First Edition: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
May 13, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
After Promising Universal Health Care, California Governor Must Reconsider Immigrant Coverage
By Angela Hart Christine Mai-Duc
May 13, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Gov. Gavin Newsom was elected to office in 2019 on a promise of universal health care. He dramatically expanded coverage, but after six years, the Democrat is forced to contemplate deep cuts — including to the nation’s largest health care expansion to immigrants living in the U.S. without legal permission.
Listen: Black Swimmers Make Waves Overcoming Fear and Old Perceptions
By Cara Anthony
May 13, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Segregation and lack of access have kept many Black Americans from learning to swim, which raises their risk of drowning. Groups across the country are working to teach more Black kids and adults the skills to save their lives, or someone else’s.
More High Schoolers Are Using Nicotine Pouches
May 12, 2025
Morning Briefing
Also: Fungus-contaminated marijuana is recalled in Arizona; the FDA is warning against tianeptine, aka “gas station heroin”; coolers are recalled after handles cause finger amputations; and more.
After Measles Outbreak, North Dakota Officials Quarantine Unvaccinated Kids
May 12, 2025
Morning Briefing
One school district is requiring unvaxxed schoolchildren exposed to the measles virus to quarantine for 21 days. Meanwhile, for only the second time in 30 years, the number of measles cases nationwide has surpassed 1,000. Other news is on listeria, flu, enterovirus D68, and screwworms in cattle.
‘Unprecedented’ Abortion Pill Bill Clears Texas Senate
May 12, 2025
Morning Briefing
Among its restrictions, Senate Bill 2880 says no state judge has jurisdiction to rule on its constitutionality, and if they were to do it anyway, they can be personally sued for $100,000, The Texas Tribune reported. Plus: news from Maryland, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina, and California.
Morning Briefing for Monday, May 12, 2025
May 12, 2025
Morning Briefing
We’d like to speak with personnel from the Department of Health and Human Services or its component agencies about what’s happening within the federal health bureaucracy. Please message us on Signal at (415) 519-8778 or get in touch here.
First At-Home Cervical Cancer Screening Test Wins FDA Approval
May 12, 2025
Morning Briefing
Teal Health’s test would give an alternative to in-office pap smears. Other pharma and health industry news covers a new CEO at the American Medical Association; robots at Walgreens; a startup from Elizabeth Holmes’ partner; and more.
House Republicans Unveil Plan To Cut Medicaid Funding
May 12, 2025
Morning Briefing
As Politico reports, states will bear the burden of the plan, which includes new work requirements and curbs states’ ability to levy taxes on providers. The House Energy and Commerce Committee will meet 2 p.m. Tuesday to debate and advance the bill.
FDA OKs New Natural Food Dyes As HHS Aims To Remove Artificial Ones
May 12, 2025
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, Axios reports the FDA is making plans to use AI in its decision-making. Also: President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order to bring down the cost of meds.
Judge Halts Federal Layoffs, Says Congress Must Be Involved
May 12, 2025
Morning Briefing
San Francisco Judge Susan Illston, a Clinton appointee, did not order workers to be rehired, however. She said the president can make changes but “must do so with the cooperation of Congress; the Constitution is structured that way.” Plus: more updates on how the cuts have affected health care.
First Edition: Monday, May 12, 2025
May 12, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Readers Scrutinize Federal Cuts and Medical Debt
May 12, 2025
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
Medicaid Payments Barely Keep Hospital Mental Health Units Afloat. Federal Cuts Could Sink Them.
By Tony Leys
May 12, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Patients seeking mental health care are more likely to be on Medicaid than patients in more profitable areas of care, such as cancer or cardiac treatment.
An Arm and a Leg: A Health Policy Veteran Puts 2025 in Perspective
By Dan Weissmann
May 12, 2025
Podcast
Two stories from Washington, D.C., give listeners a sense of what changes the Trump administration has been making to health policy, with KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner and Arthur Allen.
Journalists Zero In on Medicaid Threats and Social Security Hiccups
May 10, 2025
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national or local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Trump Once Vowed To End HIV in America. His Funding Cuts Are Rolling Back Progress.
By Amy Maxmen
May 9, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Get our weekly newsletter, The Week in Brief, featuring a roundup of our original coverage, Fridays at 2 p.m. ET.
Abu Dhabi Grows Health Care Presence In San Francisco To Lure More Startups
May 9, 2025
Morning Briefing
This is part of Abu Dhabi Investment Office’s project to expand its health care cluster in the UAE. Other industry news is on NeueHealth going private; layoffs at New York-Presbyterian Health System; Mass General Brigham’s AI to detect cancer; and more.
