Brain-Eating Amoeba Case Reported In Missouri; West Nile Spikes In Chicago
August 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
The rare and mostly fatal amebic infection happens when a parasite enters the body of someone swimming in warm water. Also, the stratus covid variant is surging in 12 states.
NY Man Charged In Cyberstalking Of Slain UnitedHealthcare CEO’s Relative
August 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
The man is accused of making repeated threatening calls to Brian Thompson’s family member. He is due in court today. Other news is about a Mission Health settlement, reduced workforces at Providence and CentraCare, and Oracle’s EHR platform.
In Study, People Who Used ADHD Meds Had Lower Risk Of Suicidal Behavior
August 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
The study also noted a 15% drop in substance misuse and showed benefit for patients who were taking stimulant medications rather than nonstimulants. Plus: developing new painkillers; how semaglutide affects muscle strength; and more.
Ending Resistance, Mars Reveals It Will Make Naturally Colored M&Ms, Skittles
August 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
Mars Wrigley Inc. made the announcement without fanfare on its website many weeks ago — two days after meeting with FDA Chief Marty Makary, Bloomberg reported. The company will unveil “options made without FD&C colors” next year.
Billions In Foreign Aid Can Remain Frozen Or Terminated, Court Rules
August 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
A federal appeals panel voted 2-to-1 against a group of international aid groups, ruling they did not have the legal standing to bring a lawsuit. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has ordered a six-month stockpile of advanced pharmaceutical ingredients; drug companies have formed a group to present research on the negative effects of Medicare drug price negotiations; and more.
Illinois Becomes Third State To Ban AI Use For Mental Health Care, Therapy
August 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
As of last week, Illinois joins Nevada and Utah in no longer allowing chatbots or AI to be used by therapists in any capacity other than administrative. The ban also extends to companies that offer AI-powered therapy services without licensed therapists’ involvement. More news is from Arkansas, New York, Arizona, Maryland, Minnesota, Texas, Florida, and North Carolina.
Effort To Halt Use Of mRNA Vaccines Also Puts Cancer Vaccine At Risk
August 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
Scientists are warning people that it isn’t just covid vaccines that will be affected. In other vaccine news: RFK Jr.’s criticisms of the hepatitis B vaccine; updates on Vinay Prasad; and successful results from the HPV vaccine rollout, and more.
Cuidado con los “datos alternativos”, no deben ser un motivo para dejar de vacunarse
By Elisabeth Rosenthal
August 14, 2025
KFF Health News Original
La deficiente comunicación científica del gobierno y los que diseminan información errónea en internet han abonado el terreno para que los datos alternativos crezcan como la mala hierba.
First Edition: Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025
August 14, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
‘A Fear Pandemic’: Immigration Raids Push Patients Into Telehealth
By Christine Mai-Duc
August 14, 2025
KFF Health News Original
With intensified immigration enforcement in California, community clinics serving Latino and immigrant populations say they’ve noticed an increase in appointment cancellations and telehealth usage. But, as the covid-19 pandemic showed, accessing the necessary technology can be a challenge and virtual appointments can take a person’s health care only so far.
‘Alternative Facts’ Aren’t a Reason To Skip Vaccines
By Elisabeth Rosenthal
August 14, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to defund mRNA research is just the latest to put ideology above public health.
Pandemia de miedo: redadas de inmigración empujan a pacientes a la telemedicina
By Christine Mai-Duc
August 14, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Los pacientes que necesitan atención médica tienen cada vez más miedo de buscarla después que Trump derogara una política de la era Biden que prohibía redadas en zonas “sensibles” como escuelas, iglesias y hospitales.
Missouri Set To Close 12 Schools For Children With Severe Disabilities
August 13, 2025
Morning Briefing
The State Board of Education on Tuesday approved a plan to close the schools, citing issues of declining enrollment, staffing struggles, and deferred maintenance. Other states making news: New York, Wyoming, Florida, California, and Texas.
After Using AI To Help Spot Cancer, Doctors’ Own Skills Faded, Study Finds
August 13, 2025
Morning Briefing
Researchers found AI tools helped professionals to spot precancerous colon growths more easily, but when the AI tool was removed, their abilities to find tumors fell about 20% compared with rates before they used AI. Meanwhile, a report says AI adoption is racing far ahead of health system governance.
Poll Finds Americans Aren’t Drinking: Alcohol Consumption Hits 90-Year Low
August 13, 2025
Morning Briefing
Gallup’s annual Consumption Habits survey found only 54% of U.S. adults drank alcohol in 2025. Separately, research shows that autism is being diagnosed earlier in young children, but girls still wait longer than boys. Also in the news: dementia, cancer, and warnings about the herbal tonic “Feel Free.”
Combination Therapy For Weight Loss, Alzheimer’s Could Be Next Big Thing
August 13, 2025
Morning Briefing
Multiple pharmaceutical firms are researching whether their blockbuster weight loss drugs can also help treat early Alzheimer’s. Plus: The FDA has approved the first treatment for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in people 12 and older.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, August 13, 2025
August 13, 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.
ACA Market May Be In For Turbulent Ride, CMS Data Suggest
August 13, 2025
Morning Briefing
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services noted it found inconsistencies in the number of claims on exchanges. “As you pull … subsidized dollars out of the system, it means margins will be lower and people are going to be paying higher premiums,” one health care strategist says.
