Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Study: Recreational Ketamine Outpaces Therapeutic Use For Depression
Also in the news, “renal denervation” shows promise as a treatment for high blood pressure; an estimated 17 million U.S. adults struggle with long-covid with no new treatments in sight; inequality grows in life expectancies among Americans; and more.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Michigan Offers Buyouts To Nonunion Staff
The company points to the increasing costs of prescription and specialty drugs as a reason for its loss of more than $1 billion in insurance business over the past two years and for its need to cut costs dramatically. Other health and pharma news is on Eli Lilly’s work on an oral weight loss drug; how fitness and weight training can halve the risk of cancer patients dying; and more.
Editorial writers discuss these public health issues.
At Least 9 Dead As Frigid Temps, Snow Thrash South; Power Outages Possible
Several people were thought to have died from hypothermia or exposure to the cold in Texas and Georgia, authorities said. Meanwhile, the Louisiana governor is warning residents not to use gas or electric stoves or ovens to heat homes because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or fire.
VA Secretary Nominee Faces Grilling Over Abortion, Project 2025 Stances
On reproductive rights for veterans, Doug Collins said, “We will look at this rule.” On proposed Veterans Affairs cost-cutting measures, he said “We’re not going to balance budgets on the back of veterans’ benefits.” Outside the Beltway, lawmakers in Virginia, Nebraska, Kentucky, and North Carolina consider abortion-related measures.
Democrats Aim To Shield Medicaid From Potential Cuts Under Trump
Axios reports that some Republicans are avoiding answering whether they’re willing to cut Medicaid in order to help pay for an extension of President Donald Trump’s tax cuts. More news on Medicaid comes from South Carolina and South Dakota.
Health Tech Industry Is Just Fine With Repeal Of Biden’s AI Regulating Order
Among the executive order’s directives, companies were required to report details of their technology to federal regulators. Separately, Doctors Without Borders, physicians, and industry top brass weigh in on President Donald Trump’s executive orders and policy proposals.
Federal Health Agencies Ordered To Halt External Communications
The Trump administration moved swiftly to block communications from HHS, the FDA, the CDC, and the NIH. It is not clear whether Americans can still receive urgent notifications regarding foodborne disease outbreaks, drug approvals, and new bird flu cases. Meanwhile, new restrictions mean immigrant domestic abuse victims are no longer safe from ICE in women’s shelters.
First Edition: Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
California Wildfires Caused Dangerous Levels Of Chlorine And Lead In The Air
Also in California, mental health workers address the struggles of fire refugees. In other news: North Carolina welcomes a new DHHS secretary; Colorado hospitals show uneven growth; St. Petersburg, Florida, wants a hurricane wall to protect its hospital; and more.
Fauci Dismisses ‘Baseless Threats’ Over Handling Of Pandemic, Takes Pardon
The pardon stretches from Jan. 1, 2014, to Jan. 19, 2025, which includes his time as a member of the White House’s covid-19 task force. Meanwhile, HHS has debarred EcoHealth Alliance Inc. and its former president, Peter Daszak, for five years over its virus studies.
US Health Care Systems Post Another Bad Year For Cyberattacks
A record 184 million people had their health care data compromised in 2024. Despite the troubling numbers, one AHA adviser commends companies’ cooperation with authorities, saying quick action helped ward off further attacks. Also in the news: MedPAC, independent surgeons, and more.
Trump Pulls US Out Of Paris Climate Agreement — Again
President Donald Trump has argued that the accord, first negotiated in 2015, is unfair to American businesses and the U.S. economy. In other news, Trump also took action on lethal injections and police chokeholds.
Viewpoints: What Does A Future Without The WHO Look Like?; Buckle Up For More Birth Control Battles
Editorial writers tackle these public health issues.
Government Website On Reproductive Rights Is No Longer Online
The website, reproductiverights.gov, provided information on health care issues including birth control, breast and cervical exams, prenatal care, and more. Meanwhile, Maryland secures abortion rights, Texas works to clarify exemptions, and Missouri wants to roll back reproductive rights.
Trump Signals Intent To Withdraw US From World Health Organization
Leaving the WHO means the CDC would no longer have access to the global data that the agency provides, making it harder to fight the next pandemic. “This is going to be a grave strategic error that will make America less healthy and less safe,” said global public health expert Lawrence Gostin.
Dorothy Fink Selected As Interim HHS Secretary
The endocrinologist and leader of the health agency’s Office on Women’s Health will lead the agency while Robert Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s pick for the role and the focus of bipartisan scrutiny, undergoes confirmation by the Senate. The push back on Kennedy’s selection as health secretary could leave the agency without a Senate-confirmed leader for an extended period of time.
Trump Signs Order Designating Drug Cartels As Terrorist Organizations
President Donald Trump signed the executive order Monday, and AP reports that it could pave the way for “a militarized agenda for the border and Latin America.” Other fentanyl-related news is on tariffs, Walgreens, West Virginia, and more.
US Will No Longer Allow Transgender, Nonbinary Identities, Per Trump Order
Gender identity — and protections such as health care afforded to people in that community — will be stripped from the federal government. A legal challenge is already planned. Separately, an effort is underway to remove transgender people from the military.
