Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Shutdown Looms Over Pennsylvania’s Crozer Health System

Morning Briefing

The system was removed from its parent company, Prospect Medical Holdings, and placed into receivership last month, but the term is now up. In other news, industry leaders push for obesity care coverage; lawmakers push for better patient data protection; and more.

Idaho House Swiftly Passes Medicaid Work Requirement Bill

Morning Briefing

The bill was debated Thursday for less than 10 minutes, the Idaho Capital Sun reported. Every Republican voted yes, and every Democrat voted no. The bill now heads to the state Senate for a hearing. In other news: Pennsylvania officials say weight loss drugs might lead to more than $1 billion in new Medicaid costs this year.

CMS Warns It May Soon Update Policies To Prevent ‘Mutilation’ Of Trans Kids

Morning Briefing

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services sent a special alert to hospitals across the country Wednesday, Fierce Healthcare reported. Plus: California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, makes waves for speaking out against trans athletes in women’s sports.

Unvaccinated New Mexico Resident Infected With Measles Has Died

Morning Briefing

Officials have not confirmed measles as the cause of death. All cases of measles in New Mexico involve people who either aren’t vaccinated or whose vaccine status is not known. Meanwhile, some worry that HHS Chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is not taking the outbreak seriously.

FDA Nominee Makary Signals Abortion Pills And Policy Will Get Another Look

Morning Briefing

During a hearing before the Senate health committee, the Johns Hopkins University surgeon also fielded questions about vaccines, agency layoffs, food additives, and vapes. Also, The Washington Post has published FDA food director Jim Jones’ resignation letter.

Arizona’s Abortion Ban Is Struck Down And Abortion Rights Enshrined

Morning Briefing

With the passage of Prop. 139 and a Maricopa County Superior Court judge’s ruling, the abortion ban is over “permanently and forever,” reports AZ Mirror. Also, late-stage pregnancy loss is more common in the south; 19% of men surveyed suffer from ED two years after covid infection; and more.

Private Equity Firm Sycamore Partners Snaps Up Strained Walgreens For $10B

Morning Briefing

As part of the deal, which will be completed later this year, the Chicago-based pharmacy chain will sell its VillageMD unit. Other pharmaceutical news is about Cost Plus Drug Co., Eli Lilly, and more.

Study Suggests Bacterial Vaginosis, Or BV, Is Actually An STD

Morning Briefing

The infection has long been treated as a women’s issue, but a clinical trial in Australia showed that treating both partners eliminated reinfection, CNN reports. In other women’s health news, brain changes during pregnancy may be linked to PPD; menopause hormone therapy may be tied to Alzheimer’s; and more.

Florida Demands Personal Information In Drug Prescription Data Probe

Morning Briefing

Data requested by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation in January includes names of patients, dates of birth, and names of doctors, sparking concerns about government overreach and patient privacy. Other news comes from South Carolina, Texas, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and California.

Aspirin Appears To Stop Some Cancers From Metastasizing, Researchers Find

Morning Briefing

A study on mice with melanoma found that aspirin lowered TXA2 levels, which freed up T cells and allowed them to fight cancer more effectively. However, the lead scientist stressed that long-term aspirin use is associated with many health risks and urged patients to discuss it with their doctors.

Over 1,000 Acute Care Hospitals To Split $700 Million In Opioid Settlement

Morning Briefing

Drug manufacturers and distributors were accused of misrepresenting prescription opioids, improperly handling some orders, or filling scripts for dubious medical purposes. Per the settlement, they deny any wrongdoing. In other news, Americans borrowed about $74 billion last year to pay for health care.

Staff Cuts And ‘Major Changes’ Coming To VA; Funding Cuts Blocked At NIH

Morning Briefing

Veterans Affairs plans to slash about 80,000 jobs. Secretary Douglas Collins said in a video on social media that the cuts would not reduce health care or benefits for veterans or their beneficiaries. Even so, Collins said, vets should “get used to it now,” The Washington Post reported.

NIH Nominee Sidesteps Questions Over Vaccines, Research, Funding Cuts

Morning Briefing

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said during his confirmation hearing that he supports childhood vaccinations but that more research is needed to convince parents shots won’t cause autism. He declined to weigh in on President Donald Trump’s efforts to block funding for biomedical research.

GOP Can’t Attain Budget Goal Without Cuts To Medicaid, Medicare, Or CHIP

Morning Briefing

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released an analysis Wednesday. Other coverage from Capitol Hill and the White House is on high-deductible health plans, price transparency, Medicare Advantage lawsuits, and more.