Latest KFF Health News Stories
Buoyed By MAHA, Anti-Sunscreen Fad Emerges — To Dermatologists’ Dismay
Social media influencers skeptical of sunscreen ingredients are advocating for natural alternatives, but health experts maintain sunscreen is one of the most effective tools for preventing skin cancer. “Ultraviolet radiation is a known carcinogen,” said Adam Friedman, a professor of dermatology.
Telehealth Has Unlocked Abortion Access In South And Midwest: Study
A study released Monday in JAMA found that the rates of telehealth abortion were notably highest in states with abortion bans. Also: news on birth control, in-utero procedures, and more.
In Promising Trial, Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine Helped Patients Live Longer
As NBC News reported, people with pancreatic cancer survived for an average of 29 months and lived recurrence-free for more than 15 months post-vaccination — far longer than the rates of resectable cancers. A randomized phase 2 trial is being held to test the durability of the vaccine.
Doctors Are Working Harder For Less Pay, Report Shows
Stalled reimbursements from both private and public insurers — which means less net revenue — and an increase in practitioners’ workload since the start of the pandemic could mean less access for patients. Also in the news: rural ERs; Blue Cross’ antitrust deal; and more.
For Two Companies, State Department Resumes Nutrition Aid Orders
Some famine experts are optimistic about the government’s decision to ship U.S.-made ready-to-use therapeutic food — it’s a start — but one notes: “What we haven’t seen yet … is any indication that programs and funding that were meant to address long-term food security will be resumed.”
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, who opposed most covid mandates, said on Steve Bannon’s podcast Saturday that “a large fraction of the population” distrusts mRNA shots and that the technology is “promising but not yet ready for prime time for vaccines.” The mRNA vaccines for covid are widely credited with saving millions of lives.
As Kennedy Visits Bullet-Riddled CDC, Critics Insist He Stop Vaccine Rhetoric
The HHS secretary also met with the widow of officer David Rose. Meanwhile, the agency says it is adding safety and security measures before it brings back employees, who are reeling from the trauma and have the option of working remotely this week. “I think most of us would very much like the next message we hear from [Kennedy] to begin with ‘I hereby resign,’” one staffer said.
First Edition: Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
VA Hospitals Having Difficulty Wooing Doctors, Nurses Amid Federal Turmoil
Internal documents examined by ProPublica show nearly 4 in 10 of the approximately 2,000 doctors offered jobs from January through March turned them down — quadruple the rate during the same period last year — because the doctors worried the jobs weren’t stable.
A Dose Of Upbeat And Inspiring News
Today’s stories are on an elderly EMT, food insecurity, disability inclusion, ALS, allergies, and more.
Boar’s Head Plant At Center Of Listeria Outbreak Will Reopen Soon In Virginia
The plant was shut down in September amid the outbreak that killed 10 people and sickened dozens. Recent inspections have found health concerns at other Boar’s Head facilities, however. Plus: Covid cases are rising everywhere, particularly in Louisiana.
Supreme Court Is Formally Petitioned To Reverse Same-Sex Marriage Ruling
The appeal, which comes 10 years after the historic Obergefell case, is being brought by Kim Davis, the former Kentucky county clerk who was jailed for refusing marriage licenses to a same-sex couple.
Ousted Vaccine Regulator Vinay Prasad Is Back At FDA
It is not clear whether Prasad will still serve as the agency’s chief medical and scientific officer, Stat reports. Meanwhile, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research staff grill top drug regulator George Tidmarsh about the challenges they face.
Trump Demands Homeless People ‘Immediately’ Get Out Of DC
The president’s crackdown on homelessness in the nation’s capital comes after an alleged assault of a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer. Separately, the Commerce Department will launch an investigation into Harvard University’s patents that received government funding.
CDC Leaders And Staff Express Fear, Anger, And Resolve After Shooting
In a call with employees, agency brass told employees that the attack on the office complex was deliberate: “This was not stray bullets.” Employees are calling for the resignation of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who one says is “propagating misinformation and distrust.” Law enforcement sources say the suspect might have blamed his health concerns on the covid-19 vaccine.
Editorial writers discuss these public health topics.
First Edition: Monday, Aug. 11, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today’s selections are on public health policy, abortion undergrounds, medically assisted death, and more.
Proposed California Bill Aims To Protect Access To HIV Treatments
Assembly Bill 554 would protect access to PrEP and PEP medications by requiring insurers to cover the antiretroviral drugs. Other states making news: Florida, Missouri, Ohio, and Colorado.
Eli Lilly Says Weight Loss Pill A Success, Will Apply This Year For FDA Approval
During a 72-week study, those taking the highest dose of orforglipron lost an average of 27.3 pounds. While injections might cause people to lose more weight, a pill has advantages over them, specifically that it doesn’t need to be kept cold. And in health tech news, GPT-5 has been released.
