lunes, 13 de julio de 2026
Nominee for key federal health role has a history of questioning vaccines Sean Kaufman could clash with Sen. Bill Cassidy over his past comments on hepatitis B, Covid-19 shots
https://www.statnews.com/2026/07/10/sean-kaufman-hhs-nominee-past-statements-question-vaccine-safety/
By Chelsea CirruzzoJuly 10, 2026
Washington Correspondent
The primary care crisis paradox Primary care, though valuable, is not the only lever that moves population health
https://www.statnews.com/2026/07/10/primary-care-data-pcps-health-care-crisis-investment/
By Christopher P. Childers and Thomas C. TsaiJuly 10, 2026
Childers is a surgical oncologist at the University of Washington and directs the Payment and Outcomes Research Lab. Tsai is a general and gastrointestinal surgeon and medical director for health policy research for the American College of Surgeons.
The shortage of forensic pathologists is hurting justice, public health, and families Burnout, low pay are keeping new physicians from entering the field
https://www.statnews.com/2026/07/13/forensic-pathologist-shortage-medical-examiners/
By Gregory McDonaldJuly 13, 2026
McDonald is the chair of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Pathology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
As states absorb Medicaid funding cuts, family caregivers face financial ruin Several states have proposed slashing wages for family caregivers of people with disabilities
https://www.statnews.com/2026/07/13/family-caregiver-wages-financial-ruin-medicaid-funding-cuts/
By O. Rose BroderickJuly 13, 2026
Disability in Health Care Reporting Fellow
A breakthrough in pancreatic cancer has experts excited — and braced for what’s to come The expected launch of daraxonrasib is likely to deliver both opportunities and challenges
https://www.statnews.com/2026/07/13/pancreatic-cancer-daraxonrasib-opportunities-challenges/?utm_campaign=the_readout&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_tCSbPCHUmL4R0DLg6UCJhSaK8gI95GbpzKR1bA4IEz8OA1vJ9M9Jqsa1N0azmBGaEjpCqUa0wpW30--5TLPZ1iuGF6Q&_hsmi=428130600&utm_content=428130600&utm_source=hs_email
By Andrew JosephJuly 13, 2026
Europe Correspondent
'A Concerning Trend': More Adults Ages 65-74 Aren't Having Their Care Needs Met, Study Finds
'A Concerning Trend': More Adults Ages 65-74 Aren't Having Their Care Needs Met, Study Finds
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that older groups of people — ages 75 to 84, and 85 and over — did not experience the same worsening trends. The findings could have a major effect on family caregiving. Also: weight loss drugs, the medical technology used in "The Pitt," and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/lifestyle-and-health-071326/
Abortion Is Protected In Maine, But It's A Hot-Button Issue In US Senate Race
Abortion Is Protected In Maine, But It's A Hot-Button Issue In US Senate Race
When it comes to reproductive health, Democrats contend Sen. Susan Collins' actions differ from what she tells the voting public. Many point to her vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who then voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, as evidence that she doesn't have voters' interests in mind, The 19th explains. In Maine, a majority of voters think abortion should be legal in most or all cases.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/reproductive-health-071326/
Graham's Death, McConnell's Absence Renew Concerns Over An Aging Senate
Graham's Death, McConnell's Absence Renew Concerns Over An Aging Senate
Sen. Lindsey Graham, 71, a Republican from South Carolina, died unexpectedly Saturday of an aortic dissection, news outlets reported. Meanwhile, after weeks of speculation about his whereabouts, Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, 84, of Kentucky disclosed Sunday that he is recovering from a fall. In the Senate, there are no age limits, no term limits, and no rules requiring members to disclose health problems.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/grahams-death-mcconnells-absence-renew-concerns-over-an-aging-senate/
In Landmark Move, NC To Reopen Martin General As Rural Emergency Hospital
In Landmark Move, NC To Reopen Martin General As Rural Emergency Hospital
North Carolina Health News reports on the plan for ECU Health to reopen the shuttered Martin General facility in Williamston, thanks in part to $40 million in help from the state. It would become North Carolina’s first Rural Emergency Hospital — and the first closed facility in the nation to be reopened through the federal designation, aimed at preserving access to care in communities that can't support a traditional hospital.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/state-watch-10/
Nominee To Oversee Public Health Emergencies Has Questioned Vaccine Safety
Nominee To Oversee Public Health Emergencies Has Questioned Vaccine Safety
Stat reported that Sean Kaufman, nominated to be Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, has questioned the use of the hepatitis B vaccine in infants and raised the disproven link between vaccines and autism in past comments reviewed by the news outlet. Also: The EPA has quietly approved the use of three new PFAS pesticides, CNN reports.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/administration-news-071326/
US Aid Worker Contracts Ebola Amid Ongoing Outbreak In Congo
US Aid Worker Contracts Ebola Amid Ongoing Outbreak In Congo
The humanitarian aid worker is with the disaster relief organization Samaritan’s Purse and is the second American to catch the deadly virus. The patient is receiving care in Germany. The outbreak has killed more than 600 people, The New York Times reported. As of yet, no licensed vaccine or treatment are available.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/outbreaks-and-health-threats-071326/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20Daily%20Health%20Policy%20Report&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--o0ErTs1_qIaGTy4sGvPJf1_b-NbE4M2x7nHG_bc90GtDGnERqL9K0G4BF1OKfCGw1HptcN90Hp4oQYIVfF0H1wnXsMw&_hsmi=428140760&utm_content=428140760&utm_source=hs_email
2026 Medical Loss Ratio Rebates Authors: Matt McGough, Jared Ortaliza, and Cynthia Cox Published: Jul 13, 2026
https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/medical-loss-ratio-rebates/
The Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) limits the share of premium income that insurers can keep for administration, marketing, and profits. Insurers that fail to meet the applicable MLR threshold are required to pay back excess profits or margins in the form of rebates to individuals and employers that purchased coverage.
How Unaffordable is Health Care and What Can We Do About It? Fecha y hora 21 jul 2026 01:30 p. m. en
https://kff-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/3616575552030/WN_72QiuW0sQOijFqojdM-hPg?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--RKwfRMDK3pkdZNLD7G0JEUyeGAVV0y5rKW8LzMNsNsFUePz9VlsMpFkVk5Fpp6aMo0TAI0_3dsivUqtdOqkcV4wJsTw&_hsmi=427897880&utm_content=427897880&utm_source=hs_email#/registration
How Unaffordable is Health Care and What Can We Do About It?
For decades, the cost of medical care, prescription drugs and health insurance has consistently risen faster than general inflation and wage growth, posing financial challenges for government, businesses and people. KFF polling has found that the cost of health care ranks as the top economic worry for adults and their families, and has implications for their financial security and access to care. Even people with insurance say they struggle to afford health care costs, and health care debt is a burden for a large share of Americans. Policymakers and experts across the ideological spectrum define affordability in different ways and have different policy solutions.
At 12:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 21, three experts will join Health Wonk Shop series moderator Larry Levitt in an hour-long discussion of health care affordability. During the discussion, panelists will consider affordability from a variety of perspectives, including how to define affordability and the question of affordability for whom, how to measure it, and what can be done to address affordability and the underlying cost of health care.
Contact: Chris Lee | 202.654.1403 | ChrisL@kff.org
PFAS pesticides approved after EPA adopts new toxicity definition By Sandee LaMotte
PFAS pesticides approved after EPA adopts new toxicity definition
By
Sandee LaMotte
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/07/10/health/pfas-pesticides-industry-influence-wellness?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Lw1_zxydA-ADZ0Y7-8okkMp3amGY-FfqcT7cE7dO7lrgKbYhGOi1q7exVyv55lD5iDApegt8B7HXZ3DZEtJQ2nxEuAQ&_hsmi=428120873&utm_content=428120873&utm_source=hs_email
With 61 new cases, US measles outbreak fast approaching last year’s total News brief July 10, 2026 Jim Wappes
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/61-new-cases-us-measles-outbreak-fast-approaching-last-year-s-total?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9xbbkE2bIre0MpCUGU7kQuS5hsipAMawCBBoQ-odhXzrquqmlimt7UoX-fzfwaFewjGbOQ89VyZDy3EIS9-dPoS4PISg&_hsmi=428120873&utm_content=428120873&utm_source=hs_email
CIDRAP: With 61 New Cases, US Measles Outbreak Fast Approaching Last Year’s Total
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 61 new US measles cases today and 2,231 for the year, as Virginia has become the country’s latest hot spot. Last year the CDC recorded 2,289 infections for the entire year, so the nation is just 58 cases short of that as we pass the midpoint of the year. The 2025 total was the most since 1991, and the United States is now on track to lose its measles elimination status that it gained in 2000. (Wappes, 7/10)
Lawmakers Call for CDC to Track Vitamin K Shot Refusals, Cite ProPublica Report
Lawmakers Call for CDC to Track Vitamin K Shot Refusals, Cite ProPublica Report
Two members of Congress are urging federal officials to monitor vitamin K shot refusals by parents and the potential consequences for their newborns, including severe bleeding or death.
