Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
From KFF Health News - Latest Stories:
KFF Health News Original Stories
As GOP Cries Fraud, Newsom Backs Medicaid Spending on Housing and Food
Republicans say California’s use of Medicaid money for social services amounts to waste, fraud, and abuse. But even as Gov. Gavin Newsom voices concern about losing funding, he says he’s proud of the state’s holistic approach to caring for its sickest and most expensive patients.
Journalists Discuss Raw-Milk Marketing, Extreme Heat, Opioid Settlement Spending
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Here's today's health policy haiku:
THE WAIT AND THE WORRY
Insurance denied.
— Travis Park
The please-hold music outlives
my lone prescription.
If you have a health policy haiku to share, please Contact Us and let us know if we can include your name. Haikus follow the format of 5-7-5 syllables. We give extra brownie points if you link back to an original story.
Opinions expressed in haikus and cartoons are solely the author's and do not reflect the opinions of KFF Health News or KFF.
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Summaries Of The News:
Outbreaks and Health Threats
US Aid Worker Contracts Ebola Amid Ongoing Outbreak In Congo
The New York Times: U.S. Citizen Tests Positive For Ebola In Democratic Republic Of Congo
An American working for an evangelical aid group has tested positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where aid groups are struggling to contain a surging outbreak that has already killed over 600 people. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday the aid worker had contracted Ebola from the Bundibugyo virus, which is driving the current outbreak, already the third largest on record. Bundibugyo has no licensed vaccine or treatment, prompting a scramble by international researchers to develop one. (Walsh and Yoon, 7/11)
Reuters: German Hospital Treats US Ebola Patient Infected In Congo
U.S. citizen infected with the Ebola virus in Democratic Republic of Congo was admitted to Frankfurt University Hospital early on Monday, officials said. The patient arrived at the hospital's special isolation unit at around 3 a.m. after contracting the Bundibugyo variant of the Ebola virus in Congo, the hospital said. (Knolle, 7/13)
Bloomberg: US Warns Americans To Avoid Congo Over Ebola After Second Aid Worker Infected
The US advised its citizens to avoid all travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo because of Ebola after a second American aid worker was infected while responding to the country’s escalating outbreak. Travelers exposed to Ebola are required to quarantine outside the country for up to 21 days at their own expense, according to the health alert issued by the American embassy in Kinshasa Saturday. It outlined government assistance for life-saving medical care to citizens who are exposed, though it didn’t specify whether the guidance applies to humanitarian workers or medical personnel already deployed. (Gale, 7/13)
Reuters: Oxford Begins First Human Trial Of Bundibugyo Ebola Vaccine
The University of Oxford has launched the first human trial of a vaccine against Bundibugyo ebolavirus, seeking to accelerate efforts to combat an outbreak spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The early-stage trial, known as BD-Ebov, will evaluate the safety and immune response of the ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine in 50 healthy adults aged 18 to 55 in Oxford, the university said on Monday. (7/13)
On the cyclosporiasis outbreak —
USA Today: 'Explosive Diarrhea' Parasite Prompts Some Restaurants To Change Menu
Some restaurants are removing risky ingredients from their menus as experts encourage caution. But major national chains have said little publicly about their response plans. The outbreak has unevenly hit the country with some states reporting hundreds or more cases — and others none at all. (Cuevas and Collins, 7/11)
The Washington Post: Why We Don’t Know What Food Is Spreading The Parasite Sickening Thousands
More than 2,000 Americans have been sickened this summer by a microscopic parasite that contaminates fresh produce and can cause days of diarrhea, creating an unusually large outbreak that, paradoxically, may give investigators their best chance to identify its source, public health officials said. Cyclospora is one of the hardest foodborne pathogens to trace to its source. There’s a lag between when people consume the parasite that causes the illness and when symptoms appear, making it tough for those infected to remember what they ate to pinpoint the problem. (Sun, 7/10)
On Legionnaires' disease, measles, screwworm, and long covid —
AP: Guggenheim And Other NYC Buildings Ordered To Clean After Positive Tests For Legionnaires’ Bacteria
