Consolidation and Integration in Health Care: What It Means for Patients, Payers, and Policy 18 feb 2026 02:00 p. m.

https://kff-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/3616575552030/WN__A8Y5s4KR1e0ERrVZa_kbQ?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9nhJQkf1TbnFuH86G_7sRxmb_JD7jCeZTT0S5aqiCZ968XjMJk_iPLaS0Q-Nps8P3z28SuZ82Pl9u6ASpI_Yoc6ApUvQ&_hsmi=403045506&utm_content=403045506&utm_source=hs_email#/registration News reports across the country trumpet major mergers and consolidation involving health insurers, physician practices, pharmacy benefits managers, hospitals and health systems, and other providers, including many that integrate different services under a single umbrella. The current wave of consolidation and integration has federal and state policy makers examining how it affects competition, prices, and overall costs. At 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Feb. 18, three experts will join moderator Larry Levitt for an hour-long “Health Wonk Shop” discussion about health care consolidation and integration. During the event, panelists will discuss the motivations behind horizontal and vertical consolidation in health care, its potential to lower or raise costs, the implications for patients and payers, and how policy makers could respond.

Stat: FDA Refuses To Review Moderna's Flu Vaccine Application +++++

VACCINES Stat: FDA Refuses To Review Moderna's Flu Vaccine Application https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/10/fda-refuses-review-moderna-flu-vaccine-application/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-99YpXOqVdZyyhjZmYuKcPkxuI7PAoB9-6rE-8Yvw5C7FjJsz_aQcnmkbaZTXDKP-7iakJ07VSUqHYLr0yNPJFZ5UjziA&_hsmi=403116215&utm_content=403116215&utm_source=hs_email The Food and Drug Administration refused to review Moderna’s application for a new influenza vaccine, the company said Tuesday, a surprise decision that could raise concerns about the agency’s posture toward drug companies and the Trump administration’s policies on vaccines. (Herper and Branswell, 2/10) The Hill: AMA Launching Its Own Vaccine Safety, Effectiveness Review System https://thehill.com/homenews/5731984-ama-rebukes-federal-vaccine/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8tFLkmq5fFEChKqbPYgVKN7XMZkm_-P24uU30qmmftjeIvJS9tBb47rOjgB8taGIp0oR5C84DfIh3aBKZfmzXWjEYhvw&_hsmi=403116215&utm_content=403116215&utm_source=hs_email The American Medical Association (AMA) on Tuesday announced the launch of its own “evidence-based review process” of vaccine safety and efficacy for the next respiratory viral season, an apparent tacit rebuke of the federal government’s current regulations. The AMA’s evaluation process will be conducted in collaboration with the Vaccine Integrity Project at the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota. The review will focus on immunizations for flu, COVID-19 and RSV. (Choi, 2/10) CIDRAP: Polls: 90% Of Americans Want Vaccine Access, For US To Be Global Science, Tech Leader https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-vaccines/polls-90-americans-want-vaccine-access-us-be-global-science-tech-leader?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_lkG6_RYK3gikqtV8dTjYFOpBnNiTv8WRrZeGHgWZHTn4TXwUzHV5Cy-bnntD-_rYN0aehnHicqb8PvQOlrdNss29JVA&_hsmi=403116215&utm_content=403116215&utm_source=hs_email Polls from the Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease and Research!America find strong support for vaccines and scientific and technologic advancement, regardless of political stripe, with 90% and 91% of Americans saying policymakers must ensure access to vaccines and cement the country’s global leadership in medical progress, respectively. (Van Beusekom, 2/10) CIDRAP: Aluminum In Our Diets Far Exceeds That From Vaccines, Researchers Note https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/public-health/aluminum-our-diets-far-exceeds-vaccines-researchers-note?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_bHx03-rhmkqBQ2NRghe4X7pJMIUy-PYnxS8Dsj_XqL4hEiwG9bSI7YVdzoVvpcBVGHjZ5WlViil-N7KvovKdLI9dT9A&_hsmi=403116215&utm_content=403116215&utm_source=hs_email Throughout life, aluminum exposure from food far exceeds aluminum exposure from routine childhood vaccines, according to a review published yesterday in JAMA. Concerns about aluminum adjuvants in vaccines have endured for decades, despite many years of research spanning multiple countries that has not identified related health concerns. (Bergeson, 2/10) CIDRAP: Amicus Brief Filed Against RFK Jr Attacks ‘Shared Clinical Decision-Making’ https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-vaccines/amicus-brief-filed-against-rfk-jr-attacks-shared-clinical-decision-making?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_YNFZ4EBXrnh_N0Wge1OlVg3Od1Ltuu-8RroiqxSUGtFK2AvjnTlVYHLbnQqMMDSenPwH8Edrse7_xZnmFntDMaR0o6A&_hsmi=403116215&utm_content=403116215&utm_source=hs_email A group of public health organizations, lawyers, and scholars, has filed an amicus brief in the US District Court of Massachusetts supporting plaintiffs American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and others against defendant Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and warning that recent federal actions weakening routine childhood vaccination recommendations pose an urgent threat both for children and the public’s health. The AAP alleges in a lawsuit filed last year that recent changes to the routine childhood vaccine recommendation schedule in the United States violates the Administrative Procedure Act. (Soucheray, 2/10)

Listen to the Latest ‘KFF Health News Minute’ February 10, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/listen-to-the-latest-kff-health-news-minute-2026/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_PXyedkrPJWZmdZBlsi3L8QjK3BPzO1v1lsHYGOyXi-XFra6vMzCrrmiJLqfZ3eDS8nBLusR-z1gHXm9J6OvOP8sc9cw&_hsmi=403116215&utm_content=403116215&utm_source=hs_email KFF Health News: Listen To The Latest 'KFF Health News Minute' Katheryn Houghton reads the week’s news: American farmers are being hit hard by the end of extra Obamacare subsidies, and hospitals are starting their own Medicare Advantage plans. (2/10)

New Medicaid Work Rules Likely To Hit Middle-Aged Adults Hard By Samantha Liss and Sam Whitehead February 11, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/medicaid-work-requirements-middle-aged-adults-women/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--dfQ9zLAkK15RvKXE8izlit7epqcWwVGDLYcCQZkDSLLYt-_DmpEGElbVgDz3JxIY0xpvb7EGgeekkfyEJ7dmDdHE0uw&_hsmi=403116215&utm_content=403116215&utm_source=hs_email KFF Health News: New Medicaid Work Rules Likely To Hit Middle-Aged Adults Hard Lori Kelley’s deteriorating vision has made it hard for her to find steady work. The 59-year-old, who lives in Harrisburg, North Carolina, closed her nonprofit circus arts school last year because she could no longer see well enough to complete paperwork. She then worked making dough at a pizza shop for a bit. Currently, she sorts recyclable materials, including cans and bottles, at a local concert venue. It is her main source of income ― but the work isn’t year-round. (Liss and Whitehead, 2/11)

End of Enhanced Obamacare Subsidies Puts Tribal Health Lifeline at Risk By Katheryn Houghton and Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez February 11, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/tribal-health-enhanced-obamacare-subsidies-funding-shortages/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--nmUqrqanYkgXlXQrdrnkqEXLFhl0QX3ijbP6s6LDVVPvMhVMZNy1X_LxF_lWJq6S9ZiHc8VnzUxGI8HsoM9fI6S706g&_hsmi=403116215&utm_content=403116215&utm_source=hs_email KFF Health News: End Of Enhanced Obamacare Subsidies Puts Tribal Health Lifeline At Risk Leonard Bighorn said his mother tried for two years to get help for severe stomach pain through the limited health services available near her home on the Fort Peck Reservation in northeastern Montana. After his mom finally saw a specialist in Glasgow, about an hour away, she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, Bighorn said. Now, 16 years after his mother’s death, Bighorn has access to regular screenings for cancer and other specialty care that she didn’t have, through a health insurance program the Fort Peck Tribes created in 2016. (Houghton and Orozco Rodriguez, 2/11)