https://www.propublica.org/article/vitamin-k-cdc-rfk-jr-lawmakers-letter?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_FBlIbFtLe0LM2lBLy5y5r6_gc_Z-sD8Lk10JkFR6tOPfSeY6Ymh1P696JZdbkpZTSDmAEZM_brRwck028lLq5zl0cpQ&_hsmi=428120873&utm_content=428120873&utm_source=hs_email
ProPublica: Lawmakers Call For CDC To Track Vitamin K Shot Refusal, Cite ProPublica Report
Two members of Congress have called on federal officials to address what they described as “a growing and preventable public health crisis” of families refusing the long-standard vitamin K shot for their newborns, which has led to some of those babies suffering uncontrollable bleeding and even dying. “We write to urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to take immediate action,” two Democrats, Rep. Kim Schrier, from Washington, and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, from Maryland, wrote in a letter last week to Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who is acting as director of the CDC. (Eldeib, 7/10)
As GOP Cries Fraud, Newsom Backs Medicaid Spending on Housing and Food
As GOP Cries Fraud, Newsom Backs Medicaid Spending on Housing and Food
Republicans say California’s use of Medicaid money for social services amounts to waste, fraud, and abuse. But even as Gov. Gavin Newsom voices concern about losing funding, he says he’s proud of the state’s holistic approach to caring for its sickest and most expensive patients.
By Angela Hart
July 13, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/medicaid/medicaid-social-services-gavin-newsom-california-republican-criticism/
domingo, 12 de julio de 2026
Drug and Country Characteristics Associated with Global Approval and Launch of FDA-Approved Novel Therapeutics Mengyuan Fu, PhD, MS , Joshua D Wallach, PhD, MS , Anthony D So, MD, MPA , Harry Doernberg, MD, MMus , Xiangyu Li, BSN , Xiaodong Guan, PhD, MS , Reshma Ramachandran, MD, MPP, MHS , Joseph S Ross, MD, MHS
Health Policy At The Supreme Court: The Cases That Could Have Been Isaac Kabrick July 7, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/health-policy-supreme-court-cases-could-have-been?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-92NuygLvYmVbH_DFSg2extqsF1pCc_z6cawzahBHrM9oA__BNzzfKxTss6mAVn7q2AF5J4IpIxunijsiNhHcB7n0ALkw&_hsmi=427870602&utm_source=hasu
For every case the Supreme Court hears, it declines more than a dozen others. This term, the Court turned down cases regarding the Medicare drug price negotiation program, the COVID-19 vaccine, the No Surprises Act, and the Affordable Care Act reinsurance program.
It’s Time To Reform How The Federal Government Funds State Medicaid Programs Richard F. AverillandJoel White July 7, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/s-time-reform-federal-government-funds-state-medicaid-programs?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8sFwztamJOVYCuU0wBvIA6IJAVEB1YHJlBECaEndlL4sT-wn6CGL8jHim9-VJ0nE5iX6zru_gLcXxj_RH4z-a58Te4dQ&_hsmi=427870602&utm_source=hasu
Congress should strengthen the Medicaid safety net by reforming how the federal government funds state Medicaid programs, using the lessons learned from the Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System as a roadmap.
We’ve Spent Decades Testing Medicare-Medicaid Integration. Why Don’t We Know If It Works? Allison Rizer July 7, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/we-ve-spent-decades-testing-medicare-medicaid-integration-so-why-don-t-we-know-if-works?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--PDi0MUW6xbHeqXrx2as4nyKp-RZ7Lu407QOCXPkEcpQSDWcxjp04OCZHT1Q9A9GeXgvywa1H4o5aH1u6bs4a4MmGFAA&_hsmi=427870602&utm_source=hasu
We still don’t know whether integration delivers value. But it isn’t because integration has failed. It’s because we haven’t been asking (or measuring) the right question.
We Make For Poor Bandits: A Rural Pharmacist's Answer To The 340B 'Grift' John Mildenberger July 6, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/we-make-poor-bandits-rural-pharmacist-s-answer-340b-grift?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--UUaEFy7OT5OEk1OeLsLNnRgBp-VB-7ktBkGLaG6ZNyVMGOtmPHU1nQjdkd-hlxmq7Uv9M2Z_Vq6eqKBUwE69mWkLtmQ&_hsmi=427870602&utm_source=hasu
Targeted transparency requirements, clearer guidance on contract pharmacy use, and stronger duplicate-discount safeguards would address 340B abuses without severing the lifeline that keeps rural and safety-net providers solvent.
Three Federal Streams, One Governance Problem: Building Unified AI Oversight In Health Systems Pooja WaliaandRajat Rawal July 8, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/three-federal-streams-one-governance-problem-building-unified-ai-oversight-health?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8qXPIrd-2fyN27y5Q1L31gbz1ZniLERldTizEqLK1GZoDVYNj0WFG6t5blJ3M4UdH7bDu4KUpiwhy6m7OpodLn5LXheg&_hsmi=427870602&utm_source=hasu
A unified governance approach can satisfy all three regulatory streams more efficiently than three separate compliance tracks. The window to build that approach is now.
From Data Extraction To Collaboration: Building Equitable Artificial Intelligence Partnerships In Community Health Adrienne Martinez-Hollingsworth,Timothy Lee,Laura Bravo,Milan de la Rocha,Midori Kondo,Peter Plass,Stephen Ferrara,Keisuke Nakagawa,Zurisadai Inzunza,Monika Scherer,andEfrain Talamantes July 8, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/data-extraction-collaboration-building-equitable-artificial-intelligence-partnerships?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--heOGJaxC89m7LXKdhT9uH9SaavfL-4G5e_wQJJIff0mkepXc4_vzLQA0Y_rEGWfVTBBRcjfV3nVUolDqVvH4W-O4M4w&_hsmi=427870602&utm_source=hasu
The future of equitable AI in community health centers will be measured by how effectively we are able to demand partnership and governance structures that acknowledge the community as innovation partners rather than data donors.
The Supreme Court Protected Generics. Now FDA Must Navigate The Aftermath Paul R. GugliuzzaandJacob S. Sherkow July 9, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/supreme-court-protected-generics-now-fda-must-navigate-aftermath?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8sGkuf0DzVAy-WVww7U3JCB8L6W39hKNlhDXtOP3jEBqiAPnBeStW1AhXUKz_FYQx7OeQLkikAlfVP3g_JGO9cYciAyw&_hsmi=427870602&utm_source=hasu
The Hikma Court correctly held that a generic manufacturer should not be liable for induced patent infringement if it carves patented uses out of its label. FDA can navigate Hikma’s aftermath without digging into patent issues beyond its expertise.
Addressing Medical Affordability Without Compromising Care Ezekiel J. EmanuelandKevin A. Schulman July 9, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/addressing-medical-affordability-without-compromising-care?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9WFJwJExHIQQi3wbW0Kg7EjTkL-e6fB-LMq3UKxeXD1Mnu7cD9SCvVzhHqgi8bE8wJfTQ8NpPFKWpgYjcrt7_-K8zopw&_hsmi=427870602&utm_source=hasu
The US spends 25 percent of all health care costs on administration, a big part of which involves billing for medical services. To realize savings requires standardizing and digitizing billing.
Regulatory False Starts: A Unique And Understudied Form Of Health Care Waste David TysonandMorgan Calhoun July 10, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/regulatory-false-starts-unique-and-understudied-form-health-care-waste?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8pOmORYi6r6B7esLiFRsfpJDtEzT3Dew6EkMc3kOhiUmvrEK8XAGvhVC5nVNzIZhm8quzPoqfM_vxFd-iiLp_TVEzj8w&_hsmi=427870602&utm_source=hasu
“Regulatory false starts” occur when investments in compliance infrastructure, operational workflow redesign, technology acquisition, or staff education and training are abandoned after implementation efforts face prolonged delays or are halted.
States Should Add The Six-Item Food Security Module To The BRFSS Michele Ver PloegandColleen Heflin July 10, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/states-should-add-six-item-food-security-module-brfss?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8OpTE-cNfYvSO2Iy5KDK_WVtenaK43G8MYy4w6pdb0__WAxrfdw2rg2hH9Z71NnqJq3VOAFazHC5JZtT9cuO7SWsF_NQ&_hsmi=427870602&utm_source=hasu
As they prepare to field the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for 2027, states can secure the important data necessary to guide policy and resource choices related to food security.
