FDA Approves New Antibiotic To Fight Urinary Tract Infections
March 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
UTIs affect about half of all women, with about 30% suffering from recurring UTIs as the bacteria becomes more resistant to available antibiotics. Other research is on robot-assisted prostatectomies and erectile function; the link between marriage and dementia; and more.
Difficulty Deleting Genetic Data From 23AndMe Has Been Resolved
March 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
A 23AndMe spokesperson told Bloomberg that the website delays were due to heavy site traffic. This comes in the wake of the company’s weekend bankruptcy filing. In other news: McCormick begins reformulating products to remove dyes; Fluoride has been eliminated from the drinking water in some rural areas already short on dentists; and more.
Health Systems Grapple As Measles Cases Spread Beyond Outbreak States
March 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
As isolated reports of measles spread beyond the Texas-centric hotspot, health officials gear up for new cases while others report an uptick in vaccinations. In West Texas, where cases top 327, some patients have found a vitamin A “remedy” supported by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. can leave them more sick.
Senate Finance Committee Clears Dr. Oz To Run Medicare, Medicaid
March 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
Dr. Mehmet Oz will face a full Senate confirmation vote to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In other Senate news, Dr. Martin A. Makary has been confirmed as the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya will be the director of the National Institutes of Health.
First Edition: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
March 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Montana Examines Ways To Ease Health Care Workforce Shortages
By Sue O'Connell
March 26, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Bills before the legislature would license community health workers and make it easier for some other health professionals licensed in other states to do business in Montana.
‘I Am Going Through Hell’: Job Loss, Mental Health, and the Fate of Federal Workers
By Rachana Pradhan Aneri Pattani
Illustration by Oona Zenda
March 26, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Since the Trump administration began firing federal workers, they say they feel overwhelmed, have obtained or considered seeking psychiatric care and medication, and are anxious about paying their bills. And soon, their health insurance will run out.
Tennessee Logs First Measles Case Of 2025
March 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
It is unclear how the person was exposed to the virus, officials say. Meanwhile, experts warn air travel may lead to more imported cases. Other news is on dengue fever outbreaks in popular spring break destinations; New York City’s mental health programs; and more.
Bayer Directed To Pay Cancer Patient Nearly $2.1 Billion In Roundup Case
March 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
A Georgia man maintains two decades of using the weedkiller caused his cancer. Also in the news: prostate cancer, breast cancer, and cancer research funding cuts.
More Health Care Leaders Plan To Leave Jobs This Year, Survey Shows
March 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
The number of people in leadership positions willing to leave within the next 12 months rose by five percentage points when compared with last year’s figures. Other industry news includes management cuts at Yale New Haven Health; health systems responding to anti-DEI efforts; and more.
West Virginia Becomes First State To Ban Virtually All Artificial Food Dyes
March 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
Although the legislation will go into effect in 2028, school meals will not be allowed to have the dyes beginning in August. In other news: HHS Chief RFK Jr. lays out his plan to ensure the safety of baby formula; soda companies push to remain covered by food stamps; and more.
Morning Briefing for Tuesday, March 25, 2025
March 25, 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.
Feds Scrapping Office That Researched, Coordinated Response To Long Covid
March 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
The health care system could wind up providing long and costly care for Americans plagued by lingering effects of a covid infection, one HHS staffer warns. An estimated 23 million people have long covid.
23AndMe Users Rush To Remove Genetic Information After Bankruptcy
March 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
Customers concerned about privacy attempted to delete their data but struggled to receive deletion confirmation, The Wall Street Journal reported. In other news: the FDA approves a lab-grown blood vessel; UK drugmaker GSK Plc is studying its shingles vaccine for expanded use as dementia prevention; and more.
Acting Chief Susan Monarez, Who Is Not A Physician, Tapped To Lead CDC
March 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
The biosecurity expert has degrees in microbiology and previously served as deputy director of ARPA-H. For the first time, the post will require Senate confirmation, following a law change in 2022.
Supreme Court Case Involving Planned Parenthood Could Wreck Medicaid
March 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
The case asks the Supreme Court to render much of federal law unenforceable, in an attempt to hurt abortion providers, Vox reports. In other Medicaid news: CDPAP program extends enrollment period; Ohio Medicaid delays confirmed by providers despite denial by state officials; and more.
First Edition: Tuesday, March 25, 2025
March 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Bill That Congressman Says Protects Medicaid Doesn’t — And Would Likely Require Cutting It
By Julie Appleby
March 25, 2025
KFF Health News Original
U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota, a Long Island Republican, told his constituents that he voted for the House-passed GOP budget resolution because it protects Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. However, the bill charges a committee with making cuts that likely can’t be attained without slashing Medicaid.
