What the Health? From KFF Health News: House GOP Plan Targets Medicaid
February 27, 2025
Podcast
The House passed a budget plan that likely would result in major cuts to the Medicaid program. But the plan now faces a battle in the Senate, where even Republicans seem reluctant to dramatically reduce a health program that covers roughly 1 in 5 Americans. Meanwhile, federal judges and the Trump administration continue to differ over whether the administration has the authority to unilaterally cancel programs approved and funded by Congress and to fire federal workers. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Victoria Knight of Axios join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
February 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of the latest health research and news.
Malpractice Standards Change From ‘Medical Custom’ To ‘Evidence-Based’
February 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
The American Law Institute’s guidelines — which it approved last year but now are published — pointed out that medical decision-making has changed in the past 40 years “away from subjective judgments and reliance on authorities toward a formal analysis of evidence,” MedPage Today said.
Planned Parenthood Wins Appeal In Medicaid Fraud Case
February 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
The ruling overturns a decision by Texas U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who ruled in 2023 that Planned Parenthood must return millions of dollars it received from Texas and Louisiana’s Medicaid programs, Politico reported. Plus: more news from Connecticut, Florida, North Carolina, California, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
FDA Scraps Panel Meeting That Advises On Vaccines For Next Season’s Flu
February 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
The committee typically meets in the spring to decide which strains to include in shots for the next winter wave. Meanwhile, a child has died in the Texas measles outbreak. Also, the WHO reports the Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network is on the verge of collapse after the U.S. withdrew funding.
White House Reconsidering Moderna’s Bird Flu Vaccine Contract
February 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
The administration also told Vaxart Inc. to halt its research on an oral Covid vaccine, Bloomberg reports. In related news, the policy to cull poultry caught in H5N1 bird flu outbreaks will not be changed after all, but the poultry industry will see a $1 billion infusion to fight outbreaks.
Trump Administration Ends Nearly All USAID Programs
February 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
The announcement came hours before the administration was to restart payments on foreign aid grants, NPR reports, but Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily paused that lower court order Wednesday evening, allowing the White House more time to make the payments. Also in the news: NIH funding, VA funding, and an EPA move on climate regulations.
Eli Lilly To Spend Billions Shifting Its Drugmaking To US
February 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
This move will help shore up the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain, which currently relies heavily on foreign sources for key raw ingredients. Also in the news: prescription drug legislation, uses of AI in health tech, and more.
First Edition: Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025
February 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Human, Bird, or Dog Waste? Scientists Parsing Poop To Aid DC’s Forgotten River
By Jackie Fortiér
February 27, 2025
KFF Health News Original
A huge infrastructure project coupled with a new scientific review of microbes in the water could be bringing Washington, D.C., closer to a once-unimaginable goal — a safely swimmable Anacostia River.
Republicans Once Wanted Government out of Health Care. Trump Voters See It Differently.
By Noam N. Levey
February 27, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Frustrated by high health care prices, many who backed President Donald Trump support strong government actions to protect patients. It’s unclear whether GOP leaders will listen.
¿Heces humana, de aves o de perros? Científicos analizan excrementos para ayudar al río olvidado de Washington D.C.
By Jackie Fortiér
February 27, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Debido a los riesgos para la salud, no se puede nadar en el Anacostia desde hace más de medio siglo. El agua contaminada puede causar enfermedades gastrointestinales y respiratorias, así como infecciones oculares, nasales y cutáneas.
FDA Eases Access To Medication For Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia
February 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
The agency is eliminating a long-held blood test requirement, broadening access to clozapine. Also, new clinical trial results show hope for those with sickle cell disease and could lower the cost of treatment. Other news is on compounding pharmacies lawsuit against the FDA, promising cancer drugs, and more.
Hospitals Nationwide Overwhelmed By Crush Of Sick Patients, Execs Report
February 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
Health systems are revising strategies to meet the growing demand for inpatient care. One option is to send patients home to recuperate in their comfy surroundings and have health care personnel visit them there. Also in the news: Oregon Healthcare strike, Walgreens settlement, and more.
Psilocybin Businesses Are Sprouting As First Licenses Issued In Colorado
February 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
It marks a start to the legal psychedelic-assisted therapy industry. Separately, Texas sees an increase in children being vaccinated amid the growing measles outbreak. Utah, Iowa, New York, California, and Idaho are also in the news.
GenBioPro, Leading Mifepristone Manufacturer, Enters Abortion Fight
February 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
On Tuesday, the company asked to be added to the list of defendants in a case brought before a Texas judge by three Republican state attorneys general, The New York Times reported.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, February 26, 2025
February 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
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