Latest KFF Health News Stories
Missouri Senate Panel Pushes Resolution To Reinstate Abortion Ban
A Republican effort to overturn Amendment 3 — which voters approved in November with 51.6% of the vote — advanced Wednesday, St. Louis Public Radio reported.
LA County Offers Isolated California Hospital A $3M Lifeline
Financially struggling Catalina Island Health faces insolvency as early as July. In other news from California: today’s UC health worker strike; a probe into health data sharing with LinkedIn; the soda tax in Santa Cruz; and more.
Pa. Lawmakers Request Criminal Probe Over Crozer Health Closure
A group of state lawmakers pressed the attorney general to launch an investigation for the shuttering of Crozer Health by California-based private health company Prospect Medical Holdings. Envision Healthcare, Teladoc, Two Chairs, Epic, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, and the Leapfrog Group are also in the news.
Federal Funding Pulled From Campaign To Prevent Infant Sleep-Related Deaths
The Trump administration’s decision to end federal participation in the Safe to Sleep campaign comes as recent data show sudden infant deaths rising. Also: Education Department grant cuts, animals in federally funded research, PEPFAR cut impacts, and more.
‘All New Vaccines’ To Undergo Placebo Testing For Approval, HHS Says
Public health experts worry the policy change would not only cast doubt on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines but would limit production and access. Separately, a decades-long pursuit of universal vaccines gets a $500 million boost.
First Edition: Thursday, May 1, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers discuss the following public health topics.
Texas Senate Votes Unanimously To Clarify Abortion Ban Exceptions
The bill now heads to the Texas House for approval. At the same time, the Texas Senate is cracking down on abortion pills. Other states making abortion news include North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
Florida Poised To Ban Fluoride In Public Water, Following Utah’s Lead
The chemical additive has been used to prevent tooth decay. The bill, which passed the state House on Tuesday, awaits Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature. Other news is about PBM regulations, sick leave, life expectancy trends, and more.
Gilead Sciences Will Pay $202 Million To Settle Alleged Kickbacks To Doctors
From 2011 to 2017, Gilead held dinners to promote its HIV medications at expensive restaurants that federal authorities claim were “wholly inappropriate” venues, Stat reported. Gilead said it settled to avoid the cost and distraction of potential litigation.
Supreme Court Sides With HHS Over Medicare Reimbursement Calculation
Roll Call reports that the 7-2 decision rejects an effort by hospitals for higher pay for serving low-income patients. Other Medicare and Medicaid news is on prior authorizations, Medicaid cuts, and more.
Federal Spending Grew Even As DOGE Axed Agencies, Culled Health Sector
According to the nonpartisan Penn Wharton Budget Model, which tracks weekly Treasury data, total spending rose by 6.3%, or $156 billion, since Donald Trump took office, compared to the first four months of 2024, Politico reported.
FDA Rethinking Fall Covid Shots; Scientists Told To Halt Bird Flu Forum
FDA Chief Dr. Marty Makary said Tuesday that he’d “like to see some good data” on the vaccines before deciding whether to approve a new version later this year. Plus: Reuters reports that the CDC told the National Academy of Sciences to cancel a workshop on how to prevent human bird flu infections.
First Edition: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers tackle these public health topics.
7.2 Million Americans Now Suffer With Alzheimer’s
This is an increase of 300,000 cases from a year ago. At the same time, NIH funding cuts will stall research and harm Alzheimer’s patients, USA TODAY reported. In other Alzheimer’s news, improved diagnostic testing has up to 91% accuracy; new research shows it’s common for patients with Alzheimer’s to also have biomarkers for dementia; and more.
Law Requiring Parents Be Notified Of Minors’ Abortions Blocked In Nevada
The law was set to be reinstated Wednesday but has been temporarily blocked by U.S. District Judge Anne Traum to allow Planned Parenthood time to challenge it. They have until Friday to file an appeal.
Patients Struggle To Afford GLP-1s As Access To Compounded Versions Fades
Simultaneously, a new Tebra survey found that 36% of GLP-1 users are microdosing, with 38% of those people citing the desire to save money.
Third-Party Data Breach Hits Ascension Health Patients In 5 States
Ascension announced Monday that a former vendor who had access to patients’ information was hacked, potentially exposing the health data of people in Alabama, Michigan, Indiana, Tennessee, and Texas. Separately, health insurer Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has suffered a data breach.
Researchers Find That 1 Dose Of HPV Vaccine Is Just As Effective As 2
The data, which suggest that one shot helps prevent cancer, came from a clinical trial run by the National Cancer Institute. Also in vaccine news: a tuberculosis vaccine trial; vaccine policy at the FDA; and more.
