Latest KFF Health News Stories
‘Feeling A Pinch’: Tariff Uncertainty Wobbles Hospitals’ Purchasing Plans
Axios points out that the health care supply chain is already difficult to navigate, with some essentials regularly experiencing shortages. Other industry news is on Headspace, Hinge Health, Ascension, and more.
Intercontinental Robotic Telesurgery Treats First Patient In Clinical Trial
The groundbreaking, FDA-approved trial was undertaken by Dr. Vipul Patel, who performed a prostatectomy from Florida on the patient who was in Angola. In other news, a neurosurgical robot; Andembry approval; and more.
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of health policy studies and briefs.
Under GOP Tax Plan, Health Sector Would Take $1 Trillion Hit, CBO Says
A comprehensive analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation looked at the broader economic effects of the proposed tax cuts and concluded the cost would outweigh the benefits. More news is on the reaction to the GOP’s Medicaid cuts.
Fatal Overdoses Rise Nationwide After 17 Months Of Declines
Meanwhile, a judge is asked to clear the way for the next steps in Purdue Pharma’s $7 billion opioid settlement. Also: A brain-dead woman at the center of a battle over Georgia’s abortion ban is set to be removed from life support.
First Edition: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations. Note to readers: KFF Health News’ First Edition will not be published Thursday in observance of Juneteenth. Look for it again in your inbox on Friday.
Must Crisis Pregnancy Centers Abide By State Subpoenas? High Court To Decide
First Choice Women’s Resource Centers argues that the First Amendment allows it to protect donor information from New Jersey officials investigating whether the clinics are misrepresenting themselves to donors and patients. Also, Ohio lawmakers are revisiting abortion ban plans.
NC Republicans Propose Recognizing Just Two Sexes, Spurn Gender Identity
Senate Republicans added language defining biological sex to a bill regulating online pornography that won unanimous support in the House. The Senate has not yet voted on the bill. More news comes from Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, California, and Washington, D.C.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health topics and others.
Senate Bill Calls For Deeper Medicaid Cuts Than House-Passed Bill
The Senate bill would expand Medicaid work requirements to include the parents of older children, not just childless adults. Other Medicaid news covers a poll indicating Americans’ support for federal health programs, the effects of cuts in rural America, and more.
NIH Cuts To Minority Groups’ Grants Are Illegal, Discriminatory, Judge Rules
On Monday, Judge William G. Young of the Federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts ordered much of the funding to be restored, pending an appeal. “I’ve never seen a record where racial discrimination was so palpable,” he said. Plus: VA hospital rules, asbestos, and more.
Bills In House, Senate Would Create Medicare ‘Part E’ For ‘All Americans’
The legislation introduced Monday in both chambers would essentially allow Medicare to compete with private insurance, Fierce Healthcare reported. Part E would sustain itself through premiums, and enrollees could sign up through their employers or any state or federal marketplace.
CDC Official Who Tracked Hospital Trends From Infectious Diseases Quits
“I no longer have confidence that these data will be used objectively or evaluated with appropriate scientific rigor to make evidence-based vaccine policy decisions,” Dr. Fiona Havers told colleagues. And in MAHA news: Kraft Heinz says it will stop using certain artificial dyes by the end of 2027.
States Agree To New $7.4 Billion Purdue Pharma Opioid Settlement
If finalized, the deal, which was also signed on to by the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, would pay out over the next 15 years. Also: Eli Lilly’s experimental weight loss drug, a new Lupus drug, milli-spinner thrombectomy for stroke treatment, and more.
First Edition: Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers discuss these public health topics.
23andMe Co-Founder’s Nonprofit Wins Bidding War To Buy Most Of Its Assets
TTAM Research Institute, the nonprofit led by 23andMe’s former CEO Anne Wojcicki, has won back 23andMe’s core assets: its Personal Genome Service, Research Services, and telehealth subsidiary Lemonaid Health. Other industry news includes gene therapy, layoffs, nurse shortages, and more.
As Doctors Suss Out Ovarian Cancer Cause, More Advise Salpingectomy
Since the 1990s, pathologists have been zeroing in on the fallopian tubes as the potential place where some female cancers start. Now, tube removal is on the rise. Other health and wellness news is about dementia risk in men, loneliness, joy, and more.
A Dose Of Upbeat And Inspiring News
Today’s stories are on family medicine, limb regeneration, weight loss, and more.
Trump Administration Gives Personal Data Of Medicaid Enrollees To DHS
The AP, which obtained an internal memo and emails, reports that the information provided to deportation officials on Medicaid enrollees included immigration status. The effect on Medicaid in the GOP’s megabill is also in the news.