Latest KFF Health News Stories
UnitedHealth Adds ‘Public Responsibility Committee’ To Its Board
The goal, Bloomberg reports, is to bolster governance and oversight as UnitedHealth aims to improve its standing with shareholders, regulators, and the public. Other health industry news is on Elevance Health, Aetna, Epic, hospital inpatient costs, and more.
Feds Subpoena Hospitals For Wide Range Of Sensitive Trans Care Info
The Justice Department demanded access to sensitive information related to medical care for transgender patients under age 19, including billing documents, communications with drug manufacturers, and personal data such as birth dates, Social Security numbers and addresses.
Hundreds Laid Off At CDC; 750 HHS Workers Vent Anger In Letter To RFK Jr.
Between 500 and 600 employees were terminated as of Monday, The Washington Post reported today. A federal health official confirmed the layoffs but not the number. Meanwhile, HHS employees have accused HHS Chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of “dangerous and deceitful statements and actions.”
First Edition: Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Kentucky Bans ‘Designer Xanax’ In Response To Increasing Overdoses
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, announced Monday that bromazolam, aka “Designer Xanax,” has been reclassified as a Schedule 1 drug. Other states making news: Connecticut, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Florida, California, and Texas.
Opinion writers tackle these public health issues.
In A First, FDA OKs Glucose Monitoring System For Weight Management
The system, from Signos, offers three- and six-month plans ($139 and $129 a month, respectively), and the company will send all of the continuous glucose monitors a patient needs, CNBC reported. Plus: Some veterans are losing insurance coverage for weight loss drugs.
HHS Authorizes FDA To Use Animal Drugs To Fight Screwworms
Although there are no specific FDA-approved drugs in the U.S. to treat the parasite, the emergency authorization paves the way for the use of animal drug products approved for other purposes or available in other countries. Plus: Legionnaires’ disease, plague, measles, and more.
CMS Plans To Remove Noncitizens From Medicaid And CHIP
Meanwhile, Iowa Medicaid work requirements are set to go into effect in January. Also: the impact of Medicaid cuts on Black children; provider reimbursement rate cuts in North Carolina; and more.
Rising Health Care Costs For Employers Means Less Coverage For Employees
A report by the Business Group on Health showing health care costs projected to rise 9% in 2026 has caused companies to reevaluate benefits and contracts for the coming year. A survey shows 66% of employers are worried Medicaid and Medicare cuts will mean hospital cost increases for the commercially insured.
RFK Jr. Scoffs At Pediatrics Group For Still Encouraging Covid Vaccines
After the American Academy of Pediatrics broke with HHS guidance, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accused the group of being in the pocket of pharmaceutical companies. AAP says its guidance is based on science. Vaccine researchers weighed in, saying: “There is no scientific evidence to support the changes that HHS made to covid vaccine recommendations.”
First Edition: Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Psychedelics Show Promise For Treating Postpartum Depression
Reunion Neuroscience is conducting clinical trials on an injectable, single-dose drug that produces a state that’s similar to psilocybin but is generally much shorter, lasting about four hours. It also requires significantly less time in a clinical setting than medications already on the market.
Health Officials Say Texas Measles Outbreak Is Over, But Threat Lingers
Although no new cases have been reported in the Lone Star State for 42 days — double the virus’ incubation period — the area could see more infections due to the rise across the nation. Other states’ health threats include measles in Colorado, Valley fever in California, and malaria in New Jersey.
Hospitals Lean On Community Health Workers To Help Prevent ER Crowding
As Modern Healthcare reported, a rush of people left uninsured because of Medicaid cuts and/or ACA changes could overwhelm already packed emergency departments and hospitals. Community health workers can help people navigate insurance coverage to help prevent this.
Cash-Paying US Customers May Buy Ozempic At Discounted Rate Of $499
‘We do believe that people who face high out-of-pocket costs need more options,” said Kevin Donahoe, diabetes marketing chief for Novo Nordisk. Plus: a look at the drugmaker’s alliance with GoodRx; how pharmaceutical companies and health systems are responding to tariffs; and more.
Bucking The CDC, Pediatric Experts Back Covid Vaccine For Young Kids
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation is for children ages 6 to 23 months. In May, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed the covid vaccine from the CDC’s immunization schedule for healthy children. Meanwhile, MedPage Today reports on how financial conflicts of interest in federal vaccine panel members have actually fallen since 2000.
Editorial writers examine these public health issues.
Use Of Over-The-Counter Opill Is High Among First-Time Birth Control Users
When Opill became available a year ago, public health experts anticipated it would benefit women without health insurance and those residing in rural areas. The goal was to boost access to reproductive care. A new study shows that the pill is having its desired effect.
First Edition: Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
