Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
First Edition: Friday, June 12, 2026
KFF HEALTH NEWS ORIGINAL STORIES
KFF Health News: 1 In 4 Covered California Enrollees Could Get State Aid Under Newsom Proposal
When Congress allowed covid-era subsidies for health insurance to expire, California used its own funds to offset the hike in Obamacare premium costs for residents with low incomes. But the reach has been limited. As Gov. Gavin Newsom negotiates his last budget with the legislature, the Democrat wants to offer financial help to more than 1 in 4 enrollees in Covered California, the nation’s largest state-run health insurance marketplace. Democratic lawmakers, who hold a supermajority, are still debating the plan. (Mai-Duc and Fortiér, 6/12)
KFF Health News: Final Rules For Medicaid Work Requirements Are Out. Here’s What You Need To Know
The Trump administration has issued final rules on how states should ensure that millions of Medicaid enrollees prove they’re working or completing other activities, such as job training, volunteering, or being enrolled in an educational program. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the rules on June 1. That deadline was set last year in the GOP tax-and-spending law known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which established a work requirement for certain people enrolled in Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for people with low incomes or disabilities. (Whitehead, 6/12)
KFF Health News’ ‘What The Health?’ Podcast: The Drip, Drip, Drip Of Declining Coverage
When Congress failed to extend the covid-era enhanced subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, many experts predicted millions of people would lose coverage because they would be unable to make payments toward the higher premiums. It has taken a few months, but that prediction seems to be coming true. (Rovner, 6/11)
REPRODUCTIVE AND INFANT HEALTH
The Hill: Senate Committee Strips IVF Provision From NDAA, Sen. Tammy Duckworth Says
The Senate Armed Services Committee rejected a provision in the annual defense policy bill that would have expanded coverage of fertility services for military members and their families, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), according to Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). “All my provision seeks to do is provide our troops with the same access to IVF that all Members of Congress already have. After everything our troops sacrifice for our nation, they should never have to sacrifice their dreams of building a family,” Duckworth, who was the sponsor of the provision, said in a statement. (Weixel, 6/11)
The Hill: Planned Parenthood Affiliate Sues Alaska Over Telehealth Abortion Ban
Planned Parenthood’s Northwest affiliate is suing Alaska to challenge the state’s ban on telehealth abortion. In a lawsuit filed Thursday in Alaska state court, Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky said the state’s requirement that patients seeking medication abortion must be seen in person violates Alaskans’ constitutional right to abortion. The organization is seeking a preliminary injunction to put the ban on hold while the lawsuit is agued. (Weixel, 6/11)
Bloomberg: FDA Finds No Evidence ByHeart Production Caused Infant Formula Botulism Cases
Federal inspectors found no evidence that ByHeart Inc.’s infant formula production process caused a botulism outbreak that sickened dozens of babies, according to a new report that pointed to contaminated ingredients as a more likely culprit. The inspection report posted Thursday by the US Food and Drug Administration examined the Iowa factory where ByHeart’s formula was made. The report said it’s more likely raw ingredients were the source of the outbreak than the manufacturing equipment and storage practices of the Blendhouse facility in Allerton, Iowa. (Edney, 6/11)
ProPublica: Dr. Joseph Mercola Reverses Opposition To Vitamin K Shot
For more than a decade, Dr. Joseph Mercola cautioned parents against a potentially lifesaving shot of vitamin K for their newborn babies: “Vitamin K shots are completely unnecessary for your newborn.” But now, in a break from his past warnings, Mercola is saying he no longer believes that. (Eldeib, 6/12)
AP: New Mexico Judge Throws Out Lawsuit Challenging Universal Childcare
A New Mexico judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit that challenged the state’s universal childcare program, allowing the ambitious and closely watched experiment to continue. Attorneys for former Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez and other plaintiffs had questioned the process used by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration to eliminate an income cap and co-pays for childcare assistance before the Legislature had a chance to weigh in or approve funding. (Peters, 6/12)
OUTBREAKS AND HEALTH THREATS
Bloomberg: CDC Activates Screwworm Emergency Response As Cases Increase
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has started taking emergency measures against New World screwworm after the dangerous parasitic infection was detected in cattle in the country for the first time in decades. The Atlanta-based CDC activated a formal emergency response on Thursday after interim leader Jay Bhattacharya signed off on the plan, according to an internal document viewed by Bloomberg News. The move means the public health agency is assembling a team of career scientists to closely monitor the outbreak and coordinate with local health departments. (Nix, 6/11)
