Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

One-Two Punch Of Combining Antibiotics Could Help Combat Ever-Increasing Drug Resistance

Morning Briefing

With antibiotic drug resistance on the rise, those in the medical field are looking for ways to outsmart bacteria. In other public health news: vaccines, walking drunk, testosterone, exercise, probiotics and more.

Glitches At Embryo Storage Clinics Spark Movement To Increase Oversight Of Facilities

Morning Briefing

Assisted reproduction is largely self-regulated in the United States, and many lawmakers in the past have shied away from the potentially politically fraught issue. But that may change following a clinic’s mishap earlier this year.

Drug Companies Announce Hefty Price Increases In Move Critics Say Is Tone Deaf In Current Landscape

Morning Briefing

Public and congressional anger is high when it comes to drug costs, but price tags continue to rise. Meanwhile, CVS Health pushes back against HHS Secretary Alex Azar’s comments that the company is standing in the way of lower costs.

Democrats Focus On Medicaid Work Requirements In Race For Coveted Kentucky House Seat

Morning Briefing

In a state that leans Republican, Democrats hope to use the latest efforts to add restrictions to Kentucky’s Medicaid program as a rallying point for their congressional candidate, Amy McGrath, who is running against U.S. Rep. Andy Barr. Meanwhile, Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer says he’ll still pursue work requirements even after Kentucky’s waiver was blocked by a judge.

Outcry Over Family Separations At Border Puts Agency Into Major PR Spin Control: ‘HHS Is Aware Of Every Child’

Morning Briefing

Although HHS didn’t write the separation policy, it has become enmeshed in the public relations nightmare for its role of housing the children separated from their parents at the border. Meanwhile, officials try to cut down on lawmakers’ unannounced visits to the detention centers.

Slew Of Abortion Cases Working Way Up To Supreme Court With Possible Petition Coming As Early As This Fall

Morning Briefing

Some of the lawsuits challenge the reasons to allow a woman to get an abortion, while others debate the method a physician could use. And many of them could be turned into a broader discussion about overturning Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, because of those ramifications, the open Supreme Court seat is ramping up the heat during an already charged midterm season.

Three Federal Judges Top Trump’s Short List For Supreme Court Nominee With Decision Expected This Week

Morning Briefing

According to sources, the frontrunners for Justice Anthony Kennedy’s spot are: Anthony Brett Kavanaugh of Maryland, of the D.C. Circuit; Raymond Kethledge of Michigan, of the Sixth Circuit; and Amy Coney Barrett of Indiana, of the Seventh Circuit. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are reported to have spoken with some of the contenders.