Public Health Archives - Page 17 of 187

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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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

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

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

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 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

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

CDC Firings Undermine Public Health Work Far Beyond Washington

The Trump administration’s sudden firings have gutted training programs across the nation that bolstered state and local public health departments.

By Rachana Pradhan

March 5, 2025

KFF Health News On Air

Journalists Discuss a Mysterious, Deadly Illness in Congo and Early Moves by Secretary RFK

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 1, 2025

A small group of students are sitting on a small boat. An adult man stands behind the group, speaking. In the background is a river with deep green water. It is a sunny day.

Human, Bird, or Dog Waste? Scientists Parsing Poop To Aid DC’s Forgotten River

A huge infrastructure project coupled with a new scientific review of microbes in the water could be bringing Washington, D.C., closer to a once-unimaginable goal — a safely swimmable Anacostia River.

By Jackie Fortiér

Feb. 27, 2025

An adult man wearing a baseball cap and a high-collar sweatshirt looks into the camera.

Los Angeles County Has Cut Homelessness, but Wildfires Threaten To Erase That Gain

As Los Angeles recovers from historic wildfires, both previously unsheltered and chronically homeless people are facing even greater instability. Some lawmakers and providers argue now is the time to put in even more resources to maintain the progress the county and state have made in fighting the crisis.

By Angela Hart

Feb. 26, 2025

A photo of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the Oval Office at the White House. A flag is behind him.

With RFK Jr. in Charge, Supplement Makers See Chance To Cash In

The FDA is already limited in policing claims of health benefits by makers of supplements and herbal remedies — a $70 billion industry. Get ready for even less regulation.

By Arthur Allen

Feb. 25, 2025

KFF Health News On Air

Journalists Discuss Health Care for Incarcerated Children and the Possibility of a Bird Flu Pandemic

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

Feb. 22, 2025

A photo of a doctor giving a little girl a bandage on her arm after getting vaccinated.

Texas Measles Outbreak Nears 100 Cases, Raising Concerns About Undetected Spread

Health officials expect a measles outbreak in West Texas to exceed 100 cases because of low vaccination rates and undetected infections. Vaccine misinformation and new laws may make such situations more common and harder to contain.

By Amy Maxmen

Feb. 21, 2025

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