KFF Tracker: America First MOU Bilateral Global Health Agreements Published: Feb 9, 2026

https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/kff-tracker-america-first-mou-bilateral-global-health-agreements/

Morning Briefing: Today's News Summaries Tuesday, Feb 10 2026 8:57 AM +++ +++ + +

Morning Briefing: Today's News Summaries Tuesday, Feb 10 2026 8:57 AM CMS Planning To Revamp ACA In 2027 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a draft payment rule Monday in which it proposed repealing a requirement that federal exchanges and state-based exchanges on the federal platform offer standardized plan options, Modern Healthcare reported. The news report also said CMS wants to allow some non-network plans to attain qualified health plan status if they can prove they have a sufficient network. CMS also wants more access to catastrophic coverage. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/cms-planning-to-revamp-aca-in-2027/ CDC To Rescind $600M In Grants To 4 Blue States; California Takes Worst Hit The other cuts are in Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota. But nearly two-thirds of the funding is unspent money allocated to state and local public health departments in California, The New York Times reported. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/cdc-to-rescind-600m-in-grants-to-4-blue-states-california-takes-worst-hit/ As Kaiser Strike Gains Steam, New York Nurses Vote Whether To End Theirs Grocery union pharmacists are showing up at pickets in support of the 34,000 nurses, health care professionals, and pharmacy and lab workers who walked off the job amid stalled contract talks between Kaiser Permanente and the United Food and Commercial Workers union. Also, the New York State Nurses Association has reached a tentative deal with New York hospitals to bring back nurses. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/as-kaiser-strike-gains-steam-new-york-nurses-vote-whether-to-end-theirs/ 60 Kids Have Died From Flu So Far This Season; Most Weren't Fully Vaccinated Meanwhile, influenza A activity is decreasing while influenza B is increasing, the CDC's FluView report shows. In other news, a study has found that long covid might be triggering Alzheimer's-like changes in the brain. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/60-kids-have-died-from-flu-so-far-this-season-most-werent-fully-vaccinated/ California Assembly OKs $90M Funding Bills For Planned Parenthood Clinics The money is not earmarked for abortion procedures but would cover reproductive health care such as cervical cancer screenings. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom must approve the package before funds can flow to clinics. More news is from Colorado, North Carolina, Missouri, Louisiana, and Michigan. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/california-assembly-oks-90m-funding-bills-for-planned-parenthood-clinics/ Since The '80s, Olympic Snow Sports Have Used Waxes With PFAS. No More. This year marks the first winter Olympics without the use of fluorinated ski waxes, which increase speed. Also: self-quarantines among some athletes at the Games; a lack of child care and support for Olympian moms; and more. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/since-the-80s-olympic-snow-sports-have-used-waxes-with-pfas-no-more/ Novo Nordisk Files Patent Suit Against Hims & Hers Over Ozempic, Wegovy https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/novo-nordisk-files-patent-suit-against-hims-hers-over-ozempic-wegovy/ The Wall Street Journal reports that what's at issue is sales of custom-made, or compounded, versions of weight loss drugs. Also: The FDA issued a warning letter to a compounding pharmacy owned by Hims & Hers over inspection issues, as well as warned Novo Nordisk that its Wegovy pill ad included “false or misleading” claims. Viewpoints: HHS’ Addiction Initiative Might Be Short-Lived; Fewer Shots For Kids Is Bad News For Working Parents https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/viewpoints-hhs-addiction-initiative-might-be-short-lived-fewer-shots-for-kids-is-bad-news-for-working-parents/

Three PBMs dominate retail prescriptions in Medicare Part D and Medicaid markets

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260210/Three-PBMs-dominate-retail-prescriptions-in-Medicare-Part-D-and-Medicaid-markets.aspx Just three pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) dominate retail prescriptions in Medicare Part D and Medicaid managed care across much of the country, with markets in in nearly every state considered highly concentrated for at least one program, according to a new study from the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics.

Editorial HPV vaccine for adolescents in China: what is the next step? The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific ++... ++