Medical Device User Fee Amendments 2028 (MDUFA VI) - Meeting Minutes: FDA-Industry MDUFA VI Reauthorization Meeting, January 21, 2026

https://www.fda.gov/industry/medical-device-user-fee-amendments-mdufa-fees/medical-device-user-fee-amendments-2028-mdufa-vi?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

FDA Expert Panel on Food Allergies February 25, 2026

https://www.fda.gov/patients/fda-expert-panels/fda-expert-panel-food-allergies-02252026?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery The FDA Expert Panels are roundtable discussions with independent panels of scientific experts that will review the latest scientific evidence, evaluate potential health risks, explore safer alternatives, and may offer recommendations for regulatory action. This initiative is part of the FDA’s broader efforts to apply rigorous, evidence-based standards to modernize regulatory oversight, while considering evolving science and consumer health. The FDA Expert Panel on Food Allergies will facilitate discussions on the etiology and best treatments for food allergies as well as current health guidelines. The expert panel discussion will take place at the FDA’s White Oak Campus, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, in the Great Room. The public and members of the media may attend the event. The session will be livestreamed over the FDA’s YouTube channel. Space is limited. Registration is only required for in-person attendance. Please use the link below to register and plan to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start time to be checked in. https://www.youtube.com/live/fkZXiTjZ6nc

What is the iPLEDGE® REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy)?

https://ipledgeprogram.com/#Main FDA Approves iPLEDGE REMS Modification FDA approved modifications to the iPLEDGE Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) to minimize burden on patients, prescribers, and pharmacies while maintaining the safe use of isotretinoin. The modifications approved include changes outlined in the November 2023 FDA notification to isotretinoin manufacturers. These modifications to the REMS will go into effect 180 days after the February 9, 2026 approval. Until that time, FDA continues to exercise enforcement discretion regarding pregnancy testing requirements as described in the Agency’s October 2023 update. Prescribers must continue to complete the pre-treatment pregnancy tests in a medical setting prior to starting isotretinoin treatment. Important changes for patients: If permitted by a prescriber, patients may complete pregnancy tests outside of a medical setting (e.g. at-home pregnancy tests) during and after treatment. However, patients will need to continue to complete their pre-treatment pregnancy tests in a medical setting. If a person who can get pregnant does not pick up their prescription within the 7-day window, a repeat pregnancy test may be done immediately without an additional waiting period. Important changes for health care professionals who prescribe: Prescribers may opt to allow patients to complete pregnancy tests outside of a medical setting (e.g. at-home pregnancy tests) during and after treatment. However, patients must continue to complete their pre-treatment pregnancy tests in a medical setting. Prescribers will need to establish processes and procedures to minimize misinterpretation and falsification of pregnancy tests completed by patients outside of a medical setting. If a person who can get pregnant does not pick up their prescription within the 7-day window, a repeat pregnancy test may be done immediately without an additional waiting period. If the patient has not received their first dose of isotretinoin, the repeat pregnancy test must be done in a medical setting. Patients who cannot get pregnant must be counseled at enrollment. Prescribers should reinforce counseling throughout the course of treatment; however, monthly documentation of counseling in the REMS for patients who cannot get pregnant is no longer required. Important changes for pharmacies: There is no longer a 30-day prescription window for patients who cannot get pregnant. Pharmacies may need to adapt their workflow practices to ensure that if a patient does not pick up the prescription, the authorization is reversed in the REMS and the prescription is returned to stock. Clarifying language was added to the REMS to communicate that pharmacy staff training is required annually and records of the training completion should be maintained by the certified pharmacy’s authorized representative. For complete information on the new iPLEDGE REMS requirements, please visit the iPLEDGE REMS website or contact the iPLEDGE REMS Contact Center at 866-495-0654. iPLEDGE Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/ipledge-risk-evaluation-and-mitigation-strategy-rems?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Examining the Potential Impact of Medicare’s New WISeR Model WISeR Expands the Use of Prior Authorization in Traditional Medicare at a Time of Increasing Scrutiny Authors: Alex Cottrill, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman, and Misha Segal Published: Feb 10, 2026

https://www.kff.org/medicare/examining-the-potential-impact-of-medicares-new-wiser-model/?utm_campaign=KFF-Medicare&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8wu5YS0QXFKI87WJrZi9O20OhMBvRL3nJHQjQef9h_DyZX89JNs1EY_O7DhpVTvP9PFtfTgufAOURD4RUFjfBP_6tfaQ&_hsmi=402967619&utm_content=402967619&utm_source=hs_email KFF Examines a Trump Administration Initiative to Expand the Use of Prior Authorization in Medicare A KFF analysis examines an initiative from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to establish new prior authorization requirements in traditional Medicare, called the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) model. Prior authorization, which is rare in traditional Medicare but widely used by insurers that offer Medicare Advantage plans and private commercial plans, aims to reduce wasteful or inappropriate utilization of health care services and the associated health care spending. But it also can lead to delays and denials of needed care, uncertainty for patients, and administrative costs and hassles for health care providers. CMMI’s WISeR model, launched on January 1, tests the use of technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to review the appropriateness of select Medicare-covered services in six states over a six-year trial period. The new KFF analysis explores the model’s potential impact by examining recent spending and utilization trends in traditional Medicare for services selected for prior authorization review. Findings suggest the impact of the model is likely to be modest in its first year. That is because the services targeted account for a small share of total Part B spending in traditional Medicare, and because the vast majority of service spending and growth the model aims to address is accounted for by a single service category (skin substitutes), which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has simultaneously targeted with recent changes to payment policy.

Screening for Substance Use in Child Welfare Using the UNCOPE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B4Z65TQZp4

An Integrative Review Examining Barriers to Universal Screening for Substance Use in Pregnant Women Theresa Lemus, Lisa Thomas

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40581337/

Join us for NCSACW’s upcoming webinar - Examining Barriers and Solutions for Universal Screening in Prenatal Care Settings Wednesday, February 18, 2–3 p.m. (ET), 11 a.m.–12 p.m. (PT)

https://cffutures.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7e8i7UHRRrGKcbQPLgPwPQ?utm_source=SAMHSA&utm_campaign=7db26e72e3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_02_10_03_36&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ee1c4b138c-7db26e72e3-[LIST_EMAIL_ID]#/registration Universal screening remains a crucial first step in the process of identifying and supporting pregnant women who have substance use concerns. However, implementation remains inconsistent due to systemic and practical challenges. Dr. Theresa Lemus, a nationally recognized expert in integrated health care, will share research-based insights during the webinar. Topics include: Goals of screening and brief intervention Common implementation challenges Strategies to improve outcomes through cross-system collaboration Dr. Lemus recently published an integrative review on barriers to universal screening in prenatal care. She will offer practical tools and approaches designed to help health care providers and cross-agency partners strengthen maternal and child health outcomes. The webinar also will cover strategies to enhance screening and to strengthen coordinated care for pregnant women and their families. Join us as we engage national experts to learn more about: The rationale for and benefits of universal screening for substance use in prenatal care Common barriers to effective screening The use of validated tools and resources to implement the UNCOPE screening instrument Free NCSACW training resources that seek to: 1) improve screening protocols, and 2) understand the role health care providers play in Plans of Safe Care (POSC) for infants and families affected by substance use Meet our presenter: Theresa Lemus, DNP, MBA, RN, LADC-S is a seasoned health care and counseling professional with over 30 years of experience spanning physical and behavioral health. Her career reflects a deep commitment to integrated care and whole-person wellness. She has served as a clinician, educator, and leader—contributing to policy, clinical practice, and population health initiatives. She is a registered nurse, licensed alcohol and drug counselor, and clinical supervisor.