Confronting the Primary Care Crisis Jane M. Zhu,Yalda Jabbarpour,Joanne Spetz,Ateev Mehrotra,Darshali Vyas,Michael Topmiller,Lori Rodefeld,Colin P. West,andRobert Monteiro July 27, 2026, 3:00 PM
https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/he20260707.863207/full/?utm_campaign=event&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_ye9l8Y6VcnTEKsU8IC4nAgQ_ybWXc1oaQgoZvzDOJhiHk_-hUxxbx34-md1PcdfLKjWPhKnwxkSiTwTawsZHX9ttMkg&_hsmi=427870602&utm_content=briefing&utm_source=hasu
With an aging population, the U.S. faces growing demand for primary care—and more demands on clinicians. In this virtual event, researchers and policy experts will explore workforce challenges, their impact on health inequities, and strategies to strengthen care capacity.
The United States faces a potential crisis, as an aging population meets head-on with a shortage of primary care physicians, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Join us on July 27th for this free webinar with researchers and policy experts assessing the factors contributing to U.S. primary care workforce shortages and policy approaches to ensure adequate access to care across communities.
AI: Hurting Doctor-Patient Relationships? +++++
One Factor May Undermine Patient Trust
Technical disruptions in video calls can negatively affect rapport with the person on the other end. Since the COVID pandemic, videoconferencing has spread across many parts of life. More physicians now use it for video visits with patients and for discussions with colleagues. Technical issues such as picture or audio interruptions are almost unavoidable.
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/poor-audio-or-video-calls-patients-may-trust-you-less-2025a10010eg?ecd=WNL_physrep_260711_MSCPEDIT_patient-relationship_etid8495179&uac=148436CN&impID=8495179
How to Build Trust When Patients Believe Misinformation
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/how-build-trust-when-patients-believe-misinformation-2026a100082j?ecd=WNL_physrep_260711_MSCPEDIT_patient-relationship_etid8495179&uac=148436CN&impID=8495179
The way physicians respond to a misinformed patient directly affects clinical outcomes and retention. Communication experts say if you come across as dismissive or paternalistic, the patient is likely to withdraw. You may never see them again.
Docs Say Patients Are Losing Trust in Their Treatment Advice
Nearly half of the physicians believe that patients have less trust in their treatment recommendations today than they did several years ago, a possible reflection of growing public distrust in science, a new Medscape survey found.
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/doctors-say-patients-are-losing-trust-their-treatment-advice-2026a1000ggm?ecd=WNL_physrep_260711_MSCPEDIT_patient-relationship_etid8495179&uac=148436CN&impID=8495179
Do Your Bedside Encounters Build Trust or Just Check Boxes?
How much time do you spend with a typical patient? It’s probably less than you’d like. The statistics tell the story; 56% of doctors spend 16 minutes or less with patients (6% spend less than 9 minutes; 21% spend 9-12 minutes; and 29% spend 13-16 minutes) according to a Medscape Physician Compensation report.
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/do-your-bedside-encounters-build-trust-or-just-check-boxes-2026a1000190?ecd=WNL_physrep_260711_MSCPEDIT_patient-relationship_etid8495179&uac=148436CN&impID=8495179
Physician Attire and Trust: How Much Does It Matter?
The physician-patient relationship is a fundamental aspect of healthcare, and the first and the first visit to the clinic plays a critical role in establishing this relationship. Patients usually develop trust in doctors based on first impressions, and positive experiences during the first visit lead to lasting trust and satisfaction. During the first visit, impressions develop from subtle cues based on both verbal and nonverbal communication, as well as personal attributes, such as attire, appearance, and grooming.
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/physician-attire-and-trust-how-much-does-it-matter-2026a1000c41?ecd=WNL_physrep_260711_MSCPEDIT_patient-relationship_etid8495179&uac=148436CN&impID=8495179
The State of Patient Care: Medscape Patient Relationships Index Report 2026 Tony Stasiek
https://www.medscape.com/p11/state-patient-care-medscape-patient-relationship-index-2026a1000m9x?ecd=WNL_physrep_260711_MSCPEDIT_patient-relationship_etid8495179&uac=148436CN&impID=8495179
Treating and interacting with patients is generally rewarding, physicians say. But AI and increases in the cost of care may turn doctor-patient relationships somewhat sideways, a Medscape survey found. And physicians may be cautiously optimistic about it.
sábado, 11 de julio de 2026
Medicare Advantage Insurers Deny Prior Authorization Requests for Post Acute Care at Substantially Higher Rates Than the Overall Denial Rate Authors: Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Meredith Freed, and Juliette Cubanski Published: Jul 6, 2026
https://www.kff.org/medicare/medicare-advantage-insurers-deny-prior-authorization-requests-for-post-acute-care-at-substantially-higher-rates-than-the-overall-denial-rate/?utm_campaign=KFF-This-Week&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8q_Nuo4kyAmqNj68572UGnfLqBZFQPZd8ljnqyHJfTVvGbK95eRDJcVyQFT9SrqxbL87EvhyUnfYmwmpvmVbI4VqMf5Q&_hsmi=427848216&utm_content=427848216&utm_source=hs_email
Prior authorization practices by health insurers have come under scrutiny in recent years, in part spurred by the public sentiment that delays and denials of care are a problem. According to KFF polling, about seven in ten insured adults say prior authorization is a burden. New evidence from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) within the Department of Health and Human Services documents the high rate of denials of prior authorization requests for certain post-acute care services in Medicare Advantage plans, which now enroll more than half of all Medicare beneficiaries.
Contraceptive Implants: Access and Coverage in the U.S. Published: Jul 8, 2026
https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/contraceptive-implants/?utm_campaign=KFF-This-Week&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--up-u2cKBPE8mRPiOQzvr7oBEOQyAN3_Vm365y_aKQoCw7zzoov5G5Vlm_-aKSiFXR_8W9RQNIBXFQO1--04Yl9HQEHg&_hsmi=427848216&utm_content=427848216&utm_source=hs_email
The contraceptive implant is the most effective reversible birth control method available. Implants, along with intrauterine devices (IUDs), are known as long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) because they can be used to prevent pregnancy for several years and can be removed at any time. Implants have been available since the 1990s and have undergone substantial design modifications since their debut. The newest generation implant was introduced to the U.S. market in 2006 and remains the only contraceptive implant available in the U.S. Barriers to implant use include limited awareness and availability, high up-front costs for clinicians to stock the device, and required insertion and removal by a trained clinician. This fact sheet provides an overview of contraceptive implants including use, availability, and financing.
How much and why ACA Marketplace premiums are going up in 2027 By Matt McGough, Jared Ortaliza, Ashley Ferguson, Imani Telesford, Shameek Rakshit, Emma Wager Twitter, Lynne Cotter, and Cynthia Cox KFF July 8, 2026
https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-much-and-why-aca-marketplace-premiums-are-going-up-in-2027/?utm_campaign=KFF-This-Week&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9M6CLEki8FyENsvAAD-AK55xRDXfS4c_Ekvhih96996bSLVMfQnGMqK9sT2qobGZuD4rcKXfpPaMUkIrSXGkc3gOaeIA&_hsmi=427848216&utm_content=427848216&utm_source=hs_email
Every spring and summer, health insurers submit rate filings to state regulators detailing expectations and premium rate changes for individual market health plans for the coming year. This analysis focuses on individual market filings for plans selling Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace coverage. These filings provide insight into what factors insurers expect will drive health costs for the coming year. The individual market is mostly comprised of people enrolled in Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant health plans, particularly those sold through the Marketplaces (Healthcare.gov and state-run platforms like Covered California). While less than 10% of Americans get their health coverage through the individual market, many of the factors driving premiums in this market – like growth in hospital or pharmaceutical costs – are similar across all private plans, and the detailed filings available for ACA-compliant coverage provide insight into these cost drivers. There are also issues unique to ACA Marketplace plans, including federal premium assistance for most purchasers and regulations governing how they operate.
KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Update on Common Vaccine Myths Authors: Alex Montero, Grace Sparks, Julian Montalvo III, Ashley Kirzinger, and Liz Hamel Published: Jun 30, 2026
https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-tracking-poll-on-health-information-and-trust-update-on-common-vaccine-myths/?utm_campaign=KFF-This-Week&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Kuo_k6wwJd37--8IOdIwi50Kmrf0L0we8DnrzuE7Aj2vB6kIVlwZ3GT567yTCKnjEePkdapKTciHkFYybHHjBRG1W1g&_hsmi=427848216&utm_content=427848216&utm_source=hs_email
With childhood vaccination rates in the U.S. continuing to decline as measles cases rise across the U.S., KFF’s latest Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust shows that several commonly circulated vaccine myths remain pervasive among the public. Many adults say they have heard false claims about the measles and COVID-19 vaccines, including that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines have been proven to cause autism in children (66%), that more people have died from the COVID-19 vaccines than the virus (46%), that mRNA vaccines can alter DNA (36%), or that measles vaccines are more dangerous than measles itself (29%).
Did the Affordable Care Act Make Health Care More Affordable? Narrated by: Cynthia Cox Published: Jul 9, 2026
https://www.kff.org/health-costs/did-the-affordable-care-act-make-health-care-more-affordable/
The expiration of the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits at the start of 2026, combined with rising insurer premiums, put a spotlight on health care affordability that extends beyond Marketplace enrollees.KFF’s Cynthia Cox examines the ACA's record and the broader underlying question it raises: what's a fair price for Americans people to pay for health care?
What Your Employer-Based Health Coverage Really Costs Narrated by: Matthew Rae Published: Jul 9, 2026
https://www.kff.org/health-costs/what-your-employer-based-health-coverage-really-costs/
More people get health coverage through their job than from any other source. The deduction workers see in each paycheck for their share of the premium is only a fraction of the total cost. In this video, KFF’s Matt Rae unpacks the full cost of employer-sponsored insurance and why it may be the biggest health care affordability story hiding in plain sight.
Health Care Costs Keep Rising … Why and Who Pays? Narrated by: Larry Levitt Published: Jul 9, 2026
https://www.kff.org/health-costs/health-care-costs-keep-rising-why-and-who-pays/
The U.S. spends more on health care than other large, wealthy countries. Concerns about rising costs aren't new, yet somehow we keep paying the bill. In this video, KFF’s Larry Levitt explains how we got here, who bears the consequences and why reining in spending systematically may be central to the next big health care debate. KFF’s Larry Levitt, Executive Vice President for Health Policy, explains how we got here, who bears the consequences and…
How Unaffordable is Health Care? A Video Series from KFF Published: Jul 9, 2026
https://www.kff.org/health-costs/how-unaffordable-is-health-care-a-video-series-from-kff/
Health care affordability is a top issue for many people. Why and how did care get so expensive? In this three-part video series, KFF experts look at the rising cost of health care in the U.S. from the macro level to the issues facing everyday Americans. Drawing on KFF policy analysis and polling, the videos examine the underlying drivers of health care spending, the true cost of employer sponsored health insurance and whether the Affordable…
New KFF Poll Examines Patterns of Belief Across Common Vaccine Myths Joel Luther , Hagere Yilma , and Irving Washington
https://www.kff.org/health-information-trust/new-kff-poll-examines-patterns-of-belief-across-common-vaccine-myths-the-monitor/
KFF’s latest Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust shows that larger shares of the public express uncertainty over common vaccine myths than definitive belief. The latest analysis, looking at patterns of belief across vaccine myths, shows which adults are consistent myth believers, consistent myth deniers, and those who fall in the “mixed middle” whose views are less defined and may be an important focus for those looking to counter vaccine misinformation. These findings, including a detailed explainer on patterns of belief across vaccine myths, can also be found on KFF’s interactive Health Information and Trust Polling Dashboard.
Who Are Direct Care Workers and How Might Federal Policy Changes Impact the Workforce? Authors: Priya Chidambaram, Drishti Pillai, and Alice Burns Published: Jul 9, 2026
Who Are Direct Care Workers and How Might Federal Policy Changes Impact the Workforce?
Authors: Priya Chidambaram, Drishti Pillai, and Alice Burns
Published: Jul 9, 2026
https://www.kff.org/medicaid/who-are-direct-care-workers-and-how-might-federal-policy-changes-impact-the-workforce/
This analysis uses the 2024 American Community Survey (ACS) to provide an overview of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the direct care workforce, including home health aides, personal care aides, and nursing assistants who work in nursing facilities, residential care facilities, home health, and settings that provide nonresidential services for older adults and younger adults with disabilities.
Medicaid and the Road Ahead: Spending Cuts, Work Requirements and What’s Next for States, Providers and Families Event Date: Jul 23, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
Medicaid and the Road Ahead: Spending Cuts, Work Requirements and What’s Next for States, Providers and Families
Event Date: Jul 23, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
https://www.kff.org/event/medicaid-and-the-road-ahead/
On Thursday, July 23 at 12 p.m. ET/ 9 am PT, join KFF and States Newsroom for an event focused on the impacts of work requirements and other federal policy changes on states, health care systems, and the people who rely on Medicaid.
A Look at 1115 Waiver Evaluations for Medicaid Payments to Institutions of Mental Disease (IMD) for Substance Use Disorder Author: Heather Saunders Published: Jul 9, 2026
https://www.kff.org/medicaid/a-look-at-1115-waiver-evaluations-for-medicaid-payments-to-institutions-of-mental-disease-imd-for-substance-use-disorder/
As SUD IMD waiver evaluations and renewals are becoming available, states face a shifting Medicaid and policy and waiver landscape. This brief examines findings from the first available summative evaluations for SUD IMD waivers and what they show about progress toward meeting goals and milestones.
Tracking Key Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Actions Under the Trump Administration Authors: Nirmita Panchal and Heather Saunders Published: Jul 10, 2026
https://www.kff.org/mental-health/tracking-key-mental-health-and-substance-use-policy-actions-under-the-trump-administration/
A new KFF tracker highlights key federal policy actions during President Trump’s second term that concern issues related to mental health and substance use. The second Trump administration has emphasized law-and-order strategies and scaled back several mental health and substance use-related services, while also continuing some treatment-focused initiatives. The tracker can be viewed in multiple ways, including chronological order of policy actions and by category (Mental Health; Opioids/Substance Use Disorder; Federal Infrastructure/ Data/Guidance; and Gun…
In Preliminary Rate Filings, ACA Marketplace Insurers Largely Propose Double-Digit Premium Increase For 2027, Following a Steep Climb This Year Premiums Could Jump More Than One-Third Over Two Years—Middle-Income Enrollees Face the Full Costs Without Enhanced Credits, Even as Existing Federal Subsidies Shield Most from Further Increases Published: Jul 8, 2026
https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/in-preliminary-rate-filings-aca-marketplace-insurers-largely-propose-double-digit-premium-increase-for-2027-following-a-steep-climb-this-year/
ACA Marketplace insurers are proposing a median premium increase of 14% for 2027— indicating a likely second consecutive year of double-digit increases, according to a new analysis of preliminary rate filings in 16 states and DC. If these increases hold, typical premiums for insurers participating in the ACA Marketplaces would jump by more than one-third between 2025 and 2027.
Americans May Be Smarter About Vaccines Than You Think Author: Drew Altman Published: Jul 7, 2026
https://www.kff.org/from-drew-altman/americans-may-be-smarter-about-vaccines-than-you-think/?utm_campaign=KFF-This-Week&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8PX4q7qGae-yhdasS7gBot6czeFYep2hjuVA7vS2vsxKVReoNUZXMFOxpF4WvGLrwsqQQ8_tnzzhJYZjZGRJAtS5GGMQ&_hsmi=427848216&utm_content=427848216&utm_source=hs_email
In a new column that analyzes recent KFF polling, Founding President and CEO Dr. Drew Altman concludes that only a sliver of the public hold definitive anti-science, anti-vaccine views, and are greatly outnumbered by the people who believe established science, with even more Americans stuck in a “muddled middle.”
viernes, 10 de julio de 2026
America’s small businesses are giving up on health insurance Employers and workers confront unaffordable premium hikes, with no relief in sight
America’s small businesses are giving up on health insurance
Employers and workers confront unaffordable premium hikes, with no relief in sight
By Bob HermanJuly 7, 2026
Herman has covered employer-based health insurance for over a decade. He spoke with more than 50 people for STAT’s Out of Pocket, Out of Reach series, including small business owners, workers, employee-benefits leaders, health policy experts, attorneys, consultants, brokers, and insurance executives.
https://www.statnews.com/2026/07/07/small-business-health-insurance-costs-out-of-pocket-series-part-1/
The primary care crisis paradox Primary care, though valuable, is not the only lever that moves population health
https://www.statnews.com/2026/07/10/primary-care-data-pcps-health-care-crisis-investment/
By Christopher P. Childers and Thomas C. TsaiJuly 10, 2026
Childers is a surgical oncologist at the University of Washington and directs the Payment and Outcomes Research Lab. Tsai is a general and gastrointestinal surgeon and medical director for health policy research for the American College of Surgeons.
