Latest KFF Health News Stories
Medicare Has Enough In Trust Fund To Last An Extra 17 Years, CBO Reports
Policy experts extended the program’s depletion date to 2052 after determining that enrollees aren’t seeking hospital care as often as they used to, leading to savings in the main trust fund. Medicare’s trustees will release their own findings this spring.
Administration Rejects Medicaid, Medicare Plan To Cover Obesity Drugs
The Biden-era plan, scrapped Friday, would have cost the federal government billions of dollars and expanded access to millions of Americans. Meanwhile, states are struggling with the rising cost of GLP-1 drugs.
Second Texas Child Dies Of Measles As Infections Continue To Surge
The 8-year-old girl was not vaccinated against the highly contagious virus. Three days after the girl’s death — and after the nation’s tally of cases topped 600 — HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted on X: “The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine.”
First Edition: Monday, April 7, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
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 autism, miscarriage, gun violence, ALS, and more.
Editorial writers analyze these public health issues.
Judge Bars Billions In Public Health Funding Cuts To States — For Now
The federal judge’s ruling comes after $11 billion in funding was “abruptly and arbitrarily terminated,” triggering 23 states and the District of Columbia to sue the HHS. Meanwhile, the administration threatened Brown and Harvard with funding freezes unless they comply with demands. Also, more than $125 million in LGBTQ+ health funding has been blocked.
2 Louisiana Babies Die Of Pertussis As Cases Spike, Vaccination Rates Drop
Already this year, the U.S. has seen four times as many vaccine-preventable whooping cough cases than in the same period last year. Separately, New Jersey warns Newark Airport travelers about a measles exposure.
Trump’s Drug Policy To Focus On Harsh Penalties, Addiction Treatment: Report
STAT reports that the administration is planning on disrupting the fentanyl supply chain in order to reduce overdose deaths. The drug policy document is not public yet. More news is on South African needle exchange programs affected by USAID cuts; the FTC case against PBMs; and more.
Nurses Are Still Reeling From The Repercussions Of Covid
Members of National Nurses United, the country’s largest union for RNs with about 590,000 nurses, talked to The 19th about their ongoing push for worker protections. Other health industry news is from Ascension, Aveanna Health Care, AdventHealth, and more.
Colorado Tightens Funeral Home Rules But Withholds Inspection Reports
KUNC News reports on the silent tweak to the law that effectively blocked all public access to funeral homes’ records and inspection reports. Other news comes from South Carolina, Minnesota, Missouri, Maryland, California, and elsewhere.
Gerber, Beech-Nut, Others Will Face Lawsuit Over Baby Food Contamination
A judge has ruled that parents can try to prove that defective manufacturing and negligence for more than 600 baby food products led to brain and neurodevelopmental damage, Reuters reported. Plus: Workers at a baby formula plant allege it is still struggling with unsanitary practices.
Mehmet Oz Confirmed As Head Of Medicare and Medicaid Services
The Senate voted along party lines to confirm him. Also, as House Republicans look to cut spending, the GOP chair of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee pushes back on Medicaid cuts. Other news is about the potential fallout from any cuts.
Days After Mass Layoffs, HHS Expects To Reinstate 20% Of Fired Employees
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says the agency is working to correct mistakes made during its restructuring rollout. Meanwhile, the FDA is trying to bring back fired employees to get the agency through this transitional period. Also, more insight into where job cuts were made.
First Edition: Friday, April 4, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers discuss these public health topics.
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of the latest health research and news.
Supreme Court Sides With FDA Over Flavored Vape Application Denials
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court dismissed the lower court’s ruling and concluded the FDA adhered to its standards when it assessed the applications. Also, the Supreme Court is allowing a truck driver to sue a CBD company after he tested positive for THC and was fired.
CDC Tasked With Cutting $2.9B Of Its Spending On Contracts In Just Weeks
The Trump administration gave the agency until April 18 to reduce by 35% its spending on contracts. Also, more about the gutting of federal health agencies and how people are responding.
Scientists, ACLU Sue NIH Over ‘Ideological Purge’ Of Research Grants
Also: How the push against diversity, equity, and inclusion affects transgender people and those with disabilities; the impact of Trump administration cuts on cancer research; and more.