Canada Shows Progress in Controlling Cancer, but Challenges Remain Evra Taylor Medscape Canada February 10, 2026

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/canada-shows-progress-controlling-cancer-challenges-remain-2026a10004a0

Medscape Poll Finds Wide Opposition to Federal Vax Recs Cassie Shortsleeve February 10, 2026

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/medscape-poll-finds-wide-opposition-federal-vax-recs-2026a100047x

The Rise of the Micro-Practice Lambeth Hochwald February 11, 2026

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/rise-micro-practice-2026a10004av

Med Op-Ed: OTC Drug Flagged, Sherlockian Diagnosis, and More Edited by Jake Remaly February 11, 2026

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/med-op-ed-otc-drug-flagged-sherlockian-diagnosis-and-more-2026a10004cn

From Employee to Employer: The Story of Dr Bose Julia Buchfuhrer, DO February 09, 2026

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/employee-employer-story-dr-bose-2026a10003kl?ecd=wnl_edit_tpal_etid8095525&uac=148436CN&impID=8095525

Covered but Not Cared For: The New Face of Preexisting Condition Discrimination Madelaine (Mattie) A. Feldman, MD February 09, 2026

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/covered-not-cared-new-face-preexisting-condition-2026a10002wk?ecd=wnl_edit_tpal_etid8095525&uac=148436CN&impID=8095525

Dietary Intake of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Serum Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Events in the General Population

Dietary Intake of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Serum Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Events in the General Population: The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the findings from interventional studies addressing the association between PUFA intake and lipid and lipoprotein outcomes, and interventional and observational studies addressing the association between PUFA intake and CV event outcomes. Dietary Intake of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Serum Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Events in the General Population (Available for comment through March 6, 2026) The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the findings from interventional studies addressing the association between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intake and lipid and lipoprotein outcomes, and interventional and observational studies addressing the association between PUFA intake and cardiovascular event outcomes.

ACI’s 22nd Annual Paragraph IV Disputes: Elevate Your 2026 Hatch-Waxman Strategy February 11, 2026

https://www.thefdalawblog.com/2026/02/acis-22nd-annual-paragraph-iv-disputes-elevate-your-2026-hatch-waxman-strategy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=acis-22nd-annual-paragraph-iv-disputes-elevate-your-2026-hatch-waxman-strategy The American Conference Institute’s (ACI’s) Annual Paragraph IV Disputes Conference is scheduled to take place from April 21-22, 2026 at The Times Center, New York, NY. Join the nation’s most respected forum for pharmaceutical patent litigation as it returns for its 22nd edition. This is the must-attend event where brand-name and generic drug stakeholders converge to shape litigation strategies, navigate regulatory shifts, and connect with the judiciary.

Editorial e69 Strengthening cardiovascular disease prevention in Europe The Lancet Public Health ++... ++ +

Commercialisation and care sufficiency: the privatisation of children's homes in England Benjamin Goodair, DPhila b.goodair@lse.ac.uk ∙ François Schoenberger, PhDb,c ∙ Anders Bach-Mortensen, DPhil https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(25)00279-8/fulltext?dgcid=hubspot_update_feature_updatealerts_lanpub&utm_campaign=update-lanpub&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_YG8ZT1eATJ00vI0qJIy7vbdSdBXpyiLzVPFkkTu8Uci_LF06rIyOZBKm0IFIJMV-rzZSLVWePomjDWGJvDlapqPuPBw&_hsmi=402955683&utm_content=402666425&utm_source=hs_email Editorial e69 Strengthening cardiovascular disease prevention in Europe The Lancet Public Health https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/issue/vol11no2/PIIS2468-2667(26)X2001-1 Uptake and performance of self-collection offered through primary care to all eligible participants in a national cervical screening programme in Australia: a retrospective cohort study Farhana Sultana, PhDa ∙ Megan Smith, PhDb ∙ Prof Marion Saville, MBChBc,d ∙ Prof Deborah Bateson, MB BSf ∙ Prof David Roder, DDScg ∙ Vivienne Milch, MHPolh,i ∙ et al. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(25)00304-4/fulltext?dgcid=hubspot_update_feature_updatealerts_lanpub&utm_campaign=update-lanpub&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9mVLdOpUrtgrzT65IUdydEK2dotTCDkVO0htibpyTnIqWY--2xAZ4XGaciXYCXnzpANgpL8oFCgFJLc2bcQUulwcKxFw&_hsmi=402955683&utm_content=402666425&utm_source=hs_email The potential effect of a geographically focused intervention against tuberculosis in the USA: a simulation modelling study Mathilda Regan, PhDa mathildaregan@hsph.harvard.edu ∙ Hening Cui, MSa ∙ Nicole A Swartwood, MSPHa ∙ Yunfei Li, ScDa ∙ Suzanne M Marks, MPHb ∙ Terrika Barham, PhDc ∙ Awal Khan, PhDb ∙ Carla A Winston, PhDb ∙ Prof Ted Cohen, DPHd ∙ Prof C Robert Horsburgh, Jr, MDe ∙ Prof Joshua A Salomon, PhDf ∙ Nicolas A Menzies, PhDa https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(25)00306-8/fulltext?dgcid=hubspot_update_feature_updatealerts_lanpub&utm_campaign=update-lanpub&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8vho989B16Y0AkchQBtq93dgvsTVD8v39AcK1BZh2h8IrbADYIksli-g_PjNazYTsFooOG4D_XYD3p-zKhbWmJNCQt1Q&_hsmi=402955683&utm_content=402666425&utm_source=hs_email The Lancet Summit: shaping the future of diabetes prevention Nov 30–Dec 2, 2026 | Sitges, Spain Abstracts invited for short talks and posters Submit by Jun 12, 2026

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

OHSU board votes to negotiate with NIH and possibly transform its primate center into an animal sanctuary Center had become a flashpoint over use of nonhuman primates in federally funded research

https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2026/02/09/monkeys-animals-ohsu-primates-nih-sanctuary/ By Ed SilvermanFeb. 9, 2026 Pharmalot Columnist, Senior Writer

Insurance companies should pay patients when they make cost-effective health care choices People should capture some of the savings they generate By Jared RhoadsFeb. 10, 2026 Rhoads is executive director of the Center for Modern Health.

https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/10/health-care-costs-insurance-incentives-patients/

Did the AMA change its position on surgery for transgender minors? Group’s statement, and responses to it, reflect high-stakes politics around the issue By Theresa GaffneyFeb. 10, 2026 Morning Rounds Writer and Reporter

https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/10/medical-societies-trans-care-minors-ama-asps/

Abridge CTO talks Epic, Microsoft, and rebranding as ‘more than an AI scribe’ Zachary Lipton gives updates on real-time prior authorization, clinical decision support features

https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/10/abridge-ai-scribe-cto-talks-epic-microsoft-rebranding/ By Brittany TrangFeb. 10, 2026 Health Tech Reporter

Lawsuit against Hims & Hers should be ‘wake-up call’ for compounders, Novo chief counsel says In interview, attorney for Danish drugmaker says compounding of Wegovy pill is a ‘tipping point’

https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2026/02/09/hims-novo-lawsuit-chief-counsel-interview/?utm_campaign=daily_recap&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8LcqTWjx0PZDygO0fqkychsEjjRdcNjv5H8zQb6k2yw5rNRoiUd9RlwpXo7I7PBv-5QrwR3sr7OM_jHRYrUh7aviHgxA&_hsmi=402802132&utm_content=402802132&utm_source=hs_email By Elaine Chen and Ed SilvermanFeb. 9, 2026

