First Edition: Thursday, March 26, 2026

KFF HEALTH NEWS ORIGINAL STORIES

KFF Health News: Taking A GLP-1? Doctors Say Not To Forget About Movement And Mental Health
Severe ankle pain drove Jelon Smart to start taking a weight loss injection a year and a half ago. Smart was 285 pounds and worked as a caterer in Savannah, Georgia. After she’d been standing on her feet for long hours, her ankles would be “as swollen as a football,” she said. She was walking with a limp. An orthopedic doctor diagnosed her with Achilles tendinitis and recommended losing weight to mitigate the symptoms. Smart began taking the brand-name GLP-1 Ozempic. The appetite suppression resulted in her shedding pounds quickly, at first. (Siner, Anthony and Farmer, 3/26)

KFF Health News: CDC’s Acting Chief Promises A Return To Stability In A Tumultuous Moment
President Donald Trump will soon nominate a permanent director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, its acting chief, National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, told agency employees at a Wednesday staff meeting. According to a recording obtained by KFF Health News, Bhattacharya at one point suggested to CDC staff that Trump could name a new leader for the agency as soon as Thursday. “But if not, I don’t think much will change,” he said. (Gounder, 3/25)

SOCIAL MEDIA AND MENTAL HEALTH

CBS News: Meta And YouTube Found Liable On All Charges In Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial
A jury on Wednesday found that Meta and YouTube are liable for creating products that led to harmful and addictive behavior by young users, a landmark decision that could set a legal precedent for similar allegations brought against social media companies. The jury awarded $3 million in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages to the lead plaintiff in the case, a woman named Kaley. Identified in court filings by her initials "KGM," she alleged that using YouTube and Instagram from a young age led to addictive use of the platforms and contributed to her mental health problems, including depression, body dysmorphia and suicidal thoughts. (Cunningham and Pandise, 3/25)

CDC

The New York Times: Trump To Delay Nominating New C.D.C. Director
The White House plans to delay naming a candidate to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an agency that has been roiled by a string of high-level departures and has had three different leaders since President Trump returned to the White House, according to people familiar with the situation. Federal law imposes a 210-day limit on those filling Senate-confirmed positions in an acting capacity. Mr. Trump has until midnight on Wednesday to nominate a permanent director. If he does not, the agency will be officially leaderless. (Mandavilli and Gay Stolberg, 3/25)

AP: Shot-Up Windows Still In Place At CDC Headquarters
The federal government has not yet replaced the bullet-pocked windows that serve as a grim reminder of an attack at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than seven months ago, the agency’s acting chief acknowledged Wednesday. CDC employees asked Dr. Jay Bhattacharya about the broken windows during a staff meeting, noting that the panes were papered over. (Stobbe, 3/25)

MORE ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

Los Angeles Times: Means' Surgeon General Nomination Is Stalled As Senators Question Her Experience And Vaccine Stance
Wellness influencer Dr. Casey Means’ nomination to be U.S. surgeon general is stalled a month after senators of both major political parties grilled her on vaccines and other health topics during a tense confirmation hearing, deepening doubts about her ability to secure the votes she needs for the role. The nomination has languished despite ongoing efforts from the White House and Make America Healthy Again activists, revealing how intractable rifts over health policy can be even when Congress has shown deference to President Trump. It’s become the latest snag in Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s agenda after two legal setbacks last week. (Swenson, 3/25)

AP: Trump Administration Gives San Jose State 10 Days To Change Transgender Athlete Policy
The Trump administration gave San Jose State University 10 days to resolve what the U.S. Education Department has deemed are Title IX violations involving transgender athletes, saying the school will face legal action and the possible loss of federal funding if it fails to comply. The department in January found that the university had discriminated against women by letting a transgender athlete play on the women’s volleyball team. The department issued its ultimatum in a Tuesday letter. (3/25)