New York City’s famed Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum was among a number of Manhattan buildings that recently tested positive for the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease amid the city’s latest outbreak. The city health department on Friday released a list of 31 buildings on the Upper East Side that have been ordered to clean and disinfect their cooling towers as the city deals with the latest outbreak of the disease, which is a serious form of pneumonia. (Marcelo, 7/11)
CIDRAP: With 61 New Cases, US Measles Outbreak Fast Approaching Last Year’s Total
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 61 new US measles cases today and 2,231 for the year, as Virginia has become the country’s latest hot spot. Last year the CDC recorded 2,289 infections for the entire year, so the nation is just 58 cases short of that as we pass the midpoint of the year. The 2025 total was the most since 1991, and the United States is now on track to lose its measles elimination status that it gained in 2000. (Wappes, 7/10)
CIDRAP: How To Prevent New World Screwworm Infestations In Cats And Dogs
Although the New World screwworm (NWS) mainly endangers livestock, the parasitic flies can also attack and kill pets. Two of the 34 animals sickened by NWS since early June are dogs. One dog was infested in New Mexico, and a second dog was sickened in Texas. Most animals in the United States have a low risk of being affected. Pets are at elevated risk if they live in areas with documented NWS cases, including Lea County, New Mexico, and the Texas counties of Brewster, Crocket, Edwards, Gillespie, Jim Hogg, LaSalle, Medina, Pecos, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Uvalde, and Zavala. (Szabo, 7/10)
CIDRAP: 2 Common Drugs May Offer Short-Term Improvements In Long-COVID-Related Fatigue
Two inexpensive, widely available medications provided modest short-term relief from fatigue in people with long COVID, according to a large clinical trial published this week in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. (Bergeson, 7/10)
On polio and the use of "iron lungs" —
AP: Martha Lillard, Last US Polio Patient Using Iron Lung, Dies At 78
Martha Lillard had just turned 5 when she was diagnosed with polio and depended on an iron lung to live. She died June 26 in Oklahoma, the last U.S. polio patient who used the machine, her sister said. She was 78. “They told her she wasn’t supposed to live past 20 years old,” Lillard’s younger sister, Cindy McVey, told The Associated Press on Friday. “She had the enthusiasm and the drive to continue living and make the best of her life.” McVey attributes her sister’s death to the effects of long-haul COVID-19. A death certificate lists causes as chronic pulmonary failure and post-polio syndrome, McVey said. (Sinco Kelleher, 7/11)
Administration News
Nominee To Oversee Public Health Emergencies Has Questioned Vaccine Safety
Stat: Kennedy Taps Vaccine Skeptic For Public Health Emergency Role
The Trump administration’s pick to oversee preparedness and response to public health emergencies and disasters has questioned the use of the hepatitis B vaccine in infants and raised the disproven link between vaccines and autism in past comments reviewed by STAT. (Cirruzzo, 7/10)
More news about RFK Jr. —
Stat: Kennedy Presses Ahead With Plans To Reduce Antidepressant Use
Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pressing forward with his effort to help Americans stop taking psychiatric drugs, a medical practice known as deprescribing. (Cirruzzo and Lawrence, 7/13)
The Hill: RFK Jr.’s Focus On Preventive Health Panel Provokes New Fears
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has his sights set on remaking another influential health panel, one that determines what preventive medical services insurers must cover for free. After Kennedy blocked the panel from meeting on multiple occasions, declined to replace members whose terms expired and fired its leaders in May, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is finally set to convene in August, with potentially as many as eight new members. It will be the group’s first public meeting in 17 months, after the administration canceled four prior meetings. (Weixel, 7/12)
KFF Health News: KFF Health News’ ‘On Air’: Journalists Discuss Raw-Milk Marketing, Extreme Heat, Opioid Settlement Spending
Céline Gounder, KFF Health News’ editor-at-large for public health, discussed the health risks of consuming raw milk and an outbreak of infant botulism linked to recalled formula on CBS News’ CBS Mornings and CBS News 24/7’s The Daily Report on July 7. Gounder also discussed allegations about Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s oversight of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on CBS Mornings on July 6. (7/11)
Also —
CNN: PFAS Pesticides Approved After EPA Changes Definition Of Toxicity