'If Boundaries Are Set, It Is Possible': Medscape Physician Mental Health & Well-Being Report 2025 Jon McKenna | January 31, 2025 |

https://www.medscape.com/slideshow/2024-Physician-Mental-Health-6017854?ecd=WNL_physrep_260209_MSCPEDIT_mental-health-report_etid8091479&uac=148436CN&impID=8091479

MORE ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ++ +++

MORE ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION The New York Times: Trump Administration To Cut $600 Million In Health Funding From Four States https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/health/trump-public-health-cuts-california.html?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9o_klqw2NhyWPVALtzTUFHPXs4LEOymX4ZI_xcV3e7qSTjcm_iRtI83sfmxzJxXPeiqnSNwSLRu8tr9iukUSLQ4e2ukQ&_hsmi=402893632&utm_content=402893632&utm_source=hs_email The Trump administration plans to rescind $600 million in public health funds from four states led by Democrats because it finds the grants “inconsistent with agency priorities,” according to documents reviewed by The New York Times. The programs slated to be cut are in California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota. They include grants to state and local public health departments as well as to some nongovernmental organizations. A list of the cuts was shared with relevant congressional committees on Monday. (Mandavilli, 2/9) Politico: RFK Jr.’s Followers Plan To Back Trump-Endorsed Candidates https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/09/rfk-jr-s-followers-plan-to-back-trump-endorsed-candidates-00772395?_hsenc=p2ANqtz--zvMnceVqOojlxTxMQYMYvPJ-K2mQgYxY1PzC52mXyyqcOA9cZEPN_q2lxTigZ_4PCTjnFrcPbRVQY3tcmMDqzF_2DgQ&_hsmi=402893632&utm_campaign=KHN:+First+Edition&utm_content=402893632&utm_medium=email&utm_source=hs_email The leader of the political engine behind Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement plans to favor candidates endorsed by President Donald Trump in this year’s elections. MAHA will work with candidates Trump supports to get “the best possible outcome for public health, for the issues that MAHA has been backing over the last year,” said Tony Lyons, president of the political group MAHA Action, at an event held by the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington Monday. (Paun, 2/9) ON CAPITOL HILL CIDRAP: Updated PASTEUR Act Reintroduced In Congress To Boost Antibiotic Development https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/antimicrobial-stewardship/updated-pasteur-act-reintroduced-congress-boost-antibiotic-development?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Ggt_5m8QIVSq-u0CsS0qSLg9KCgafdg7q80kN7UQNRzJWwpLEwWVwqfrV6sL2KFf-5v-b4df3eADwLzFB2G8yPOqXVA&_hsmi=402893632&utm_content=402893632&utm_source=hs_email A bipartisan group of US lawmakers is taking another shot at legislation that advocates hope could boost antibiotic development efforts. The Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End Upsurging Resistance (PASTEUR) Act, reintroduced last week by five members of the US House of Representatives, aims to revitalize the antibiotic and antifungal development pipeline by changing how the federal pays for novel antimicrobials. The bill was first introduced in Congress in 2020 and re-submitted in subsequent years but has never received a floor vote. (Dall, 2/9) CIDRAP: Lawmakers Want Answers On CDC-Funded Hepatitis B Vaccine Trial In Africa https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/hepatitis/lawmakers-want-answers-cdc-funded-hepatitis-b-vaccine-trial-africa?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_KtS4dK3SZo8PNcss4tycX7emcpCbrVjiFyCedgI7hsxsbiGToBGR59Ee1cUPl8Lg86zVQ-WEP2t9fU5csILajlBxuqg&_hsmi=402893632&utm_content=402893632&utm_source=hs_email US lawmakers have sent a letter to federal health officials demanding answers on how and why a controversial vaccine trial in West Africa received federal funding. The letter from Democratic members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Acting Director Jim O’Neill asks for all documentation regarding the decision to award a five-year, $1.6 million grant to a team of Danish researchers conducting the study, which aims to assess the overall health impact of the hepatitis B vaccine birth dose in Guinea-Bissau. (Dall, 2/9) Roll Call: Trump’s Drug Pricing Plan Gets Lukewarm Reception https://rollcall.com/2026/02/09/trumps-drug-pricing-plan-gets-lukewarm-reception/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_paJM87jVrzsMqQV6kDbkAIEVNdeMpUs8lXHosUF0b-zI7VKS52SpHFAc8VoK-g_-PM8f5zB7O5nILbNzUOBc0_bISOA&_hsmi=402893632&utm_content=402893632&utm_source=hs_email President Donald Trump’s unconventional plan to lower prescription drug prices is being met with a skeptical eye from Republicans as Congress places a greater focus on drug pricing ahead of the midterm elections. (DeGroot, 2/9)

Modern Healthcare: CMS Proposes Sweeping Coverage, Oversight Rule For ACA Exchanges

https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-regulation/mh-aca-exchange-rule-2027-standardized-coverage/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_7dArfYJoqyt1zHNIAd3QOis70JY0MwQYNm4rSP7XuQwd0MWDqWsnFKQfG0iHayvQwEYn-dj_w41KrqTERQU-8TeSfNw&_hsmi=402893632&utm_content=402893632&utm_source=hs_email The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has unveiled numerous potential changes to Affordable Care Act exchange plans that could have far-reaching implications for enrollees and what they pay for coverage. In its draft payment rule for exchange plans in 2027, released Monday, the agency proposed getting rid of standardized coverage and accepting non-network health plans as qualified health plans. CMS also seeks to further broaden access to catastrophic coverage and continue a crackdown on exchange brokers. The proposal also would affect risk adjustment auditing policies for exchange plans. (Early, 2/9)

Obamacare Sign-Ups Drop, but the Extent Won’t Be Clear for Months By Julie Appleby February 10, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/affordable-care-act-aca-obamacare-sign-ups-subsidies-higher-premiums/ KFF Health News: Obamacare Sign-Ups Drop, But The Extent Won’t Be Clear For Months More Americans than expected enrolled in Affordable Care Act health insurance plans for this year, after premium subsidies were dramatically cut — but it remains to be seen whether they’ll keep the coverage as their costs mount. It’s all part of a drama that roiled the ACA’s 2026 open enrollment period. Congressional debate over whether to extend more generous subsidies made available under the Biden administration led to the longest-ever government shutdown and focused public attention on rising health care costs and the affordability issue. (Appleby, 2/10)

US Cancer Institute Studying Ivermectin’s ‘Ability To Kill Cancer Cells’ By Rachana Pradhan February 10, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/ivermectin-cancer-treatment-nih-study-dewormer-offlabel-drug/ KFF Health News: US Cancer Institute Studying Ivermectin’s ‘Ability To Kill Cancer Cells’ The National Cancer Institute, the federal research agency charged with leading the war against the nation’s second-largest killer, is studying ivermectin as a potential cancer treatment, according to its top official. “There are enough reports of it, enough interest in it, that we actually did — ivermectin, in particular — did engage in sort of a better preclinical study of its properties and its ability to kill cancer cells,” said Anthony Letai, a physician the Trump administration appointed as NCI director in September. (Pradhan, 2/10)

Caring for Communities: Pharmacists’ Role in HIV Care and Prevention

https://www.hiv.gov/blog/caring-for-communities-pharmacists-role-in-hiv-care-and-prevention?j=2890026&sfmc_sub=6992026&l=6498_HTML&u=71809373&mid=100006181&jb=0

