sábado, 28 de febrero de 2026
Kennedy announces new vaccine advisory committee members after meeting rescheduled The new appointments come during an unstable time for ACIP
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/27/two-new-members-added-cdc-vaccine-advisory-committee-acip/
By Chelsea CirruzzoFeb. 27, 2026
Washington Correspondent
MLP-based explainable AI model for nurses’ career fulfilment prediction Dara Thomas [1,2] , Ying Li* [1] , Joel Dossa [3] , Chiagoziem C. Ukwuoma [4,5] , Temitope Ogunnupebi [6,7] , Oluwatoyosi Bamisile [8] , Gyarteng E. S. