All Refugees Are Blocked From US, Despite Already Being Approved
January 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
Thousands of people seeking safe haven from persecution — including hundreds of family members of U.S. troops and also Afghan allies who helped the U.S. during the war — were left stranded after the Trump administration suspended flights as part of a promised crackdown on immigration. Meanwhile, some hospitals and schools vow to continue to help undocumented immigrants.
Federal DEI Websites Taken Down; All DEI Workers Placed On Paid Leave
January 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
The blackout happened after the Office of Personnel Management ordered all agencies — including CMS and the NIH — to remove “all outward facing media” related to diversity, equity, and inclusion by 5 p.m. Wednesday. In other news about race and health, a proposal to ban formaldehyde in hair-straightening products used by many Black women is in limbo.
Cumbersome Claim Policies Irk Health Care Providers: ‘Everything Is A Fight’
January 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
Modern Healthcare looks at the measures health insurance companies are using for reviews, including one that would charge providers who appeal rejected claims. Also in the news: fee inequality, anesthesia investments, health system layoffs, and more.
Trump’s OMB Nominee Voices Support For Medicaid Work Requirements
January 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
The comments hint at the potential for a broad overhaul coming from the Trump administration in terms of how the federal government administers Medicaid, The New York Times reports. Also, several of President Donald Trump’s picks for the EPA have potential conflicts of interest.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, January 23, 2025
January 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
Stay tuned for our new weekly edition, The Week in Brief, coming this Friday. Each week, we’ll give you a fresh take on one of our top stories. Plus, we’ll recap our social media coverage and our award-winning KFF Health News journalism. Don’t miss out — sign up here !
NIH Scientific Meetings Scratched As New Administration Moves In
January 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
It is unclear how long meetings and study sessions will be put on hold, but some fear a delay could affect research and grant funding. Separately, an executive order is in the works to withhold funding for “gain-of-function” research on viruses.
First Edition: Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025
January 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
As States Diverge on Immigration, Hospitals Say They Won’t Turn Patients Away
By Vanessa G. Sánchez Daniel Chang
January 23, 2025
KFF Health News Original
California and Massachusetts are teaching immigrants their rights while Florida and Texas are collecting patients’ immigration status. As states offer differing guidelines for interacting with immigrant patients, hospitals around the U.S. say they won’t turn people away for care because of their immigration status.
Trump’s Early Health Moves Signal Intent To Erase Biden’s Legacy. What’s Next Is Unclear.
By Julie Appleby Stephanie Armour
Updated January 23, 2025
Originally Published January 23, 2025
KFF Health News Original
President Donald Trump issued a flurry of executive orders and other actions on health care soon after reentering office. Other than signaling he intends to reverse many of Joe Biden’s moves, the orders will have little immediate impact.
Covered California Hits Record Enrollment, but Key Subsidies in Jeopardy
By Claudia Boyd-Barrett
January 23, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Enhanced federal subsidies and more state aid for out-of-pocket costs have made health insurance purchased through California’s marketplace more affordable. It’s unclear if the incoming Republican Congress will extend the enhanced subsidies beyond 2025.
Covered California alcanza récord de inscripciones, pero peligran subsidios clave
By Claudia Boyd-Barrett
January 23, 2025
KFF Health News Original
La principal preocupación de los funcionarios de Covered California es la inminente expiración de los subsidios federales adicionales para pagar las primas de los seguros.
Hospitales dicen que no rechazarán pacientes, mientras los estados se posicionan sobre inmigración
By Vanessa G. Sánchez Daniel Chang
January 23, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Mientras Trump inicia la “operación de deportación más grande” en la historia de la nación, estados han emitido pautas marcadamente diferentes a los hospitales, clínicas comunitarias y otros centros de salud, sobre cómo actuar con pacientes inmigrantes.
What To Know About Trump’s Executive Orders on US Health Care
By Tarena Lofton
January 22, 2025
KFF Health News Original
From rolling back drug pricing policies to limiting gender-affirming care, President Donald Trump signed several health-related executive orders in the first hours of his second presidency. Here’s a roundup of the changes and what they mean.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Michigan Offers Buyouts To Nonunion Staff
January 22, 2025
Morning Briefing
The company points to the increasing costs of prescription and specialty drugs as a reason for its loss of more than $1 billion in insurance business over the past two years and for its need to cut costs dramatically. Other health and pharma news is on Eli Lilly’s work on an oral weight loss drug; how fitness and weight training can halve the risk of cancer patients dying; and more.
Study: Recreational Ketamine Outpaces Therapeutic Use For Depression
January 22, 2025
Morning Briefing
Also in the news, “renal denervation” shows promise as a treatment for high blood pressure; an estimated 17 million U.S. adults struggle with long-covid with no new treatments in sight; inequality grows in life expectancies among Americans; and more.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, January 22, 2025
January 22, 2025
Morning Briefing
Stay tuned for our new weekly edition, The Week in Brief, coming this Friday. Each week, we’ll give you a fresh take on one of our top stories. Plus, we’ll recap our social media coverage and our award-winning KFF Health News journalism. Don’t miss out — sign up here !
Democrats Aim To Shield Medicaid From Potential Cuts Under Trump
January 22, 2025
Morning Briefing
Axios reports that some Republicans are avoiding answering whether they’re willing to cut Medicaid in order to help pay for an extension of President Donald Trump’s tax cuts. More news on Medicaid comes from South Carolina and South Dakota.
Federal Health Agencies Ordered To Halt External Communications
January 22, 2025
Morning Briefing
The Trump administration moved swiftly to block communications from HHS, the FDA, the CDC, and the NIH. It is not clear whether Americans can still receive urgent notifications regarding foodborne disease outbreaks, drug approvals, and new bird flu cases. Meanwhile, new restrictions mean immigrant domestic abuse victims are no longer safe from ICE in women’s shelters.
Health Tech Industry Is Just Fine With Repeal Of Biden’s AI Regulating Order
January 22, 2025
Morning Briefing
Among the executive order’s directives, companies were required to report details of their technology to federal regulators. Separately, Doctors Without Borders, physicians, and industry top brass weigh in on President Donald Trump’s executive orders and policy proposals.