CIDRAP: FDA OKs Treatment Of New World Screwworm In Dogs And Cats For Emergency Use
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for a generic drug, nitenpyram, to treat New World screwworm (NWS) in dogs and cats. Nitenpyram, the first generic animal drug authorized for use against screwworm, can be used in animals who weigh at least two pounds and are at least 4 weeks old. ... The FDA has issued 10 EUAs and three conditional approvals for drugs to combat NWS, a number that could grow as drugmakers submit additional applications. (Szabo, 6/11)
The Hill: Ebola Outbreak Response Not Hurt By US Cuts: CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya
The acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) denied Wednesday that the Trump administration’s cuts to foreign aid negatively impacted the global response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said on NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” that he has “never met a more competent, committed group of professionals” than the CDC teams addressing the outbreaks of Ebola and hantavirus. “I’ve seen no evidence at all that any cuts that have happened … have impacted our ability to address these outbreaks,” Bhattacharya added. (Rego, 6/11)
Bloomberg: World Cup: CDC Head Meets Congo Team In Houston As Ebola Outbreak Spreads
Jay Bhattacharya, interim head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, met with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s World Cup team, a sign of goodwill as their homeland grapples with an Ebola outbreak, according to a person familiar with the matter. Bhattacharya and other CDC career scientists from the public health agency met the team and its national delegation in Houston on Thursday. (Nix, 6/11)
NBC News: CDC, Florida Health Officials At Odds Over Hantavirus Cruise Ship Passenger’s Quarantine
Florida health officials are pushing back at quarantine guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius exposed to the deadly Andes hantavirus. One American who was on the cruise ship says she’s stuck in the middle and unable to leave federal quarantine. (Edwards and Vespa, 6/11)
Cardinal News: Health Officials Issue Advisory About Large Gatherings As Measles Outbreak Grows In Buckingham County
The Virginia Department of Health issued a health advisory Wednesday as the measles outbreak in Buckingham County continues to grow. There have been 89 confirmed cases reported as of June 11. Health officials suspected community transmission in May when the outbreak started with a dozen cases. None of the infected individuals had reported recent travel, indicating that the virus is spreading locally. (Schabacker, 6/12)
COVERAGE AND ACCESS
The New York Times: Can’t Pay Medical Bills? Trump Administration Suggests Getting A Loan
Buried in the fine print of Obamacare regulations, the Trump administration is floating a novel idea for those who can’t afford to shell out tens of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket medical costs. Why not borrow the money from your health insurance company? In the dense 1,121-page final rule issued last month about how the Affordable Care Act market will operate next year, the administration suggested that insurers consider offering loans to cash-strapped customers. (Abelson, 6/11)
Modern Healthcare: Healthcare Costs To Grow 9% In 2027: PwC
Group healthcare costs are expected to rise 9% in 2027 as Americans use more services. The growing use of expensive drugs, the proliferation of mental health issues and reimbursement pressures will drive healthcare cost inflation, according to a Thursday report from consultancy PwC. Researchers spoke with actuaries at 27 health insurers that cover 103 million employer-sponsored members and 8 million Affordable Care Act enrollees to forecast healthcare inflation. (Kacik, 6/11)
Bloomberg: Health Insurance Costs For US Workers Set To Rise, Survey Finds
US companies plan to charge more for employee health plans next year, as soaring drug prices drive up insurance costs. Two thirds of large companies expect to raise monthly premiums for employee health coverage through paycheck deductions in 2027, according to a survey of businesses with at least 500 employees by benefits consultancy Mercer. And about half (48%) of employers say they will make other changes, such as raising deductibles and copays, that will increase how much workers pay out of pocket for care. (Rogers, 6/11)
Stat: Growing Business Of Hospital Billing Becomes Part Of Affordability Crisis
At this week’s annual meeting of hospital finance leaders, the exhibit hall was packed with dozens of billing and collections companies. Armed with candy, tote bags, and pens, they smiled at passersby, eager to explain why their tactics would extract the most money from health insurers. (Bannow, 6/12)
Axios: Home Care Costs Grow Much Faster Than Inflation
One year of home care now costs more than twice the average retiree's annual Social Security benefits, and costs are growing much faster than inflation, according to an AARP analysis shared first with Axios. (Goldman, 6/11)
