Latest KFF Health News Stories
Editorial writers tackle these public health issues.
Illinois Food Pantries Prep For Influx Of Need As SNAP Benefits Are Cut
As the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, readies for the biggest budget cuts in its history, nonprofit food banks strain to fight food insecurity. Other states making news: Mississippi, Texas, Connecticut, North Carolina, California, Colorado, Missouri, and Maine.
HHS To Reform Organ Donation System In Wake Of Procurement Concerns
A House subcommittee will hold a hearing today covering safety lapses and improvements to be made to the organ donor system. In other news: the FDA’s debate on antidepressant use during pregnancy; the impact of NIH cuts on science; and more.
Trump’s Tax Law Will Leave 10 Million Uninsured, New CBO Report Forecasts
By 2034, more than 10 million people will be uninsured under President Donald Trump’s tax and spending law, the Congressional Budget Office finds in a revised analysis of the bill. That’s an improvement from an earlier projection that found 11.8 million people would lose coverage in that time period.
First Edition: Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Federal Cuts Deal A ‘Big, Devastating Blow’ To Los Angeles Health System
“We can’t survive this big a cut,” said public health department chief Barbara Ferrer. Other states making news: Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Louisiana, Maine, North Carolina, and Ohio.
Joint Commission Streamlines Standards, Cuts Requirements
Reducing redundancy and improving hospital compliance are among the goals. Other industry news is on health system purchases of physician practices, insurance claim denials, and more.
45% Of Dementia Cases Linked To 14 Modifiable Risk Factors: Study
Among the factors are cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. An estimated 5% to 19% of U.S. dementia cases were attributable to vision impairment, a recent study showed. Other news is on chronic Lyme disease acceptance, computer prompts to help stave off antibiotic over prescription, and more.
Rising Organ Transplants Mean More Danger For Donors, Bungled Retrievals
The increased use of a type of organ removal called donation after circulatory death has led to a rise in disturbing transplant stories. This method allows doctors to make a judgment call that patients, although alive and still with brain activity, are near enough to death and won’t recover.
NIH, FDA Cuts Would Lead To Fewer New Meds, CBO Analysis Indicates
An estimated 53 drugs would not enter the market in the next 30 years if the NIH is hit with a permanent 10% budget cut and the FDA experiences a nine-month drug review delay due to staffing cuts, the analysis suggests. Plus, the Trump administration rejects WHO health regulation changes.
Viewpoints: GOP Using Flawed Report To Attack FDA; Preventative Care May Be RFK Jr.’s Next Target
Opinion writers discuss these public health issues.
Federal Family Planning Program Shifting Focus Toward Infertility
The Trump administration plans to use Title X funds previously allocated for providing birth control to low-income patients to instead teach women about alternative approaches to infertility.
First Edition: Monday, July 21, 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 federal funding and workforce cuts, ACIP, weight loss drugs, birthing alternatives, and more.
Opinion writers examine these public health topics.
Florida Surgeon General Derides Covid Vaccines; Experts Assure Their Safety
Dr. Joseph Ladapo calls for more research of people who claim to have been injured by the vaccine. “Honestly, we don’t know where his data are coming from,” a Florida doctor countered. Other states making news: Maryland, Illinois, Missouri, Connecticut, and North Carolina.
Physicians Who Use AI Seen As Less Competent, Trustworthy, Empathetic
A study, which polled more than 1,200 people, found that participants were less willing to book appointments when any type of AI use was indicated. More industry news is on the fund to bolster rural health care; discounts on the blood thinner Eliquis; and more.
Majority Of US Pregnant Women Don’t Plan To Fully Vaccinate Kids: Survey
Researchers from Emory University and the CDC found that only 35% to 40% of pregnant and new parents plan to fully vaccinate their children. In other news: A shortened drug regimen for drug-resistant TB shows some promise; Farm pesticides might be causing rheumatoid arthritis; and more.
US Global HIV/AIDS Program Survives Trump’s Spending Cuts
Earlier versions of a spending cuts package targeted PEPFAR, the popular global AIDS relief program. The White House agreed to spare the program to avoid defections, and the spending cuts passed the Senate on Thursday.
CMS Gives ICE Access To Medicaid Recipients’ Data, Including Addresses
The agreement, signed Monday between CMS and DHS, has not been announced publicly, AP reports. Other Trump administration news is on gender-affirming care for youth, President Donald Trump’s vein disorder, Juul e-cigarettes, childhood immunizations and more.
