
As last year’s funding began running out over the weekend, many states were uncertain about the future of their cancer programs. Word that they would receive funding came Monday. Other news is about the death toll of USAID cuts; the vaccine injury program; and more.
Supreme Court Orders Judges To Reexamine Gender-Affirming Care
On Monday, the Supreme Court dismissed lower court rulings that benefited transgender Americans and are now requiring those lower courts to look into those cases again. The cases under review include state-sponsored health care coverage for gender-affirming care and the changing of birth certificates.
Joint Commission Overhauls Its Accreditation Process For Hospitals
The group, which is the accrediting organization for more than 80% of U.S. hospitals and health systems, says the new rules will “dramatically” streamline and simplify the process. Also in the news: CMS proposes a Medicare pay cut for home health companies.
California Changes Environmental Law That Made It Harder To Help Homeless
Former California Gov. Ronald Reagan signed the landmark California Environmental Quality Act into law in 1970 in an effort to protect the state from pollution and sprawl. But it also made it more difficult to build housing, adding to the state’s pervasive homelessness problem.
Men’s Mental Health Affected By Financial, Societal Pressures: Report
The continuance of defining manhood as being a provider, especially amidst financial uncertainties, means men are 16.3 times more likely to contemplate suicide, researchers have found.
First Edition: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
CMS Launches Prior Authorization Trial For Some Medicare Services
Health care service companies are being asked to join a program that relies on technology to review certain fee-for-service Medicare requests. A program-affiliated medical professional will give the final ruling on a claim. Plus, Social Security Administration payment changes start in July.
Second WHO Probe Into Covid’s Origins Ends Just As The First: Inconclusively
It likely jumped from animals to humans, the experts said in their final report Friday. However, a critical component of the investigation was missing: Despite repeated requests, the group was not given access to Chinese data and therefore could not evaluate claims of a lab leak, AP reports.