Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

California Wildfires Caused Dangerous Levels Of Chlorine And Lead In The Air

Morning Briefing

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

Morning Briefing

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

Morning Briefing

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

Morning Briefing

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.

Government Website On Reproductive Rights Is No Longer Online

Morning Briefing

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

Morning Briefing

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

Morning Briefing

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

Morning Briefing

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

Morning Briefing

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.

Hours Into Presidency, Trump Rescinds Attempts To Lower Prescription Costs, Rolls Back Some ACA Rules

Morning Briefing

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.

FDA Authorizes Sale Of Zyn Pouches To Help Adult Smokers Cut Back

Morning Briefing

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.

Arkansas Hopes To Reinstate Work Requirements For Medicaid

Morning Briefing

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

Morning Briefing

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

Morning Briefing

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.