First Edition: Wednesday, March 19, 2025
March 19, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Indiana Lawmakers Seek To Forbid Hospital Monopolies, but One Merger Fight Remains
By Samantha Liss
March 19, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Union Health has made a new bid to buy its only rival hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana. The system passed one hurdle after lawmakers watered down a bill that threatened the proposed deal. That means the merger will now face a likely showdown with Indiana’s new governor.
Tribal Health Leaders Say Medicaid Cuts Would Decimate Health Programs
By Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez
March 19, 2025
KFF Health News Original
As Congress mulls significant cuts to Medicaid, Native American tribes are bracing for potentially devastating financial fallout. That’s because Medicaid is the largest third-party payer for Native American health programs, funding that has helped address chronic underfunding of the Indian Health Service.
Texas Midwife Accused Of Providing Illegal Abortions
March 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
According to NBC News, this appears to be the first time a health care provider in Texas has been criminally charged since the state implemented the ban in 2022. Also in abortion news: A conservative lawyer has been forced out of the FDA for previously defending mifepristone.
Colorado Disability Services Might No Longer Receive License Plate Revenue
March 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
Colorado lawmakers, facing a more than $1 billion budget shortfall, are considering whether to redirect millions of dollars generated from plate fees toward Medicaid and other programs. More news comes from: Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Mississippi.
74% Of Teachers Report Seeing Kids Coming To School Hungry Monthly
March 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
Axios reports on a new survey of 1,000 K-12 public school teachers, which also found that 78% of teachers reported they were concerned about food insecurity in the communities where they teach. Other nutrition news is on grass-fed beef and red dye No. 3. Also: Parkinson’s numbers are set to rise.
White House Abolishes Public Health Advisory On Gun Violence
March 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
The Biden-era warning was scrubbed from the HHS website in order to comply with President Trump’s order to protect Second Amendment rights, officials say. A gun violence prevention group warns the move takes away lifesaving resources.
In DEI Sweep, Feds Remove Ban On ‘Segregated Facilities’ For Contractors
March 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
Businesses still must follow federal and state laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which makes segregated facilities illegal. Those facilities are described as work areas, restaurants, drinking fountains, transportation, housing, and more.
Veterans Told To Look Outside The VA For Gender Dysphoria Treatment
March 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
Hormone therapy and gender dysphoria treatment will be offered only to those already receiving it. “If veterans want to attempt to change their sex, they can do so on their own dime,” VA Secretary Doug Collins said. Meanwhile, a study finds gender-affirming care may lower the risk of depression.
California’s Newsom Asks For An Extra $2.8 Billion To Close Medicaid Hole
March 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
The request comes on top of a $3.44 billion loan that was proposed last week in order to fully pay the bills for the state’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, through the end of the year. Other Medicaid and Medicare news is on county-owned hospitals in Indiana, work requirements, MA cuts, and more.
Shuttered Sharon Regional Medical Center Resuming Business Today
March 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
California-based Tenor Health Foundation has taken over the 163-bed hospital in Pennsylvania. More hospital news is about Anson General in Texas, Scripps Health in California, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Massachusetts. Also, chatbots feel the weight of heavy issues.
Morning Briefing for Tuesday, March 18, 2025
March 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
Each month, KFF Health News’ Rural Dispatch newsletter covers health issues in places where accessing care can be more challenging. Sign up here!
First Edition: Tuesday, March 18, 2025
March 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Her Case Changed Trans Care in Prison. Now Trump Aims To Reverse Course.
By Bram Sable-Smith
March 18, 2025
KFF Health News Original
President Donald Trump ordered a halt to gender-affirming medical care for transgender prisoners in federal custody, and to housing trans women in female prisons. The new policies raise alarms for a formerly incarcerated trans woman. She said the order denies lifesaving medical care and creates a road map for rape.
Congressman Blames Trump Team for Ending Telehealth Medicare Benefit. Not Quite Right.
By Suz Redfearn
Updated March 17, 2025
Originally Published March 17, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Rep. Ro Khanna of California warned of Trump administration “cuts” to Medicare telehealth access hitting March 31. But if Medicare recipients lose telemedicine benefits that day, it will be because Congress failed to act.
Uncertain Future For Rural Hospitals As Medicaid, Medicare Changes Loom
March 17, 2025
Morning Briefing
The future of a subsidy program for broadband internet also is uncertain. If changes to any of these programs are made, the effects will hurt rural hospitals that rely on telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, and other technologies to help their patients. Other news is on a charity care settlement, the nursing home industry, and more.
Marines May Remove Troops With Skin Condition Affecting Mostly Black Men
March 17, 2025
Morning Briefing
The genetic skin condition, called pseudofolliculitis barbae, causes pain and scarring from shaving. Military.com reports that a new policy may mean that servicemembers who don’t respond to treatment and must stay on a shaving waiver may be let go “due to incompatibility with service.” Also: immigration; halting Agent Orange cleanup; removing mRNA vaccine references from grant applications; and more.
FDA Raids Maker of Poppers, A Party Drug HHS Chief Suggests Causes AIDS
March 17, 2025
Morning Briefing
It is unclear whether Robert F. Kennedy Jr. knew about the raid. Also, the FDA is documenting injuries caused by nitrous oxide sold commercially, as inhaling it can cause dangerously low blood pressure. Other news links probiotic use to fever reduction in kids, discusses drug pricing, and more.
