HHS Purges Thousands Of Public Health Experts, Inspectors, And Others
February 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
Practically every Department of Health and Human Services agency lost workers, who were told via email that their jobs have been eliminated. The mass firings prompted the head of the FDA food division to resign in protest.
First Edition: Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025
February 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Iowa Medicaid Sends $4M Bills to Two Families Grieving Deaths of Loved Ones With Disabilities
By Tony Leys
February 18, 2025
KFF Health News Original
States are required to claw back health care costs from the estates of many Medicaid recipients. Some, including Iowa, are particularly aggressive in their pursuit.
Pain Clinics Made Millions From ‘Unnecessary’ Injections Into ‘Human Pin Cushions’
By Brett Kelman
Illustration by Oona Zenda
February 18, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Pain MD, which once ran as many as 20 clinics across three states, gave chronic-pain patients about 700,000 total injections near their spines, according to court documents. Last year, federal prosecutors proved at trial that the shots were medically unnecessary and part of an extensive fraud scheme.
Journalists Talk Southern Health Care: HIV Drug Access, Medicaid Expansion, Vaccination Rates
February 15, 2025
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Sights, Sounds Trigger Trauma for Super Bowl Parade Shooting Survivors
By Bram Sable-Smith
February 14, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Survivors and witnesses of gun violence often freeze emotionally at first, as a coping mechanism. As the one-year mark since the parade shooting nears, the last installment in our series “The Injured” looks at how some survivors talk about resilience, while others are desperately trying to hang on.
Urgent CDC Data and Analyses on Influenza and Bird Flu Go Missing as Outbreaks Escalate
By Amy Maxmen
February 14, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Delays in urgent CDC analyses of seasonal flu and bird flu, and the agency’s silence, will harm Americans as outbreaks escalate, doctors and public health experts warn.
Health System Leaders Move To Improve Quality Of Ambulatory Care
February 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
According to Becker’s Hospital Review, outpatient care needs are projected to increase. This will require the same level of standardized safety protocols and rigorous reporting mechanisms.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
February 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today’s selections are on hospital food, Zolgensma, seed oils, PTSD, and more.
Medicaid Changes Come Into Focus As House Begins Paring Budget
February 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
Looking to trim $880 billion, Republican lawmakers are considering block-granting Medicaid funding and establishing work requirements for beneficiaries, Modern Healthcare reports. As Politico points out, cutting Medicaid won’t be so simple.
Bird Flu Is Spreading Undetected To People, CDC Testing Results Indicate
February 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
Veterinarians who worked with cattle had antibodies in their system that showed they had the H5N1 virus, though they exhibited no symptoms and none knew they were working with sick animals, according to a report. Meanwhile, as states report more cases, people are urged to avoid dead birds.
Births Are Up. So Is Infant Mortality After Abortion Bans, Studies Show.
February 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
In states with abortion bans, infant mortality rates were 6% higher than expected. The studies suggested abortion bans significantly affect people struggling economically. Meanwhile, New York won’t extradite Dr. Margaret Carpenter in an abortion pill case. The doctor also is being fined by Texas.
Colorado Gun-Control Bill Would Curb AR-15s, More In Effort To ‘Save Lives’
February 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
The bill — which would ban the manufacture and sale of semiautomatic rifles, shotguns, and pistols — hit a snag overnight, with state senators adding a major concession for people who complete a training course, The Colorado Sun reported. The lead sponsor of the bill, Democratic state Sen. Tom Sullivan, lost his son, Alex, in the 2012 Aurora theater shooting.
Morning Briefing for Friday, February 14, 2025
February 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
The Morning Briefing will not be published Monday, Feb. 17, in celebration of Presidents Day. Look for it again in your inbox Tuesday.
On Same Day RFK Jr. Is Confirmed, La. Says It Will Stop Promoting Vaccines
February 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
Louisiana’s surgeon general said in a memo Thursday that the state would “encourage each patient to discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with their provider” but would “no longer promote mass vaccination” through the news media or at health fairs, The New York Times reported.
RFK Jr. Is Sworn In To Lead HHS Amid A Backdrop Of Budget, Staff Cuts
February 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was also tapped to lead President Donald Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again Commission.” Kennedy plans to focus on the “diseases of isolation” driving chronic diseases, suicide, and depression but may face challenges from cuts and constraints that DOGE has imposed on the agency.
Bulwark Of Courts Blocks Trump’s Health Care Policy Agenda
February 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
Federal judges on Thursday blocked executive orders regarding transgender care, USAID, and birthright citizenship. Also, news outlets examine the fallout of funding cuts, medical research freezes, webpage deletions, and more.
First Edition: Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 ♥
February 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations. Note to readers: The First Edition will not be published Monday, Feb. 17, in celebration of Presidents Day. Look for it again in your inbox Tuesday.
A Dose of Love: The Winning Health Policy Valentines
Cartooning by Oona Zenda
February 14, 2025
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News shares our favorite reader-submitted health policy valentines. One struck us in the heart and inspired an original cartoon.
