KFF Health News

22/10/2025

Recommendations surrounding covid vaccinations and other such shots have been confusing. Ultimately, though, little has changed. Here’s what you need to know.

Here’s what you need to know ⤵️

💉This fall, the covid vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months or older, with one caveat. People need to have a conversation with their provider first, a model called “shared clinical decision-making.”

💉The CDC recommends that virtually everyone 6 months or older get a flu shot annually. This year is no different. The shots should be widely available at pharmacies and physician offices, and health plans will cover the shots without charging people for them.

💉The CDC recommends it for everyone 75 or older and for people 50 to 74 who have medical conditions that put them at risk for severe disease. People who meet the criteria should be able to get the RSV vaccine at their local pharmacy. The RSV vaccine is not an annual vaccine. If you’ve already received it, you don’t need to get it again, according to current guidelines.

Recommendations surrounding covid vaccinations and other such shots have been confusing. Ultimately, though, little has changed. Here’s what you need to know.

21/10/2025

The idea that airplane vapors are toxic to people or that there are ongoing efforts to intentionally change the climate made the social media rounds. Now, it has found advocates at the Department of Health and Human Services.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is planning to investigate climate and weather control, and is expected to create a task force that will recommend possible federal action, according to a former agency official, an internal agency memo obtained by KFF Health News and a consultant who helped with the memo.

Under President Trump, unscientific ideas have unusual power to take hold and shape public health policy.

Click the link in KFF Health News’ bio to read the full story.

21/10/2025

Americans are split over many issues — immigration, guns, President Trump. But helping people with cancer and other serious illnesses retains broad bipartisan support, polls show.

In one recent survey, 7 in 10 voters said it’s very important for the federal government to fund medical research. That included majorities of Democrats and Republicans.

Despite a poisonous political climate, hundreds of volunteer advocates put partisan differences aside and pressed Congress to help people with cancer.

20/10/2025

A federal probe of Medicare and Medicaid plans run by private insurance companies found that the plan operators often overstated how many mental health providers were available in their networks. In some cases, investigators found providers had never had contracts with plans they were listed on.

A federal probe of Medicare and Medicaid plans run by private insurance companies found that the plan operators often overstated how many mental health providers were available in their networks. In some cases, investigators found providers had never had contracts with plans they were listed on.

19/10/2025

More Americans are growing concerned about what it means to age without close family or long-time caregivers. Many older adults — widowed, divorced, childless, or living far from relatives — worry about facing serious illness or death alone. It isn't clearly know how often people die without someone by their side, and current systems of hospice, home care, and social support may not fully meet the needs of those aging solo.

Judith Graham reports, with illustration by Oona Zenda

As families fracture, people are living longer and are more likely to find themselves without close relatives or friends at the end of their lives.

18/10/2025

A federal program is promising $50B to reshape rural health care, sparking fierce state competition.

What we're still thinking about:
Will rural hospitals or new technology companies get the money?

Sarah Jane Tribble reports:

States are battling for their piece of $50 billion in federal rural health funding, but it’s not just hospitals vying for the money. Tech startups and policy demands are raising the stakes as Medicaid cuts loom.

17/10/2025

California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have expanded access to hormone therapy, a top priority for the trans community. Advocates say it would have ensured continuity in gender-affirming care amid Trump administration attacks. Analysts say it’s another sign of the Democrat’s move to the center.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have expanded access to hormone therapy, a top priority for the trans community. Advocates say it would have ensured continuity in gender-affirming care amid Trump administration attacks. Analysts say it’s another sign of the Democrat’s move ...

17/10/2025

Here’s what happened in health care this week: 
• The federal shutdown continues to be centered on the Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year. 
• A federal judge says the Trump administration can’t lay off thousands of federal workers during the government shutdown. 
• Consumer Reports tested 23 protein powders and shakes from popular brands and found most contained more lead than is safe to consume in a day. 

Want more of the top health care and health policy issues each week? KFF Health News will be back with a weekly recap of the news you need to know about.

17/10/2025

States are battling for their piece of $50 billion in federal rural health funding, but it’s not just hospitals vying for the money. Tech startups and policy demands are raising the stakes as Medicaid cuts loom.

States are battling for their piece of $50 billion in federal rural health funding, but it’s not just hospitals vying for the money. Tech startups and policy demands are raising the stakes as Medicaid cuts loom.

17/10/2025

This week in KFF Health News' 'What the Health?' podcast, Democrats and Republicans are both facing potential political consequences in their continuing standoff over federal government funding.

Republicans are likely to face a voter backlash if they refuse to agree to Democrats’ demands that they renew additional tax credits for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans, since the majority of those facing premium hikes live in GOP-dominated states. For their part, Democrats are worried that Republicans will violate the terms of any potential spending deal.