Parents’ attachment to phone screens can lead to anxiety in children – study
Parents’ attachment to phone screens can lead to anxiety in children – study
Teens feel ‘devalued, dismissed or unimportant’ when parents snub them in favor of phones, new research finds
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/09/parents-phone-screen-anxiety-children?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9E0djT3NVp8p9Em74ECH9GkK9BHY_YlzhPjAhoaSz1zTGC7H8aGezax2rxl7xljXRTWzyacSAfGfRFBaZpzu7ZbSsSlw&_hsmi=427809115&utm_content=427809115&utm_source=hs_email
The Guardian: Parents’ Attachment To Phone Screens Can Lead To Anxiety In Children – Study
The term “phubbing” was conceived several years ago to describe the modern-day phenomenon of a person ignoring the social setting in front of them in favor of their phone. That act has long-term negative effects when parents do it around their children, according to new research. A study titled, “Mommy, do you love your phone more than me?”, published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Psychology in June, found that parents and caregivers’ attachment to screens can exacerbate anxiety and insecurity in children and teens. (Kerr, 7/9)
White House’s grant overhaul proposal: Where things stand
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/legal-regulatory-issues/white-houses-grant-overhaul-proposal-where-things-stand/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--nT5xg_IA0LGIx0ocgiIu7A-Xum8A8jNBZWwTz8cRgSBNAwZgUx06cKb5OiNOBY7MqK67msFjibFmem7JSJB4AiUR1Aw&_hsmi=427809115&utm_content=427809115&utm_source=hs_email
Becker's Hospital Review: White House’s Grant Overhaul Proposal: Where Things Stand
The Trump administration’s proposed overhaul of federal grantmaking has drawn nearly 99,000 public comments, with the July 13 deadline to submit comments now days away. The Office of Management and Budget’s proposal, published in the Federal Register on May 29, would update how the federal government awards and manages grants across more than 40 agencies, including HHS, the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. The proposal includes more than 320 changes to the government’s existing grant guidance, according to the Association of American Universities. (Bean, 7/9)
Massie: Might as well call ObamaCare ‘Trumpcare’ Comments: by Ashleigh Fields - 07/09/26 11:38 AM ET
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5960829-thomas-massie-republicans-obamacare/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9P8mqPy1Iwsj309zqaqymKqywGDA_L0MFGLyXn-QufxRt6YAaS_813Nm6kUHvqaj2p8SAWoKsB28cmk8Z6GEbJz1kAPQ&_hsmi=427809115&utm_content=427809115&utm_source=hs_email
The Hill: Thomas Massie Calls Out Republicans For Obamacare Inaction
Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie (R) on Wednesday said ObamaCare might as well be renamed “Trumpcare” as premiums increase and Republicans haven’t moved to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). “Might as well call it Trumpcare now. Our party has made no serious effort to repeal Obamacare and legalize affordable health insurance after taking control of the House, Senate & White House,” Massie wrote Wednesday on the social platform X. “Why? Because the current system enriches insurance and hospital companies,” he added. (Fields, 7/9)
Lawmakers tell HHS to crack down on discrimination in medically assisted suicide Comments: by Helen Huiskes - 07/09/26 10:56 AM ET
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5960713-assisted-suicide-monitoring-rules-hospices/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--6aBtfaECsJEks0OoWoRL5zHA_Ckx8rH3zJOrB8Y8f4HkrMKiv0G53d1bnLRQIaTBTHO6NzHUAWhGTTBvsKuIM7WjFwQ&_hsmi=427809115&utm_content=427809115&utm_source=hs_email
The Hill: Lawmakers Urge HHS To Monitor For Assisted Suicide Discrimination
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is urging Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to set up new monitoring rules for hospices to root out discrimination against vulnerable populations in the provision of medically assisted suicide. In a letter sent to Kennedy on Thursday, Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Reps. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) and Luis Correa (D-Calif.) recommended that Kennedy’s HHS establish reporting requirements in the hospice program to better monitor the provision of medically assisted suicide for discrimination against people with disabilities, older adults and other vulnerable populations. (Huiskes, 7/9)
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today's selections are on death, smoking, fertility, and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/weekend-reading-052226/
Parents' Device Devotion Is Unsettling To Their Children, Study Finds
Parents' Device Devotion Is Unsettling To Their Children, Study Finds
In a study of 600 U.S. children ages 12 to 17, researchers noted that "parental attention to screens during bids for connection left them feeling devalued, dismissed, or unimportant.” Phone use “could really unfavorably impact their attachment security, which they will carry for life,” said Don Grant, the lead author of the study.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/public-health-071026/
$1B Program To Boost Glove Supply Exposes Challenges Of Bringing Manufacturing Back To US
$1B Program To Boost Glove Supply Exposes Challenges Of Bringing Manufacturing Back To US
Bloomberg explores the practical difficulties of making medical products in the U.S. American-made medical gloves are still more expensive than those made elsewhere, and the few U.S. companies that make them without federal help struggle to scale as hospitals and the government aren’t buying them in bulk.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/health-industry-071026/
ACA Coverage In Texas, Connecticut Shrinks After Federal Enhanced Subsidies Expire
ACA Coverage In Texas, Connecticut Shrinks After Federal Enhanced Subsidies Expire
February data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services showed that year-over-year effectuated enrollment declined in 49 states after the expiration of federal Obamacare subsidies, but the drop was less steep in Texas than in most other states, The Texas Tribune reports. In Connecticut, the CT Mirror reports that more than 22,000 ACA enrollees lost coverage during the first six months of this year after failing to make premium payments — a 75% increase over the same period last year.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/state-watch-071026/
Medical Journal Retracts Liver Transplant Studies Over Concern Organs Were 'Procured Unethically'
Medical Journal Retracts Liver Transplant Studies Over Concern Organs Were 'Procured Unethically'
The two Chinese studies were published more than a decade ago in the Journal of Hepatology, MedPage Today reports. Other research news is on diabetes drugs and autoimmunity risk; long covid and heart-related fitness; and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/science-and-innovations-071026/
ARPA-H To Spend $160M On Gene Editing Drug Development
ARPA-H To Spend $160M On Gene Editing Drug Development
The U.S.’ “moonshot” agency for health research will support seven teams across the country pursuing custom gene editing treatments for a spate of rare diseases that affect different organ systems, Stat reports. Also in the news: the Trump administration’s proposed overhaul of federal grantmaking; a look ahead toward the midterm elections; and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/administration-news-071026/
As Cyclospora Cases Top 1,250, Tracking That Pathogen Remains Optional For CDC
As Cyclospora Cases Top 1,250, Tracking That Pathogen Remains Optional For CDC
It has been a year since FoodNet, the main foodborne-illness surveillance arm of the CDC, made tracking Cyclospora optional. Michigan and Ohio are among the states experiencing an outbreak, CIDRAP reports.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/outbreaks-and-health-threats-071026/
The Politics of Health at Midyear Episode 454 • July 9, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/podcast/what-the-health-454-democrats-midterms-nonprofit-hospitals-july-9-2026/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Rh6oNJpCGDy8NYkuu3kYQhTyYtDo2SrgInvfG4ZUzEPJa-7oWzsJXmjJl2Ox2buZ3SIRrLbCv359Km7S_8QA9EZ_Jpg&_hsmi=427809115&utm_content=427809115&utm_source=hs_email
KFF Health News: KFF Health News’ ‘What The Health?’: The Politics Of Health At Midyear
As health costs rise and insurance coverage falls, Democrats appear to be doubling down on the healthcare issue as they press their case to take control of Congress in November’s midterm elections. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Republicans — and some Democrats — are taking aim at nonprofit hospitals and whether they are delivering enough “community benefit” to justify not having to pay taxes. (Rovner, 7/9)
A New Option for Long-Term Care Costs By Paula Span July 10, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/syndicate/long-term-care-costs-washington-state-payroll-option/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--OrgXoWWPSM-fiPGKGl-fIHm8y2zm5J6m3lyEW_M4IzCDaKwI_18np-XuheWpZckpNfQchI0KUEAyglwWgAixpohOJHA&_hsmi=427809115&utm_content=427809115&utm_source=hs_email
KFF Health News: A New Option For Long-Term Care Costs
Kelly Haggett figures that a mandatory surcharge added to Washington state’s payroll tax cost her about $500 last year. But she doesn’t really mind. “On a scale of 1 to 10 of my annoyance with taxes in general, this one is about a 2,” she said. “I see the benefits.” The small surcharge on wages provides the funding for Washington Cares, the nation’s first state-operated program for long-term care insurance. It was set to begin distributing benefits July 1. (Span, 7/10)
They Harvest the Nation’s Food, but a New Rule May Strip Them of Health Insurance New Medicaid work requirements could make a complex system even harder for farmworkers to navigate. By Paula Andalo July 10, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/insurance/agricultural-workers-medicaid-eligibility-immigration-food-harvest/
KFF Health News: They Harvest The Nation’s Food, But A New Rule May Strip Them Of Health Insurance
Seasonal work. Inconsistent hours. Frequent moves. Cash payments and informal jobs. For farmworkers who rely on Medicaid, these common employment patterns could put their health coverage at risk. It’s a heightened concern for the estimated million-plus farmworkers who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, as new work requirements kick in for the federal-state healthcare program that serves low-income and disabled Americans. (Andalo, 7/10)
When Patients Arrive With AI Diagnoses Stéphanie Lavaud
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/when-patients-arrive-ai-diagnoses-2026a1000muh?ecd=WNL_trdalrt_pos1_ous_260710_etid8494178&uac=148436CN&impID=8494178
It’s increasingly common for patients to arrive at appointments with a diagnosis in hand — one they’ve generated themselves using AI. Is that a sign of empowered patients, or a source of clinical concern? And in an era of constant information, misinformation, and overload, has the doctor-patient relationship been weakened?
