The Week in Brief: Friday, April 3, 2026
Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act Darkens Outlook for Government-Backed Clinics
Phil Galewitz
About 17,000 federally funded health clinics stand to collectively lose $32 billion under GOP-backed fiscal policies in the next five years — just as more uninsured patients will rely on them for low-cost care.
Tax Time Brings Surprises for Some Who Receive ACA Subsidies
Julie Appleby and Andrew Jones
Some people find they owe money back for subsidies if their income changed from what they estimated. In 2026, more people may find themselves in this situation — and face higher repayment amounts — if they don’t carefully track their income.
US Scientists Sequence 1,000 Genomes From Measles, a Disease Long Eliminated With Vaccines
Amy Maxmen
This week, the CDC began to publish long-awaited data that will reveal the extent of measles’ comeback. While applauding the science, researchers say the Trump administration has done little to contain the virus. “That we’re even talking about this is nuts,” one virologist said.
She Owed Her Insurer a Nickel, So It Canceled Her Coverage
Elisabeth Rosenthal
When medical bills started rolling in, a teacher’s aide in Florida wondered why her insurance suddenly wasn’t covering them. The answer? She owed a balance of 5 cents, so her insurer canceled her policy.
After Man’s Death Following Insurance Denials, West Virginia Tackles Prior Authorization
Lauren Sausser
After Eric Tennant died, his widow vowed to speak out against West Virginia’s Public Employees Insurance Agency, which had denied cancer treatment recommended by Tennant’s doctor. Her efforts paid off. In March, West Virginia’s governor signed a bill to protect some patients from harm tied to prior authorization.
States Pay Deloitte, Others Millions To Comply With Trump Law To Cut Medicaid Rolls
Samantha Liss and Rachana Pradhan
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will add red tape and restrictions for those seeking Medicaid and SNAP benefits. And the costs to update computer systems that determine eligibility for those programs will be steep.
Trump’s Hunt for Undocumented Medicaid Enrollees Yields Few Violators
Phil Galewitz
Federal health officials have ordered states to reverify the immigration status of hundreds of thousands of Medicaid enrollees. After seven months, findings from five states show the reviews have uncovered few immigrants without legal status who are improperly receiving benefits.
State-Run Insurance Plans for Foster Kids Leave Some of Them Without Doctors
Andrew Jones
North Carolina rolled out a $3.1 billion insurance plan for kids in foster care, but many doctors did not accept patients on the plan. The state is one of several experimenting with a model that has left kids’ guardians scrambling to find health care providers.
GOP Mulls More Health Cuts
Despite public opposition to the cuts they made to federal health programs in 2025, Republicans reportedly are considering more cuts to help pay for the war in Iran. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ruled that Colorado cannot ban “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ+ minors. Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Sandhya Raman of Bloomberg Law join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Elisabeth Rosenthal, who wrote the last two “Bill of the Month” stories.
Listen: What the Vaccine Schedule Whiplash Means for Your Kids
Julie Rovner
Big swings in federal vaccine policy are giving some parents and clinicians whiplash. KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner appeared on WAMU’s “Health Hub” to break down the latest developments and their relation to growing cases of vaccine-preventable illnesses in the Washington, D.C., region.
Readers Sound Off on Wage Garnishment, Work Requirements, and More
KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.