Latest KFF Health News Stories
Opinion writers weigh in on these topics and others.
Since The ’80s, Olympic Snow Sports Have Used Waxes With PFAS. No More.
This year marks the first winter Olympics without the use of fluorinated ski waxes, which increase speed. Also: self-quarantines among some athletes at the Games; a lack of child care and support for Olympian moms; and more.
California Assembly OKs $90M Funding Bills For Planned Parenthood Clinics
The money is not earmarked for abortion procedures but would cover reproductive health care such as cervical cancer screenings. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom must approve the package before funds can flow to clinics. More news is from Colorado, North Carolina, Missouri, Louisiana, and Michigan.
Novo Nordisk Files Patent Suit Against Hims & Hers Over Ozempic, Wegovy
The Wall Street Journal reports that what’s at issue is sales of custom-made, or compounded, versions of weight loss drugs. Also: The FDA issued a warning letter to a compounding pharmacy owned by Hims & Hers over inspection issues, as well as warned Novo Nordisk that its Wegovy pill ad included “false or misleading” claims.
60 Kids Have Died From Flu So Far This Season; Most Weren’t Fully Vaccinated
Meanwhile, influenza A activity is decreasing while influenza B is increasing, the CDC’s FluView report shows. In other news, a study has found that long covid might be triggering Alzheimer’s-like changes in the brain.
CDC To Rescind $600M In Grants To 4 Blue States; California Takes Worst Hit
The other cuts are in Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota. But nearly two-thirds of the funding is unspent money allocated to state and local public health departments in California, The New York Times reported.
As Kaiser Strike Gains Steam, New York Nurses Vote Whether To End Theirs
Grocery union pharmacists are showing up at pickets in support of the 34,000 nurses, health care professionals, and pharmacy and lab workers who walked off the job amid stalled contract talks between Kaiser Permanente and the United Food and Commercial Workers union. Also, the New York State Nurses Association has reached a tentative deal with New York hospitals to bring back nurses.
CMS Planning To Revamp ACA In 2027
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a draft payment rule Monday in which it proposed repealing a requirement that federal exchanges and state-based exchanges on the federal platform offer standardized plan options, Modern Healthcare reported. The news report also said CMS wants to allow some non-network plans to attain qualified health plan status if they can prove they have a sufficient network. CMS also wants more access to catastrophic coverage.
First Edition: Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers weigh in on these topics and others.
18 Have Died From Bitter Cold In NYC; City Opens More Warming Centers
“It’s actually colder today in New York City than in parts of Antarctica,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Sunday on X. Meanwhile, nearly 1,000 Con Edison customers in Brooklyn were without power Sunday into Monday because of an electrical problem, The New York Times reported.
MultiCare Agrees To Settle Claims That It Permitted Unnecessary Surgeries
The health system settled with the federal government and Washington state over spinal surgery procedures at its facilities between 2019 and 2021. Other health industry news is on Molina, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Epic, and more.
Female Gulf War Veterans More Likely To Hit Menopause Earlier, Study Finds
Researchers found that of the veterans exposed to toxins, 15% said they had reached menopause before age 45, three times faster than women who had not deployed to the Gulf War, Military.com reported. Separately, an Arizona judge ordered the state to stop enforcing abortion restrictions that “infringe on a woman’s ‘autonomous decision making.’”
Cheaper Generics Exist For Many Drugs Promised At Lower Cost On TrumpRx
Stat reports that at least 18 brand-name drugs on TrumpRx are available in generic form for cheaper through GoodRx or Cost Plus Drugs. Plus: Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon called TrumpRx “nothing more than a glorified coupon book.”
CMS Chief Alleges Social Services Fraud In Maine, Calls It ‘Another Big Crisis’
Dr. Mehmet Oz has likened the alleged fraud in Maine to Minnesota’s welfare fraud scandal, which led to the immigration crackdown efforts run by ICE in that state. Plus: A New York judge extended a preliminary injunction blocking social service cuts in five Democratic-led states.
Amid Surging Measles Cases, Dr. Oz Implores People To Get The Vaccine
As the United States flirts with losing its measles elimination designation, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator endorsed the vaccine: “We have a solution for our problem.” His statement came as the CDC reported another spike across the nation and as health officials worked to contain the spread of the virus after a contagious person attended the March for Life rally.
First Edition: Monday, Feb. 9, 2026
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers weigh in on these topics and others.
A Dose Of Upbeat And Inspiring News
Today’s stories are on making art accessible for people with disabilities, mental health care for veterans, giving hope to breast cancer survivors, and more.
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 Guardian Caps, near-death experiences, dissociative identity disorder, and more.
