Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
First Edition: Friday, July 31, 2026
KFF HEALTH NEWS ORIGINAL STORIES
KFF Health News: They Worked To Protect Public Health. Now They Want The Public’s Votes
A handful of former public health officials are campaigning for top statewide offices across the country, testing whether their experience with covid and other hot-button health issues will appeal to voters in November. The officials, all Democrats, are running at a time when the Trump administration is reducing government funding for scientific research, restricting access to some vaccines, and making it more difficult for some Americans to obtain health insurance. (Galewitz, Mai-Duc and Seitz, 7/31)
KFF Health News: The Newest Federally Recognized Tribe Wants Better Healthcare. It May Be On Its Own
Soybean fields surround Angie Lowery’s home in Robeson County, on a plot of rural land in southeastern North Carolina. Dozens of antique gas station signs, 20 feet tall, dominate her front yard. A framed re-creation of The Last Supper, Lone Ranger posters, and a 3-foot-wide tobacco harvesting basket adorn the walls of her home. A collector, Lowery over the years has amassed remnants of her region’s past. But behind the house, the 44-year-old’s backyard garden showcases her goals for the future, one that involves a long, healthy life with her kids: collard greens, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, red and white potatoes, kale. (Jones, 7/31)
KFF Health News: KFF Health News’ ‘What The Health?’: The Politics Of Grant Cuts
The Trump administration has conceded in court documents that it used purely political considerations to cancel grant funding previously approved by Congress. But that has provoked a surprisingly muted response from lawmakers, who under the Constitution control the power of the purse. (Rovner, 7/30)
OUTBREAKS AND HEALTH THREATS
The Hill: Will Cyclospora Spike Again? Expert Warns Parasite May Spread Through Summer
While the largest cyclospora outbreak appears to be winding down, others with unknown sources keep popping up. Cyclospora, a parasite that’s now infamous for causing “explosive” diarrhea, among other symptoms, is often traced back to tainted produce. U.S. health officials are actively investigating five outbreaks that don’t currently have an identified source, so it’s not clear what food may be spreading the parasite around. (Martichoux, 7/30)
CIDRAP: Cyclospora Infections Increasing In 2 US Outbreaks
The number of cases in the Cyclospora outbreak that’s unrelated to the massive nine-state lettuce-related cluster has increased from 72 to 93, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shared yesterday. A trace-back investigation is ongoing to uncover the source of Cyclospora, a parasite that causes the diarrheal illness known as cyclosporiasis. Few details are known about the latest outbreak of Cyclospora, but some experts have noticed a growing number of cases in North Carolina and other southern states. (Holohan, 7/30)
CIDRAP: After Lab Study Finds Interspecies Spread Of CWD Prions, Experts Debate Significance For Humans
A recent study has drawn attention after it detected some limited interspecies transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) prions in a lab. But the authors and other experts caution that the findings don’t confirm that the fatal disease is a threat to people; rather, they provide important clues to what infection might look like in humans—which is key in recognizing cases. (Van Beusekom, 7/30)
CIDRAP: Africa CDC Chief Says ‘No Magical Solution’ For Intensifying Deadly Ebola Outbreak
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to move faster than the response amid “intense” community transmission, with government officials announcing the death toll has surpassed 1,500. (Dall, 7/30)
The New York Times: Former Officials Protest U.S. Plan To Defund Pan American Health Organization
The Trump administration’s plan to stop funding the Pan American Health Organization, which coordinates public health efforts across dozens of countries including the United States, will leave Americans more vulnerable to infectious disease threats, more than 100 U.S. leaders in health and national security warned in an open letter released on Thursday. They include former health secretaries, directors of health agencies, Pentagon and White House officials and surgeons general who have served in Democratic and Republican administrations. (Mandavilli, 7/30)
COVERAGE AND ACCESS
Bloomberg: Employers Cut Coverage For Obesity Drugs, Cigna Says Slowdown Will Persist
The weight-loss drug boom is beginning to show signs of a slowdown as employers and insurers pull back on coverage, signaling the market could be entering a more restrained phase after years of breakneck expansion. In the past few months, growth in prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs for weight loss like Novo Nordisk A/S’ Wegovy and Eli Lilly & Co.’s Zepbound have moderated, according to Cigna Group Chief Executive Officer Brian Evanko. (Muller and Swetlitz, 7/30)
Stat: How Rising Oil Prices Can Boost The Cost Of Some Medicines
The war with Iran has driven oil prices up, prompting concern that the supply of some medicines will be disrupted. But there is another consideration. In a new report, Unitaid emphasized that essential medicines are exposed to oil price volatility. (Silverman, 7/30)
