The Week in Brief: Friday, April 18, 2025
Beyond Ivy League, RFK Jr.’s NIH Slashed Science Funding Across States That Backed Trump
Rae Ellen Bichell and Rachana Pradhan
A KFF Health News analysis underscores how the terminations have spared no part of the country, politically or geographically. Of the organizations that had grants cut in the first month, about 40% are in states President Donald Trump won in November.
On Autism, It’s the Secretary’s Word vs. the CDC’s
Tensions between Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his employees at the Department of Health and Human Services are mounting, as he made a series of claims about autism this week — contradicting his agency’s findings. Plus, President Donald Trump unveiled an executive order to lower drug prices as his administration explores tariffs that could raise them. Shefali Luthra of The 19th, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, and Anna Edney of Bloomberg News join KFF Health News’ Emmarie Huetteman to discuss these stories and more. Plus, KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner interviews two University of California-San Francisco researchers about an upcoming Supreme Court case that could have major ramifications for preventive care.
Families of Transgender Youth No Longer View Colorado as a Haven for Gender-Affirming Care
Rae Ellen Bichell and Oona Zenda
Colorado was long considered a haven for gender-affirming care. But under this Trump administration, hospitals in the state have limited the treatments available for people under 19. Some services have been restored, but trans youth and their families say the state isn’t the rock they thought it was.
A Call for Comfort Brought the Police Instead. Now the Solution Is in Danger.
Samantha Liss and Oona Zenda
Emotionally overwhelmed, an Indiana woman dialed a mental health hotline. She didn’t find the help she was looking for and hung up. Ultimately, she was handcuffed and hospitalized overnight. Now, amid federal cuts, she and others fear the U.S. response to similar crises will revert to more responses like that.
Deportation Fears Add to Mental Health Problems Confronting Colorado Resort Town Workers
Natalie Skowlund
The Latino communities who make up significant proportions of year-round populations in Colorado’s mountain towns already experience heightened mental health concerns. Now, deportation fears are increasing their stress.
Magic Happens When Kids and Adults Learn To Swim. Tragedy Can Strike if They Don’t.
Cara Anthony
A swim team in North St. Louis combats the public health threat of drowning — especially among Black children and adults — by promoting water safety not just for its athletes but also their parents.
States Push Medicaid Work Rules, but Few Programs Help Enrollees Find Jobs
Sam Whitehead and Phil Galewitz and Katheryn Houghton
Republicans are pushing to implement requirements that Medicaid recipients work in order to obtain or retain coverage. Some states try to help enrollees find jobs. But states lack the data to show whether they’re effective.
Covid Worsened Shortages of Doctors and Nurses. Five Years On, Rural Hospitals Still Struggle.
Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio
The U.S. faces a crucial shortage of medical providers, especially in rural areas. The problem has been building for a while, experts say, but the pandemic accelerated it by pushing many doctors over the edge into early retirement or other fields.
In Rural Massachusetts, Patients and Physicians Weigh Trade-Offs of Concierge Medicine
Karen Brown, New England Public Media
A stressed primary care system has led many doctors to start practices that charge membership fees in exchange for shorter waits and longer appointments. Observers say the doctor shortage needs a more systemic fix.
Watch: Why Insurance Companies Are Denying Coverage for Prosthetic Limbs
Michelle Andrews
Although knee replacements are usually covered by health insurance, amputees face roadblocks to coverage and often must prove their prosthetics are medically necessary.
Journalists Delve Into Effects of Deep Federal Cuts on Public Health
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.