Some CDC Webpages Reinstated, But Not All Health Care Info Is Back
February 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
News outlets report on the purge of DEI content from health and science agencies after Trump’s executive order last week. Meanwhile, the EPA is planning to sideline career staffers overseeing scientific research and public health matters and replace them with political appointees.
Democratic Senators Urge RFK Jr. To Avoid Vaccine Decisions If Confirmed
February 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Ron Wyden of Oregon are concerned his family could benefit from anti-vaccine litigation, Bloomberg reported.
Cigna Makes Plans To Link Executive Pay With Customer Satisfaction
February 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
The move comes amid a public outcry over the health insurance industry’s denials of care and the slaying of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Other news is on antisemitism investigations at four medical schools; an acquisition of Texas nursing homes; Molina Healthcare; Baxter; and more.
First Edition: Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025
February 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Indiana Governor Appoints Business Leader To Shake Up Health Care
By Samantha Liss
February 4, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Gloria Sachdev, a pharmacist by training, has spent years taking on the health care establishment in Indiana, working to pull down high hospital prices and make information public to patients. Now, in a newly created position in the governor’s Cabinet, she’s no longer fighting from the outside.
For California Farmworkers, Telehealth Visits With Mexican Doctors Fill a Gap
By Victoria Clayton
February 4, 2025
KFF Health News Original
The MiSalud app enables Spanish-speaking users in the U.S. to meet virtually with health professionals in Mexico via a smartphone app. At Taylor Farms in Salinas, California, the novel program has been a hit.
Para trabajadores agrícolas de California, las consultas con médicos mexicanos a distancia llenan un vacío
By Victoria Clayton
February 4, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Este método, que podría llegar a tener gran utilidad en la era de los teléfonos inteligentes, es una aplicación que permite efectuar consultas médicas transfronterizas.
NYC Hospital Reportedly Cancels Kids’ Gender Treatments After Trump Order
February 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
NYU Langone Health has not made any announcements, The New York Times reported, but the dad of one of the children said a doctor told him that the hospital could not do the procedure because of “the new administration.” Other news is from Wyoming, Texas, Ohio, North Carolina, and elsewhere.
Lawmakers Unveil New Bipartisan Bill To Boost Medicare Doctors’ Pay
February 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
At the end of last year, CMS proposed a cut to Medicare physician reimbursements by 2.9% for 2025, but the new bill would boost physician pay by 6.6% retroactive to the beginning of the year. Other news covers Colorado School of Medicine unionization; public health workforce shortages; and more.
44 States See High Flu Activity Level; Pediatric Deaths Reach 47 This Season
February 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
Also: It’s been five years since covid-19 was declared a public health emergency by the United States, yet it continues to take thousands of lives. Separately, H5N1 avian flu, the Uganda Ebola outbreak, gluten-free ultra-processed foods, and more are in the news.
Viewpoints: Tax Cuts Would Have A Negative Impact On Our Health
February 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
Opinion writers discuss these public health topics.
Trump’s Tariffs Could Bump Up Costs For Health Care-Related Items
February 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
Pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and personal protective equipment such as gowns and gloves could be affected by tariffs, which the president has said will stay in place “until those countries stop the flow of fentanyl and undocumented immigrants into the United States,” Stat reports.
More Public Health Webpages Are Scrubbed, Federal Databases Removed
February 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
Sites pertaining to HIV, reproductive care, and gender identity are among the areas up for review as the administration seeks to purge certain language from government reports. Meanwhile, health organizations around the world are reeling after the White House halted humanitarian aid.
Dems Tap Brakes On RFK Jr.’s HHS Nomination; Panel Preps Tuesday Vote
February 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
The Cabinet nominee is revising his ethics form and divesting his financial stake in vaccine litigation, but concerns linger, and Senate Democrats would like time to review the matter. Meanwhile, AP raises questions over the credibility of a letter in support of Kennedy.
Louisiana Indicts NY Doctor Over Telemedicine Abortion Shield Law
February 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
Dr. Margaret Carpenter is accused of providing abortion pills to a resident of Louisiana, which has a near-total ban on the procedure. Health care providers in states with shield laws have been sending thousands of abortion pills per month to states with abortion restrictions, The New York Times says.
First Edition: Monday, Feb. 3, 2025
February 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Across the South, Rural Health Care Has Become ‘Trendy.’ Medicaid Expansion Has Not.
By Lauren Sausser
February 3, 2025
KFF Health News Original
State legislatures nationwide, including several in the South, are spending millions to improve rural health outcomes and access. For years, though, most Southern states have refused billions of federal dollars to provide public health insurance to more low-income adults. That isn’t likely to change with Trump back in office.
Little Tracking, Wide Variability Permeate the Teams Tasked With Stopping School Shootings
By Cheryl Platzman Weinstock
February 3, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Several states require schools to assemble teams of law enforcement and education officials to identify students who could become mass shooters and intervene before it’s too late. But some experts say the efforts often face a lack of guidance and significant pressure, putting them at risk of maligning innocent students.
Strike Us in the Heart: Send In Your Health Policy Valentines
February 3, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Make us swoon by sending us your sweetest “health policy valentines.” Submissions will be judged by an esteemed panel of experts. We’ll share favorites on our social media channels, and tenderhearted members of our staff will pick the winners, announced on Friday, Feb. 14.
