Despite Healthy Status, Georgia Man Dies Within 30 Days Of ICE Arrest
June 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
The Guardian tracks the case of a Mexican-born detainee whose family has raised concerns about the baffling circumstances surrounding the father’s death. Plus, news outlets examine the repercussions of federal funding and research cuts.
Health Insurers Pledge To Trim Prior Authorization Process Over 18 Months
June 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
They aren’t ending prior authorization, but they are vowing to take half-a-dozen steps they say will make it less onerous, including setting up a standard electronic request form for doctors and reducing the scope of services for which it is needed, The Washington Post reported.
Senate Official Halts GOP’s Plan To Make States Share Cost Of SNAP
June 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
The Republicans’ megabill became much clearer over the weekend after the Senate parliamentarian — the rules referee — clarified which parts of the bill could stay or had to go. A 10-year moratorium on enforcing state and local AI laws was retained; the moratorium is a condition for receiving billions in federal funds for broadband expansion, a critical need in rural areas lacking telehealth services.
Medical Groups Mobilize As A Check On RFK Jr.’s New Vaccine Advisers
June 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
Medical organizations and experts are collaborating on ways to protect vaccine integrity and ensure insurance coverage should ACIP’s recommendations deviate from long-standing public health practice. Plus, a look at the conundrum facing insurance companies.
Texas Broke Law For Decades, Trapped People With Severe Disabilities In Nursing Homes, Federal Judge Rules
June 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
Once there, they didn’t receive the services they needed because they weren’t adequately screened, and many couldn’t argue for their transfer, disability advocates told The Texas Tribune. The ruling stems from a class-action lawsuit filed in 2010.
Morning Briefing for Monday, June 23, 2025
June 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
Each month, KFF Health News’ Rural Dispatch newsletter covers health issues in places where accessing care can be more challenging. Check out our Montana, Colorado, and Georgia newsletters, too. Sign up here!
White House Shortens ACA Sign-Up Period, Boots Dreamers From Rolls
June 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
Also, the administration will scrap “sex-trait modification” as an essential health benefit, require income verifications, and end a monthly special enrollment period for poverty-stricken people.
First Edition: Monday, June 23, 2025
June 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Federal Proposals Threaten Provider Taxes, Key Source of Medicaid Funding for States
By Bernard J. Wolfson
June 23, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Republican proposals to tighten the use of special taxes to fund Medicaid programs could deprive states of billions of dollars for safety net health care. In California, any such limit would come on top of Medicaid cuts proposed by California Democrats in response to a $12 billion state deficit.
Many Older People Embrace Vaccines. Research Is Proving Them Right.
By Paula Span
June 23, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Newer formulations are even more effective at preventing illnesses that commonly afflict seniors — perhaps even dementia.
Muchas personas mayores aceptan las vacunas con entusiasmo. La investigación les da la razón
By Paula Span
June 23, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Para los adultos mayores que expresan mayor confianza en la seguridad de las vacunas que los grupos más jóvenes, los últimos meses han traído consigo investigaciones muy positivas.
Living Without Health Insurance? We Want To Hear From You
June 22, 2025
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News is documenting this moment, the first explicit rollback of health coverage since the advent of the modern U.S. health system in the early 20th century, and we want to hear from you.
With Enhanced Subsidies Set To Expire, Consumers Could Face Higher Obamacare Costs
By Daniel Chang
June 20, 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.
What the Health? From KFF Health News: Supreme Court Upholds Bans on Gender-Affirming Care
June 20, 2025
Podcast
The Supreme Court this week said Tennessee may continue to enforce its law banning most types of gender-affirming care for minors. The ruling is likely to greenlight similar laws in two dozen states. And the Senate is preparing to vote on a budget reconciliation bill that includes even deeper Medicaid cuts than the House version. Victoria Knight of Axios, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
June 20, 2025
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today’s selections are on coal miners, medical research, Michelle Obama, school nurses, ticks, and more.
Addictive Tech Use Linked To Youth Mental Health Issues, Study Finds
June 20, 2025
Morning Briefing
Researchers found that kids with a dependency on their devices — not just screen time — are more likely to have suicidal thoughts. Plus, Chatbot therapy for kids in crisis.
Private Equity In Dental Care Hits Snag In NC; Similar Reforms In CT Are A Dud
June 20, 2025
Morning Briefing
The legislative proposal in North Carolina would let private equity firms operate dental practices not run by licensed dentists. And in Connecticut, the legislative session has ended without any action on reining in private equity ownership of health care facilities.
Morning Briefing for Friday, June 20, 2025
June 20, 2025
Morning Briefing
Behind on your reading? Catch up on this week's KFF Health News stories with The Week in Brief, delivered every Friday to your inbox. Sign up here !
Health Insurance Trade Group AHIP Against Medicaid Bill, Vows To Battle It
June 20, 2025
Morning Briefing
At the group’s annual conference, one Medicaid expert said during a panel that the bill doesn’t pass the smell test. “I think there is a difference between how folks on the Hill are thinking about this … and [how] they’re writing it. And to me, that perspective is, ‘Yeah, we want people to lose coverage. That’s how we’re saving money,'” Fierce Healthcare reported.
