Latest KFF Health News Stories
Viewpoints: Electronic Health Records Shouldn’t Be This Frustrating; How So Many Became Anti-Vaccine
Opinion writers tackle these public health issues.
Maternal Mortality Rate Worse For Black Mothers, Not Getting Better: CDC
According to CDC data, Black mothers’ pregnancy-related death rate is more than three times that of any other racial or ethnic group. Also, disparities between expert recommendations and guidelines for migraine prevention; overdiagnosis of thyroid cancer; and more.
New York Court Says Abused Parents Shouldn’t Face Child Welfare Inquiries
Parents who are victims of domestic violence are regularly investigated by child welfare agencies in a practice that has been deemed illegal by the state appellate court, The New York Times reported. Florida, North Carolina, California, Montana, Georgia, and Colorado are also in the news.
Express Scripts, Kroger Are Back In Business After Split Two Years Ago
The agreement, announced Wednesday between Kroger and Cigna subsidiary Express Scripts, applies immediately to Medicare prescription drug plans and TRICARE military health plans. Other industry news covers bankruptcies, acquisitions, nurses’ mental health stigma, and more.
Transgender Athletes Banned From Female Sports Teams
Per a presidential executive order, players may compete on women’s and girls’ teams only if they were assigned female at birth. Schools that don’t comply with the rule could lose federal funding, The New York Times reports. Meanwhile, some state attorneys general push back on the new orders.
Americans Warned Of Ebola Spread In Uganda As USAID Missions Shut Down
U.S. health officials say the outbreak will worsen as a result of President Donald Trump’s funding freeze. Americans traveling to Uganda are urged to take precautions.
DOGE Team Gains Access To Systems at CMS, CDC, Other Health Agencies
Elon Musk and his team — said to be scouring systems for evidence of fraud, waste, and DEI contracts — have now accessed payment and contracting systems across the Department of Health and Human Services. More news is about the fallout from some of the White House’s executive orders.
New Strain Of Bird Flu, More Dicey For Humans, Infects Nevada Dairy Cows
The D1.1 version of the virus was detected during milk testing late last year and was the strain that led to the death of a Louisiana man and severely sickened a Canadian teen. The CDC has not held bird flu briefings since Donald Trump became president, and now Virginia lawmakers are urging the release of essential public health data.
First Edition: Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Good News For Parkinson’s Patients: FDA OKs New Wearable Treatment
MedPage Today reports on the infusion device, aimed at treating motor fluctuations in adults with advanced Parkinson’s disease. Also in public health news: hopes are dimmed for GLP-1 drugs’ ability to treat Parkinson’s; a new blood test may detect colon cancer with 80% accuracy; and more.
San Francisco Gives New Mayor Expanded Powers In Fentanyl Crisis
AP reports on the San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors’ 10-1 vote in favor of giving Mayor Daniel Lurie more power and flexibility in the fentanyl fight. Other news from across the nation is on overdoses in Maryland, a covid-related discrimination bill in Wyoming, a Missouri prison nursery, and more.
Moody’s Dings Health Insurance Sector With ‘Negative’ Outlook
The ratings agency expects Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and commercial insurers to continue to see high medical costs this year. More industry news is about Baystate Health, Tricare East, and others.
White House Advances Its Crackdown On Transgender Health And Research
The moves have sparked confusion and fear among organizations that serve the LGBTQ+ community. In other news: A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s order that prisons must house trans women with male inmates.
Health Workers, Most Of Them Black, Listed As ‘Targets’ Over DEI ‘Offenses’
A website called “DEI Watch List” has had a chilling effect on federal employees, who are now concerned for their safety after their photos and personal information were published online. Meanwhile, physician and advocacy groups are pushing back against the administration’s data purge.
Federal Workers Fight For Their Jobs; Trump Further Dismantles USAID
Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health has resumed at least some grant reviews for health research projects. In other news, AP has reported that the United States will withdraw from the top U.N. human rights body and also will review its involvement in the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO.
Editorial writers dissect these public health topics.
RFK Jr.’s HHS Confirmation Probable After Gaining Cassidy’s Support
Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana, said he was swayed after nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. agreed to significant vaccine concessions, Stat and The Hill reported. Also in the news, Pfizer’s CEO says he met with Kennedy and is “cautiously optimistic.”
New Attorney General Pam Bondi Will Play Key Role In Abortion Restrictions
Bondi says she has “always been pro-life,” and she supported abortion restrictions as the attorney general of Florida, where abortion is outlawed after six weeks. As U.S. attorney general, she could try to restrict abortion access through the Comstock Act.
First Edition: Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
FDA OKs Pig Organ Transplant Studies For Those With Kidney Failure
The organs will come from genetically modified pigs in the hopes of helping the thousands of Americans waiting for transplants. Also in the news: the world’s smallest heart pump, nanoplastics in the brain, rising lung cancer diagnoses, and more.
