Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Red Tape And Lots Of Paperwork: Arizona's SNAP Troubles Could Be A Nationwide Preview
The New York Times: Faced With Piles Of New Paperwork, People Are Losing Food Stamps
The number of Arizonans getting SNAP benefits has fallen by about half in less than a year, a remarkable drop in nutrition aid that may preview the program’s future nationwide following a landmark law to limit assistance that President Trump championed last year. (DeParle and Zehbrauskas, 7/20)
Post-Tribune: Indiana Opts Out Of Summer Grocery Assistance Program For Kids
The State of Indiana has opted out of the SUN Bucks program for the second year, which Democratic state leaders and educators condemned because it takes away federal funding to support hungry children amid the state’s billions of dollars in surplus. (Kukulka, 7/20)
KFF Health News: A Deloitte-Run System Denied Medicaid Benefits For Michigan’s Disabled. Now Trump’s Law Piles On.
Marie Noon takes eight medications a day. One keeps her heart rate from spiking to avoid a stroke. One prevents debilitating headaches. Another ensures she doesn’t retain excess fluid. More than a decade ago, Noon said, she was diagnosed with adult-onset Still’s disease, a rare type of inflammatory arthritis that can cause rashes, debilitating pain, and fevers. The disease upended her life. (Pradhan, Liss and Wells, 7/21)
More health news from across the U.S. —
The Marshall Project: New Jersey Adopts Reforms Around Drug Testing Of Pregnant Patients
The state of New Jersey has adopted a slate of reforms changing how hospitals handle allegations of substance use in pregnancy, becoming one of the first in the nation to require healthcare providers to confirm the results of drug tests before reporting new parents to child welfare authorities. The new regulations follow reporting by The Marshall Project and Reveal News, which found that hospitals around the U.S. routinely screen pregnant patients with drug tests that, while fast and cheap, are easily misinterpreted and have false positive results as high as 50%. The investigation found that, in 2024, not a single state required hospitals to confirm results with more precise tests before reporting patients to child welfare officials. (Walter and Castellano, 7/16)
The New York Times: Once Anti-Abortion, Now A Progressive: The Evolution Of A Maine Democrat
Today he is a progressive Democrat calling for “Medicare for all,” the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a federal right to abortion. But Troy Jackson got his start in politics as a Republican who was opposed to abortion rights and same-sex marriage. (Epstein and Reinhard, 7/21)
Floodlight: Louisiana Communities Are Left In The Dark On Toxic Air — And Industry Helped Keep It That Way
The state’s air monitors are often miles from its biggest polluters and residents have little way of knowing what they’re breathing. That’s no accident. (Alexander, 7/20)
The Baltimore Sun: Baltimore Firefighters Sound Alarm On AC Problems In Vehicles
The union for Baltimore firefighters is raising concerns about the lack of working air conditioning in some of the fire department’s vehicles. Union President Josh Fannon told The Baltimore Sun that many of the department’s reserve line apparatuses, or fire engines used when a “first line” vehicle has broken down, don’t have working air conditioning. (Trovato, 7/20)
Cardinal News: Youth Rescue Camp Aims To Inspire Virginia’s Next Generation Of First Responders
Last month, the Virginia Association of First Responders hosted the three-day camp for kids ages 8 to 16 on Virginia Tech’s campus in Blacksburg. ... Though the camp focuses on being fun for the students, it also serves a vital role in inspiring the next generation of emergency responders. (Mangrum, 7/21)
KFF Health News: Severely Ill Prisoners Granted Early Release Are Left Stuck Behind Bars
Christian Alameda used a cane to push himself up out of bed in his cell at the Halawa Correctional Facility in Honolulu. He has been recovering in the prison’s medical infirmary since a January stroke left the right side of his body mostly paralyzed. (Mizuo, 7/21)
On the opioid crisis —
San Francisco Chronicle: SF Sees Drop In Overdose Deaths. What's Driving The Trend?
San Francisco is seeing a promising drop in overdose deaths this year after years of high death rates. Experts say there are many reasons why the city looks likely to see fewer deaths in 2026 and the city’s trendlines reflect a drop nationwide. Drug overdose deaths in San Francisco declined by 27% in the first six months of 2026 compared to the same period last year. (Brumer, 7/20)
KFF Health News: Leadership Vacuum: Agencies In New York And Beyond Pass The Buck On Opioid Cash Oversight
Companies accused of recklessly marketing and distributing prescription opioid painkillers are paying roughly $58 billion to settle lawsuits over their role in fueling the addiction crisis. It’s a pot of gold eyed by addiction treatment providers, companies creating the latest opioid-related products, and government officials struggling to balance budgets. (Pattani, 7/21)