The US Environmental Protection Agency quietly approved the use of three new PFAS pesticides last week to kill weeds on the nation’s crops. An additional two “forever chemical” pesticides were approved in November 2025, for a total of five during the second Trump administration. (LaMotte, 7/10)
State Watch
In Landmark Move, NC To Reopen Martin General As Rural Emergency Hospital
North Carolina Health News: State Budget Advances Plan To Reopen Martin General
During the prayer that opened last week’s meeting of the Martin County Board of Commissioners, chairman Joe Ayers thanked God for guiding local leaders “through the process of trying to reopen health care” in the community. (Baxley, 7/13)
Cardinal News: Legislators Again Pause Plan To Close State-Run Medical Center, Citing Concerns Over Moving At-Risk Residents
Virginia lawmakers have again delayed a vote on a plan to close Hiram Davis Medical Center, a state-run long-term care and skilled nursing facility in Petersburg, citing concerns about where residents with some of the state’s most complex medical and behavioral needs would receive care. (Schabacker, 7/13)
WUSF: How Property Tax Cuts Could Reshape Public Hospital Funding
In November, Florida voters will decide whether to approve a proposed constitutional amendment that would reduce property taxes for homeowners across the state. If approved, the measure would increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $250,000. (Lizama, 7/13)
On Medicaid cuts and Obamacare costs —
Stat: Family Caregivers Face Financial Ruin As States Absorb Medicaid Funding Cuts
In 2018, Kristine Fifer was lucky to avoid bankruptcy. Her son, Eddie, had lost the nurse provided to him by the state after he turned 22. Maryland health officials told Fifer that he didn’t qualify for nursing care, even though Eddie’s cerebral palsy, feeding tube, and other complex medical conditions require around-the-clock care. (Broderick, 7/13)
KFF Health News: As GOP Cries Fraud, Newsom Backs Medicaid Spending On Housing And Food
Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana is taking aim at California’s Medicaid program for providing housing assistance, food, and other social services to high-need, low-income patients who tend to rack up big healthcare costs and, he argued, strain taxpayer funds. The Republican blasted California during back-to-back political attacks in May, saying the heavily Democratic state is committing “outrageous fraud” and “stealing” by spending state and federal Medicaid money meant for basic medical treatment on unconventional services such as housing and nutrition assistance, gym memberships, and even tribal prayers and, he claimed, exorcisms. (Hart, 7/13)
MPR News: MNsure Enrollment Drops As 17,000 Minnesotans Lose Tax Credit Help
Faced with sharply rising premiums and the loss of key tax credit that helped many afford the coverage, about 17,000 Minnesotans this year have dropped the MNsure health insurance coverage they had previously purchased through the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace. (Work, 7/12)
In other health news from across the U.S. —
Bridge Michigan: Michigan Releases Prison Autopsy, Transfers Inmate Who Alleged Mold Sickness
A woman at the center of a controversy over allegations of toxic mold in Michigan’s only women’s prison has been transferred to another facility after seeking relief in federal court, state officials confirmed. Krystal Clark is now at Duane Waters Health Center in Jackson, which houses inmates with unique medical needs. Her family filed an emergency petition this week that alleged serious medical issues stemming from toxic mold at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti. (James, 7/10)
AP: Executions Set In Florida Highlight The Nation's Aging Death Row Population
The last prisoner strapped to a table in Florida’s death chamber was 74 years old — the oldest the state has executed in modern times. The next two set to die are older still. The series of executions, due to be carried out by the end of this month, highlights the nation’s aging death-row population. One of Florida’s prisoners scheduled to die in July, a man convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 1986, is 80 years old and would be only the second known octogenarian to be executed in the U.S. (Fischer, 7/13)
The New York Times: Shooting In Southern Illinois Leaves 5 Family Members Dead
Two teenagers were arrested on Sunday in connection with a targeted shooting in southern Illinois that left five members of the same family dead and two other relatives seriously injured, the Illinois State Police said at a news conference on Sunday. The suspects, ages 15 and 16, had not been formally charged as of Sunday evening, and police investigators declined to discuss a possible motive for the shootings. The attacks occurred at three locations in East St. Louis. (Morales and Petri, 7/12)