Those questions were at...
Rethinking Routine Screening of Asymptomatic Patients George D. Lundberg, MD
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/rethinking-routine-screening-asymptomatic-patients-2026a1000msz?src=
To screen or not to screen is not the question. We all screen. Long before many patients enter a physician’s office, they perform their own personal exam. Waking up in the morning, many of us implicitly ask: Are my vision and hearing working well? Arms and legs moving properly? Any surprising new pain? Can I smell the coffee? Urine look OK? What did my bathroom scale tell me? Looking forward to the day?
Universal Bulk Billing Requires More Than Good Intentions Toby Gardner, MBBS
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/universal-bulk-billing-requires-more-than-good-intentions-2026a1000mkv
The current Australian government’s ambition to expand bulk billing has been a cornerstone of its primary care reform agenda, aimed at improving affordability and equity. There is a growing gap, however, between political aspirations and the economic reality facing general practice.
jueves, 9 de julio de 2026
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs ++...
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of health policy studies and briefs.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/research-roundup-the-latest-science-discoveries-and-breakthroughs-69/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20Daily%20Health%20Policy%20Report&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8okI5fqUXLTELh3pcBvL9WPEMNZyGCdJUDsnap0DCTs1MLKQJuTCIxOc0rsJi8_G9aG5VeOzNcV8ORc7Ggs-Y_yuWwUw&_hsmi=427669063&utm_content=427669063&utm_source=hs_email
Viewpoints: Grandma's Using Cannabis. Doctors Can Help; GLP-1s Fuel Our Unhealthy Culture
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/viewpoints-grandmas-using-cannabis-doctors-can-help-glp-1s-fuel-our-unhealthy-culture/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20Daily%20Health%20Policy%20Report&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8F4087TeFE8TZkohmiDsJtYNFU75wGrTrEzL4EWZdApAYmfen8kDdsODQQEqRS3eBdzmld3YM9PcCiKd_SL-1cIgQAgw&_hsmi=427669063&utm_content=427669063&utm_source=hs_email
WHO: Cancer Cases Are Expected To Rise Worldwide
WHO: Cancer Cases Are Expected To Rise Worldwide
A World Health Organization report projects that the annual number of cancer cases could jump from 20.6 million in 2024 to 35 million by 2050. The increase in cases is predicted to show up in lower-income countries with poor access to diagnoses and treatments, The Washington Post reports.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/public-health-070926/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20Daily%20Health%20Policy%20Report&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8lfbTminvkFsPsaWqn3vyzTfVB9QKyLgh-_8Dl7ATstQAL6M7BUvZxlYXllIXbX0o99UvS53LEd8PRFLVxFXZ1HptQKw&_hsmi=427669063&utm_content=427669063&utm_source=hs_email
Debilitating Stomach Bug Sickens Nearly 1,000 In Michigan
Debilitating Stomach Bug Sickens Nearly 1,000 In Michigan
The source of the cyclospora infections has not yet been identified, AP reports, and no deaths have been reported. Meanwhile, investigators are probing similar illnesses in 28 other states. Also in the news: an E. coli outbreak linked with frozen organic blueberries; New World screwworm cases in Texas and New Mexico; and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/outbreaks-and-health-threats-070926/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20Daily%20Health%20Policy%20Report&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9_HWoOsLJ927XZEUJyF9ZtPT0h9HFp7F_W0jLsZxH7W1xyeBN2W3EpuvlXGlKPkwbWcD5PVlONRWgMBYVl280AMlDPfA&_hsmi=427669063&utm_content=427669063&utm_source=hs_email
Health Sector Continues To Lead Hiring, Even As Nonclinical Jobs Suffer Cuts
Health Sector Continues To Lead Hiring, Even As Nonclinical Jobs Suffer Cuts
According to Labor Department data, the healthcare industry leads in hiring, with an estimated 22,000 jobs added in June, Modern Healthcare reports. However, not all roles are faring as well. Revenue cycle management, as well as food and housekeeping roles, are all coming under fire.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/health-industry-070926/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20Daily%20Health%20Policy%20Report&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9bOZl7-_gFFaxBgwv2YCK6y66XLlqC2WZqGVNbr4K4aXptm7MuQTXhZJIlXSWvnh_nnBFhaHobT1ZAWqVERL-AR7oJpA&_hsmi=427669063&utm_content=427669063&utm_source=hs_email
Virginia Offers Relief After Federal ACA Subsidies End
Virginia Offers Relief After Federal ACA Subsidies End
Virginia's General Assembly approved $150 million to lower health insurance premiums for qualifying Marketplace enrollees, a move that will help an estimated 200,000 residents afford coverage, Cardinal News reports. Also in the news: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Kansas, and elsewhere.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/state-watch-070926/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20Daily%20Health%20Policy%20Report&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8erUyJOEG0L82_u-y619TnefIPGl9kHN5SQcaojOfJKBRlOMTd2cWH2NBhgfOosSaa4R8QrAuUkyLoNtul0WU0uPf58A&_hsmi=427669063&utm_content=427669063&utm_source=hs_email
State Lawmakers Aim To Rein In Health Insurance Giants
State Lawmakers Aim To Rein In Health Insurance Giants
The insurance conglomerates — UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health and Cigna — are fiercely fighting back via lawsuits, lobbyists, and ads, The New York Times reports. Also: Medicaid work requirements, the cost of gene therapy, mental health leave, and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/healthcare-costs-070926/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20Daily%20Health%20Policy%20Report&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-83x0shXWCN_iWq1l0ScKZHvnrdb-6BeNYGn1oG3cFYTtKf4fs4y29Nz1dbIqItYB0h8ixn2ePhHb6B-ztM4py0t2rLBA&_hsmi=427669063&utm_content=427669063&utm_source=hs_email
Covid Vaccine 'Injury Table' In The Works As Shot Compensation Overhaul Continues
Covid Vaccine 'Injury Table' In The Works As Shot Compensation Overhaul Continues
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced his intent to create a list of injuries thought to be caused by covid vaccines. Such an initiative would make it easier for people to seek redress, Stat reports. It is slated to be proposed in November.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/administration-news-070926/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20Daily%20Health%20Policy%20Report&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--3j_P29UF5SZDqI2I06ksiy7iupPFJGT1tRKL_QJeeQfUaoMqAwtM_owkaMwcFkSOoWW7svIJtRQBHb2gysI5vogtP1w&_hsmi=427669063&utm_content=427669063&utm_source=hs_email
My Search for a Psychiatric Bed in an Overburdened Health System Over the past 70 years, the number of inpatient psychiatric beds has dropped dramatically, leaving many without critical care when they experience mental health crises. I was one of the lucky ones to get a bed — after 21 hours of waiting. By Helen Santoro Illustration by Oona Zenda July 9, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/health-industry/psychiatric-bed-shortage-overburdened-health-system/
Eight days before my 33rd birthday in April, a social worker at a crisis clinic near Denver determined I was an imminent danger to myself. She placed me on an involuntary 72-hour mental health hold.
What came next wasn’t treatment, but a search for a bed. Clinic staffers called area hospitals with inpatient psychiatric units, asking if they had available beds. They didn’t. So, I was told I had to spend the night at the clinic, which is open 24/7. I settled into a recliner, trying to make myself comfortable as my mind drifted in a blank, disassociated haze. Sleep came in brief bursts.
Did the Affordable Care Act Make Health Care More Affordable? Narrated by: Cynthia Cox Published: Jul 9, 2026
WATCH Part 3: How Affordable is the Affordable Care Act?
The ACA has been criticized for not living up to its name. But has it actually failed on affordability? The answer is complicated — and consequential.
KFF’s Cynthia Cox, Senior Vice President and Director of the Program on the ACA, looks at the ACA's record and how the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits put a spotlight on health care affordability that extends beyond Marketplace enrollees.
https://www.kff.org/health-costs/did-the-affordable-care-act-make-health-care-more-affordable/?utm_campaign=KFF-Health-Costs&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8moZxbEK25qUeSmldAxBIe-SATow8tKDccVxzpybLa-JKkhEBZhr9M-r0iCTzIawPMsdtIaIUxcMxUdu66IVNYEBFZ9g&_hsmi=427505920&utm_content=427505920&utm_source=hs_email
What Your Employer-Based Health Coverage Really Costs Narrated by: Matthew Rae Published: Jul 9, 2026
WATCH Part 2: The True Cost of Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance
More people get health coverage through their jobs than from any other source. The premium deduction workers see in each paycheck is only a fraction of the total cost.