AP: Indian Health Service Chips Away At Construction Backlog
An empty lot between a fire station and a soccer field just outside Albuquerque soon will be the home of a federal medical center first promised to Native American patients more than 30 years ago. Earlier this month, Santa Ana Pueblo Gov. Myron Armijo took officials from the U.S. Indian Health Service and the Department of Health and Human Services on a tour of the location where patients are to receive everything from dialysis and diabetes care to optometry services. (Peters, 3/26)

ON CAPITOL HILL

The Washington Post: House Democrat Accused Of Misspending Covid-19 Money Could Be Expelled
A House Democrat from Florida faces the prospect of losing her seat over allegations that she used Federal Emergency Management Agency money mistakenly sent to her family’s health care company to boost past congressional campaigns. In a rare public hearing Thursday, lawmakers from the House Ethics Committee are expected to vote on whether Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Florida) violated House ethics rules for alleged crimes committed during the pandemic. (Goba and Sotomayor, 3/26)

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

The Hill: Hawley Bill To End FDA Approval Mifepristone Picks Up Senate GOP Support
Sen. Josh Hawley’s (R-Mo.) bill to revoke the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of the drug mifepristone for use in terminating pregnancies is picking up Senate Republican support, as the push to stop its shipment across state lines is becoming a top priority of the anti-abortion movement. Hawley’s bill, which would make distributing and labeling mifepristone for abortions a violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, has quickly picked up the support of three other GOP senators: Sens. John Cornyn (Texas), Ted Budd (N.C.) and Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.). (Bolton, 3/25)

The New York Times: Two States Sue Cord Blood Bank Over False Advertisements
Two states are suing a company that stores newborn stem cells, claiming that it has misled parents about the medical value of its expensive services. The company, Cord Blood Registry, houses more than a million samples of umbilical cords in Tucson, Ariz., charging families thousands of dollars in fees. CBR claims on its website that keeping those cells on ice is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” because they have the “potential to treat 80+ conditions.” (Kliff and Ghorayshi, 3/25)

The Current: Georgia Mother Released On Bond As Judge Questions Abortion-Related Murder Charge
A Coastal Georgia district attorney and a Superior Court judge said Monday they were doubtful that enough evidence exists to move forward with a malice murder charge against a 31-year-old Camden County mother arrested earlier this month for an alleged illegal abortion, paving the way for a possible reduction or dismissal of charges. (Gibbs, 3/25)

HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY

The Washington Post: After A Decade As A Yale Hospital Janitor, She Is Now A Doctor There
For about a decade, Shay Taylor-Allen walked the halls of Yale New Haven Hospital pushing a janitor’s cart. She mopped patient rooms, disinfected surfaces and emptied the trash. Soon, she’ll walk the halls of the hospital again, this time wearing a white coat. Taylor-Allen, 32, recently matched into an anesthesiology residency at Yale New Haven Hospital — where she spent most of her adult life working as part of the cleaning staff. “I still can’t believe it,” she said. “It is surreal.” (Page, 3/26)

Pioneer Press: Oak Park's West Suburban Medical Center Suspends Patient Care
West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park is temporarily shutting down its patient care amid a yearlong financial crisis, village and hospital officials said. Walk-in patients were no longer accepted after 4 p.m. Wednesday, and Oak Park Fire Department officials were informed the hospital’s emergency room was no longer accepting ambulances. (Hardy, 3/25)

CBS News: State Says Video Shows Denver Assisted Living Center Took 13 Minutes To Find, Begin CPR On Resident; "He Didn't Have A Chance"
A state investigation has found that a Denver assisted living facility took 13 minutes to locate a resident who collapsed and begin CPR -- failures regulators say placed all residents in "immediate jeopardy." The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment concluded that The Argyle assisted living facility violated multiple rules in connection with the January death of 73-year-old Robert Dutkevitch. The violations were classified at the CDPHE's most serious level, indicating 125 Argyle residents were at immediate risk of harm, according to the agency. (Maass, 3/25)