The Washington Post: They Met While Being Treated For Brain Injuries. Now They’re Getting Married
Zachary Zarembinski jogged onto the sideline at his high school football game and abruptly collapsed. Doctors at a Minnesota hospital diagnosed him with a traumatic brain injury and put him into a coma to help his recovery, but they were concerned he might not wake up. But nine days later, Zarembinski did wake up — about the same time a teenage girl was taken to the same hospital with a similar injury. (Melnick, 7/10)
Capitol Watch
Graham's Death, McConnell's Absence Renew Concerns Over An Aging Senate
The Washington Post: Lindsey Graham Dies Of Aortic Dissection, Preliminary Medical Report Says
In a statement, Sen. Lindsey Graham's office said preliminary findings from the D.C. medical examiner’s office found that Graham (R-S.C.) suffered from an aortic dissection, in which a tear occurs in the inner layer of the main artery. This was caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the statement said. These tears usually occur when there is high blood pressure. (Diamond and Alfaro, 7/12)
CNN: McConnell Says After Weeks Of Speculation That Hospitalization Was Due To A Fall
Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky on Sunday announced, after weeks of speculation, that he had a fall last month that landed him in the hospital. “My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages. But I was briefly unconscious and was taken to the hospital. While receiving excellent care over the past several weeks, I’ve also had to deal with a mild case of pneumonia,” he said in a statement. McConnell also provided a photo showing him smiling next to his wife, Elaine Chao. He appears to have a copy of Sunday’s Washington Post sports section on his lap. (Grayer and D'Antonio, 7/12)
The Washington Post: Senate Again Confronts The Challenges Of An Aging Membership
The Senate has always been a chamber of older men and women. And it has always had to reckon with the effects of age and illness. But it has never built the necessary rules and procedures to deal with such problems, according to experts in congressional history. Its members have served through comas and strokes, vanished for years and died in office — and each time the institution has improvised, only to move on without a rule. Age in itself is not the problem, experts say. Graham was working to the end, just back from Ukraine, and many senators serve into their 80s undimmed. But the Senate has provided no answer for when its members inevitably can no longer serve — and no requirement that anyone say so. (Binday, Choi and Dillard, 7/12)
The Washington Post: Graham’s Death Complicates Senate Republicans’ Packed Agenda
Lindsey Graham’s death and Mitch McConnell’s extended absence leaves Republicans with a 51-to-47 Senate majority. McConnell, who was hospitalized last month, said Sunday that he’s not yet ready to return to the Senate floor on doctors’ advice, reducing Republicans to a slimmer majority until Graham’s successor is sworn in and McConnell returns. The Senate is scheduled be in session for just seven weeks before the midterms. (Dillard and Meyer, 7/13)
In other news from Capitol Hill —
ProPublica: Lawmakers Call For CDC To Track Vitamin K Shot Refusal, Cite ProPublica Report
Two members of Congress have called on federal officials to address what they described as “a growing and preventable public health crisis” of families refusing the long-standard vitamin K shot for their newborns, which has led to some of those babies suffering uncontrollable bleeding and even dying. “We write to urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to take immediate action,” two Democrats, Rep. Kim Schrier, from Washington, and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, from Maryland, wrote in a letter last week to Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who is acting as director of the CDC. (Eldeib, 7/10)
Reproductive Health
Abortion Is Protected In Maine, But It's A Hot-Button Issue In US Senate Race
The 19th: In Maine, The Race To Unseat Susan Collins Is Resetting Around Abortion
As Maine Democrats vie to replace Graham Platner in their state’s Senate race, abortion — a key weakness for Republican Sen. Susan Collins — is set to shape the next phase of the contest, which Democrats view as a prime pick-up opportunity. Collins, whose home state voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, is considered one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents up for election this year. She has held onto power despite Maine’s blue tilt in large part by branding herself as an independent, and by highlighting her support for healthcare and abortion rights. (Luthra and Panetta, 7/13)
More news about abortion —
The New York Times: Kansans Will Vote On An Elected Supreme Court. The Target: Abortion.
