Public Health Archives - Page 14 of 184

The Ax Falls at HHS

Episode 390

March 27, 2025

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced a proposed reorganization for the department — which, counting those who already have left the agency, amounts to about a 25% cut in its workforce. And its planned “Administration for a Healthy America” will collapse several existing HHS agencies into one. Meanwhile, the department continues to cut billions in health spending while the nation faces measles outbreaks in several states and the continuing possibility of another pandemic, such as bird flu. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Maya Goldman of Axios, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss the news.

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A photo of a dentist working with his patient, who is lying back in a dental chair, using a mirror to look at his teeth.

With Few Dentists and Fluoride Under Siege, Rural America Risks New Surge of Tooth Decay

The anti-fluoride movement has more momentum than ever. In rural counties with few dentists, tooth decay could surge to levels that have not been seen in decades, experts warn.

By Brett Kelman

March 27, 2025

a row of tents along a street in Los Angeles

Trump Turns Homelessness Response Away From Housing, Toward Forced Treatment

The Trump administration is moving to end the “Housing First” approach despite warnings from providers and homelessness experts that the shift won’t work. But with homelessness rising, President Donald Trump could find allies in blue cities and states as the public clamors for streets to be cleaned up.

By Angela Hart

March 27, 2025

Dried psilocybin-containing mushrooms in a clear dish.

The Colorado Psychedelic Mushroom Experiment Has Arrived

With the first licenses for providing psychedelic mushrooms issued, excitement and questions build about the fungi’s potential, affordability, and safety in the Centennial State.

By Kate Ruder

March 24, 2025

A photo of protesters holding signs outside that read, "Stop the billionaire takeover," "Stop Elon now. Nobody elected Elon," "Workers over billionaires," and "We are one. Respect our rights."

Current, Former CDC Staff Warn Against Slashing Support to Local Public Health Departments

Public health and science researchers are concerned about the Trump administration’s cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reductions in staff and budgets could undermine the nation’s ability to respond to threats, they say.

By Jess Mador, WABE

March 24, 2025

KFF Health News On Air

Journalists Demystify Bird Flu, Medicaid Work Requirements, and Reproductive Health Research

KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

March 22, 2025

A photo of a woman walking with two kids on the sidewalk by a health clinic in California.

Workers Prep To Meet ICE Officials at the Health Clinic Door

Recent arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in northern Virginia have put immigrant communities in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area on alert. Health clinics that serve those communities say they are working to continue to care for patients amid detention and arrest fears.

By Jackie Fortiér

March 21, 2025

What the Health? From KFF Health News

Federal Health Work in Flux

Episode 389

March 20, 2025

It’s the Trump administration vs. the federal courts, as the Department of Government Efficiency continues to try to cancel federal contracts and programs and fire workers. But in the haste to cut things, jobs and programs are being eliminated even if they align with the new administration’s goal to “Make America Healthy Again.” Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.

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Scientist Whose Work Led FDA To Ban Food Dye Says Agency Overstated Risk

Almost 40 years ago, Joseph Borzelleca published a study on red dye No. 3, a petroleum-based food coloring. The FDA cited his work to ban the additive in January. But Borzelleca says it’s safe.

By Phil Galewitz

March 17, 2025

Clear capsules containing a green powder sit on a shimmery surface.

Without Federal Action, States Wrestle With Kratom Regulation

A bill proposed by kratom industry advocates is prompting consideration — and some concern — in the Montana Legislature.

By Mara Silvers, Montana Free Press

March 17, 2025

A close-up photo of a syringe inserted into a vial.

Scientists Say NIH Officials Told Them To Scrub mRNA References on Grants

Two senior scientists say National Institutes of Health officials advised them to remove references to mRNA vaccines in grant applications, and they fear the Trump administration will abandon a promising field of medical research.

By Arthur Allen

March 16, 2025

KFF Health News On Air

Journalists Share How Additives Enter Food Supply and Measles Harms Kids’ Immune Systems

KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

March 15, 2025

Barbershop Killing Escalates Trauma for Boston Neighborhood Riven by Gun Violence

American communities plagued by gun violence, including Four Corners in Boston, honor pockets of safety as sacred spaces. A brazen barbershop killing was a new and traumatic violation.

By Chaseedaw Giles

March 14, 2025

A woman sits on a leather couch and holds her chin in her hand thoughtfully while looking towards the camera.

Hospital Gun-Violence Prevention Programs May Be Caught in US Funding Crossfire

Hospital-based violence intervention programs have operated in the U.S. since the mid-1990s. The public health approach to gun violence works, by many accounts. But recent moves by the White House are raising anxiety about the programs’ future.

By Stephanie Wolf

March 13, 2025

Chickens stand around a metal bowl in a residential backyard.

Your Neighbor Has Backyard Chickens. Should You Be Worried?

The latest outbreak of bird flu has upended egg, poultry, and dairy operations, sickened dozens of farmworkers, and killed at least one person in the U.S. KFF Health News national public health correspondent Amy Maxmen explains why scientists are worried.

By Amy Maxmen

March 10, 2025

A photo of several vials of Pfizer's covid-19 vaccine arranged on a table.

MRNA Vaccines, Once a Trump Boast, Now Face Attacks From Some in GOP

Republicans have proposed legislation in several states to ban the pioneering technology used in covid shots. Many doctors worry a huge medical advance could be rolled back.

By Stephanie Armour

March 10, 2025

Rear view of woman shopping for bread in supermarket. She is standing in front of a large selection of bread.

How the FDA Opens the Door to Risky Chemicals in America’s Food Supply

The FDA has relied on food companies for decades to determine whether their ingredients are safe. Some chemicals and additives are tied to health risks while others are absent from product labels.

By David Hilzenrath

March 10, 2025

A photo of Marty Makary seated at a desk in a Senate hearing room with a microphone in front of him. His hands are folded in front of him.

Marty Makary, Often Wrong as Pandemic Critic, Is Poised To Lead the FDA He Railed Against

Should Marty Makary take the reins at the FDA, transitioning from gadfly to the head of an agency that regulates a fifth of the U.S. economy, he would have to engage in the thorny challenges of governing.

By Arthur Allen

March 7, 2025

What the Health? From KFF Health News

The State of Federal Health Agencies Is Uncertain

Episode 387

March 6, 2025

The Supreme Court opined for the first time that Trump administration officials may be exceeding their authority to reshape the federal government by refusing to honor completed contracts, even as lower-court judges started blocking efforts to fire workers, freeze funding, and cancel ongoing contracts. Meanwhile, public health officials are alarmed at the Department of Health and Human Services’ public handling of Texas’ widening measles outbreak, particularly the secretary’s less-than-full endorsement of vaccines. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Stephanie Armour of KFF Health News join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.

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A photo of a large junk pile containing bags of clothing and trash. Home decor, shoes, and vintage electronics are also piled in.

For Seniors With Hoarding Disorder, a Support Group Helps Confront Stigma and Isolation

Hoarding disorder disproportionately affects older people. As baby boomers age, it is a growing public health concern. Effective treatments are scarce, and treating hoarding can require expensive interventions that drain municipal resources. Some experts fear a coming crisis.

By Sarah Boden

March 6, 2025

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