AP: Why Some People Put Relatives Into Poverty To Pay For Nursing Homes
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that more than half people over age 65 will need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing or eating at some point, either for an extended period or the rest of their lives. Some research suggests that share may be as high as two-thirds. Yet relatively few older Americans have private long-term care coverage. AHIP, a trade association representing the U.S. health insurance industry, estimates that only 3% to 4% of Americans over 50 have an active policy that covers extended care. Medicare, the main health insurance program for older Americans, generally does not pay for continuing support services in a nursing home or assisted-living community. (Sweet, 3/25)

Modern Healthcare: Aetna, Humana Medicare Advantage Marketing Lawsuit Moves Forward
CVS Health subsidiary Aetna, Elevance Health and Humana must face a civil lawsuit alleging they paid kickbacks to online brokerages for Medicare Advantage enrollments, a federal court ruled Wednesday. A whistleblower initiated the case in 2021, which the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts unsealed last year after the Justice Department intervened. (Tepper, 3/25)

Modern Healthcare: CMS' Proposed ACA Exchanges Rule Faces Scrutiny From Providers
Hospital and physician groups want the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to discard or considerably rework its plans for the health insurance exchanges. CMS proposed a rule in February that would usher in major changes to the Affordable Care Act of 2010 marketplaces if finalized. Among its aims is expanding access to high-deductible catastrophic plans and allowing insurance policies with no provider networks onto the exchanges. The draft regulation also would soften network adequacy rules and task states with oversight. (Early, 3/25)

Modern Healthcare: Provider-Insurer Contract Disputes Surge Amid Denials, Downcoding
Contract disputes between insurers and health system networks are reaching the breaking point more than ever. Burdened by cost inflation, labor shortages and uncompensated care, providers are demanding rate increases plus relief from prior authorizations and other red tape. Health insurance companies, clamoring to soothe apprehensive investors, are raising premiums and enacting strict utilization management policies to tamp down spending. (Tong, 3/25)

PHARMACEUTICALS

Stat: FDA Approves Denali Therapeutics Drug For Hunter Syndrome 
The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved a new medicine from Denali Therapeutics for a condition called Hunter syndrome, a notable decision by the agency as it has recently taken tougher stances on rare disease drugs. (Joseph and Mast, 3/25)

NBC News: ADHD Drug May Reduce Later Risk Of Psychotic Disorders, Study Finds
A large, new study found that the stimulant methylphenidate, such as the drugs Ritalin and Concerta, may lower the risk of psychosis when prescribed to younger children with ADHD. Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder have been identified to be at greater risk of developing psychotic conditions such as bipolar or schizophrenia, compared with neurotypical kids. Some studies have suggested a link to stimulants prescribed for ADHD. (Cox, 3/25)

MedPage Today: Non-Doctors Now Handle 40% Of Antipsychotic Scripts In Medicare
A growing proportion of antipsychotic prescriptions for older adults were written by nonphysician clinicians, reflecting shifts in the mental health care workforce and prescribing practices, cross-sectional data showed. (Monaco, 3/25)

Stat: Heart Failure Detection Could Be Improved With New 3-Minute MRI
Hearts need oxygen. Heart attacks are the most dramatic example of this hunger, when blocked coronary arteries starve muscles of the oxygen they need to keep beating. Less sudden is heart failure, when lagging levels of oxygen consumption can mean the heart doesn’t pump blood through the body as well as it should. (Cooney, 3/25)

MedPage Today: Alzheimer's Blood Tests Together Improve Accuracy, Cut Overdiagnosis
A combination of two blood tests improved Alzheimer's disease triaging and reduced overdiagnosis in people with asymptomatic Alzheimer's pathology, a prospective cohort study showed. (George, 3/25)

STATE WATCH

The New York Times: Florida Restores Access To Low-Cost H.I.V. Medications After Uproar
Florida on Tuesday approved nearly $31 million in short-term funding for H.I.V. medications for thousands of residents, reversing course after state health officials restricted access to a program that helps people afford the costly medications. The Florida Department of Health had imposed tougher eligibility rules on March 1 that kicked more than 12,000 residents with H.I.V. out of the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program, potentially depriving them of lifesaving medications, according to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy group. (Levenson, 3/25)

