Federal Judge Rolls Back Protections For Transgender Students Nationwide
January 10, 2025
Morning Briefing
While the Biden administration viewed the regulation as protecting the rights of trans students, opponents saw it as harming girls and women who might object to sharing a bathroom with a transgender person, The Washington Post reports. Plus: Meta’s policy change will allow dehumanizing speech against LGBTQ+ people.
In Letter To Senate, 15,000 Doctors Say They’re ‘Appalled’ By RFK Jr. Pick
January 10, 2025
Morning Briefing
They strongly urged U.S. senators to reject Robert Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to lead the Health and Human Services Department. “His appointment is a direct threat to … the public,” the letter said. In other news: Donald Trump might be trying to pin a public health threat on immigrants in order to build a case for closing the border.
States With Abortion Restrictions Are Losing Young, Educated Population
January 10, 2025
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, the New Mexico Supreme Court unanimously voted to protect abortion rights; a new program in Washington allows pharmacists to prescribe abortion pills via telehealth; medical students in Texas create AI abortion care training; and more.
Hazardous Air Quality Is Taking A Toll On Californians Caught Near Wildfires
January 10, 2025
Morning Briefing
Emergency room doctors report waves of patients with breathing problems as smoke increases fine particulates in the air. Health officials also are monitoring the potential mental health toll wildfires can take on people directly exposed to the disaster.
Med Schools See Steep Drop In Black, Hispanic Enrollees After Court Ruling
January 10, 2025
Morning Briefing
Stat reports that the number of Black enrollees fell by 11.6% compared to last year, and the number of Hispanic enrollees fell 10.8%. Also in the news: UnitedHealth Group, Amedisys, Prospect Medical, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, health reimbursement arrangements, and more.
First Edition: Friday, Jan. 10, 2025
January 10, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Health Care AI, Intended To Save Money, Turns Out To Require a Lot of Expensive Humans
By Darius Tahir
January 10, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Despite the hype over artificial intelligence in medicine, the systems require consistent monitoring and staffing to put in place and maintain. Checking whether an algorithm has developed the software equivalent of a blown gasket can be complicated — and expensive.
La inteligencia artificial iba a reducir los costos de salud, pero resulta que necesita de costosos seres humanos
By Darius Tahir
January 10, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Los sistemas de inteligencia artificial requieren una supervisión continua y una dotación de personal altamente capacitado para garantizar que funcionen bien.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': New Year, New Congress, New Health Agenda
January 9, 2025
Podcast
Health is unlikely to be a top priority for the new GOP-led 119th Congress and President-elect Donald Trump. But it’s likely to play a key supporting role, with an abortion bill already scheduled for debate in the Senate. Meanwhile, it’s unclear when and how the new Congress will deal with the bipartisan bills jettisoned from the previous Congress’ year-end omnibus measure — including a major deal to rein in the power of pharmacy benefit managers. In this “catch up on all the news you missed” episode, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.
UM Health-Sparrow Workers Threaten To Strike After Contract Talks Stall
January 9, 2025
Morning Briefing
Nurses and other health care workers in Michigan want increased wages, better benefits, and improved working conditions. The five-day strike will start Jan. 20. More industry news is about Blue Shield of California restructuring, a Molina-Innovive partnership, AMD’s investment in Absci, and more.
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
January 9, 2025
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of the latest health research and news.
Wildfire Smoke A Major Health Threat As Deadly Blazes Rage In Los Angeles
January 9, 2025
Morning Briefing
The air quality index is above 500 in some places near the wildfires, which one health scientist called “absolutely huge.” A typical day in the often smoggy city might rank near 60. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people in and around Richmond, Virginia, have no clean water after Winter Storm Blair.
UnitedHealth In Hot Seat Over Policies After CEO Slaying Exposes Public Anger
January 9, 2025
Morning Briefing
Shareholders have asked for details about how UnitedHealth Group’s tactics that curb care have affected patients. This comes as a Texas doctor details her frustrating experience with the insurer. Meanwhile, in the wake of the killing, J.P. Morgan Chase has increased security for its conference.
Biden Administration Bumps Up Annual Cap For Addiction Treatment
January 9, 2025
Morning Briefing
Contingency management participants will be eligible to receive up to $750 a year — via voucher or gift card — if their urine tests negative for drugs. Meanwhile, the fate of Affordable Care Act subsidies doesn’t appear to be on thin ice this time around when the GOP takes control of Congress. Plus: Today is a national day of mourning.
As Social Media Misinformation Grows In The US, Other Nations Fight Back
January 9, 2025
Morning Briefing
Meta’s decision to stop fact-checking doesn’t apply to the EU, which has sweeping rules that require social media firms to do more, not less, to prevent harm. One Nobel Peace Prize winner warned that Meta’s move could create “a world that’s right for a dictator.”
Massachusetts Takes On Private Equity In Health Care
January 9, 2025
Morning Briefing
Democratic Gov. Maura Healey said the goal of a new oversight law is to prevent “bad actors [who] exploit vulnerable hospitals.” Meanwhile, a Virginia hospital faces health care fraud charges; San Francisco gets a new mayor and a new plan to deal with the fentanyl epidemic; and more.