A summer ballot measure in Kansas four years ago showed the enduring popularity of abortion rights even in deeply red states, and started a trend of ballot measures to defend them. Next month, Kansas will again vote on a measure with consequences for abortion — as well as for L.G.B.T.Q. rights, congressional redistricting and other hot-button issues. But none of those words will appear on the ballot. Kansans this time will decide whether to elect their state’s supreme court. (Zernike, 7/11)
NBC News: Abortion Pill Lawsuits Alleging That Men Force Women To Take Them Hit Snags In Court
It has become a prominent talking point for anti-abortion activists: Access to abortion pills by mail, they say, enables men to order the medications and coerce women to take them. (Bendix, 7/11)
In other news —
Axios: OB-GYN Pay Overhaul Spells Changes For Maternal Care
A major change to how OB-GYNs are paid is coming, bringing the potential for improved maternal health — but also higher costs. (Goldman, 7/13)
KBIA: Report: Most Pregnancy-Related Deaths In Missouri Are Preventable
Most pregnancy-related deaths in Missouri linked to mental health conditions, including drug addiction, could have been prevented, according to a new five-year report from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. (Farhat, 7/10)
The CT Mirror: More CT Residents Are Taking Testosterone
The number of androgen prescriptions in Connecticut — testosterone by far the most common among them — has increased by 63% over the past three years, according to data from the Department of Consumer Protection’s Prescription Monitoring Program. (Oetama, 7/10)
Lifestyle and Health
'A Concerning Trend': More Adults Ages 65-74 Aren't Having Their Care Needs Met, Study Finds
San Francisco Chronicle: Study Finds Troubling Trend Among Older Adults: ‘Earlier Onset’ Of Unmet Care Needs
A growing proportion of Americans ages 65 to 74 are facing activity limitations and unmet care needs, according to a study published this week in the journal Health Affairs that portends rising challenges in caring for older adults in the years ahead. The increase is concentrated among the youngest older adults, according to the research. Older cohorts — ages 75 to 84, and 85 and over — did not experience the same worsening trends. (Ho, 7/11)
On weight loss drugs —
The Washington Post: CVS Exec Explains Why Your Health Plan Won't Cover GLP-1s For Weight Loss
Consumers will have to wait for broader insurance coverage of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs until prices come down and clear evidence emerges that they will reduce health care costs, the CEO of CVS Health, which includes Aetna insurance, said in an interview. Aetna’s corporate customers who pay for private employee health insurance are not ready to swallow the high costs of the enormously popular drugs, CEO David Joyner said. (Rowland, 7/12)
CNBC: GLP-1 Implant From Vivani Medical Aims To Help Patients Stay On Treatment
Losing weight with GLP-1 drugs is only half the battle. Keeping it off long term has proved even harder. Factors such as side effects, high out-of-pocket costs, injection fatigue and stigma around obesity treatment drive troves of patients – some studies estimate roughly half or more – to stop GLP-1s within a year and risk regaining the weight they lost. Years from now, Vivani Medical believes a tiny GLP-1 implant placed under the skin could help address that problem. (Constantino, 7/11)
More health and wellness news —
AP: Meta Appeals Jury Verdict In Social Media Addiction Lawsuit
Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has appealed the verdict of a landmark social media addiction lawsuit in Los Angeles, challenging the jury’s determination that the company designed its platforms to hook young users without concern for their well-being. Lawyers representing Meta filed a notice of appeal Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The lawyers will provide their arguments related to the appeal in subsequent court filings. (Huamani, 7/11)
San Francisco Chronicle: Can 2 Drugs Work Better Than 1 Against Alzheimer’s? UCSF Aims To Find Out