CIDRAP: 95% Of CDC Workers Say Americans Will Die Because Of Federal Cuts To The Agency
When Michigan State University researchers anonymously surveyed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staffers, 99% of respondents said that federal policy changes, dramatic reductions in staff and programs, and unstable or leadership have hobbled the agency’s ability to respond to a pandemic or other public health emergency—and 95% think Americans will die as a result. In total, 624 workers (433 still in their positions, 191 who quit) responded to the survey from February to April. (Van Beusekom, 6/11)
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
The Hill: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Defends HHS Work, Hits Back At New York Times
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday slammed a New York Times report alleging that some say he appears to be “checked out” from official duties during department meetings and has surrounded himself with political appointees who share his viewpoint. In a post on social platform X, Kennedy said his day-to-day actions are publicly available on his calendar and pointed to an unspecified “unprecedented list of accomplishments” as proof of his success as HHS secretary. (Fields, 6/11)
Stat: RFK Jr. Said His Calendar Is Public. STAT Has Tried To See If For A Year
Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday pointed to his “publicly available calendar” as an example of his commitment to transparency and to beat back unfavorable reporting. But no such calendar, detailing who Kennedy meets with or how he spends his time, has been released by the administration. (Cirruzzo and Payne, 6/11)
Stat: Keeping Track Of Kennedy's MAHA Goals And Promises
A pledge to “Make America Healthy Again” earned Robert F. Kennedy Jr. his job atop U.S. health agencies a year and some change ago. He’s now had the opportunity to turn his words into action, with mixed results. (Cueto and Parker, 6/11)
MedPage Today: Scientists Call Charges Against NIH Virologists 'Chilling'
Federal charges against two virologists have sparked public outcry among scientists concerned about NIH researchers being targeted by the Trump administration. Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced charges against Vincent Munster, PhD, and Claude Kwe, PhD, alleging the pair had transported undeclared inactivated mpox (or monkeypox) virus on a flight into the U.S. and made false statements to federal law enforcement about doing so. (Henderson, 6/11)
AP: FDA Memo Raises New Questions About Fruity Vape Authorization
Fruit-flavored e-cigarettes recently authorized by the Food and Drug Administration were not significantly better at helping smokers quit than tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes, according to a new memo that’s likely to stir more questions about the agency’s decision. The FDA last month gave its first OK to fruit-flavored vapes — essentially endorsing them as a less-harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes. The decision came despite the agency’s longstanding position that such flavors appeal to children and must show extra health benefits to warrant approval for adults. (Perrone, 6/11)
Bloomberg: Pentagon Says ‘No Hazard’ After Earlier Air Quality Alert
A Defense Department spokesman said there was “no hazard” present at the iconic Pentagon building after an air-quality alert earlier on Thursday prompted a shelter-in-place order for part of the iconic building. “Earlier this morning, Pentagon occupants were notified of a potential air quality issue, prompting immediate precautionary safety measures and evaluation,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement on Thursday afternoon. “Subsequent testing confirmed no hazard exists, and normal operations have resumed.” (Capaccio, 6/11)
PUBLIC HEALTH
Stat: CDC Report Finds Alcohol Use While Pregnant Is On The Rise
New data released Thursday suggest the prevalence of drinking during pregnancy increased in recent years. National survey data published in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report show about 15% of adult pregnant women reported current drinking (use in the prior 30 days) between 2021 and 2024. About 13.5% of women reported the same between 2018 and 2020. (Cueto, 6/11)
SCIENCE AND INNOVATIONS
The New York Times: A Newer Approach To Editing Embryos Ignites Debate
When scientists at Columbia University announced they had used a newer technology to precisely edit the genes of human embryos last week, they set the academic community ablaze with debate. Is this good news or bad? How fast will this move? And more philosophically: Where does medicine end and eugenics begin? The results of the new study, first reported by The New York Times, showed that a technique called base editing meticulously swapped out individual letters in an embryo’s genome, altering genes linked to fetal hemoglobin production, cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease. (Baumgaertner Nunn, 6/11)
MedPage Today: Chemo-Free Treatment Effective In Kids With Aggressive Blood Cancer
A chemotherapy-free regimen was safe and effective in pediatric patients with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), according to results from a prospective study. The 2-year overall survival (OS) rate among all 114 patients in the study was 99.1%, reported Franco Locatelli, MD, PhD, of IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in Rome, during a session at the European Hematology Association annual congress in Stockholm. (Bassett, 6/11)