Roll Call: Proposals To Lower Health Costs Get Broad Support In Battlegrounds
Voters in battleground states and congressional districts tend to voice support for proposals in Congress that would expand access to health care or lower drug costs — often irrespective of their party affiliation — according to new polling from the University of Maryland. (DeGroot, 7/30)
The New York Times: After Obamacare Cuts, Hospitals Are Treating More Uninsured Patients
More and more uninsured patients are showing up in hospital emergency rooms and clinics, having lost their coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Executives running some of the biggest hospital systems, including large for-profit chains spanning many states, expressed concern over the unexpectedly sharp rise in uninsured patients and the costs associated with treating them. (Abelson, 7/30)
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
Axios: Trump Administration's Health Leadership Reboot Sputters
The Department of Health and Human Services keeps saying it's turning over a new leaf, but it has only been partially successful — and controversial vaccine policymaking appears to be back on the table. (Owens, 7/31)
The Hill: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Launches Cooking Show To Promote Healthy Eating
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has launched a show geared toward teaching Americans how to cook healthy, inexpensive meals. “Thanks to President Trump, we flipped the food pyramid and put real food back where it belongs: at the center of the American plate,” Kennedy said in a video he posted Wednesday to YouTube touting “The Real Food Show.” (Rego, 7/30)
NPR: Anthony Fauci Hearing Could Lead To 'Chilling Effect' For Public Health
For almost three hours on Wednesday morning, Dr. Anthony Fauci sat before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and declined to answer questions about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, he invoked his Fifth Amendment right more than a hundred times — which later led Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., to say he would push to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress next week. (Daniel, 7/30)
MedPage Today: Health Leaders Pledge Greater Support For Behavioral Health
Healthcare leaders committed to behavioral health "best practices" during an HHS roundtable event on Wednesday, while a key law on insurance coverage for mental health remains in limbo. Insurers, medical societies, and other health industry leaders pledged to "advance evidence-based, high-quality, patient-centered care for individuals experiencing mental health conditions and the chronic disease of addiction." Specific best practices include timely access to treatment and evidence-based and patient-centered care, according to the HHS press release. (Henderson, 7/30)
MedPage Today: Tracker Tallies Over $250M In Cancelled Grants From HHS Agency
A new online tracking tool from AcademyHealth shows the sprawling scope of recent grant cancellations by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). More than 100 grants worth over $250 million have been canceled, according to the tracker, and those numbers are only expected to climb, Aaron Carroll, MD, MS, president and CEO of AcademyHealth, told MedPage Today. (Henderson, 7/30)
The New York Times: U.S. Government Mislabels Map Of African Countries At AIDS Conference
A senior health official with the State Department presenting at an international AIDS conference in Brazil this week used a map of Africa to illustrate U.S. government funding for H.I.V. programs on the continent. (Tumin, 7/30)
PUBLIC HEALTH
Fox News: 'Polypharmacy' Linked To 38% Higher Mortality Risk For Older Adults
Older adults who take five or more prescription medications face a significantly higher risk of death compared to those taking fewer drugs, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The research highlights the growing concern over polypharmacy, the medical term for taking five or more daily prescriptions, and its long-term effects on aging populations. (Quill, 7/30)
CNN: Here’s What To Know Before You Upload Your Medical Data To An AI Program
When your side hurts or your child’s big toe is throbbing and you don’t know why – or what to do about it – do you call a doctor, or do you ask your favorite AI for a diagnosis and plan of action? (Christensen, 7/30)
AP: What Teens And Parents Should Know As Tanning Gets Hot Again
Nichole Sims started using a tanning bed at 15 because she said everyone around her was doing it, especially before events like homecoming dances and prom. Eight years later, she was diagnosed with melanoma — a potentially life-threatening skin cancer. During that time, Sims has seen tanning become even more popular among young people online. She tries to counter the misinformation on social media that touts tanning as a mood booster and beauty requirement by sharing her own experience. (Ding, 7/30)
CBS News: Nearly Two-Thirds Of Kids Have Caffeine In Their Diet, The CDC Says. It's Not All Coming From Soda
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that nearly two-thirds of American children aged 2-19 have caffeine in their diet. On any given day, kids consume an average of 19.4 milligrams of caffeine, which is about two-thirds of what's in a can of Coke, according to the report released Thursday. (Sundby, 7/30)
NBC News: Army Food Is Getting An RFK Jr.-Approved Revamp. Will Soldiers Eat It?
