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Latest KFF Health News Stories

Researchers Shift Tactics To Tackle Extremism as Public Health Threat

KFF Health News Original

As extremism and radicalization worsen in the United States, a group of researchers is trying out a new approach that addresses the issue as a public health problem.

Trump Administration Investigates Medicaid Spending on Immigrants in Blue States

KFF Health News Original

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is hunting for Medicaid waste, fraud, and abuse in at least six Democratic-led states that expanded coverage to low-income and disabled immigrants without legal status, according to records obtained by KFF Health News and The Associated Press.

He Built Michigan’s Medicaid Work Requirement System. Now He’s Warning Other States.

KFF Health News Original

Michigan’s former top health official spent a year and $30 million building a system to implement work requirements for Medicaid recipients. The difficulties he encountered have him worried about 40 states and Washington, D.C., having to launch such systems by 2027.

RFK Jr. Faces Senate Finance Committee: A Live Discussion 

KFF Health News Original

KFF Health News’ Stephanie Armour, Julie Rovner, and Arthur Allen and KFF’s Josh Michaud discuss the biggest takeaways from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s hearing before the Senate Finance Committee.

Listen: Limiting Benefits and Adding Restrictions, ‘MAHA’ Reshapes Food Aid

KFF Health News Original

The White House and congressional Republicans have made historic changes to the federal anti-hunger program SNAP. They say the changes will boost healthy eating for low-income Americans. Some nutrition experts aren’t so sure.

As Insurers Struggle With GLP-1 Drug Costs, Some Seek To Wean Patients Off

KFF Health News Original

Conventional wisdom says GLP-1 drugs must be taken indefinitely to maintain weight loss. But a growing number of researchers, payers, and providers are challenging that consensus and exploring whether — and how — to taper patients off expensive GLP-1 drugs.

Fighting a Health Insurance Denial? Here Are 7 Tips To Help

KFF Health News Original

Many people don’t know they can fight a health insurance denial, let alone how to do it. Here are practical tips for consumers who want to appeal a prior authorization decision.

Watch: How Controversies Over Vaccine Changes Affect You

KFF Health News Original

Céline Gounder, KFF Health News’ editor-at-large for public health, discusses leadership changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and concerns over vaccine policy.

At CDC, Worries Mount That Agency Has Taken Anti-Science Turn

KFF Health News Original

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s push to fire Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez is more than an administrative shake-up. It marks a major offensive by Kennedy to seize control of the agency and impose an anti-science agenda, public health leaders say.

Changes at NIH Give Political Appointees Greater Power To Fund or Block Research

KFF Health News Original

The National Institutes of Health’s long-held standard of peer review for grantmaking has been subverted by President Donald Trump and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, who gave unprecedented power to politicos, NIH workers say.

Do Pediatricians Recommend Vaccines To Make a Profit? There’s Not Much Money in It

KFF Health News Original

Four pediatricians said evidence-based science and medicine and a desire to keep kids healthy drive doctors’ childhood vaccination recommendations. And while pediatric practices might make money immunizing privately insured children, most practices likely break even or lose money from providing the shots.

Cuando los pacientes quedan atrapados en medio de las peleas entre aseguradoras y hospitales

KFF Health News Original

El 18% de los hospitales no federales experimentaron al menos un caso documentado de enfrentamiento público con una aseguradora entre junio de 2021 y mayo de 2025. Lo sufren los pacientes.

Social Security Praises Its New Chatbot. Ex-Officials Say It Was Tested but Shelved Under Biden.

KFF Health News Original

Social Security, under the leadership of a tech enthusiast, rolled out an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot to answer calls. But as beneficiaries complain about glitches, lawmakers and former officials ask whether it’s a preview of a less human agency at which rushed-out AI takes the place of pushed-out government workers.