First Edition: Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025
February 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Human, Bird, or Dog Waste? Scientists Parsing Poop To Aid DC’s Forgotten River
By Jackie Fortiér
February 27, 2025
KFF Health News Original
A huge infrastructure project coupled with a new scientific review of microbes in the water could be bringing Washington, D.C., closer to a once-unimaginable goal — a safely swimmable Anacostia River.
Republicans Once Wanted Government out of Health Care. Trump Voters See It Differently.
By Noam N. Levey
February 27, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Frustrated by high health care prices, many who backed President Donald Trump support strong government actions to protect patients. It’s unclear whether GOP leaders will listen.
¿Heces humana, de aves o de perros? Científicos analizan excrementos para ayudar al río olvidado de Washington D.C.
By Jackie Fortiér
February 27, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Debido a los riesgos para la salud, no se puede nadar en el Anacostia desde hace más de medio siglo. El agua contaminada puede causar enfermedades gastrointestinales y respiratorias, así como infecciones oculares, nasales y cutáneas.
FDA Eases Access To Medication For Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia
February 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
The agency is eliminating a long-held blood test requirement, broadening access to clozapine. Also, new clinical trial results show hope for those with sickle cell disease and could lower the cost of treatment. Other news is on compounding pharmacies lawsuit against the FDA, promising cancer drugs, and more.
Hospitals Nationwide Overwhelmed By Crush Of Sick Patients, Execs Report
February 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
Health systems are revising strategies to meet the growing demand for inpatient care. One option is to send patients home to recuperate in their comfy surroundings and have health care personnel visit them there. Also in the news: Oregon Healthcare strike, Walgreens settlement, and more.
Psilocybin Businesses Are Sprouting As First Licenses Issued In Colorado
February 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
It marks a start to the legal psychedelic-assisted therapy industry. Separately, Texas sees an increase in children being vaccinated amid the growing measles outbreak. Utah, Iowa, New York, California, and Idaho are also in the news.
GenBioPro, Leading Mifepristone Manufacturer, Enters Abortion Fight
February 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
On Tuesday, the company asked to be added to the list of defendants in a case brought before a Texas judge by three Republican state attorneys general, The New York Times reported.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, February 26, 2025
February 26, 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.
House Barely Passes Budget Bill, Teeing Up Tough Talks On Medicaid
February 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
Now that Republicans have taken steps to advance President Donald Trump’s tax cut goal, they must find ways to reduce spending elsewhere. The New York Times explores where potential cuts might be made and the effect it could have on states. Also, a look at cuts each district would see.
Trump Administration Ordered To Quickly Pay Billions In Foreign Aid
February 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
A federal judge gave the government two days to release funds that were cut off without warning on Jan. 20. In other Trump administration news: The CDC will stop processing data on transgender identity; DOGE staffers are resigning in protest; veterans’ health data might be at risk; and more.
President Trump Signs Executive Order Reinforcing Price Transparency Rules
February 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
The regulations were first issued in 2019 during Donald Trump’s first term. Also in news on health care costs: billions “wasted” in overturning claims denials, an inquiry into UnitedHealth Group’s Medicare billing practices, and more.
First Edition: Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025
February 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Los Angeles County Has Cut Homelessness, but Wildfires Threaten To Erase That Gain
By Angela Hart
February 26, 2025
KFF Health News Original
As Los Angeles recovers from historic wildfires, both previously unsheltered and chronically homeless people are facing even greater instability. Some lawmakers and providers argue now is the time to put in even more resources to maintain the progress the county and state have made in fighting the crisis.
Health Clinic Workers Brush Up on Constitutional Protections as Immigration Raids Loom
By Jackie Fortiér
February 26, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Clinic administrators describe anxiety about President Donald Trump’s move to allow immigration arrests inside health centers.
Trabajadores de clínicas comunitarias repasan protecciones constitucionales mientras se avecinan redadas de inmigración
By Jackie Fortiér
February 26, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Desde el regreso de Donald Trump a la Casa Blanca, el temor a las deportaciones masivas llevadas a cabo por el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de Estados Unidos (ICE) se ha apoderado de las comunidades inmigrantes.
Brain ‘Pacemaker’ To Ease Parkinson’s Symptoms Earns FDA Approval
February 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
The brain-computer interface technology uses an algorithm to adapt to an individual patient’s needs, improving on previous tech that provided constant electrical brain stimulation. Other news includes: antidepressants’ effect on dementia; red-light therapy; and more.
Elizabeth Holmes’ Blood-Testing Fraud Conviction Upheld By Appeals Court
February 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
She claimed that her company, Theranos, could run accurate and fast tests from blood drawn from a finger prick. She was convicted of fraud in 2022, and the ruling was upheld Monday by a federal appeals court. Also in the news: hospital security, UnitedHealth, Pfizer, BGR Group, and more.
