Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

First Edition: Thursday, July 3, 2025

Morning Briefing

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations. Note to readers: The First Edition will not be published Friday or Monday in observance of July Fourth. Look for it again in your inbox on Tuesday, July 8.

Scientists Find Microplastics In Reproductive Fluids Of Men, Women

Morning Briefing

The presence of microplastics in semen and follicular fluid were not entirely unexpected. But the lead research author added: “What did surprise us, however, is how widespread it is. This is not an isolated finding — it appears to be quite common.” Plus: hormone therapy and breast cancer; antibiotic resistance in cow manure; and more.

UnitedHealthcare Reaches Agreement With Cancer Center Over Coverage

Morning Briefing

The multi-year agreement announced Tuesday between UnitedHealthcare and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center will let some 19,000 UnitedHealthcare and Oxford health plan members remain in-network for their cancer care. Also in the news: Ascension Health, Sharp HealthCare, Mass General Brigham, and more.

Social Security ‘Resurrects’ Immigrants From Death List; Benefits Still Blocked

Morning Briefing

They’ll instead be flagged as “unverified.” An unnamed administration official told The New York Times that it would achieve the same goal by alerting third parties that they may not be eligible for services. Also, 20 states have sued over the administration’s use of immigrants’ Medicaid data.

Federal Judge Pauses RFK Jr.’s Mass Firings, Calling Them Unlawful

Morning Briefing

Tuesday’s order blocked the layoffs and organizational changes at HHS. Judge Melissa DuBose of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island said the changes far exceeded Kennedy’s authority. Andrew Nixon, RFK Jr.’s spokesperson, said they are considering next steps.

Senate Megabill That Would Erode Social Safety Net Now Heads To House

Morning Briefing

Hospital associations on Tuesday slammed the legislation, which would devastate millions of sick or poor Americans. The bill passed 51-50 on a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance after three Republicans joined Democrats in opposing it.

Senate Passes Trump’s Megabill With Medicaid Cuts, Other Health Provisions

Morning Briefing

The massive tax and immigration bill passed the Senate Tuesday by a 51-50 vote, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tiebreaker. The legislation, which must go back to the House, offsets some of the new spending with measures that aim to cut back on Medicaid and food assistance for the poor.

California Changes Environmental Law That Made It Harder To Help Homeless

Morning Briefing

Former California Gov. Ronald Reagan signed the landmark California Environmental Quality Act into law in 1970 in an effort to protect the state from pollution and sprawl. But it also made it more difficult to build housing, adding to the state’s pervasive homelessness problem.

Joint Commission Overhauls Its Accreditation Process For Hospitals

Morning Briefing

The group, which is the accrediting organization for more than 80% of U.S. hospitals and health systems, says the new rules will “dramatically” streamline and simplify the process. Also in the news: CMS proposes a Medicare pay cut for home health companies.

Supreme Court Orders Judges To Reexamine Gender-Affirming Care

Morning Briefing

On Monday, the Supreme Court dismissed lower court rulings that benefited transgender Americans and are now requiring those lower courts to look into those cases again. The cases under review include state-sponsored health care coverage for gender-affirming care and the changing of birth certificates.

HHS Renews Funding For States’ Cancer Prevention, Tracking Programs

Morning Briefing

As last year’s funding began running out over the weekend, many states were uncertain about the future of their cancer programs. Word that they would receive funding came Monday. Other news is about the death toll of USAID cuts; the vaccine injury program; and more.

Megabill Amendment That Would Have Helped Rural Hospitals Fails

Morning Briefing

The measure would have created a top marginal tax rate for high-income earners and would have fully offset the cost of expanding the hospital relief fund, The Hill reports. The Senate also is voting on the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, Planned Parenthood funding, SNAP cuts, and more.

AI Offers New Hope To Couples Suffering With Male Infertility

Morning Briefing

The Columbia University Fertility Center used a tiny camera to find viable sperm within hours in a man who had almost no detectable sperm. In other lifestyle news: the cognitive consequences of chatbots; a new AI test shows 87.9% accuracy at detecting Parkinson’s; and more.