Several Covid Vax Skeptics Might Join ACIP; RFK Jr. Testifies At Senate Today
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
Politico reports that it has seen an internal list that included the names of at least three people who have questioned the safety of mRNA vaccines. It’s unclear whether new members could join the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices before its next meeting Sept. 18-19. Plus: The FDA questions the safety of getting covid and flu vaccines at the same time.
West Coast States Form Health Alliance In Response To Trump’s CDC
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
On Wednesday, the governors of California, Washington, and Oregon announced the creation of the West Coast Health Alliance, aimed at providing public health and vaccine guidance separate from the CDC. Other vaccine news comes from Colorado, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Florida.
Research Powerhouse Harvard Secures Win Over Trump’s $2B Funding Freeze
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston ruled the government violated the university’s free speech rights when it withheld grants, noting the administration “used antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this country’s premier universities, and did so in a way that runs afoul” of the law. A separate judge has blocked foreign aid cuts.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, September 4, 2025
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
Join us at 3 p.m. today for a live discussion: KFF Health News’ Stephanie Armour, Julie Rovner, and Arthur Allen, and KFF’s Josh Michaud discuss the biggest takeaways from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. Tune in here.
First Edition: Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
As Insurers Struggle With GLP-1 Drug Costs, Some Seek To Wean Patients Off
By Jamie Ducharme
September 4, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Conventional wisdom says GLP-1 drugs must be taken indefinitely to maintain weight loss. But a growing number of researchers, payers, and providers are challenging that consensus and exploring whether — and how — to taper patients off expensive GLP-1 drugs.
Listen: Limiting Benefits and Adding Restrictions, ‘MAHA’ Reshapes Food Aid
By Renuka Rayasam
September 4, 2025
KFF Health News Original
The White House and congressional Republicans have made historic changes to the federal anti-hunger program SNAP. They say the changes will boost healthy eating for low-income Americans. Some nutrition experts aren’t so sure.
Fighting a Health Insurance Denial? Here Are 7 Tips To Help
By Lauren Sausser
September 4, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Many people don’t know they can fight a health insurance denial, let alone how to do it. Here are practical tips for consumers who want to appeal a prior authorization decision.
Watch: How Controversies Over Vaccine Changes Affect You
By Céline Gounder
September 3, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Céline Gounder, KFF Health News’ editor-at-large for public health, discusses leadership changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and concerns over vaccine policy.
First Covid Pill That Prevents Infection After Exposure Awaits FDA Approval
September 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
In a phase 3 trial, ensitrelvir — known as Xocova — showed a 67% reduction in risk of covid infection in patients treated after exposure. The drug has already been approved for use in Japan. Also, a new clinical trial shows covid may be prevented by using a common nasal antihistamine spray.
OpenAI Will Offer Parental Controls After California Teen’s Suicide
September 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
The change will be introduced to ChatGPT within the next month, the company said Tuesday. Plus: The suicide rate among older Coloradans has not budged in a decade, The Colorado Sun reported.
Victims’ Families, Survivors Of Maine Mass Shooting Sue US Government
September 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
The plaintiffs argue that the U.S. Army could and should have done more to stop the 2023 shooting that killed 18 people in Lewiston, AP reported, because it reportedly knew that the gunman had mental health issues. Also: President Donald Trump raises the possibility of arming teachers who have served as “distinguished” military service members.
Advanced-Stage Prostate Cancer Rates See Sharp Rise In Past Decade
September 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
The report also shows that declines in mortality rates have slowed, from 3%-4% per year to 0.6% per year in the past decade. Plus: A study looks at cancer-fighting properties of a plant-based nutrient. More news is on Alzheimer’s; the link between brain tumors and the birth control shot; and more.
Different Takes: RFK Jr. Decries ‘Irrational Policy’ At CDC; Congress Must Take A Stand On Its Fate
September 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers examine the controversy over the CDC and other public health issues.
Providers, Patients Will Have Instant Access To Drug Costs Come Oct. 1
September 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
A final CMS rule requires providers to make digital requests during appointments with patients. Separately, Gilead Sciences aims to raise prices for its HIV medicines that are distributed by state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs.
HHS Will Restore Webpages With DEI; More CDC Budget Cuts On The Table
September 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
Under a court settlement, health data on those pages will be reset to reflect how they appeared as of Jan. 29, 2025. Axios has reported that a statement posted on those pages says, “Any information on this page promoting gender ideology is extremely inaccurate and disconnected from truth. This page does not reflect reality and therefore the Administration and this Department reject it.”
RFK Jr. Touts CDC’s Measles Response As Justification For Agency Shake-Up
September 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
In an op-ed, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. writes of the need to restore trust in the agency. But the director of the Dallas County Health Department disputes whether CDC policies helped end the outbreak, noting: “The accessibility and availability of CDC now is nothing like it has been in the past, or should be, and to claim that now this is the model for CDC is really — it’s just not true.”
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, September 3, 2025
September 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
We’d like to speak with personnel from the Department of Health and Human Services or its component agencies about what’s happening within the federal health bureaucracy. Please message us on Signal at (415) 519-8778 or get in touch here.
First Edition: Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025
September 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Changes at NIH Give Political Appointees Greater Power To Fund or Block Research
By Arthur Allen
September 3, 2025
KFF Health News Original
The National Institutes of Health’s long-held standard of peer review for grantmaking has been subverted by President Donald Trump and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, who gave unprecedented power to politicos, NIH workers say.
