Federal Judge Pauses RFK Jr.’s Mass Firings, Calling Them Unlawful
July 2, 2025
Morning Briefing
Tuesday’s order blocked the layoffs and organizational changes at HHS. Judge Melissa DuBose of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island said the changes far exceeded Kennedy’s authority. Andrew Nixon, RFK Jr.’s spokesperson, said they are considering next steps.
Social Security ‘Resurrects’ Immigrants From Death List; Benefits Still Blocked
July 2, 2025
Morning Briefing
They’ll instead be flagged as “unverified.” An unnamed administration official told The New York Times that it would achieve the same goal by alerting third parties that they may not be eligible for services. Also, 20 states have sued over the administration’s use of immigrants’ Medicaid data.
UnitedHealthcare Reaches Agreement With Cancer Center Over Coverage
July 2, 2025
Morning Briefing
The multi-year agreement announced Tuesday between UnitedHealthcare and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center will let some 19,000 UnitedHealthcare and Oxford health plan members remain in-network for their cancer care. Also in the news: Ascension Health, Sharp HealthCare, Mass General Brigham, and more.
Wyoming Confirms Its First Measles Case In 15 Years
July 2, 2025
Morning Briefing
The patient is an unvaccinated child. Other states making news: New Mexico, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and elsewhere.
Scientists Find Microplastics In Reproductive Fluids Of Men, Women
July 2, 2025
Morning Briefing
The presence of microplastics in semen and follicular fluid were not entirely unexpected. But the lead research author added: “What did surprise us, however, is how widespread it is. This is not an isolated finding — it appears to be quite common.” Plus: hormone therapy and breast cancer; antibiotic resistance in cow manure; and more.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, July 2, 2025
July 2, 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, July 2, 2025
July 2, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
To Cut Medicaid, the GOP’s Following a Path Often Used To Expand Health Care
By Julie Rovner
July 2, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Republicans are attempting to use the budget reconciliation process to boost President Donald Trump’s priorities and reduce health coverage. That process has been used to pass nearly every major piece of health legislation for decades — except usually lawmakers use it to expand health care, not cut it, writes Julie Rovner.
Con el verano hay más mosquitos y, temen oficiales, más casos de dengue
By Phillip Reese
July 2, 2025
KFF Health News Original
El año pasado se reportaron alrededor de 3.700 nuevas infecciones por dengue en Estados Unidos, frente a las 2.050 de 2023, según los Centros para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades.
‘MAHA Report’ Calls for Fighting Chronic Disease, but Trump and Kennedy Have Yanked Funding
By David Hilzenrath
July 2, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Scientists and public health advocates see disconnects between what the Trump administration says about health — notably, in its “MAHA Report” — and what it’s actually doing.
Republican Megabill Will Mean Higher Health Costs for Many Americans
By Phil Galewitz Julie Appleby Renuka Rayasam Bernard J. Wolfson
Updated July 3, 2025
Originally Published July 2, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Spending cuts hitting medical providers, Medicaid and Affordable Care Act enrollees, and lawfully present immigrants are just some of the biggest changes the GOP has in store for health care — with ramifications that could touch all Americans.
As Mosquito Season Peaks, Officials Brace for New Normal of Dengue Cases
By Phillip Reese
July 2, 2025
KFF Health News Original
In recent years, locally acquired dengue cases have appeared in California, Florida, and Texas, parts of the U.S. where the disease isn’t endemic. Health and vector control officials worry that with climate change and the lack of a vaccine, dengue will take hold in a larger swath of North America.
Senate Passes Trump’s Megabill With Medicaid Cuts, Other Health Provisions
July 1, 2025
Morning Briefing
The massive tax and immigration bill passed the Senate Tuesday by a 51-50 vote, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tiebreaker. The legislation, which must go back to the House, offsets some of the new spending with measures that aim to cut back on Medicaid and food assistance for the poor.
Inmigrantes en California dudan en pedir cobertura médica por miedo a ser deportados
By Claudia Boyd-Barrett
July 1, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Las redadas federales de inmigración, que parecen haber afectado al menos a una clínica de salud en el estado, ya están provocando que algunas personas teman buscar atención médica.
Morning Briefing for Tuesday, July 1, 2025
July 1, 2025
Morning Briefing
No matter which app you’re into, KFF Health News has you covered: Follow along on Instagram , TikTok , Bluesky , X , Facebook , and LinkedIn as we break down health care headlines and policy.
Megabill Amendment That Would Have Helped Rural Hospitals Fails
July 1, 2025
Morning Briefing
The measure would have created a top marginal tax rate for high-income earners and would have fully offset the cost of expanding the hospital relief fund, The Hill reports. The Senate also is voting on the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, Planned Parenthood funding, SNAP cuts, and more.
Supreme Court Orders Judges To Reexamine Gender-Affirming Care
July 1, 2025
Morning Briefing
On Monday, the Supreme Court dismissed lower court rulings that benefited transgender Americans and are now requiring those lower courts to look into those cases again. The cases under review include state-sponsored health care coverage for gender-affirming care and the changing of birth certificates.
HHS Renews Funding For States’ Cancer Prevention, Tracking Programs
July 1, 2025
Morning Briefing
As last year’s funding began running out over the weekend, many states were uncertain about the future of their cancer programs. Word that they would receive funding came Monday. Other news is about the death toll of USAID cuts; the vaccine injury program; and more.
Joint Commission Overhauls Its Accreditation Process For Hospitals
July 1, 2025
Morning Briefing
The group, which is the accrediting organization for more than 80% of U.S. hospitals and health systems, says the new rules will “dramatically” streamline and simplify the process. Also in the news: CMS proposes a Medicare pay cut for home health companies.
California Changes Environmental Law That Made It Harder To Help Homeless
July 1, 2025
Morning Briefing
Former California Gov. Ronald Reagan signed the landmark California Environmental Quality Act into law in 1970 in an effort to protect the state from pollution and sprawl. But it also made it more difficult to build housing, adding to the state’s pervasive homelessness problem.