The Wall Street Journal: Autism-Therapy Firm That Was Paid $340,000 Per Patient Is Barred From Medicaid
Indiana is barring one of the nation’s most expensive autism-therapy providers from billing the state’s Medicaid program two weeks after the company’s practices were detailed in a Wall Street Journal article, state officials said. The autism-therapy provider, Piece by Piece Autism Centers, received the highest per-patient payments in the country in 2023—about $340,000 on average—according to a Journal analysis of Medicaid billing records. (Weaver, 3/25)

Iowa Public Radio: Report Examines Potential Link Between Environmental Factors And Iowa's High Cancer Rate 
A new report looks to shed some light on how environmental factors in Iowa could affect cancer rates. The report by the Iowa Environmental Council and the Harkin Institute summarizes peer-reviewed scientific research surrounding cancer risk and environmental factors, like nitrate, PFAS, radon and pesticides. (Krebs, 3/25)

San Francisco Chronicle: SF Could Start Allowing Evictions Over Drug Use In Supportive Housing
San Francisco could empower its permanent supportive housing facilities to evict residents for using drugs, a move proponents say would help the people struggling to get sober in city-funded buildings. Permanent supportive housing aims to combine subsidized housing with individualized support services, especially for the formerly homeless. The city currently follows state guidance — which provides that the use of alcohol or drugs can’t be the sole reason for eviction — as a blanket rule across its more than 15,000 units. (Hodgman, 3/25)

CBS News: Measles Outbreak In Southeast Michigan Now At 7 Cases, Health Officials Say
A measles outbreak in Washtenaw County, Michigan, has expanded to seven cases now under investigation – a mix of children and adults, all of them who were unvaccinated against measles. The Washtenaw County Health Department gave an update on the outbreak on Wednesday, saying the most recent case, involving a young child, might have resulted in measles exposure at a hospital in Ypsilanti. (Wethington, 3/25)

CBS News: El Paso, Los Angeles Among The Most Polluted Cities In The U.S. In 2025, New Report Says
El Paso and Los Angeles were among the most polluted areas in the United States last year, according to a new air quality report that evaluated pollution levels around the world in 2025. The report is the latest iteration of a global analysis that the Swiss technology company IQAir publishes annually. This one centered on some of the causes of declining air quality worldwide, including wildfires, which the report's authors cited as a leading driver of the downward trend. (Czachor, 3/25)

GLOBAL WATCH

CIDRAP: Italy Tracks First European Human H9N2 Avian Flu Case
The Italian Ministry of Health has confirmed Europe’s first human case of low-pathogenicity avian  influenza A(H9N2), in a person from the Lombardy region. The patient is hospitalized, and was described as being in poor health prior to infection. The patient also came from a non-European country, but it is not clear if he or she was an Italian traveler or a foreign visitor to Italy. (Soucheray, 3/25)

The New York Times: How U.S.A.I.D. Birth Control Meant For Africa Was Ruined
Millions of dollars’ worth of contraceptives that have been stranded in Belgium since the Trump administration dismantled American foreign aid are no longer usable, according to a newly obtained memo written for a Trump administration official. About $9.7 million of contraceptives purchased by the United States Agency for International Development and originally destined for low-income nations in Africa got stuck in Belgium after the Trump administration shut down the agency last year. (Smialek and Nolen, 3/26)

NPR: Cuba Sends Doctors On Medical Missions. The U.S. Isn't A Fan
Is it a praiseworthy humanitarian effort or an affront to human rights? That's the debate swirling around a Cuban program that sends tens of thousands of doctors and other medical professionals abroad to care for people. (Emanuel, 3/24)

AP: World Food Prize Awarded To Food Safety Scientist 
A scientist who pioneered the modern food processing safety standards used around the world was awarded this year’s World Food Prize, the organization announced Wednesday, crediting his work for averting millions of cases of foodborne illness and reducing food waste. Huub Lelieveld of the Netherlands earned the award after six decades spent advancing ways to improve food safety and advocating for trade regulations that allow safe food to get around the world more easily. (Fingerhut, 3/25)