Latest KFF Health News Stories
Prominent Abortion Doctor Retires, Shutters Colorado Clinic After 50 Years
Dr. Warren Hern, who provided late-term abortions for women “in the worst moments of their lives” and who faced constant threats, opened his private clinic in 1975. More news comes from Texas, Florida, New York, and California.
A Road Map For Other Hospitals: UPMC Shares Xylazine Treatment Playbook
Xylazine, an animal tranquilizer also referred to as the “zombie drug,” is sometimes found mixed with illegal opioid drugs and has “gruesome” side effects. Other pharma news is on quitting vaping, legal battles over weight loss drugs, and more.
Crozer Health Diverts Patients As Owner’s Closure Plans Get Approved
A day after a federal bankruptcy judge approved Prospect Medical Holdings’ plans, Crozer Health hospitals began sending emergency patients to other hospitals. Crozer has provided EMS support for 50% of the calls in Delaware County, and now longer wait times and greater distances are expected.
Measles Case Near Dallas Is First In An Urban Area During Current Outbreak
A middle school student north of Dallas has tested positive. Meanwhile, Illinois has confirmed its first case in the state. Plus: A study in mice shows that covid is still contagious a week or more after the mouse has died; a single dose of Xofluza cuts down on household transmission of flu; and more.
Gut Toxin Might Be Tied To Steep Increase In Early-Onset Colon Cancer
Researchers found that the toxin’s negative effects begin in childhood. In other news, contrary to what has been said, the food industry says no agreement is in place with the HHS to remove artificial food dyes.
988 Suicide Hotline For LGBTQ+ Youth Is Vulnerable To Trump Budget Cuts
The proposed plan to defund the crisis line, which has received more than 1.2 million contacts since 2022, is among the programs threatened for elimination under the government’s budget proposal. Also in the news: milk testing, food safety labs, drug data, addiction research, and more.
First Edition: Thursday, April 24, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
FSU Students Urge Lawmakers Against Lowering Gun-Buying Age
After last week’s shooting at Florida State University, students also want to ensure classrooms have locks on the doors, funding for mental health resources, and active-shooter training, AP reports. Other states making news are Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, and North Carolina.
Rural Texas Hospital Closing Its Doors After Only 14 Months
Citing financial concerns, Mid Coast Medical Center announced April 18 that Trinity County’s only hospital will wind down operations on Friday, The Texas Tribune reports. Mid Coast’s closure serves as another example of the ongoing struggle of rural hospitals in Texas and nationwide.
Texas Measles Outbreak Hits 624 Cases, Amid Rise In Misinformation
Meanwhile, whooping cough cases are surging across the U.S., with CDC data showing 8,077 cases in 2025, compared with 3,847 cases in the same period last year.
US Birth Rate Nudges Up 1% In 2024, Continuing A Worrisome Trend
Demographers and cultural critics fear a sustaining slump could hurt the U.S. economy. In an effort to prop up the population, some have proposed bonuses for women who give birth, an idea President Donald Trump says “sounds like a good idea.” Separately, the family planning funding freeze is hurting clinics across the country.
Glimmer Of Hope For Medicaid: MAGA Supporters Oppose Cuts, Poll Shows
A top Trump campaign polling firm found strong support for Medicaid in battleground congressional districts, with 78% of Trump supporters wanting the program to continue.
Study: Almost Half Of US Exposed To Unhealthy Levels Of Air Pollution
Meanwhile, the EPA has informed over 450 employees that they will be either fired or reassigned. In other news, North Carolina residents recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Helene are left in the lurch after CDC cuts.
Viewpoints: CDC Might Change Its Covid Vaccine Recommendations; AI Fills The Doctor Shortage
Editorial writers examine these public health issues.
Feds Slash Women’s Health Initiative, Claw Back NSF Research Grants
The WHI has studied the varying health changes women go through since 1991. The National Science Foundation grant cancellations — more than 400 of them, The New York Times reports — targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion studies, as well as research about misinformation.
‘MAHA’ Update: FDA Dumps 8 Food Dyes; CDC Rethinks Kids’ Covid Vax
The additives that will be phased out — but not outright banned — are Blue 1 and 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and 6, Orange B, and Citrus Red 2. In other “Make America Healthy Again” news: The CDC might pull the covid vaccine off its list of recommended vaccines for kids, and the NIH says it won’t have answers about the cause of autism until next year.
First Edition: Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Wyoming Judge Clears The Way For Abortion Clinic To Resume Services
Wyoming Health Access in Casper stopped providing abortion services on Feb. 28, after Republican Gov. Mark Gordon put licensing and ultrasound requirement laws into effect. Abortions again will be provided while the cases wind through the courts.
Cash-Strapped Crozer Health Hospitals Begin 30-Day Wind-Down Of Services
Prospect Medical Holdings notified employees that it is financially unable to keep the Pennsylvania facilities open. A judge needs to approve the closure. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for today. More industry news is about Providence, Mass General Brigham, Compassus, and more.
Antiviral Compound May Hold Promise For Preventing, Treating Long Covid
Researchers have discovered that it prevents long covid symptoms in mice. Other public health news is on a rise in psilocybin use; blood pressure and dementia; and more.