Large language models and misinformation The Lancet Digital Health ++... ++

Large language models and misinformation The Lancet Digital Health https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(25)00157-8/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email Jan 2026 Volume 8Number 1 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/issue/vol8no1/PIIS2589-7500(26)X2001-5 Development and external validation of a clinical prediction model for new-onset atrial fibrillation in intensive care: a multicentre, retrospective cohort study Jonathan P Bedford, DPhila,b,f jonathan.bedford@ndcn.ox.ac.uk ∙ Oliver Redfern, PhDa,f ∙ Stephen Gerry, DPhila,c ∙ Robert Hatch, BAa ∙ Prof Liza Keating, MScd ∙ Prof David Clifton, DPhile ∙ et al. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(25)00078-0/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_feature_landig Mapping the susceptibility of large language models to medical misinformation across clinical notes and social media: a cross-sectional benchmarking analysis Mahmud Omar, MDa,b mahmudomar@mail.tau.ac.il ∙ Vera Sorin, MDc ∙ Lothar H Wieler, PhDb ∙ Alexander W Charney, MDa,b ∙ Patricia Kovatch, MDd ∙ Carol R Horowitz, MDe ∙ et al. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(25)00131-1/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_feature_landig

Registered EMS Agencies: The New Kid on the DEA Block February 10, 2026 By Larry K. Houck — The Drug Enforcement

https://www.thefdalawblog.com/2026/02/registered-ems-agencies-the-new-kid-on-the-dea-block/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=registered-ems-agencies-the-new-kid-on-the-dea-block The Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) has welcomed a new category of registrant: emergency medical services (“EMS”) agencies. DEA has finalized its regulations to conform with the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017 (“the Act”), establishing a new registrant category, registration standards and controlled substance delivery, storage, and recordkeeping requirements for EMS agencies. Registering Emergency Medical Services Agencies Under the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017, 91 Fed. Reg. 5216 (Feb. 5, 2026). The agency’s October 2020 notice of proposed rulemaking elicited 81 public comments. The new registration and controlled substance requirements for EMS agencies are dense and nuanced; we can only scratch the surface in this post.

The Bioethics Observatory and its websites consolidate their global expansion By Bioethics Observatory Published On: January 16th, 2026

https://bioethicsobservatory.org/2026/01/the-bioethics-observatory-and-its-websites-consolidate-their-global-expansion/48332/ The Bioethics Observatory of the Catholic University of Valencia has reaffirmed its digital leadership during the 2024-2025 period, registering sustained growth on both its main website in Spanish and its international version, Bioethics Observatory. Together, the two platforms have more than 235,000 active users, confirming the growing interest in rigorous bioethical analysis worldwide.

The Bioethics Observatory will analyze the ethical challenges of synthetic biology at an international congress By Bioethics Observatory Published On: February 9th, 2026

The Bioethics Observatory will analyze the ethical challenges of synthetic biology at an international congress By Bioethics Observatory Published On: February 9th, 2026 https://bioethicsobservatory.org/2026/02/the-bioethics-observatory-will-analyze-the-ethical-challenges-of-synthetic-biology-at-an-international-congress/48397/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_source_platform=mailpoet On April 20, 2026, the congress “Synthetic Biology and the Human Future: Possibilities, Limits, and Bioethical Challenges,” organized by the Bioethics Observatory, will take place. This event seeks to address the new ethical frontiers that arise from the current capacity to create and transform life through biotechnological advances.

MORE ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION: The Hill: New York Judge Extends Block On Federal Cuts To Social Service Funds In Democratic-Led States ++++ ++++ +

MORE ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION The Hill: New York Judge Extends Block On Federal Cuts To Social Service Funds In Democratic-Led States https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5727806-judge-block-funding-freeze-social-services-programs-democratic-states/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8eRuG7mrAZWp8bnolH3C4VdJrB1SsmL4pZiC0euisrKdb_31xQx6hUlAsdnKaVjnnrJHFhd1IYiOIz87Mb69-cwmlo9w&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email A New York judge on Friday extended a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from slashing funds to social service programs in five Democrat-led states. U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick made his ruling at the request of Minnesota, California, Illinois, New York and Colorado. The states receive more than $10 billion a year from the federal government for its programs, which help with child care and family assistance. New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) praised the ruling in a statement, saying the “illegal funding freeze would have caused severe chaos in the lives of some of the most vulnerable families in our state.” (Mancini, 2/7) The Hill: Trump Official Mehmet Oz Alleges Maine 'Looks A Lot Like' Minnesota's Social Services Fraud https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5728249-trump-oz-allege-maine-fraud/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8IKpQACixSk_qNx8pyK64CIiRsL2upKt3aqMykn45U0nNsVXDxyNk_EEM1CQR32J591yJMhldTCh3N4TFbfLB1SGfBXQ&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email The Trump administration’s top Medicare official has suggested that alleged fraud in Maine’s social services programs may be on par with the welfare fraud scandal in Minnesota. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz said there is “another big crisis” concerning alleged social services fraud in Maine during an appearance on John Catsimatidis’s “The Cats Roundtable” radio show. “It turns out that Maine looks a lot like Minnesota,” Oz said in the interview, which aired Sunday morning. (Davis, 2/8) NPR: Trump’s HHS Lauds Plastic Surgeons’ Statement On Care For Transgender Minors https://www.npr.org/2026/02/08/nx-s1-5705304/transgender-minors-gender-affirming-care-plastic-surgery?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-85XQfhCZSo578NmCXpOai7yj9yQpPzpPmR6Qm6X0aXuBKvSxbR1OA7Rfj-vUpmcGTXEiTu3UUFSBL-YtQttd-o_HW7vw&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email The Trump administration celebrated a recent statement from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which recommends that doctors delay gender-related surgery until a patient is at least 19 years old. "Today marks another victory for biological truth in the Trump administration," wrote Deputy Health and Human Services Secretary Jim O'Neill said in a press release. "The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has set the scientific and medical standard for all provider groups to follow." (Simmons-Duffin, 2/8) Politico: HUD Headquarters Move Draws Legal, Funding Scrutiny https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/08/legal-funding-concerns-loom-over-huds-relocation-to-virginia-00768637?utm_campaign=KHN:+First+Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9R7WAt0kyCl9POKqqjnINKjkG8sQo_Vlx2DHRg3fORLQtbJ4WEVT3zomDSllBKzq9PRLcumACA9kNzS7aglxGTeTVFZg&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email The Department of Housing and Urban Development has started its long-awaited, multistage relocation of Washington-based staff to Alexandria, Virginia, even as questions swirl over the move’s legality, cost and congressional oversight. (Dumay, 2/8) Stat: NIH Grant Reviewers Fear Schedule F Status Will Politicize Their Jobs https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/06/nih-grant-reviewers-schedule-f-designation-politicizes-science/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_rumNXJePGZ--DoM05cNRXg0yYz6ndX2R0yDZcLUYRfFBNJG9RPSFr5sotZuD7QMvSbuClFbcfCr2Zi3Ik97-EtBhGDA&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email The Trump administration is moving forward with a personnel rule that critics say will subject a broader swath of the federal workforce to political pressure, raising concerns that the change could deter accomplished scientists from joining the federal workforce and give political appointees greater influence over grant decisions. (Oza, 2/6) Politico: Trump Cut Science Funding. Small Businesses Are Paying The Price. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/08/trump-cut-science-funding-now-small-businesses-are-paying-the-price-00765051?utm_campaign=KHN:+First+Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_tuStUS_3AAazBwHQ5XjA5yjbK4Y4Fvad2ntmJUIoddSaZsnrPiNiyQM40pq7fGrQybx2tf9dIjoah8taUTCm0T18EAQ&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Melinda Holland started last year with high hopes for her business. Instead, 2025 ended with the company’s first layoffs in 40 years. That’s due largely to the policies of one man: President Donald Trump. The cuts his administration made last year to federal science programs undercut a key piece of Holland’s business, a small technology company named Wildlife Computers. Her company, based in Washington state, makes the data-collecting tags that scientists use to track animals in the field. (Harvey, 2/8) The Washington Post: Why Dr. Oz Wants Americans To Delay Retirement And Help The Economy https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/02/08/dr-mehmet-oz-delay-retirement/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-98n8S2rsfnzPFPzMEzxMufW9JJJIfAjkmKoWqhVc6JgR8VZALxPCnzndAwMLXDng_IymQ_OHtu4wfqIg7wWE7A5B8NoQ&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is working to persuade Americans that they should postpone retirement for one year. The question is whether they’ll buy it. He has repeatedly said delaying retirement — a fraught decision for millions, especially lower earners who have undersaved for it — marks physical vigor, and could help grow the economy or reduce the national debt. (Winfield Cunningham, 2/8) Politico: MAHA And Mike Tyson Want You To ‘Eat Real Food’ During The Super Bowl https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/06/rfk-jr-maha-mike-tyson-super-bowl-ad-00769278?utm_campaign=KHN:+First+Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--MTyJTPQKTDdOdyAC59Du2_BASYGSmzy-pbTpM_S2s9C1EGuCxUfuiaXfeVIcJDm3fVtp2GvVR8OnCTx4olU1G6zXhiQ&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s allies are airing an ad during the Super Bowl featuring Mike Tyson boosting the Make America Healthy Again campaign, giving Kennedy another high-profile perch as allies look for ways to bolster his MAHA movement. The ad, paid for by the nonprofit MAHA Center, highlights new dietary guidelines announced by the Health and Human Services secretary in January and urges viewers to “eat real food,” borrowing a line regularly used by Kennedy about his nutrition recommendations. (Pellish, 2/6) Politico: How Oura Ring Won Over Washington https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/09/oura-ring-lobbying-rfk-maha-washington-00770320?nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b7bd0000&nname=playbook&nrid=00000157-9a2f-de5f-a77f-fb3f1a030000 It turns out there is a way for a foreign company to make it in Donald Trump’s Washington. Oura rings are on fingers from the Pentagon to Capitol Hill, tracking everything from sleep quality to fertility. Their Finnish maker’s success stems from design savvy and good timing, but also shrewd attention to the way politics works in the capital. (Chu, 2/9)

