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The bill — which defines sex as either male or female, depending on a person's reproductive system — technically passed the Legislature in April 2025, but it appears to have been delayed from the governor intentionally to prevent it from becoming entangled in litigation. Still, the new law likely will be challenged in court.
Over the past four years, as health insurers have cut drug reimbursements and consumers have increasingly turned to discount chains or online shopping, CVS has closed more than 1,100 locations while only opening 200. This year the company is predicting opening about 60 stores, including nearly 20 pharmacy-only sites, Bloomberg reported.
In line with MAHA messaging, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has asked facilities to prioritize whole grains, get rid of sugary drinks, and provide meals that have fewer than 10 grams of added sugar. Plus, the American Heart Association's new dietary guidelines buck those issued by the government.
CMS data show total enrollment in ACA plans dipped by about 5%. The decline is expected to deepen as people who can't pay the higher-priced premiums drop off plans. Plus, more than half of Medicaid beneficiaries could be at risk of losing coverage for not meeting work requirements, a study found.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Researchers say they have created the first 3D scans of the entire network of clitoral nerves. The insight could provide crucial information about the organ's role in sexual arousal and orgasm and also is likely to help with reconstructive surgery after female genital mutilation. The work has not yet been peer-reviewed, The Guardian noted.
Because of the funding cuts, the state will now add one person to the adult developmental disabilities waiver for every two who exit, potentially doubling the waitlist to 14 years. Other states in the news: Connecticut, Illinois, Alabama, California, and Texas.
The Trump administration is making a political calculation that silencing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s talk about vaccines could help Republicans in the midterms, says Robert Malone, who quit as vice chair of the committee. It's a move that is alienating the MAHA base, he warns.
The White House denies that it will call for less funding for the National Institutes of Health. Lawmakers last year rebuffed such a suggestion, even increasing the amount set aside for the biomedical research agency.
Opinion writers discuss these public health issues.
Fewer than 1% of denials were appealed by members, and insurers stood by their original decisions in 66% of challenges. The trade and advocacy group AHIP said in a statement: “The vast majority of denials are due to incorrect or incomplete claim submissions from providers, duplicate claims, claims for unproven or unsafe treatments and services, or for services that are not part of covered benefits.”
But redirecting health care funding during an election year might be a sticking point for moderate Republicans, who could thwart efforts that appear to chip away at constituents' needs. Plus, the war is pinching health care supply chains.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers weigh in on these topics and others.
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today's selections are on aging, Parkinson's disease, women's health, and more.
CDC data show that in 2024, nearly 10% of U.S. adults smoked cigarettes, down from 11% in 2023. However, 7% of adults used e-cigarettes in 2024, an increase from 6.5% in 2023 and almost double the rate of 3.7% in 2020.
Even though Meta and Google are weighing whether to pursue appeals, the findings by two juries indicate public perception of tech companies has shifted, with more people willing to push for changes to protect children's online safety. Minnesota lawmakers have advanced a bill they hope will do just that.
The therapy marketed as Kresladi was initially rejected in 2024 because of manufacturing concerns. It treats leukocyte adhesion deficiency type 1 (LAD-1), an ultra-rare disease — affecting about one in a million — that makes children vulnerable to life-threatening infections and can lead to death.
West Suburban Medical Center in Illinois has been facing difficulties with a new computerized billing system for a year, and that has translated into a lack of revenue to cover normal operating expenses and has led to its temporary closure. Plus: Health care AI company OpenEvidence has just launched a feature to automate the medical coding and billing process.
Conservative House Republicans derided the deal for omitting money for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, the two agencies responsible for carrying out President Trump’s immigration crackdown, The New York Times reported.
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