Latest KFF Health News Stories
President Donald Trump overwrote Joe Biden’s executive order that led to longer enrollment periods for Affordable Care Act plans in most states and extra funding to help people enroll, Stat reports. Trump also halted some prescription cost-saving efforts for people on Medicare and Medicaid, which might stall momentum for Medicare drug pricing negotiations. On Friday, another 15 drugs — including blockbusters Ozempic and Wegovy — were added to the negotiation list.
First Edition: Tuesday, Jan. 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 covid, RFK Jr., Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and more.
FDA Authorizes Sale Of Zyn Pouches To Help Adult Smokers Cut Back
FDA officials say that while Zyn is not safe, the data show the pouches are less harmful than alternatives and contain fewer harmful ingredients than cigarettes. Meanwhile, a new report by the American Cancer Society shows a shift in cancer diagnoses from older to younger adults, with more women being diagnosed than men.
CDC: Hospitals Treating Patients For Flu Should Also Test Swiftly For H5N1
A check for bird flu should be done within 24 hours of admission, the agency advises. Moreover, patients suspected of having seasonal or bird flu should be treated right away with antivirals.
Viewpoints: Steps Medical Professionals Can Take To Safeguard Immigrant Patients
Opinion writers tackle these public health issues.
Arkansas Hopes To Reinstate Work Requirements For Medicaid
When Arkansas previously enacted work requirements in 2018, more than 18,000 people lost coverage. Also in the news: New Hampshire tackles the issue of exorbitant, unexpected ambulance bills; San Francisco’s public health director will step down; Montana seniors struggle with homelessness; and more.
UnitedHealth Group Dodges Blame for System Failures In Wake Of CEO Killing
In the first public appearance since Brian Thompson’s slaying in early December, UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty addressed the public’s discontent, skirting responsibility and blaming drug companies and hospitals for the health care system’s failures.
AIDS Relief Program ‘In Jeopardy,’ Lawmaker Says, Citing Misuse Of Funds
Republican Sen. Jim Risch says PEPFAR money paid for abortions in Mozambique. Although the CDC acknowledged money was used to pay abortion providers who weren’t aware of the restrictions, it says the $4,100 has been returned. “CDC identified the error, took immediate action, has a plan in place to prevent it from happening again,” a spokesperson said.
States’ Lawsuit To Restrict Mifepristone Access Allowed To Proceed
After abortion opponents and doctors failed in their case to have the drug restricted — the Supreme Court ruled they lacked standing — Idaho, Kansas, and Missouri stepped in. Meanwhile, other states are making moves to protect reproductive rights.
Biden Issues Flurry Of Decisions At End Of Presidency; Trump Vows To Undo
On Friday, outgoing President Joe Biden said he was commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 prison inmates serving long terms for nonviolent drug offenses. Gun control and the Equal Rights Amendment were among the topics Biden was asked to consider in his final days in the White House.
First Edition: Friday, Jan. 17, 2025
Note to readers: the First Edition will not be published Monday, Jan. 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Look for it again in your inbox Tuesday. Here are today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers delve into these public health issues.
First Covid, Now Wildfires: Calif. Teens Say Their Mental Health Is Suffering
The disaster has again disrupted the education and nutrition of thousands of children. In Pasadena alone, five school sites were destroyed or severely damaged, leaving 14,000 students with no clear plan. And it’s not just students: Almost half of Pasadena’s district employees lived in the evacuation zone, the Los Angeles Times noted.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Weighs Clash Over Conversion Therapy For LGBTQ+
Justices are examining whether a GOP-led legislative panel overreached its authority when it blocked the ban that forbids professionals from counseling people to try to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. More news comes from Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and elsewhere.
CMS Retracts Medicare Advantage Enrollment Report For Corrections
Meanwhile: Medicare Advantage enrollees aren’t seeing expected savings on supplemental care; Inflation Reduction Act’s annual prescription cap will provide significant savings; Georgia wants to change Medicaid eligibility requirements; and more.
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of the latest health research and news.
New Rule From DEA, HHS Will Allow Some Opioid Treatment Via Telehealth
Roll Call reports that the newly finalized rule will allow for health care providers who have not seen a patient in person to prescribe six months’ worth of buprenorphine via telehealth. Also in pharma news: FDA’s proposed nicotine crackdown; FDA’s fast-track approval process for drugs; insulin prices; and more.
FDA Prohibits Red Dye No. 3, Which Is Linked To Cancer In Rats
Food safety advocates, who had urged the ban for decades, do not anticipate difficulties in the transition and hope this will lead to more bans on synthetic dyes. Also in public health news: baby formula, processed meats, and more.
NIH Director To Step Down After Only One Year In The Role
National Institutes of Health Director Monica Bertagnolli will resign Friday. The Hill reports that while the agency has typically held bipartisan support, residual Republican dissatisfaction over the handling of the pandemic “has pushed NIH squarely into partisan crosshairs.” Also in the news: a conservative effort to oppose Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination; Trump’s plans for HHS; and more.