MedPage Today: Trial: Vitamin K Supplement Curbs Coronary Atherosclerosis
Menaquinone-7 (MK-7) supplementation modestly slowed the progression of coronary artery calcification (CAC) for patients in the placebo-controlled VitaK-CAC trial. (Lou, 6/11)
CIDRAP: People Who Received Flu Shots 40% Less Likely To Test Positive For Influenza, New Data Show
A new study finds that flu shots were associated with moderate protection against the virus during the 2024-25 flu season. People vaccinated against influenza that season were 40% less likely to test positive for flu than unvaccinated people, according to a study of more than 1.1 million Californians. (Szabo, 6/11)
Stat: How Socioeconomic Status Shapes The Developing Brain
During the first five years of life, more than half the calories a growing child consumes go to fueling the massive construction project inside their cranium. Building a brain — all the neuronal connections that form memories, store language, perceive the world, control bodily movements — is an energy-intensive act of singular creation. (Molteni, 6/11)
HEALTH INDUSTRY AND PHARMACEUTICALS
Modern Healthcare: Healthcare Executive Hiring Trends Shift From Clinicians To AI
Fewer healthcare organizations are filling chief medical or nursing officer roles, while interest is rising for leaders focused on artificial intelligence. Regardless of position, however, executive recruitment firms say clients are being more cautious about their hiring selections. Along with job-specific competencies, they’re looking for emotional intelligence to help navigate industry hurdles. (Davis, 6/11)
Becker's Hospital Review: RN Turnover Nearly Doubled In 4 Years, Study Finds
Nurses left their primary jobs at nearly double the rate between 2018 and 2022, rising from 13% to 24%, according to a University of Michigan study published in Medical Care. (Gooch, 6/11)
Fierce Healthcare: Hospitals Push For Higher 2027 Pay Bump, Mandatory Model Delay
Alongside their annual criticisms of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ annual pay rate increase for inpatient care, hospital groups are pushing the agency to reconsider a mandatory nationwide test of an episode-based payment model rolling out for most hospitals next fall. (Muoio, 6/11)
Bloomberg: Amgen Reevaluates Tavneos Data As Medicine Faces FDA Scrutiny
Amgen Inc. has engaged an independent academic organization to reevaluate data for a rare disease drug that US regulators are trying to pull from the market. The Duke Clinical Research Institute is reviewing study results that were used to approve the medicine, called Tavneos, Amgen said in a letter to the Food and Drug Administration that was posted online Thursday. That review began in February, according to the letter dated June 1. (Swetlitz, 6/11)
Stat: Blood Cancer United Buys Drug Stockpile For Compassionate Use
In a rare move, nonprofit organization Blood Cancer United announced Thursday it was buying the remaining supplies of Luvelta, a discontinued investigational cancer drug. (Chan, 6/11)
Chicago Tribune: Northwestern Hospital Makes The Case For New Cancer Complex
Northwestern Memorial Hospital officials met with Streeterville residents Wednesday night and said they have worked to address concerns about the hospital’s proposal to build a 1.2 million-square-foot tower on a vacant lot. (Rogal, 6/11)
Becker's Hospital Review: Who’s Conducting The ‘Orchestra’? What Hospitals Can Learn From EMS
Every time a paramedic walks into a hospital and hands off a patient, Jonathan Washko, assistant vice president at the Northwell Health Center for Emergency Medical Services and SkyHealth, notices something: The emergency room workflow is usually structured. But once a patient gets admitted, the coordination often dissolves. Nobody is running the whole show. (Ruder, 6/11)
STATE WATCH
Chicago Tribune: Illinois Medical-Aid-In-Dying Law Challenged
A federal lawsuit filed Thursday challenges a new Illinois law set to go into effect in September that would allow doctors to prescribe medication to terminally ill people to end their own lives. (Gorner, 6/11)
Verite News: Tulane Report Urges Healthcare Investment To Boost Economy
A new report argues that Louisiana’s future population and economic growth depends on increasing investments in healthcare services and passing policies that address health disparities. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the state’s population has largely declined since 2020 as more people leave the state. ... Researchers from Tulane University’s Newcomb Institute say these changes are happening alongside “persistent health burdens” — including high maternal mortality and premature death rates — that hurt well-being and economic opportunity. (Parker, 6/11)
Becker's Hospital Review: 4 States Tackling Hospital Violence Prevention In 2026
Workplace violence against healthcare workers remains a persistent problem nationwide. Several states have passed or introduced new or expanded legislation in 2026 aimed at protecting hospital workers, from prevention planning requirements to weapons prohibitions. (Kuchno, 6/11)