ON CAPITOL HILL: Axios: Limits On Care Denials In Medicare Stall In Congress Again ++++

ON CAPITOL HILL Axios: Limits On Care Denials In Medicare Stall In Congress Again https://www.axios.com/2026/02/09/medicare-denials-limits-stall-congress?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9FmIpRGVVTHNCrfSLMEMYV36F5oHN3L0J5KhvgXivkJvQRhjzg0XRxogfC-cY2-SU1Zlbzz6xBgd7h7QaDLNd9XzdGHQ&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Long-running efforts to limit health plans' ability to deny or delay physician-ordered care are on hold again, despite mounting congressional frustration with insurers. By leaving a measure addressing so-called prior authorization reviews out of the bipartisan health package last week, lawmakers may have lost the chance to address a major source of aggravation for patients and doctors before the midterms. (Sullivan, 2/9) Modern Healthcare: Congress Signals Toward More PBM Reform, Targets GPO Subsidiaries https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-regulation/mh-congress-pbm-reform-gpo-subsidiaries/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--wqfpohXCxzSBR4WCByGXCW61GpmznFRkt-GDgqa8UJKllU0u7OGlmr9suXzD3UcP77w1QYZCaTNLtlHlxR0gMt4T3Jw&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Congress may have just passed sweeping legislation targeting compensation and transparency in the pharmacy benefit manager sector, but numerous lawmakers say that’s just a start. Exactly what comes next — and what will still be relevant once the main provisions of the new law take effect in 2028 — is not clear, but some legislators took aim at the largest PBMs’ group purchasing organizations, singling them out in hearings with top health insurance executives last month. (McAuliff, 2/6) CIDRAP: US Allocates $5.9 Billion For Global HIV Programs In Spending Bill https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/hivaids/us-allocates-59-billion-global-hiv-programs-spending-bill?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--tZBGAm3HBLJLzq3JRGKN-xXuff6RJna1YFSSvmDnFWoAveAx1Mp7PQ_T4ZDucjMiIUSNXziiywTnb5UQj6F6Tagwo2A&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email This week, President Donald Trump signed into law a $5.9 billion spending package aimed at supporting the global response to HIV/AIDS and global public health. The signing of the appropriations bill was hailed by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) as providing life-saving support for millions of people across the globe. (Bergeson, 2/6) Fierce Healthcare: Virtual Diabetes Prevention Programs Secure Medicare Coverage https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/digital-health/virtual-diabetes-prevention-programs-secure-medicare-coverage?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_1UDJV3JtBhiSpxFfpuVD4PlM0kFzgwIlRcUpgvH9ODxcA3Degqc_dUTaNjZ6C4fpTxw4hNSlvdsfj5nP7ClMGKNdK2w&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email In the $1.2 trillion budget package signed Tuesday, a little-known healthcare provision was reauthorized that will allow millions of people on Medicare to access diabetes prevention education online. (Beavins, 2/6)

HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY: Fierce Healthcare: MultiCare Pays $3.7M To Settle Unnecessary Surgery Allegations +++ +++ +

HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY Fierce Healthcare: MultiCare Pays $3.7M To Settle Unnecessary Surgery Allegations https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/multicare-agrees-37m-settlement-over-allegations-it-knowingly-allowed-unnecessary?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--kJLpBcIJQpP_JhfLHolmJlMG9IPXgTmkEsxbUw2TliU90ca5zF6S3G8r7Q7enU15R7-pZD-mdmLZEn_shb2KOxA1YCg&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email MultiCare Health System has agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement with law enforcement to resolve allegations it ignored “numerous red flags” and knowingly permitted and billed procedures conducted by a neurosurgeon under investigation for fraudulent, medically unnecessary care. (Muoio, 2/6) Modern Healthcare: Molina Eyes Medicaid Acquisitions Amid Medicare Advantage Exit https://www.modernhealthcare.com/insurance/mh-molina-medicaid-acquisitions-medicare-advantage/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8WnVyPobm0Wtr6Zq00a7GEBmZ1buldDsIegr3C6_5T9sWi1p5FkjWb3yA5cPDx3Q8OXQC4KpSF7GJR0XM-oFqnNMtYkA&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Molina Healthcare is looking to acquire Medicaid carriers as it exits the Medicare Advantage market. State reimbursements have fallen short of Medicaid members’ expenses, CEO Joe Zubretsky told analysts during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call Friday. The challenging funding environment, however, presents an opportunity to buy smaller insurers that lack the capital to tough out the difficult cycle, Zubretsky said. (Tepper, 2/6) Fierce Healthcare: Aetna Rolls Out New Digital Member Onboarding Experience https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/aetna-unveils-new-digital-member-onboarding-experience?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9bcwOBg9K_O2tcXUUOkM1nwjk2C3OCrMBX1l8PREG3zygjkhVcYv1xzc7UhOlwCaf-UTTMqU7tNc4lL1LkEtYGCqR70w&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Aetna is continuing to build out its digital member experience with the launch of a new onboarding program designed to ease the process. The insurer said Thursday that the platform will be available to 4 million new members during the welcome period for their enrollment. (Minemyer, 2/6) Stat: Updated CMS Data Reshapes Medicare Advantage Risk Scores https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/09/medicare-advantage-new-cms-risk-scores-target-insurer-upcoding/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--N4GUhflIE_7RIztj6frrpjOTYuBxzzuG2e_DFmmIxSaurOqUAly0NIAjFfVmXI1Ae1PAMvLlrhzDA5BbbWBCTVfwyQQ&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email The health insurance industry was caught off guard by the federal government’s recent proposal to keep next year’s payments to Medicare Advantage plans mostly flat, and to change a controversial coding practice. But another equally significant change has flown under the radar — and is a major reason why some insurers may face big hits to revenue. (Herman, 2/9) Modern Healthcare: Epic Systems Launches AI Charting Tool In Latest EHR Market Push https://www.modernhealthcare.com/health-tech/mh-epic-systems-ai-charting-tool-ehr/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9isCegncZVrtOfJqN_oytsUtTI-_-UyC8NuN_zXuRY-8tVghL9sfz5ofERT5SkQIEGHq36-tu8ERYVonuC4NVavZI0_g&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Epic Systems made another move earlier this week to advance its artificial intelligence strategy. The large electronic health record vendor hosted an event for its customers on Wednesday, where it officially launched its AI charting tool. The customizable ambient listening feature aims to help clinicians write notes and offers guidance based on these conversations. The feature is an expansion of Art, Epic’s suite of AI for clinicians that it announced in August at the company’s user group meeting. The AI charting tool is available to customers immediately. Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, is among the early adopters. (Famakinwa, 2/6) The Baltimore Sun: Johns Hopkins University Research Staff Begin Unionization Effort https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/02/04/johns-hopkins-university-research-staff-begin-unionization-effort/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--KJzAjGr9B8WW4hMyJsLD6vkHDBPwdZ8DKpsYYO6ZWT5XY8yv47anWXzU-PVF5-M0rzKg0vQ1GqYWCehif_difWoOozw&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Johns Hopkins University research staff announced plans this week to start a union in an effort to get higher pay, transparent career paths and more job security. (Bazos, 2/4) The New York Times: Podcast: When Anesthesia Fails And The Patient Is Cut Open https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/podcasts/the-daily/anesthesia-c-sections-patient-pain.html?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--UKQY-Nkun4KA98-qPaO5mr0ZpPUkN_6Txbdp9ELEgT9-cWLCmAhHXWKZFAVdgUVdpYfiZ0C_gohgCnnWBeVzJTH1e2w&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Women’s pain is too often dismissed in medicine. An alarming number of women report feeling major surgery and dealing with doctors and nurses who make light of their complaints. Susan Burton, reporter and host of the podcast “The Retrievals,” shares stories from just a few of the many cases of women who felt significant pain during their C-sections. (Burton, 2/6)

PHARMACEUTICALS: Stat: TrumpRx Promises Cheapest Drugs. Many Cost Less Already ++++++

PHARMACEUTICALS Stat: TrumpRx Promises Cheapest Drugs. Many Cost Less Already https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/06/trumprx-discount-drug-website-undercut-by-cheaper-generics/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--LSISbf8e_5Ei5tTJviGWigZW1mVFNLve1Uvy68oUOWEuyRgjzU1LAZs85NqVaivwKqwAQguFfLDcgKjoe89hiQK6--Q&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email President Trump said his administration’s new TrumpRx website will offer the cheapest prices in the world for 43 brand-name drugs, and counting. But about half of them are already available as generics, usually for much less. (Wilkerson, Parker, Cirruzzo, Chen and Payne, 2/6) The Hill: Sen. Ron Wyden Criticizes Trump's TrumpRx As Mere 'Coupon Book' https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5726644-trump-rx-senator-wyden-criticism/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9mhjhfIhQfH-d-ZQH0jMZf_8BOMfry-JBFguO0gLTAWRdWwJEz_veIrCZRq4dOOu8zvSFM5sr-tFTXP3kj_3rr_yNNsQ&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) blasted the direct-to-consumer (DTC) TrumpRx platform launched by the administration Thursday, denouncing it as a “glorified coupon book.” The Trump administration launched its DTC discount drug portal TrumpRx.gov Thursday evening. ... The discounts ranged from 33 percent to 93 percent for drugs treating obesity, diabetes, asthma and infertility. Administration officials said Thursday that more drugs would be added. (Choi, 2/6) Bloomberg: Lilly Inks Deal With Innovent To Speed Up Early Drug Development https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-09/lilly-inks-deal-with-innovent-to-speed-up-early-drug-development?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition Eli Lilly & Co. is paying $350 million upfront to collaborate with Chinese biotech Innovent Biologics Inc. in developing new treatments for cancer and immune disorders, a further vote of confidence for the innovation capabilities of the country’s drugmakers. Innovent could see up to $8.5 billion in milestone payments, the Suzhou-based company said in a press release Sunday. The firms didn’t specify the number of medicines included in the deal. Innovent’s Hong Kong-listed shares jumped as much as 8.6% on Monday. (Tong, 2/9) The New York Times: Hims & Hers Withdraws Knockoff Weight-Loss Pill After Regulatory Scrutiny https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/health/hims-obesity-pill-wegovy-novo-nordisk.html?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_IihXsK_dKzUeUsjEqZ7Hx8MqB5p3mIJ2Nik_50eiHAecJNSCkHIXK3o-f3GczVzfJGR_ki1IgtvLLWRpOjFiij3dfRA&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Hims & Hers, a major online provider of obesity medications, said on Saturday that it would stop selling a cheap knockoff version of Novo Nordisk’s new pill version of its popular weight loss drug Wegovy, bowing to pressure from federal regulators who suggested the product might be illegal. Hims had just introduced the offering on Thursday and was immediately met with sharp backlash. On Friday, the top lawyer for the Department of Health and Human Services, Mike Stuart, wrote on X that his office had referred Hims to the Justice Department for potential violations of a federal law that regulates the sale of medications. (Robbins, 2/7) MedPage Today: Use Of GLP-1 Drugs Under Scrutiny At Winter Olympics https://www.medpagetoday.com/popmedicine/cultureclinic/119770?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-810zfKaYSy7F2FfFzAU6GZT6ETBCEDmA2tpXbxCohgjiwGwjPn5UCiQHcKZ0OtlPyJ93p4AL8xWJHFZ0dF-ALEEvv4zQ&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email As the Winter Olympic Games get underway, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is monitoring an unexpected class of drugs: GLP-1 receptor agonists. An advisory group that makes recommendations about WADA's list of prohibited substances discussed the status of GLP-1 medications, and added semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) to its monitoring program, a spokesperson for WADA told MedPage Today in an email. (Henderson, 2/6) Modern Healthcare: Baxter Layoffs To Hit 90 Roles https://www.modernhealthcare.com/medical-devices/mh-baxter-layoffs-north-cove-hurricane-helene/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--R9ib1p9ZrRv17T79bE6fGiOOWfGQKFcp9DjWO016KlUrQzjg_Pyrx_Yj_iY-t0OlmvgaBmOcsarBhy4918FdTRjQIow&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Baxter International cut about 3% of the workforce at its North Carolina manufacturing facility. The North Cove facility in Marion, which produces about 60% of the U.S. supply of IV solutions, was significantly affected by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Although the facility has returned to pre-hurricane production and inventory levels, the disruptions affected clients’ IV usage and demand. The shift led the company to realign operations with market conditions and lay off about 90 employees in late January, according to Baxter. (Dubinsky, 2/6)

MORE ON VACCINES: The New York Times: Federal Vaccine Advisers Take Aim At Covid Shots

