Latest KFF Health News Stories
‘Say Something’ School Shooting Tip Line Is Successfully Saving Lives
The anonymous tip line, founded by parents of victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting, alerts police and school authorities to potential threats to students. According to The Washington Post, the tip line has prevented 18 school shootings. Other states making news are Colorado, Texas, Montana, New York, California, and North Carolina.
Hospitals Reportedly Receive Extortion Threats Over Alleged Oracle Hack
Fierce Healthcare says the incident — in which patient data was reportedly stolen from servers sometime after Jan. 22 — has not yet been announced by Oracle Health but was reported Friday in an information security publication called Bleeping Computer. That publication said a hacker is demanding millions in cryptocurrency.
Feds Freeze Family Planning Funds From Planned Parenthood
Nine of the nonprofit’s affiliates got word Monday that the Trump administration is withholding Title X funds. Separately, a federal judge has ruled it is a violation of the First Amendment and the right to travel if Alabama’s attorney general tries to punish anyone who aids in out-of-state abortions.
Doctors Will No Longer Be Required To Record Patients’ Sexual Orientation
The electronic health record rules — which also included taking data on gender identity — were set to be enforced by Jan. 1, 2026. Stat reports that providers can still gather the information if they want to. Plus: updates on lab-developed tests, health care fraudsters, and military combat fitness.
Nearly 2,000 Scientists Call Out Trump For ‘Assault On US Science’
The scientists — all of whom are elected members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine — signed a letter warning that President Donald Trump’s actions have created a “climate of fear,” The Washington Post reported. Plus: Harvard’s funding is in jeopardy.
Opinion writers tackle these public health issues.
HHS Workers Begin Getting Pink Slips
As many as 10,000 people could be let go across the Department of Health and Human Services. Forbes looks at how this might affect the health of everyday Americans.
First Edition: Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A Dose Of Upbeat And Inspiring News
Today’s stories are on cholesterol, HIV, an at-home test for STIs, stem cell storage, and more.
This Year’s Projected Honeybee Losses Could Devastate Farmers, Food Supply
Farmers depend on bee colonies to pollinate their crops, such as apple trees. Other health and wellness news is on flu, bird flu, sleep, junk food, and more.
Editorial writers dissect these public health issues.
Colorado Triumphs In Drug Affordability Case
In the case filed by Amgen last year, U.S. District Court Judge Nina Wang ruled that a Colorado state board can proceed with plans to limit the costs for medications. This is the first court decision allowing a state control over prescription drug costs, Stat reported. Other states making news include Minnesota, Montana, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Missouri.
Health Systems Eye Microhospitals In Effort To Increase Access At Lower Cost
Modern Healthcare reports that many health systems, including Baylor Scott & White, Intermountain Health, and CommonSpirit Health, have invested in microhospitals, which tend to fall somewhere between urgent care centers and full-size traditional hospitals in terms of services. Other health industry news is on Solventum, Corewell Health, nonprofit hospital margins, and more.
CDC Withholds Measles Risk Analysis, Makes Vaccine A ‘Personal Choice’
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention appears to be shifting its message from promoting vaccines to one that is less certain about its benefits, ProPublica reports. Meanwhile, the Texas outbreak has now afflicted 400 people as more counties report cases.
Fox News Reporter Nominated To Lead Office Of National Drug Control Policy
Sara Carter, who is no longer listed on the network’s website, has worked on border issues in her career as a journalist but has never worked in government nor dealt with drug policy, public health, or law enforcement, Stat reports.
Biotech Industry Wary After Top FDA Vaccine Official Forced To Resign
In a statement Saturday, John Crowley of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) said the loss of Dr. Peter Marks would “erode scientific standards,” The Guardian reported. In his resignation letter, Marks wrote that “misinformation and lies” from HHS led him to tender his resignation.
First Edition: Monday, March 31, 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 sludge, covid, nutrition, sneezing, beard transplants, and more.
The Nearly Eradicated Murine Typhus Is Making A Comeback, CDC Says
Most cases of the flea-borne disease are cropping up in Texas and California, and it may be due to cat fleas finding a new host — possums. Other outbreak news includes new genetic identifiers for measles cases; a rise in yellow fever cases in the Americas; and more.
New Utah Law Aims To Rein In Unqualified Life Coaches
Life coaching requires no mental health education, and it sometimes attracts former therapists who have lost their license to practice, reports ProPublica. Other states making news are New York, Iowa, California, and North Carolina.