UCSF has launched a nationwide clinical trial for Alzheimer’s disease that is taking the unusual approach of looking at more than one drug, in hopes that a multipronged attack will have a greater impact on slowing down or even stopping memory loss and other cognitive decline. The first potential participant was screened last week in the new trial, which is focused on people with no symptoms or very early signs of illness. Scientists hope to enroll 825 people in more than 70 study centers across the United States. (Allday, 7/12)
San Francisco Chronicle: Your Smartwatch Might Be Making Your Sleep Worse
The use of sleep tracking devices is exploding, with nearly half of U.S. adults saying they’ve used a smartwatch, app or other device to monitor their sleep — up from 35% in 2023, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The uptick is part of a growing interest in sleep among researchers and the public, which is helping drive the recent “sleepmaxxing” trend on social media. (Ho, 7/12)
CNN: Soccer, Not Just American Football, May Affect Long-Term Brain Health
While research around sports and brain impacts has tended to focus on American football, soccer players may be at risk as well. Retired professional soccer players show signs of potential neurological impacts in midlife, according to new research. (Holcombe, 7/12)
The 19th: What SZA's Autism Diagnosis Means For Autistic Black Women
This week Grammy-winning singer SZA, née Solána Imani Rowe, shared that she had received a formal autism diagnosis. In a now-deleted Instagram post, she joked that the diagnosis meant she was “smarter than u.” (Luterman, 7/10)
CNN: Doctors Warn That Children Are Microwaving NeeDoh, Risking Burns
Whitney Hand was in her laundry room when she heard her daughter scream from the kitchen. “It was a sound I’d never heard her make before, and she just kept screaming, ‘Mom!,’ so I went in there, and I didn’t really understand what was going on at first, but she was clearly in a ton of pain,” said Hand, who lives in Atlanta. (Haulund, 7/12)
On the medical tech featured in "The Pitt" —
Modern Healthcare: HBO’S "The Pitt" Features Devices From Philips, Stryker
From large medtech companies like Philips and Stryker Corp. to startups, manufacturers are getting their devices onto one of television’s most medically realistic dramas — HBO Max’s “The Pitt.” The show received 25 Emmy nominations Wednesday, further elevating its profile as an attractive platform for companies looking to showcase their technologies. (Dubinsky, 7/10)
Editorials And Opinions
Viewpoints: Extreme Heat Is Our Reality, But Fatalities Don't Have To Be; America Has A Real Tick Problem
Bloomberg: Extreme Heat Is A Fact Of Summer. Its Health Harms Don't Have To Be
As yet another heat dome settles over part of the US, a depressingly predictable news cycle is unfolding. This week, the headlines will warn of dangerously high temperatures; next week, they’ll chronicle the human toll. (Lisa Jarvis, 7/13)
The New York Times: We’re Living In A Tick Nightmare. It’s Time To Go To War.
The alarming surge in cases of severe tick-borne diseases underscores how quickly the risks of infection are changing. (Jonathan Mingle, 7/11)
Stat: Shortage Of Forensic Pathologists Is Now Critical
Across the United States, the shortage of forensic pathologists has reached a critical level. According to the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), only about 850 forensic pathologists are currently practicing nationwide — roughly 400 fewer than the number needed to meet today’s demands, as more than 3 million Americans die each year. (Gregory McDonald, 7/13)
The Atlantic: The Unintended Consequences Of Genetic Tests
Data on inherited maladies can save lives, but can also complicate them. (Elizabeth Bruenig, 7/12)
Stat: Airlines Depend On Doctor Volunteers
On three of my last seven flights, a request came over the cabin speakers: “Is there a doctor on board?” Like many physicians, I responded automatically. What struck me afterward was not the frequency of those requests but how unremarkable the whole process seemed — to the crew, to other passengers, and, eventually, to me. (Sriman Swarup, 7/13)