At the soft opening of a shiny new dining hall on the Fort Drum Army base, soldiers placed orders for grilled salmon, steak and flatbreads on touchscreen kiosks. Blenders whirred in the background, mixing protein shakes in flavors like “Apple Pie” and “Cookies and Cream.” Sides of red potatoes and cauliflower sat in sleek black pots. (Bendix, 7/30)
SCIENCE AND INNOVATIONS
Military.com: Veterans With PTSD Experience 'Striking' Improvements From Psilocybin Treatments
Veterans with hard-to-treat PTSD have seen major improvements in their symptoms, thanks to a trial of a new psychedelic therapy treatment involving the drug psilocybin—a controlled substance and the main ingredient in magic mushrooms. Researchers as part of a clinical trial treated 12 former soldiers suffering with PTSD using psilocybin and found that after a month of treatment, nine of the 12 veterans in the trial no longer met the criteria for PTSD, according to the pilot study published July 30 in Communications Medicine. (Plummer, 7/30)
ABC News: Women Say They Got Pregnant After Taking GLP-1 Drugs
Women on social media are sharing stories of becoming pregnant after taking GLP-1 medications, saying the drugs helped them conceive after struggling with infertility. Many of the videos have garnered millions of views on TikTok. Molly Orr is among the women documenting her experience online. In an interview that aired on "Good Morning America" on Thursday, Orr said she was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, a common hormonal disorder that can make it harder to become pregnant. (Najib and Battu, 7/30)
Newsweek: Dementia Can Strike Before 65—One Group May Be More Affected Than Thought
A type of dementia that often affects younger people is more prevalent in one group than originally thought, a new study has suggested. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a group of rare and progressive brain diseases which damage the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, usually affecting people between the ages of 45 and 64. (O'Connor, 7/30)
HEALTH INDUSTRY AND PHARMACEUTICALS
Stat: FDA Panel Endorses Replimune's Previously Rejected Melanoma Drug
A group of outside experts convened by the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday voted in favor of Replimune’s experimental treatment for advanced melanoma. (Herper and Chen, 7/30)
Stat: How NIH Constraints And Drug Shortage Complicate Syphilis Response
She first came to Park Boulevard for the money and the snacks. A friend told her there was a place they could go with free fruit gummies, granola bars, and rice crispy treats — and she could make $20 if she answered some survey questions. It sounded like a dream. (Boodman, 7/31)
Modern Healthcare: Unified Health System EHRs Promise Savings
Health systems are working to simplify their electronic health records, but high costs, staffing constraints and technology limitations stand in their way. Providers are navigating years-long upgrades to their EHR systems, hoping to work more efficiently after consolidating dozens of disparate systems that store and analyze patient data. Health systems have been reworking projects to accommodate reprioritized budgets, mergers and acquisitions and workforce needs. (Kacik, 7/30)
Modern Healthcare: UnitedHealth, Centene Eye Medicaid Rebound Amid Work Rules Risks
Medicaid managed care organizations say profits are looking up after several challenging years. UnitedHealth Group, Elevance Health, Centene and Molina Healthcare have reported second-quarter earnings and reassured investors that their Medicaid margins will rise in 2027 after sinking this year. Insurers cited cost-cutting strategies targeting services such as autism therapy and state funding increases as reasons for optimism. (Tepper, 7/30)
STATE WATCH
The New Bedford Light: Half Of All Nursing Homes In Massachusetts Are Understaffed
It felt like someone was hammering an ice pick into Lynette Couture’s leg. The 55-year-old was recovering in Plymouth Harborside Healthcare’s rehab unit last fall after a horrific car crash shattered her left leg. Doctors had drilled a metal device into her bones to reconnect them. ... Five years ago, state health officials set minimum staffing levels to help improve care for nursing home residents. But staffing levels in Massachusetts nursing homes are, in some ways, worse now, a New Bedford Light analysis of federal data has found. (Ferguson, 7/30)
The 19th: This Nurse Says ICE Agents Assaulted Her. ACLU Is Filing A Claim On Her Behalf
Norma Bowe looked at the scene unfolding before her: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, dressed in their camo-colored tactical vests and black face coverings, pushing people with batons and yanking them into the street. (Norwood, 7/30)
The CT Mirror: After Losing SNAP, Some CT Refugees Struggling To Afford Food
Syrian natives Karam and Noor have spent long days this summer sitting in the respite of their small New Haven apartment, listening to the gentle buzz of the air conditioner and the hum of Karam’s dialysis machine. Weakened by kidney failure, Karam is unable to work and is tethered 12 hours a day to the machine that cleans the toxins from his blood. (Tillman, 7/31)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Bottoms Wants To Expand Medicaid In Georgia, But Can She?
Medicaid expansion is one of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms’ top priorities and a central campaign message. But in conversations with rural healthcare providers this week, she struck a more realistic tone about the bipartisan consensus it would take to make it happen. (Bunch, 7/30)
North Carolina Health News: State Budget Eliminates NC’s Office Of Health Equity
More than 30 years after North Carolina became one of the first states to establish an Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, state lawmakers have eliminated the standalone office dedicated to reducing gaps in health outcomes. (Crumpler, 7/31)
The Baltimore Sun: Baltimore Sues Kratom Manufacturers, Alleging Deceptive Marketing
Baltimore officials are suing kratom manufacturers, alleging the companies falsely marketed their products as health and wellness supplements while failing to disclose potential risks. (Pryce, 7/30)
The Texas Tribune: What Is Still Legal Under Texas’ Latest THC Ban
Texans’ access to a variety of hemp-derived THC products will significantly narrow on Friday. Texas will ban several hemp-derived THC cannabis products, including those containing delta-8 and delta-10 THC variants, punishing people in possession of them with jail time and fines. However, delta-9 THC, the most commonly sold THC product in Texas, will remain legal. (Ma, 7/30)