MORE ON VACCINES The New York Times: Federal Vaccine Advisers Take Aim At Covid Shots https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/health/vaccines-covid-acip-malone-kennedy.html?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-90hPoClyBoOKsxLjt2Ja93ADa4Ll_6JAdHXZB_mXHxqKPGLZhxxUiHEu_PwvMEB1SD9YGRy3_OCq0o1PBz-TdYDZSkxw&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Members of the federal vaccine panel chosen by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are setting their sights on the next targets: the mRNA Covid shots, and vaccines offered to pregnant women. The panel, called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, already has imposed some limits on access to Covid vaccines and has rescinded recommendations for some routine childhood shots. Several of the panelists have said — contrary to scientific consensus — that they believe the Covid shots are dangerous and should be taken off the market. (Mandavilli, 2/6) CIDRAP: Estimated Effectiveness Of This Season’s Flu Vaccine Against Medically Attended Illness In Low To Mid Range https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/influenza-vaccines/estimated-effectiveness-season-s-flu-vaccine-against-medically-attended-illness?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--oGbzw7hjZQN_DcL5DkAqKBUWF_lCWwQPbh8kZtM-v45pES-ZGnkIrxMVFfYHbnhaWyKfiWWSoDGZ_FfdVnVMdWtK7yw&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email The effectiveness of this season’s flu vaccine in Canada is 40% against medically attended infection with influenza A(H3N2) viruses, 37% against newly emerged and predominant subclade K of the H3N2 strain, and 31% against the H1N1 influenza A strain, an interim analysis estimates. (Van Beusekom, 2/6) CIDRAP: Trust In CDC Near Pandemic-Era Low After Vaccine Schedule Changes https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/public-health/trust-cdc-near-pandemic-era-low-after-vaccine-schedule-changes?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--DlxKJezQngoM86gqEoLx4MIpwyIvqCKu7IiSS_LyOL_SpGUER6ptdAyp5FL0gs95OYnxJfpxI0amR6V1_QNRNBceiIg&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Public trust in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) remains near its lowest point since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a KFF Tracking Poll published today. “Six years ago, 85% of Americans, and 90% of Republicans, trusted the CDC. Now less than half trust the CDC on vaccines,” KFF President and CEO Drew Altman, PhD, said in a news release. “The wars over COVID, science, and vaccines have left the country without a trusted national voice on vaccines, and that trust will take time to restore.” (Bergeson, 2/6)

MEASLES: The Guardian: ‘Take The Vaccine, Please,’ Dr Oz Urges Amid Rising Measles Cases In US ++++

MEASLES The Guardian: ‘Take The Vaccine, Please,’ Dr Oz Urges Amid Rising Measles Cases In US https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/08/dr-mehmet-oz-measles-vaccine?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-93g3nlgoN65WxwID_krKQQG9hzgA5OGrgRetAe6KWAaNWGcsVlavq8ZdT7XmIZSXikX4xjZBfdeVA9nNBCqTGOiTNjlQ&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email A senior US public health official called on Americans to get vaccinated against measles as outbreaks continue in multiple states and concerns grow that the country could lose its measles elimination designation. Dr Mehmet Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon, spoke in support on Sunday of the measles vaccine. “Take the vaccine, please,” said Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “We have a solution for our problem.” (Dunbar and agencies, 2/8) NPR: Confirmed Measles Cases Linked To March For Life Rally In D.C. https://www.npr.org/2026/02/08/nx-s1-5705972/measles-march-for-life-dc-reagan-national-union-station-metro?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_FI_ZuKBxg1w4fJKsVLx4VCzpJAXcBoBNZkqyG4_aN7Kft-1FbIbtyA6SOgPTAjn3A5R-_KTt8ticidIQHbj2tEzcT8w&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Health officials are warning that confirmed cases of measles may have spread at this year's National March for Life rally and concert in Washington, D.C. Thousands of anti-abortion demonstrators converged upon the National Mall and other locations in the nation's capital for the annual event at the end of January. The DC Department of Health says it's working to identify people who are at risk. (Wright, 2/8) ABC News: 4 Times As Many Measles Cases In A Few Weeks Than US Typically Averages In A Whole Year: CDC https://abcnews.go.com/Health/us-sees-733-measles-cases-nationwide-month/story?id=129921325&utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--VWngyPTnsxuCAXOV5ygWKfjFzl998-2T7hKR7j0CqdtPIBCCrkTa0TMxtpKYuyCWiNI-mXBuC1d3y4OcH-2q1m7a8qQ&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email There have been at least 733 confirmed measles cases reported across the nation, the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed Friday. In just a few weeks, the United States reported four times as many cases than typically seen throughout an entire calendar year, the CDC said. Before last year, which had a record breaking 2,276 cases, the U.S. averaged 180 cases annually since measles was declared eliminated in 2000. The record numbers come as South Carolina is dealing with the largest outbreak recorded in recent memory. (Benadjaoud, 2/6) WUSF: Measles Is Spreading Across Florida, But Updates Are Lagging https://www.wusf.org/health-news-florida/2026-02-09/measles-spreading-florida-state-updates-lag-more-than-week?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8K31Ui8DC5AHwGnAT9iVG6xlY75sXt3QffQ37XhORytk1OUSPfOn9qpl_L_MoQAqh__6NXce30iE77xJLgKanGk1__Wg&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email New cases of measles are popping up across Florida, with 15 illnesses confirmed statewide, according to data from the Florida Department of Health. But other cases, including 20 in Collier County and one in Pinellas County, don't show up on the department's website. It updates every Thursday, and by then the information is many days old. As of Monday, the case count ends Jan. 31. (Sheridan, 2/9)

Journalists Describe Drivers of High Health Costs and Spell Out the Science of Protein February 7, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/on-air-february-7-2026-aca-obamacare-premium-costs-subsidies-protein-intake/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8hrDaOUqYxGpQVmZ9qZZ9wwsZrHWD4-OfM7KGwG-ntKqxABtl0Dtniv6W0YcdOnyGrg63vmn6z7faU3Ug7aMs16UPDZg&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email KFF Health News: Journalists Describe Drivers Of High Health Costs And Spell Out The Science Of Protein KFF Health News senior correspondent Renuka Rayasam discussed concerns about health care costs following the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits on CBS News’ CBS News 24/7 on Feb. 5. Rayasam also discussed rising health insurance costs on WUGA’s The Georgia Health Report on Jan. 30. (2/7)

Viewpoints: Trump’s CMS Deserves Praise, ACA’s Key Architect Says; Many Predictions About Pot Use Were Wrong

https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/viewpoints-trumps-cms-deserves-praise-acas-key-architect-says-many-predictions-about-pot-use-were-wrong/

Amid Surging Measles Cases, Dr. Oz Implores People To Get The Vaccine

Amid Surging Measles Cases, Dr. Oz Implores People To Get The Vaccine As the United States flirts with losing its measles elimination designation, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator endorsed the vaccine: “We have a solution for our problem." His statement came as the CDC reported another spike across the nation and as health officials worked to contain the spread of the virus after a contagious person attended the March for Life rally. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/amid-surging-measles-cases-dr-oz-implores-people-to-get-the-vaccine/

CMS Chief Alleges Social Services Fraud In Maine, Calls It ‘Another Big Crisis’

CMS Chief Alleges Social Services Fraud In Maine, Calls It ‘Another Big Crisis’ Dr. Mehmet Oz has likened the alleged fraud in Maine to Minnesota's welfare fraud scandal, which led to the immigration crackdown efforts run by ICE in that state. Plus: A New York judge extended a preliminary injunction blocking social service cuts in five Democratic-led states. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/cms-chief-alleges-social-services-fraud-in-maine-calls-it-another-big-crisis/

Cheaper Generics Exist For Many Drugs Promised At Lower Cost On TrumpRx

Cheaper Generics Exist For Many Drugs Promised At Lower Cost On TrumpRx Stat reports that at least 18 brand-name drugs on TrumpRx are available in generic form for cheaper through GoodRx or Cost Plus Drugs. Plus: Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon called TrumpRx "nothing more than a glorified coupon book." https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/cheaper-generics-exist-for-many-drugs-promised-at-lower-cost-on-trumprx/