Latest KFF Health News Stories
Congress Looks To Trump As ACA Subsidies’ Expiration Draws Closer
Mixed signals from the president are muddying the path forward on health care as Congress returns to session today. Also: Charities that help those with outstanding medical bills report seeing a troubling increase in requests for help, and they warn it could get worse as Medicaid cuts take effect.
FDA Reverses Proposed Rule To Test Cosmetics Containing Talc For Asbestos
The FDA said it will submit a new proposal to regulate an even broader range of talc-containing products in an effort to reduce exposure to the carcinogen. Other news is on “less lethal” crowd-control tactics, heating assistance, and more.
NYC Officials Knew About Toxins In Air On 9/11 But Hid Testing Results: Union
Dozens of boxes of records undisclosed until now have allegedly shown that New York City officials “had real testing done. And when that testing was done, it was suppressed. And everyone was told the air was safe; people would have made different choices,” a union official said. Also: An FDNY deputy chief whose firefighter son died on 9/11 has also now died of World Trade Center-related illnesses.
Experts Want FDA To Back Up Claim That Covid Vaccine Caused Kids’ Deaths
Vaccine regulator Vinay Prasad, whose memo calls for stricter vaccine regulation, needs to make public the evidence that directly ties the shots to fatal outcomes, scientists say. In other vaccine news, scientists are studying more modern techniques for making shots.
First Edition: Monday, Dec. 1, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Lawmaker Will Introduce Federal Bill To Safely Discharge Patients In Labor
The bill from Rep. Robin Kelly, a Democrat from Illinois, would require clinical justification for discharging patients presenting with signs or symptoms of labor, an assessment of travel distance, a confirmed back-up hospital or birthing facility, verification that patients have reliable transportation, and documentation of patient understanding, Becker’s Hospital Review reported.
CMS Floats Overhaul Of Medicare Advantage Star Ratings System
CMS may nix a dozen Medicare Advantage and Part D measures that focus on operational performance or completion of administrative processes. Other health industry news is on Humana’s plan to appeal a court loss over the Medicare Advantage star ratings, Asheville’s Mission Hospital is removed from immediate jeopardy by CMS, and more.
Kentucky Reports Third Infant Death From Pertussis Amid Nationwide Surge
Of the three infant fatalities, none of the babies or their mothers had been vaccinated against the highly contagious whooping cough. Kentucky has reported 566 confirmed cases of pertussis this year, which is the largest outbreak since 2012. Also: norovirus, measles, RSV, flu, and covid.
Trump Says He’d Extend ACA Subsidies Only To Make Time To Hash Out A Plan
“Some kind of an extension may be necessary to get something else done,” President Donald Trump said Tuesday. But he added: “Somebody said I wanna extend them for two years. I don’t want to extend them for two years. I’d rather not extend them at all.”
Editorial writers examine these public health topics.
Doctor Who Called Covid Vaccines ‘Dangerous’ Is CDC’s New Deputy Chief
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s internal database lists Dr. Ralph Abraham, 71, as its principal deputy director, with a start date of Nov. 23, The New York Times reported. Abraham is also the former surgeon general of Louisiana and halted the state health department’s mass vaccination campaigns.
Medicare To Lower Prices On 15 More Prescription Drugs, Including Ozempic
Some prescription cancer drugs are also included in the negotiations. The announcement followed the second round of talks with pharmaceutical manufacturers under a new system implemented by the Biden administration as part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, The Washington Post reported.
First Edition: Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations. Note to readers: The First Edition will not be published Thursday or Friday. Look for it again in your inbox on Monday, Dec. 1. Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving!
Opinion writers tackle these public health topics.
Promising Injectable Alzheimer’s Drug From J&J Fails In Mid-Stage Trial
Separately, Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide did not slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease more than a placebo, even though some disease-related biomarkers did show some improvement. Also: GLP-1s are being marketed to the non-obese; pregnancy risks from GLP-1s; and more.
CMS’ Plan To Recoup Billions In Outpatient Payments Delayed Until ’27
The clawback originally was set to go into effect in 2026. However, Stat says, Medicare will move forward with surveys that will pinpoint how much drugs cost for hospitals — surveys that hospitals have managed to push off for 20 years.
For 2nd Year In A Row, Pertussis Cases Are Higher Than Pre-Pandemic Levels
Also in the news: the spread of measles, covid, flu, RSV, CWD, and more.
Even With SNAP Restored, Food Banks Continue To See High Demand
Food banks and pantries across the country predict the increase in demand will continue through December. Other states making news: Missouri, North Carolina, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, and Maryland.
All HHS Workers Laid Off During Shutdown Have Been Brought Back
Thomas Nagy Jr., deputy assistant secretary for human resources at the Department of Health and Human Services, wrote in a federal court filing Friday that all 954 employees who received layoff notices were emailed Nov. 17 and told to return to work, The Hill reported.
Trump’s Supposed ACA Subsidy Plan Sidelined Before It Was Even Unveiled
Republicans were blindsided over news media reports that the plan would extend Obamacare subsidies, Axios reported. Meanwhile, more Americans say they will go without health insurance if subsidies aren’t renewed.
