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.
As House Eases Up On Medicaid Cuts, Trump Tells Congress To Tax The Rich
May 9, 2025
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, the GOP is looking to nix a Trump-backed Medicaid drug-pricing plan, and Democrats are urging cuts to excess spending in Medicare Advantage.
US Infant Mortality Fell In 2024; Vaccines May Have Played A Role
May 9, 2025
Morning Briefing
Experts have pointed to RSV vaccine campaigns as a possible reason why. A separate CDC report shows that infant hospitalizations in the 2024-25 respiratory virus season were more than 40% lower than past averages. Also: the uptick in cancer in people under 50; avian flu in cats; and more.
Thousands Line Up For Free Care At Mega Health Clinic In St. Louis
May 9, 2025
Morning Briefing
The downtown event brought in more than 1,800 providers and served more than 7,000 people. Other states making news include Montana, Hawaii, California, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, New York, and Florida.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
May 9, 2025
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today’s selections are on Pope Leo XIV’s health care stances, measles vaccination efforts, the WHO, ethics in AI, and loneliness.
Morning Briefing for Friday, May 9, 2025
May 9, 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 !
Senators Grill Pick For HHS Deputy Chief On Vaccines, Transparency, More
May 9, 2025
Morning Briefing
At his confirmation hearing, James O’Neill reiterated his pro-vaccine stance and noted he would “commit to prioritizing real transparency and sharing information with Congress and the American public.” Meanwhile, President Trump’s surgeon general pick has rankled the MAGA base.
Anxiety, Fear Keeping Migrants From The Medical Care They Need
May 9, 2025
Morning Briefing
Health care professionals worry about the risks posed to immigrants when people forego medical treatment out of fear that ICE will come for them, The New York Times reports. Plus, news about family separations, deportation plans, foreign aid cuts, and more.
