What the Health? From KFF Health News: On Capitol Hill, RFK Defends Firings at CDC
September 5, 2025
Podcast
A combative Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the U.S. secretary of health and human services, appeared before a Senate committee Thursday, defending his firing of the newly confirmed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as other changes that could limit the availability of vaccines. Meanwhile, Congress has only a few weeks to complete work on annual spending bills to avoid a possible government shutdown and to ward off potentially large increases in premiums for Affordable Care Act health plans. Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, Sarah Karlin-Smith of Pink Sheet, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Tony Leys, who discusses his “Bill of the Month” report about a woman’s unfortunate interaction with a bat — and her even more unfortunate interaction with the bill for her rabies prevention treatment.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
September 5, 2025
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today’s selections are on cancer, birth control, PFAS, heat waves, rats, and more.
Federal Appeals Court Rules Alligator Alcatraz May Stay Open
September 5, 2025
Morning Briefing
The ruling came Thursday, halting a Miami judge’s ruling to break down the Everglades immigration center. Also: U.S. Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) is fighting to release a woman with cancer from immigration detention; fear of deportation is putting health and hunger at risk; and more.
Minnesota Judge Dismisses Lawsuit, Keeps Abortion Protections In Place
September 5, 2025
Morning Briefing
The lawsuit, brought by anti-abortion organizations and crisis pregnancy centers, sought to limit abortion access, claiming that the state’s abortion laws are too permissive. Other states in the news: North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, Wyoming, New Hampshire, and more.
Trump Administration To Distribute Gilead’s New HIV Meds To Millions
September 5, 2025
Morning Briefing
As plans for PEPFAR’s future move forward, up to 2 million people in lower-income countries will receive Gilead Sciences’ HIV prevention drugs. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports how reinstated CDC staff were tasked with dismantling their own departments, including the Division of HIV Prevention.
After Minneapolis Shooting, Feds May Ban Gun Ownership For Trans People
September 5, 2025
Morning Briefing
The discussions focus on whether to classify being transgender as a mental illness, which would disqualify individuals from the right to own guns under existing rules. More mental health news looks at LSD to reduce anxiety, a pill to heal the brain post-stroke, and more.
Morning Briefing for Friday, September 5, 2025
September 5, 2025
Morning Briefing
Behind on your reading? Catch up on this week's KFF Health News stories with The Week in Brief, delivered every Friday to your inbox. Sign up here !
Massachusetts, New York Break With FDA On Covid Vaccine Limitations
September 5, 2025
Morning Briefing
While Massachusetts will mandate insurance coverage for state-recommended shots, New York plans to give pharmacists the authority to offer vaccines to anyone over 3 without a prescription. Plus: Hawaii joins the West Coast Health Alliance; Georgia pumps the breaks on covid shots; and more.
RFK Jr. Grilled Over CDC Shake-Up, Vaccine Confusion, Abortion Pill Access
September 5, 2025
Morning Briefing
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struck a defiant tone as senators — Democrat and Republican — pressed him for answers about the direction he is taking the department. “If we’re going to make America healthy again, we can’t allow public health to be undermined,” said John Barrasso, R-Wyo. Kennedy indicated more upheaval is to come. Plus, looks at claims made during the hearing.
HHS Broadens Catastrophic Coverage Eligibility On ACA Exchange
September 5, 2025
Morning Briefing
Starting Nov. 1, Affordable Care Act participants who don’t qualify for the advanced subsidies or cost-sharing reductions may apply for a hardship exemption. In other news: ACA insurers might need to revise 2026 prices; companies and their employees are looking at higher health care costs; and more.
First Edition: Friday, Sept. 5, 2025
September 5, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
He Built Michigan’s Medicaid Work Requirement System. Now He’s Warning Other States.
By Kate Wells, Michigan Public
September 5, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Michigan’s former top health official spent a year and $30 million building a system to implement work requirements for Medicaid recipients. The difficulties he encountered have him worried about 40 states and Washington, D.C., having to launch such systems by 2027.
Trump Administration Investigates Medicaid Spending on Immigrants in Blue States
By Angela Hart Devi Shastri, The Associated Press
September 5, 2025
KFF Health News Original
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is hunting for Medicaid waste, fraud, and abuse in at least six Democratic-led states that expanded coverage to low-income and disabled immigrants without legal status, according to records obtained by KFF Health News and The Associated Press.
La administración Trump investiga el gasto de estados demócratas en Medicaid para inmigrantes
By Angela Hart Devi Shastri, The Associated Press
September 5, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Estos estados brindan cobertura médica integral a inmigrantes pobres y con discapacidades que viven en el país sin estatus migratorio permanente.
RFK Jr. Faces Senate Finance Committee: A Live Discussion
September 4, 2025
KFF Health News Original
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.
Viewpoints: We Are Losing Our Freedom To Choose Vaccination; The CDC Is Becoming Unrecognizable
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
Opinion writers tackle vaccines, the CDC, and the U.S. drug supply.
House Panel Sets Sights On Extending Health Care Provisions
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
The committee aims to secure bipartisan support for extending telehealth flexibilities in Medicare coverage as well as for provisions in the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act. Also in the news: ACA subsidies; health AI; and more.
FDA: Pharma Firm Used Contaminated IV Bags For Epidural Injectable Drug
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
Amneal Pharmaceuticals lowered its standards to be able to continue using the bags even after the problem had been identified, the FDA said in a warning letter sent last week. Other news is on a one-shot early syphilis treatment trial, GLP-1 drugs, and more.
Study: People 65 And Older Receive Substandard Care For Opioid Disorder
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
Drug overdose deaths for people in that age group rose 11.4% between 2022 and 2023, CDC data show. Also: Scientists have developed a powerful non-opioid painkiller; controversy brews over involuntary addiction treatment; and more.