At the same time, the Trump administration is using the shutdown to try to lay off thousands of federal workers, including those performing key public health roles at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post. Listen here ➡️

This week on KFF Health News' , Democrats and Republicans are both facing potential political consequences in their continuing standoff over fe...

07/10/2025

Amid concerns that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is undermining trust in vaccines and public health science, some states are seeking new sources of scientific consensus and changing how they regulate insurance companies, prescribers, and pharmacists. Colorado has been at the front of this wave.

Amid concerns that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is undermining trust in vaccines and public health science, some states are seeking new sources of scientific consensus and changing how they regulate insurance companies, prescribers, and pharmacists. Colorado has been at....

06/10/2025

Immigrants living in the U.S. without legal status are generally ineligible for federally funded health care programs. Democrats’ funding proposal would restore access to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplace for legal immigrants who will lose access once certain provisions of the Republicans’ tax and spending law take effect.

Immigrants living in the U.S. without legal status are generally ineligible for federally funded health care programs. Democrats’ funding proposal would restore access to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplace for legal immigrants who will lose access once certain provisions of the Repub...

06/10/2025

The evidence is unequivocal: Vaccines do not cause autism. Yet adding autism to the list of conditions covered by a federal payout program, as health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seems inclined to do, could threaten its financial viability. Such a move also would suggest that the science is unsettled, that vaccines may be riskier than diseases, which is a fallacy.

The evidence is unequivocal: Vaccines do not cause autism. Yet adding autism to the list of conditions covered by a federal payout program, as health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seems inclined to do, could threaten its financial viability. Such a move also would suggest that the science is unset...

06/10/2025

Submissions are open for KFF Health News’ seventh annual Halloween haiku competition. Conjure your most chilling verses — if you dare.

Submissions are open for KFF Health News’ seventh annual Halloween haiku competition. Conjure your most chilling verses — if you dare.

05/10/2025

“My first feeling is doom”: At least 170 U.S. hospitals face a major flood risk, sometimes amounting to more than 10 feet of floodwater, according to an exclusive KFF Health News investigation.

As a warming climate intensifies storms, KFF Health News has identified more than 170 U.S. hospitals at risk of significant and potentially dangerous flooding. Climate experts warn that the Trump administration’s cuts leave the nation less prepared.

04/10/2025

More patients in emergency rooms, more expensive care: Experts say this could be the future after the federal government did not renew community health center funding.

Community health centers are key to delivering care in underserved communities around the country, but their services could be disrupted or scaled back after governments did not renew their funding.

03/10/2025

Community health centers are key to delivering care in underserved communities around the country, but their services could be disrupted or scaled back after governments did not renew their funding.

Paula Andalo reports:

Community health centers are key to delivering care in underserved communities around the country, but their services could be disrupted or scaled back after governments did not renew their funding.

03/10/2025

People who maintained the nation’s land-based nuclear missile arsenal are coming down with similar cancers. The Air Force is wrapping up a large study of the health risks they may have faced.

People who maintained the nation’s land-based nuclear missile arsenal are coming down with similar cancers. The Air Force is wrapping up a large study of the health risks they may have faced.

02/10/2025

Here’s what happened in health care this week:

- The government shutdown halted some health services.

- More than 32,000 employees at federal health agencies are suspended from work without pay during the shutdown.

- People may soon be able to buy prescription drugs from “TrumpRX.”

Want more of the top health care and health policy issues each week? KFF Health News will be back with a weekly recap of the news you need to know about. ⤵️

02/10/2025

Health care providers and debt collectors are biting from people’s paychecks to cover old medical bills. A KFF Health News investigation in Colorado shows that this aggressive collection practice is widespread even in a state considered to have strong consumer protections.

Health care providers and debt collectors are biting from people’s paychecks to cover old medical bills. A KFF Health News investigation in Colorado shows that this aggressive collection practice is widespread even in a state considered to have strong consumer protections.

01/10/2025

Congressional Democrats and Republicans are at an impasse in negotiations. Which side will blink first?

Stephanie Armour and Julie Rovner and Amanda Seitz and Arielle Zionts and Rachana Pradhan report:

Congressional Democrats and Republicans are at an impasse in negotiations. Which side will blink first?

01/10/2025

As a warming climate intensifies storms, KFF Health News has identified more than 170 U.S. hospitals at risk of significant and potentially dangerous flooding. Climate experts warn that the Trump administration’s cuts leave the nation less prepared.

Read the investigation by Holly K. Hacker and Brett Kelman and Daniel Chang, with videos by Hannah Norman and data visualizations by Lydia Zuraw here ➡️ https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/hospital-flooding-risk-investigation-trump-policies-fema/