Construction Companies Sued In Deadly NY Legionnaires’ Outbreak
August 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
The lawsuits, filed Wednesday, claim the companies neglected safety measures, causing a “completely preventable” outbreak that has killed at least five and sickened many more. Other states making news: Missouri, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Kentucky, and California.
63% Of US Drug Plants Are In Counties With Prior Climate-Related Disasters
August 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
Researchers point to supply chain risks, given that so many American drug manufacturing plants fall in the path of hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters. Also in pharma and tech news: radiopharmaceuticals, airborne germ sensors, UTI treatments, and more.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, August 21, 2025
August 21, 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.
UnitedHealth Adds ‘Public Responsibility Committee’ To Its Board
August 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
The goal, Bloomberg reports, is to bolster governance and oversight as UnitedHealth aims to improve its standing with shareholders, regulators, and the public. Other health industry news is on Elevance Health, Aetna, Epic, hospital inpatient costs, and more.
Hundreds Laid Off At CDC; 750 HHS Workers Vent Anger In Letter To RFK Jr.
August 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
Between 500 and 600 employees were terminated as of Monday, The Washington Post reported today. A federal health official confirmed the layoffs but not the number. Meanwhile, HHS employees have accused HHS Chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of “dangerous and deceitful statements and actions.”
Feds Subpoena Hospitals For Wide Range Of Sensitive Trans Care Info
August 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
The Justice Department demanded access to sensitive information related to medical care for transgender patients under age 19, including billing documents, communications with drug manufacturers, and personal data such as birth dates, Social Security numbers and addresses.
Some Breast Cancer Tumors Steal From Fat Cells To Power Growth, Study Finds
August 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco found that the energy heist is a critical step in fueling a triple-negative breast cancer’s development. They hope their discovery leads to a cure for the often-deadly cancer and others. Other studies look at colon, lung, and pancreatic cancers.
To Prevent Illness In Infants, Parents Urged To Mix Formula More Carefully
August 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
Parents should boil water, add formula, and then wait. Researchers found that not following these steps — which isn’t spelled out in packaging instructions — could lead to serious illness in infants. More public health news is on Omega-3 in adults and children, a covid surge, and more.
First Edition: Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025
August 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Try This When Your Doctor Says ‘Yes’ to a Preventive Test but Insurance Says ‘No’
By Jackie Fortiér
Illustrations by Oona Zenda
August 21, 2025
KFF Health News Original
A joint project of NPR and KFF Health News, Health Care Helpline helps you navigate the health system hurdles between you and good care. Send us your tricky questions, and we may tap a policy sleuth to puzzle them out. Here is what to do if your preventive care gets denied.
How Older People Are Reaping Brain Benefits From New Tech
By Paula Span
August 21, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Overuse of digital gadgets harms teenagers, research suggests. But ubiquitous technology may be helping older Americans stay sharp.
Headaches Over the Health System?
August 20, 2025
Page
Pre-authorization delay? No in-network specialists? Dispute over costs? Confusion after a hospital discharge? Long wait times in the ER? Share your story. Health Care Helpline helps you navigate the hurdles between you and good care. Send us your tricky question and we may tap a policy sleuth to puzzle it out. This crowdsourced project is […]
Kentucky Bans ‘Designer Xanax’ In Response To Increasing Overdoses
August 20, 2025
Morning Briefing
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, announced Monday that bromazolam, aka “Designer Xanax,” has been reclassified as a Schedule 1 drug. Other states making news: Connecticut, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Florida, California, and Texas.
HHS Authorizes FDA To Use Animal Drugs To Fight Screwworms
August 20, 2025
Morning Briefing
Although there are no specific FDA-approved drugs in the U.S. to treat the parasite, the emergency authorization paves the way for the use of animal drug products approved for other purposes or available in other countries. Plus: Legionnaires’ disease, plague, measles, and more.
RFK Jr. Scoffs At Pediatrics Group For Still Encouraging Covid Vaccines
August 20, 2025
Morning Briefing
After the American Academy of Pediatrics broke with HHS guidance, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accused the group of being in the pocket of pharmaceutical companies. AAP says its guidance is based on science. Vaccine researchers weighed in, saying: “There is no scientific evidence to support the changes that HHS made to covid vaccine recommendations.”
Rising Health Care Costs For Employers Means Less Coverage For Employees
August 20, 2025
Morning Briefing
A report by the Business Group on Health showing health care costs projected to rise 9% in 2026 has caused companies to reevaluate benefits and contracts for the coming year. A survey shows 66% of employers are worried Medicaid and Medicare cuts will mean hospital cost increases for the commercially insured.
CMS Plans To Remove Noncitizens From Medicaid And CHIP
August 20, 2025
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, Iowa Medicaid work requirements are set to go into effect in January. Also: the impact of Medicaid cuts on Black children; provider reimbursement rate cuts in North Carolina; and more.
