Latest KFF Health News Stories
About 5% Of People With Measles Had All Or Some Vaccine Protection
Although data from a recent case has not been disclosed, the CDC reports that of the nearly 3% of other infected people who were fully vaccinated, not one was hospitalized. A double dose of the measles vaccine is 97% effective at preventing the disease.
FDA Unveils Voucher Program In Effort To Speed Up Drug Review Time
A new program will let drug developers who are “aligned with U.S. national priorities” submit a portion of their applications at least two months early, allowing the review process to be shaved from 12 months to possibly one or two. Plus, a push for psychedelics for mental health treatment.
Under GOP Tax Plan, Health Sector Would Take $1 Trillion Hit, CBO Says
A comprehensive analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation looked at the broader economic effects of the proposed tax cuts and concluded the cost would outweigh the benefits. More news is on the reaction to the GOP’s Medicaid cuts.
Fatal Overdoses Rise Nationwide After 17 Months Of Declines
Meanwhile, a judge is asked to clear the way for the next steps in Purdue Pharma’s $7 billion opioid settlement. Also: A brain-dead woman at the center of a battle over Georgia’s abortion ban is set to be removed from life support.
First Edition: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations. Note to readers: KFF Health News’ First Edition will not be published Thursday in observance of Juneteenth. Look for it again in your inbox on Friday.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health topics and others.
NC Republicans Propose Recognizing Just Two Sexes, Spurn Gender Identity
Senate Republicans added language defining biological sex to a bill regulating online pornography that won unanimous support in the House. The Senate has not yet voted on the bill. More news comes from Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, California, and Washington, D.C.
Must Crisis Pregnancy Centers Abide By State Subpoenas? High Court To Decide
First Choice Women’s Resource Centers argues that the First Amendment allows it to protect donor information from New Jersey officials investigating whether the clinics are misrepresenting themselves to donors and patients. Also, Ohio lawmakers are revisiting abortion ban plans.
States Agree To New $7.4 Billion Purdue Pharma Opioid Settlement
If finalized, the deal, which was also signed on to by the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, would pay out over the next 15 years. Also: Eli Lilly’s experimental weight loss drug, a new Lupus drug, milli-spinner thrombectomy for stroke treatment, and more.
CDC Official Who Tracked Hospital Trends From Infectious Diseases Quits
“I no longer have confidence that these data will be used objectively or evaluated with appropriate scientific rigor to make evidence-based vaccine policy decisions,” Dr. Fiona Havers told colleagues. And in MAHA news: Kraft Heinz says it will stop using certain artificial dyes by the end of 2027.
Bills In House, Senate Would Create Medicare ‘Part E’ For ‘All Americans’
The legislation introduced Monday in both chambers would essentially allow Medicare to compete with private insurance, Fierce Healthcare reported. Part E would sustain itself through premiums, and enrollees could sign up through their employers or any state or federal marketplace.
NIH Cuts To Minority Groups’ Grants Are Illegal, Discriminatory, Judge Rules
On Monday, Judge William G. Young of the Federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts ordered much of the funding to be restored, pending an appeal. “I’ve never seen a record where racial discrimination was so palpable,” he said. Plus: VA hospital rules, asbestos, and more.
Senate Bill Calls For Deeper Medicaid Cuts Than House-Passed Bill
The Senate bill would expand Medicaid work requirements to include the parents of older children, not just childless adults. Other Medicaid news covers a poll indicating Americans’ support for federal health programs, the effects of cuts in rural America, and more.
First Edition: Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A Dose Of Upbeat And Inspiring News
Today’s stories are on family medicine, limb regeneration, weight loss, and more.
As Doctors Suss Out Ovarian Cancer Cause, More Advise Salpingectomy
Since the 1990s, pathologists have been zeroing in on the fallopian tubes as the potential place where some female cancers start. Now, tube removal is on the rise. Other health and wellness news is about dementia risk in men, loneliness, joy, and more.
23andMe Co-Founder’s Nonprofit Wins Bidding War To Buy Most Of Its Assets
TTAM Research Institute, the nonprofit led by 23andMe’s former CEO Anne Wojcicki, has won back 23andMe’s core assets: its Personal Genome Service, Research Services, and telehealth subsidiary Lemonaid Health. Other industry news includes gene therapy, layoffs, nurse shortages, and more.
Editorial writers discuss these public health topics.
Slain Minnesota Lawmaker Played Key Role In Safeguarding Health Care
Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed Saturday morning at their home. Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman, who was also shot at his home Saturday, is in stable condition after “many surgeries,” his wife said. The suspect in the slayings has been captured.
CDC To Summer Camps: Check For Documentation Of Measles Immunity
The directive comes as measles cases so far this year have hit 1,197 infections, which is fewer than 100 cases from surpassing the record 1,274 cases that were confirmed for all of 2019. Related news is on measles exposures in Boston, Washington, D.C., and Boulder, Colorado.
