Latest KFF Health News Stories
Moderna’s Combo Covid/Flu Shot Offers More Protection Than Separate Jabs
The trial, which involved more than 8,000 adults 50 and older, found that antibody levels generated by the new vaccine were about 20% to 40% higher than getting the shots apart, with the exception of one influenza strain. Plus: An FDA panel will meet May 22 to discuss covid shot recommendations.
Trump Might Again Attempt ‘Most Favored Nation’ Status To Cut Rx Costs
The president, who has teased a “very big announcement” next week, is expected to sign an executive order to implement the policy in an effort to lower Medicare drug costs, three sources told Politico. Trump tried doing the same during his first term, but a judge brought it to a halt.
CDC Approves New Hires To Its Fellowship Disease Detectives Program
Epidemic Intelligence Service officers help investigate outbreaks and other health emergencies. Meanwhile, Washington state’s attorney general alleges the Trump administration has violated a preliminary injunction intended to stop it from cutting research grant funding, ProPublica reports.
MAHA Influencer ‘Dr. Casey’ Means Tapped As Surgeon General
The Stanford-educated doctor, who aligns with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is a critic of “Big Food, Big Pharma, and … a broken health care landscape,” Stat reports. Separately, Kennedy revives the autism database, a plan Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker swiftly pushed back on.
First Edition: Thursday, May 8, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
US Government Secures Large Order Of Freeze-Dried Mpox, Smallpox Vaccine
The freeze-dried version of the Jynneos vaccine has a longer shelf life than the liquid-frozen formula. In other news, Texas measles cases reach 700; bird flu seems to be on the decline; and more.
Editorial writers discuss these public health issues.
Florida Set To Ban Fluoride In Public Drinking Water
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who likened fluoride to “forced medication,” said he intends to sign the bill. Meanwhile in Utah, dentists brace for an influx of dental decay as the first-in-the-nation fluoride ban goes into effect. Also in the news: Nebraska, Connecticut, Tennessee, Illinois, and Hawaii.
Rite Aid Stores To Close Or Be Sold Amid Second Filing For Chapter 11
The drugstore chain intends to sell customer prescription files and inventory as it closes its distribution centers and store locations. Meanwhile, manufacturers have increased imports and are starting to stockpile as the threat of President Trump’s pharmaceutical tariffs looms.
WeightWatchers Files For Bankruptcy Protection To Ease Shift To Telehealth
Their overall revenue has declined 10%, while their weight-loss medication revenue has increased 57% year over year. Also in the news, the Joint Commission suffers layoffs; elevated medical costs affect insurers through Q1; AI beat doctors in empathy test; and more.
House Republicans Nix Hundreds Of Billions In Potential Medicaid Cuts
Meanwhile, the House GOP might miss its self-imposed Memorial Day deadline for making Medicaid cuts in the budget bill. Also, Republicans have targeted a Medicaid loophole used by nearly every state to increase federal matching funds.
CDC Team That Advises On Infection Control Has Ceased Operating
Hospitals and staff “will be sort of flying by the seat of their pants” without updated guidance from the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, one expert notes. HICPAC was shut down in March. Separately, vaccine critic Vinay Prasad, MD, will take the helm at the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, which oversees vaccine approvals.
First Edition: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Only Hospital In Middle Key, Florida, Receives Funding For Another Year
Local governments agreed to continue funding Baptist Health Fishermen’s Community Hospital in Marathon, one of three hospitals in the Florida Keys. Other states making news include North Carolina, South Carolina, and Arizona.
LA County Declares Communitywide Hepatitis A Outbreak
Last year’s numbers were triple those of the year before, and this year is on track to double the total number of cases from last year. Meanwhile, North Dakota has reported its first measles case since 2011. Other news follows a salmonella outbreak, bird flu, and covid.
Opinion writers dissect these public health issues.
Nearly 23% Of Patients On Long-Acting Painkillers Become Addicted To Opioids
The new numbers, released Monday, are far higher than those in drugmakers’ marketing materials, Bloomberg reports. Other public health news is on marijuana’s effect on fetal development, heart disease risk after the shingles vaccine, a popemobile-turned-mobile clinic, and more.
FDA’s Top Drug and Food Safety Inspector Retires Amid Steep Cuts
Michael Rogers, who announced his retirement Monday, has worked at the FDA for 34 years. Also on Monday, FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary announced various changes to the department. Also in the news: Labcorp, Function Health, Abbott Laboratories, and Johnson & Johnson.
Health Care Union Elects A New Leader
Yvonne Armstrong will replace George Gresham as president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. Other health industry news is about telemarketers using an Obamacare loophole, the effects of a UnitedHealth cyberattack, and more.
Taking Unusual Stance, Justice Dept. Urges Dismissal Of Abortion Pill Case
The lawsuit, which aims to restrict access to mifepristone, was to be heard in the Texas courtroom of Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee who opposes abortion. One legal expert said President Donald Trump might be acting cautiously on abortion ahead of the midterm elections.