KFF’s Matt Rae, Associate Director of the Program on the Health Care Marketplace, unpacks the full cost of employer-sponsored insurance and why that may be the bigger health care affordability story hiding in plain sight.
https://www.kff.org/health-costs/what-your-employer-based-health-coverage-really-costs/?utm_campaign=KFF-Health-Costs&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9wqhlQjdRe8cXNUoOTVEpFOv7gmhCYntlRA7mikuVlHUgyimU1me8d6qnKZ2zxfQZY3htq58a7lRIKmWG6hWM6v68new&_hsmi=427505920&utm_content=427505920&utm_source=hs_email
Health Care Costs Keep Rising … Why and Who Pays? Narrated by: Larry Levitt Published: Jul 9, 2026
WATCH Part 1: Health Care Unaffordability at the Macro Level
The U.S. spends more on health care than other large, wealthy nations. Concerns about rising costs aren't new, yet somehow we keep paying the bill.
KFF’s Larry Levitt, Executive Vice President for Health Policy, explains how we got here, who bears the consequences, and why reining in spending systematically may be central to the next big health care debate.
https://www.kff.org/health-costs/health-care-costs-keep-rising-why-and-who-pays/?utm_campaign=KFF-Health-Costs&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9Opu3ZsYjMOogjHTMGFET5-K759LccIP04lGAvcWx28y8qSg55C07w2b_BU_t4LhAffhBWz26qlX7nIuDQkLJQ7FZw_w&_hsmi=427505920&utm_content=427505920&utm_source=hs_email
Pediatric Cancer in the 2000s: Uneven Survival Gains Seen Richard Mark Kirkner + +...
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/pediatric-cancer-2000s-uneven-survival-gains-seen-2026a1000mmc
Over the previous two decades, overall survival for children with cancer has improved unevenly.
Survival gains varied by cancer, and the demographic factors of race and ethnicity, economic status, and zip code also seemed to be driving disparities in cancer survival, according to a large population analysis of a national database.
Personal Finance Perspectives
The Prior Authorization Problem in Atopic Dermatitis
Prior authorization remains a major barrier to biologic access in AD. Dr Chuck Vega covers denial rates, appeal outcomes, and the clinical data that make the fight worthwhile.
https://www.medscape.com/index/list_11189_0
The Biology of a Broken Heart Mónica M. Bernardo
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/biology-broken-heart-2026a1000n07
Shakespeare wrote about it before modern medicine had even considered the possibility. Romeo dies believing that Juliet has passed away, and Juliet takes her own life upon finding Romeo’s lifeless body. There is no prior injury, no infection, and no coronary obstruction that would explain this outcome from the perspective of modern biology — only a succession of loss, despair, and emotional collapse. That scene has been read and interpreted countless times as a literary tragedy; today, cardiology and neuroscience are debating whether, in some cases, the line separating poetic metaphor and human biology is more blurred than it seems.
Inside Isolation Units for Highly Contagious Diseases Elisa Riera
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/inside-isolation-units-highly-contagious-diseases-2026a1000n63
Hospitals need specialized high-level isolation units to care for patients with highly contagious infectious diseases while protecting healthcare workers, other patients, and the wider public. Outbreaks involving pathogens such as Ebola have shown how quickly these threats can test hospital preparedness and expose weaknesses in infection-control systems.
The Essential Clinical Research You’re Probably Not Reading Lisa O’Mary
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/essential-clinical-research-youre-probably-not-reading-2026a1000n6a
What Dylan Graetz, MD, MPH, found after examining four decades of failed efforts to treat adolescent girls with anemia in the slums of Mumbai taught her a critical lesson: Sometimes evidence-based medicine driven by rigorous data alone can miss the target entirely.
One Conversation Makes Testing Less Stressful for Patients Debbie Koenig July 09, 2026
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/one-conversation-makes-testing-less-stressful-patients-2026a1000n6d
For a physician, ordering a medical test is a routine, almost mundane part of the daily workflow. For a patient who’s in for anything but a wellness visit, though, the experience is far from the norm. And if they don’t understand why tests have been ordered and when to expect to hear about the results, it can lead to unnecessary worry.
Is Alzheimer’s Research Focusing on the Wrong Target? David Brzostowicki July 09, 2026
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/alzheimers-research-focusing-wrong-target-2026a1000nal
In April, a meta-analysis published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews pooled 17 randomized controlled trials involving more than 20,000 patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and concluded that antiamyloid monoclonal antibodies clear amyloid-beta from the brain but produce little-to-no effect on cognition and dementia severity.
When Fragmented Care Becomes the Whole Patient’s Kryptonite Manuela Callari
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/when-fragmented-care-becomes-whole-patients-kryptonite-2026a1000n6l
As a child, Andoulsi was clumsy and uncoordinated; the one whose joints seemed to move in ways they shouldn’t. Often fatigued, she struggled to keep up with her peers and was told she was lazy. Because her symptoms were multisystemic and vague — from digestive issues to dull joint pain — doctors failed to connect the dots. The 31-year-old dancer and artist in Paris, France, received an Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) diagnosis at age 24 after countless doctor visits. Throughout her life, gaps in care have at times brought her close to death.
miércoles, 8 de julio de 2026
15% Of US Adults Have Used GLP-1s For Weight Loss, Poll Finds
15% Of US Adults Have Used GLP-1s For Weight Loss, Poll Finds
According to a Gallup poll, 11% of adults are currently taking weight loss drugs, which is up from 3% in 2024, The Washington Post reported. Also in the news, a new kidney disease treatment, a Shigella vaccine, glucose monitors for kids, and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/pharma-and-tech-070826/
Appeals Court Blocks Part Of Florida Law That Restricts Teaching Of Race, Gender In College
Appeals Court Blocks Part Of Florida Law That Restricts Teaching Of Race, Gender In College
The judges rejected the provisions of the "Stop WOKE" law that pertained to higher education, criticizing the assertion that the state can control the speech of a professor whose salary it pays, The New York Times reported. “Hearing an idea you disagree with is not discrimination,” the ruling said. A similar provision for K-12 remains in place.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/state-watch-070826/
Healthcare Workers At Ebola Epicenter Walk Off Job Over Unpaid Wages, Safety Concerns
Healthcare Workers At Ebola Epicenter Walk Off Job Over Unpaid Wages, Safety Concerns
One doctor in Congo told the AP that he narrowly escaped death when a group of young men attacked him and his colleagues while they were doing contact tracing. “We don’t deserve this sort of treatment. ... We risk dying for nothing," he said. Another doctor said, "We are working day and night without being paid."
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/global-watch-070826/
A Fourth Infant Has Botulism In Outbreak Linked To Powdered Formula
A Fourth Infant Has Botulism In Outbreak Linked To Powdered Formula
The CDC confirmed the latest infant botulism case is in California, CIDRAP reported. “Parents and caregivers should stop using Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula immediately,” the FDA said of the product tied to the outbreak. Other public health news is on fentanyl, alpha-gal syndrome, "panic pouches," and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/public-health-070826/
HHS Pressures Hospitals To Provide Healthier Food
HHS Pressures Hospitals To Provide Healthier Food
Axios reports on the "Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge," which encourages hospitals to reduce highly processed foods and prioritize nutrient-dense options for inpatient meals. The administration has linked dietary patterns with improved recovery rates and overall health outcomes.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/administration-news-070826/
ACA Insurers Propose Yet Another Double-Digit Rate Increase For 2027
ACA Insurers Propose Yet Another Double-Digit Rate Increase For 2027
Millions of people who participate in the Affordable Care Act marketplace are facing back-to-back years of rate increases, plus the loss of federal enhanced subsidies that made coverage more affordable. Health insurers cited the rising costs of health care and the Trump administration's changes to marketplace rules among the reasons for a rate spike.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/healthcare-costs-070826/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20Daily%20Health%20Policy%20Report&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9rhN4CvIYdQf2jz05jVmM2wyL7PSXQk5y2HD2Mf95XoauBUBuQ53-D2H3RPzJz60ZthiAZaf9u4ik-pMyi6Km1wIMLpg&_hsmi=427467321&utm_content=427467321&utm_source=hs_email
Affordable Care Act Insurers Want More Premium Increases as Enrollment Sags By Rachel Spears July 8, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/insurance/priced-out-obamacare-affordable-care-act-aca-premium-increases-peterson-kff/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20Daily%20Health%20Policy%20Report&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--lAQGV_Ze71plIGCSjova3xyhN33C7-yo9_Yw9vPi4Lhxk-Aey3YzXcxgf9M-QL0jXyp4ddug__9WaK_Ob2jGqhtiJnA&_hsmi=427467321&utm_content=427467321&utm_source=hs_email
For the second year in a row, many Affordable Care Act insurers are proposing double-digit premium increases, driven by rising medical costs as well as policy changes by Congress and the Trump administration.
Patients Face a Thicket of Red Tape Trying To Maintain Consistent Health Coverage By Renuka Rayasam July 8, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/health-care-costs/priced-out-red-tape-insurance-costs-health-system-plan-switching-disruptions/
By the time Derion Blackman collapsed in front of a Dollar General in Kissimmee, Florida, in March, he had been waiting two months to regain access to some of the vital medications he’d been taking since undergoing a heart transplant two years ago.
