Latest KFF Health News Stories
Social Security ‘Resurrects’ Immigrants From Death List; Benefits Still Blocked
They’ll instead be flagged as “unverified.” An unnamed administration official told The New York Times that it would achieve the same goal by alerting third parties that they may not be eligible for services. Also, 20 states have sued over the administration’s use of immigrants’ Medicaid data.
Federal Judge Pauses RFK Jr.’s Mass Firings, Calling Them Unlawful
Tuesday’s order blocked the layoffs and organizational changes at HHS. Judge Melissa DuBose of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island said the changes far exceeded Kennedy’s authority. Andrew Nixon, RFK Jr.’s spokesperson, said they are considering next steps.
Senate Megabill That Would Erode Social Safety Net Now Heads To House
Hospital associations on Tuesday slammed the legislation, which would devastate millions of sick or poor Americans. The bill passed 51-50 on a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance after three Republicans joined Democrats in opposing it.
First Edition: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Senate Passes Trump’s Megabill With Medicaid Cuts, Other Health Provisions
The massive tax and immigration bill passed the Senate Tuesday by a 51-50 vote, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tiebreaker. The legislation, which must go back to the House, offsets some of the new spending with measures that aim to cut back on Medicaid and food assistance for the poor.
Men’s Mental Health Affected By Financial, Societal Pressures: Report
The continuance of defining manhood as being a provider, especially amidst financial uncertainties, means men are 16.3 times more likely to contemplate suicide, researchers have found.
California Changes Environmental Law That Made It Harder To Help Homeless
Former California Gov. Ronald Reagan signed the landmark California Environmental Quality Act into law in 1970 in an effort to protect the state from pollution and sprawl. But it also made it more difficult to build housing, adding to the state’s pervasive homelessness problem.
Joint Commission Overhauls Its Accreditation Process For Hospitals
The group, which is the accrediting organization for more than 80% of U.S. hospitals and health systems, says the new rules will “dramatically” streamline and simplify the process. Also in the news: CMS proposes a Medicare pay cut for home health companies.
Supreme Court Orders Judges To Reexamine Gender-Affirming Care
On Monday, the Supreme Court dismissed lower court rulings that benefited transgender Americans and are now requiring those lower courts to look into those cases again. The cases under review include state-sponsored health care coverage for gender-affirming care and the changing of birth certificates.
HHS Renews Funding For States’ Cancer Prevention, Tracking Programs
As last year’s funding began running out over the weekend, many states were uncertain about the future of their cancer programs. Word that they would receive funding came Monday. Other news is about the death toll of USAID cuts; the vaccine injury program; and more.
Megabill Amendment That Would Have Helped Rural Hospitals Fails
The measure would have created a top marginal tax rate for high-income earners and would have fully offset the cost of expanding the hospital relief fund, The Hill reports. The Senate also is voting on the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, Planned Parenthood funding, SNAP cuts, and more.
Editorial writers tackle these public health topics.
First Edition: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers weigh in on these topics and others.
AI Offers New Hope To Couples Suffering With Male Infertility
The Columbia University Fertility Center used a tiny camera to find viable sperm within hours in a man who had almost no detectable sperm. In other lifestyle news: the cognitive consequences of chatbots; a new AI test shows 87.9% accuracy at detecting Parkinson’s; and more.
New Hampshire Lawmakers Pass Bill Banning Transgender Care For Minors
The measure includes a “grandfather clause” that would allow youths who are already receiving care to continue to get it. Meanwhile, hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to children might be on the cusp of losing federal funds.
Second WHO Probe Into Covid’s Origins Ends Just As The First: Inconclusively
It likely jumped from animals to humans, the experts said in their final report Friday. However, a critical component of the investigation was missing: Despite repeated requests, the group was not given access to Chinese data and therefore could not evaluate claims of a lab leak, AP reports.
CMS Launches Prior Authorization Trial For Some Medicare Services
Health care service companies are being asked to join a program that relies on technology to review certain fee-for-service Medicare requests. A program-affiliated medical professional will give the final ruling on a claim. Plus, Social Security Administration payment changes start in July.
DOGE No Longer In Charge Of Awarding Billions In Federal Grants
DOGE has been overseeing the grants.gov site for the past three months, giving it control of more than $500 billion in annual awards. On Thursday, departments were advised to return to “standard procedures.” More than $14 million in health care grants had been stalled under DOGE’s control, The Washington Post reports.
Senate Republicans Forge Ahead With Vote-A-Rama On Medicaid-Cutting Bill
The Senate is set to begin the process 9 a.m. today, giving members of both parties an opportunity to introduce and vote on an unlimited number of amendments to the package, The Hill reported. The Congressional Budget Office now estimates the megabill would reduce spending on Medicaid, Medicare, and Obamacare by more than $1.1 trillion by 2034.
