What the Health? From KFF Health News: Creating Chaos at HHS
January 23, 2025
Podcast
President Donald Trump was sworn in Monday and by Wednesday had virtually stopped scientific policymaking at the Department of Health and Human Services. While incoming administrations often pause public communications, the acting HHS head ordered an unprecedented shutdown of all outside meetings, travel, and publications. Meanwhile, Trump issued a broad array of mostly nonbinding executive orders, but notably none directly concerning abortion. Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Rodney Whitlock, a former congressional staffer, who explains the convoluted “budget reconciliation” process Republicans hope to use to enact Trump’s agenda.
Colorado Sees Slowdown In Number Of Babies Born With Syphilis
January 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
The Colorado Sun reports that testing might be behind the slowdown: The state issued an order in 2024 requiring syphilis testing to be more widely available. Other news from across the nation comes out of Missouri, New York, California, Tennessee, Michigan, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania.
Study Suggests That People With ADHD May Have Shorter Life Expectancies
January 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
The research, published Thursday in The British Journal of Psychiatry, found that, on average, women with ADHD die nine years earlier than the general population. Among men, the difference is seven years. Other public health news is on online sexual exploitation of kids, menopause, and more.
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
January 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of the latest health research and news.
Viewpoints: US Withdrawal From WHO Could Lead To Positive Reform; Claim Appeals Are A Real Pain
January 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss the following public health issues.
RFK Jr. Shifts Vaccine Stance In Effort To Win Senate Confirmation
January 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
The staunch anti-vaccine activist is rebranding himself as “pro-vaccine safety,” according to Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a move that may sway GOP senators’ votes. Other news includes Kennedy’s investments into biotech companies and the potential conflicts of interest; previous work with anti-vaccine nonprofits; 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.
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.
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.
Illinois Planned Parenthood Closing Four Clinics, Citing Financial Trouble
January 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
Illinois is one of just a few abortion havens for the Midwest and South. Meanwhile, Oakland, California, is now home to the largest Planned Parenthood in the U.S.; Michigan’s governor signs legislation allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control pills; and more.
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.
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.
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 !
First Edition: Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025
January 23, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
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.
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 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.