Global COVID-19 Tracker Published: Jul 6, 2026
https://www.kff.org/covid-19/global-covid-19-tracker/This tracker provides the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths, as well as the rate of daily COVID-19 cases and deaths by country, income, region, and globally. It will be updated weekly, as new data are released. As of March 7, 2023, all data on COVID-19 cases and deaths are drawn from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard. Prior to March 7, 2023, this tracker relied on data provided by the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Coronavirus Resource Center’s COVID-19 Map, which ended on March 10, 2023. Please see the Methods tab for more detailed information on data sources and notes. To prevent slow load times, the tracker only contains data from the last 200 days. However, the full data set can be downloaded from our GitHub page. While the tracker provides the most recent data available, there is a two-week lag in the data reporting.
Medicare Advantage Insurers Deny Prior Authorization Requests for Post Acute Care at Substantially Higher Rates Than the Overall Denial Rate Authors: Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Meredith Freed, and Juliette Cubanski Published: Jul 6, 2026
https://www.kff.org/medicare/medicare-advantage-insurers-deny-prior-authorization-requests-for-post-acute-care-at-substantially-higher-rates-than-the-overall-denial-rate/
Two recent reports find that Medicare Advantage organizations deny prior authorization requests for long-term care hospital, inpatient rehabilitation hospital, and skilled nursing facility stays at higher rates than requests overall. When these decisions are appealed, they are frequently overturned, particularly for skilled nursing facility stays. This may cause delays for Medicare beneficiaries who are particularly vulnerable or have high care needs.
The Trump Administration Continues to Advance Incremental Site-Neutral Payment Reforms Zachary Levinson Zachary Levinson Published: July 6, 2026
https://www.kff.org/quick-insights/the-trump-administration-continues-to-advance-incremental-site-neutral-payment-reforms/
The Administration’s proposed changes for certain imaging services would further advance site-neutral payment reform but, like prior changes, are modest relative to more expansive options raised by MedPAC and others.
AI: Rewiring the Machine July 7, 2026
AI: Rewiring the Machine
July 7, 2026
Episode 11, AI Series: In a conversation focused on the technology underlying AI in health care, Chip is joined by Seema Verma, former administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and now Executive Vice President and General Manager at Oracle Health and Life Sciences, the second largest electronic health records (EHR) platform in the U.S. Seema shares her insights on the evolution of EHRs and why it’s necessary to redesign these systems to better integrate AI capabilities and improve the quality of care.
Americans May Be Smarter About Vaccines Than You Think Author: Drew Altman Published: Jul 7, 2026
https://www.kff.org/from-drew-altman/americans-may-be-smarter-about-vaccines-than-you-think/
In a new column that analyzes recent KFF polling, Founding President and CEO Dr. Drew Altman concludes that only a sliver of the public hold definitive anti-science, anti-vaccine views, and are greatly outnumbered by the people who believe established science, with even more Americans stuck in a “muddled middle.” He writes, “when you see reports of social media engagement spiking about a health myth, don’t overreact. It’s more likely than not that it's a relatively...
Digital Health Tools and Technologies: An Overview of CMS’ Recent Efforts to Expand Their Use in Medicare Authors: Nancy Ochieng, Juliette Cubanski, and Tricia Neuman Published: Jul 7, 2026
Digital Health Tools and Technologies: An Overview of CMS’ Recent Efforts to Expand Their Use in Medicare
Authors: Nancy Ochieng, Juliette Cubanski, and Tricia Neuman
Published: Jul 7, 2026
https://www.kff.org/medicare/digital-health-tools-and-technologies-an-overview-of-cms-recent-efforts-to-expand-their-use-in-medicare/
As an increasing share of older adults have adopted digital health technologies over the past several years, and with most expressing interest in using them to manage their health care, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has introduced several initiatives to expand the use of digital health technologies in Medicare. This brief summarizes these initiatives and draws on data from various surveys, including KFF Tracking Polls from September 2025 and March 2026, to…
In Preliminary Rate Filings, ACA Marketplace Insurers Largely Propose Double-Digit Premium Increase For 2027, Following a Steep Climb This Year Premiums Could Jump More Than One-Third Over Two Years—Middle-Income Enrollees Face the Full Costs Without Enhanced Credits, Even as Existing Federal Subsidies Shield Most from Further Increases Published: Jul 8, 2026
https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/in-preliminary-rate-filings-aca-marketplace-insurers-largely-propose-double-digit-premium-increase-for-2027-following-a-steep-climb-this-year/
ACA Marketplace insurers are proposing a median premium increase of 14% for 2027— indicating a likely second consecutive year of double-digit increases, according to a new analysis of preliminary rate filings in 16 states and DC. If these increases hold, typical premiums for insurers participating in the ACA Marketplaces would jump by more than one-third between 2025 and 2027.
How much and why ACA Marketplace premiums are going up in 2027 By Matt McGough, Jared Ortaliza, Ashley Ferguson, Imani Telesford, Shameek Rakshit, Emma Wager Twitter, Lynne Cotter, and Cynthia Cox KFF July 8, 2026
How much and why ACA Marketplace premiums are going up in 2027
By Matt McGough, Jared Ortaliza, Ashley Ferguson, Imani Telesford, Shameek Rakshit, Emma Wager Twitter, Lynne Cotter, and Cynthia Cox KFF
July 8, 2026
https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-much-and-why-aca-marketplace-premiums-are-going-up-in-2027/?_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8tKeM4I0qF48PZ_RnnNEBwollu-yWEBJTnKqI4h7DHRkk4BKBYYdx1Bs2k6PIdL04b8AHG40AGdot8424UJUOzobYj2Q&_hsmi=427457771&utm_campaign=KFF-Health-Reform&utm_medium=email&utm_content=427457771&utm_source=hs_email
In Preliminary Rate Filings, ACA Marketplace Insurers Largely Propose Double-Digit Premium Increase For 2027, Following a Steep Climb This Year
Premiums Could Jump More Than One-Third Over Two Years—Middle-Income Enrollees Face the Full Costs Without Enhanced Credits, Even as Existing Federal Subsidies Shield Most From Further Increases
ACA Marketplace insurers are proposing a median premium increase of 14% for 2027— indicating a likely second consecutive year of double-digit increases, according to a new analysis of preliminary rate filings in 16 states and DC. If these increases hold, typical premiums for insurers participating in the ACA Marketplaces would jump by more than one-third between 2025 and 2027.
Across the 77 ACA Marketplace insurers in the 16 states and DC that have submitted rate filings so far, most are requesting premium increases of between 10% and 20% for 2027, with 20 insurers requesting premium increases of more than 20%.
ACA_July_8
July 15 is the deadline for health insurance companies to submit their proposed premiums for 2027 ACA Marketplace plans. These preliminary filings provide insight into the factors insurers expect to drive health costs for the coming year. Among the key drivers, insurers cite the rising cost of health services, the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits, and some federal regulatory changes.
The rising cost of health services have been driven by the cost of hospitalizations, physician visits, and prescription drugs—including GLP-1s and other specialty medications. Relatedly, labor shortages and general economic inflation have driven up provider wages and costs, increasing the cost of health services as well. The underlying cost of medical care and prescription drugs has risen by 10% for 2027—greater than the 8% average growth seen over the last few years.
The ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025—leading to a 58% average increase in out-of-pocket premiums in 2026 and deductibles of about $1,000 more per person. Most Marketplace enrollees are largely protected from the premium increases because they still qualify for ACA subsidies, though at a lower level. However, people with incomes at 400% or more of the federal poverty level ($62,600 for a single person in 2026) lost subsidies entirely when the enhanced credits expired and, therefore, face the full increase in premiums. This caused many healthier enrollees to leave the ACA Marketplaces in 2026, leaving behind a smaller number of enrollees who are somewhat sicker and more expensive to cover on average. Further market deterioration is expected heading into 2027. Insurers estimate that the sicker risk pool drove 2026 premiums up by roughly four percentage points and expect another four percentage point increase in 2027.
Federal regulatory changes, including the recent Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters and the Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Rule, have also been cited as having an upward effect on premiums.
The full analysis and other data on health costs are available on the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, an online information hub dedicated to monitoring and assessing the performance of the U.S. health system.
martes, 7 de julio de 2026
How Is Mitch McConnell? Staff Is Staying Mostly Mum About Senator's Health
How Is Mitch McConnell? Staff Is Staying Mostly Mum About Senator's Health
The Kentucky Republican has been hospitalized since June 14, when first responders were summoned to his Washington house on a report of an “unconscious” individual, The New York Times reported. His staff and fellow senators maintain he is keeping apprised of what's going on on Capitol Hill. The upper chamber's razor-thin GOP majority needs his vote to advance legislation.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/capitol-watch-070726/
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