Latest KFF Health News Stories
RFK Jr. Claims Dietary Changes Can Cure Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder
Scholars quickly pointed out that although scientists are studying whether diet “might be helpful” in patients with schizophrenia, “no credible evidence” exists to support the claim made by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
CDC Ordered To Revoke $602M In ‘Woke’ Health Funds From Blue States
The health programs facing cuts include HIV prevention efforts in Illinois, health disparity mitigation in Colorado, and LGBTQ studies in California. The Trump administration also moved to eliminate job protections from as many as 50,000 federal workers.
TrumpRx Website Opens For Business
The government-run portal allows people to search for meds — about 40 were available at launch — and either buy them through manufacturers’ direct-to-consumer sites or get coupons to use at certain pharmacies. Uninsured people and those who “self-pay” for prescriptions are most likely to benefit from the website, but experts remain skeptical that the platform will meaningfully affect affordability.
First Edition: Friday, Feb. 6, 2026
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers discuss these public health issues.
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of health policy studies and briefs.
Wildfire Pollution Linked To 24,100 Deaths A Year In The US, Study Shows
The researchers looked at the deaths linked to chronic exposure to fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, which is the main concern from wildfire smoke. Also: A global study suggests nearly 40% of cancer cases are linked to preventable risk factors; pregnancy and breastfeeding may be connected to stronger long-term cognitive health; and more.
Several Fall Ill In Las Vegas Airbnb, An Alleged Bio Lab Linked To Federal Case
Police found a “possible biological laboratory,” including “refrigerators with vials containing unknown liquids.” Two people became very ill after being exposed to the area. The federal case involves the alleged manufacturing and distributing of misbranded medical devices at a warehouse in California. More news is from Idaho, Utah, Texas, Louisiana, and New York.
Just Weeks After Launch, Wegovy Pill Sees High US Demand
Novo Nordisk says that more than 170,000 Americans are taking its new GLP-1 pill. Related news is on GLP-1 drugs’ impact on heart failure events in diabetes patients; the intersection between obesity drugs and eating disorders; and more.
Blaze Destroys Part Of Pa. Hospital; 77 Patients Flee To Safety In Frigid Temps
Lehigh Valley Hospital-Dickson City appeared to sustain major damage Wednesday night as firefighters worked into Thursday in single-digit temperatures to put out hot spots. The orthopedic section of the building appeared to be “a total loss,” an emergency official said. The Times-Tribune of nearby Scranton reported that any closure of the hospital would only worsen the strained local health care landscape.
Study Dispels Long-Held Notion That Autism Afflicts More Boys Than Girls
A study based on data from millions of people found that it’s not that fewer girls and women have autism but instead that they aren’t diagnosed until later in life. Also: A study on leucovorin as a treatment for autism has been retracted; the FDA has withdrawn a webpage that warned about dangerous autism treatments; and more.
Senate Efforts To Revive ACA Subsidies ‘Effectively Over,’ Snubbing Millions
The roughly 20 million Americans who lost the enhanced Obamacare tax credits at the end of 2025 are contending with higher health insurance premiums. Negotiators couldn’t find common ground on how to handle abortion coverage. Plus, how insurers are hoping to cash in on the premium spike.
First Edition: Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers tackle these public health topics.
New Mexico Health Department Warns Against Raw Milk After Infant’s Death
The child died of listeria, allegedly after its mother drank unpasteurized milk while pregnant. In unrelated news, two infants developed severe neurologic symptoms after infection with Paenibacillus dendritiformis, an emerging infectious-disease threat.
Staffing Worries Mount As Health Care Workers Must Pay $100K H-1B Visa Fee
Medical organizations have petitioned DHS to exempt health care workers in the H-1B visa program. Other health industry news is on nursing shortages; the carbon footprint of a popular anesthetic; the dangers of duplicate medical records; and more.
In A First, Plastic Surgeon Group Sides Against Youth Gender Care Surgeries
The Washington Post reports that the American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the first major U.S. medical association to narrow its guidance on youth gender care following a crackdown by the Trump administration. Other news on gender care comes from New York, Minnesota, and California.
NIH Director Contradicts RFK Jr.’s Theory That Vaccines Cause Autism
“I have not seen a study that suggests any single vaccine causes autism,” Jay Bhattacharya, the director of the National Institutes of Health said, emphasizing that there has been no link found between the MMR vaccine and autism, but that other vaccines are “less well studied.”
Bhattacharya Gives Senate A Glimpse Of Changes Being Made At NIH
Some of the reforms underway include centralized peer review, a new analytic office, stronger oversight, and a unified funding strategy to better align investments with national health priorities, MedPage Today reported. Plus, news about the FDA’s drug voucher program.