Re-imagining Global Health: perspectives from the next generation in the Pacific region S. Boladuaduaa,b ∙ F. Langridgea ∙ R. Qinc ∙ R. Ng Shiud ∙ J. McCoold ∙ J. Mania,b ∙ et al. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(25)00326-8/fulltext?dgcid=hubspot_update_feature_updatealerts_lanwpc&utm_campaign=update-lanwpc&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-92XKZnJytpQkEucX-M5_iV27OawGDw4HVxaSkcF2GPCKw_SzwBV66L4gQ3Fg5jRWwHzKK_ppBOk4Kj__kPy3Qr_MAxBA&_hsmi=402601768&utm_content=402363937&utm_source=hs_email Editorial HPV vaccine for adolescents in China: what is the next step? The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/issue/vol66nonull/PIIS2666-6065(25)X0014-6 Towards equitable cancer outcomes for rural and remote communities: reflections, lessons and recommendations Anna Ugaldea a.ugalde@deakin.edu.au ∙ Hannah Jongebloeda h.jongebloed@deakin.edu.au ∙ Charlene Wrighta charlene.wright@deakin.edu.au ∙ Helena Rodia helena.r@deakin.edu.au ∙ Anna Chapmana ∙ Skye Marshalla skye.marshall@deakin.edu.au ∙ et al. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(25)00295-0/fulltext?dgcid=hubspot_update_feature_lanwpcachievingequity25&utm_campaign=update-lanwpc&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--p86nHo3q2rtMVZoGAlLT3a0txTKVC4IC_ZA6-es6vMUKJk0PV5_cpZGQtCo3JTanAlvrr223NrOanufMfLb5CamQNng&_hsmi=402601768&utm_content=402363937&utm_source=hs_email Interaction between physical activity and deficit-based frailty on all-cause mortality in older adults: a prospective study of five population-based cohorts Zheng Zhua,b ∙ Xu Zhoua,b ∙ Mingling Chena,b ∙ Chun Doua,b ∙ Dong Liua,b ∙ Lijie Konga,b ∙ et al. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(25)00319-0/fulltext?dgcid=hubspot_update_feature_updatealerts_lanwpc&utm_campaign=update-lanwpc&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9P-Z7m1qgQEK7-DnlEqH1x3Gnna--wk5yBLkcgPb0UTq324Y_8dsRNsHzOqi7ruIEfLuZe6J0Sel8ZfVBeoUpvpVdv3g&_hsmi=402601768&utm_content=402363937&utm_source=hs_email

Viewpoint: The activist group “Beyond Plastics’ is a scam front but it guided policy at Biden’s EPA David Zaruk | February 10, 2026 +++

https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/02/10/viewpoint-the-activist-group-beyond-plastics-is-a-scam-front-but-it-guided-policy-at-bidens-epa/ Viewpoint: Environmental activists corrupted Biden’s EPA David Zaruk | February 9, 2026 https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/02/09/viewpoint-environmental-activists-corrupted-bidens-epa/ Viewpoint — Parts per billion, panic per bite: Healthy Florida First food hysteria and the war on modern agriculture Jon Entine, Kevin Folta | February 9, 2026 https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/02/09/viewpoint-parts-per-billion-panic-per-bite-healthy-florida-first-food-hysteria-and-the-war-on-modern-agriculture/

Science Literacy Project Daily Digest ++++ ++++

RFK, Jr. dilemma: American Medical Association leadership split over whether to ostracize HHS secretary or vainly try to educate him Simon Levien | Politico https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/02/10/rfk-jr-dilemma-american-medical-association-leadership-split-over-whether-to-ostracize-hhs-secretary-or-vainly-try-to-educate-him/ The MAGA right’s weird obsession with the slur word ‘retard’ Dan Barry | New York Times https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/02/10/the-maga-rights-weird-obsession-with-the-slur-word-retard/ Disinformation exploding on TikTok about agriculture and food Thomas West | Food Manufacture https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/02/10/disinformation-exploding-on-tiktok-about-agriculture-and-food/ Viewpoint: What happens if the AI bubble bursts? An anti-modernist skeptic makes his case Steve Rose | Guardian https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/02/10/viewpoint-what-happens-if-the-ai-bubble-burstsan-anti-modernist-skeptic-makes-his-case/ 83 children died in Samoa after RFK, Jr. lobbying stopped measles vaccinations, and then he lied about it to Congress, emails show Ali Swenson, Michelle Smith | Guardian https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/02/09/83-children-died-in-samoa-after-rfk-jr-lobbying-stopped-measles-vaccinations-and-then-he-lied-about-it-to-congress-email-show/ Despite $12 billion in losses defending the safety of glyphosate, Bayer reiterates support for the herbicide Jenny Schlecht | Ag Week https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/02/09/despite-12-billion-in-losses-defending-the-safety-of-glyphosate-bayer-reiterates-support-for-the-herbicide/ Repurposing the husks and other fibrous residue from seed crops could be converted into carbon-storing building supplies University of East London https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/02/09/repurposing-the-husks-and-other-fibrous-residue-from-seed-crops-could-be-converted-into-carbon-storing-building-supplies/ Non-human animals and even bacteria are prone to spread misinformation Carl Zimmer | New York Times https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/02/09/non-human-animals-and-even-bacteria-are-prone-to-spread-misinformation/

Biotech doubles financing in quest to silence genes behind neurological diseases Aerska is focused on using ‘brain shuttles’ to deliver molecules past blood-brain barrier

https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/09/aerska-therapeutics-biotech-financing/ By Allison DeAngelisFeb. 9, 2026 Biotech Startups and Venture Capital Reporter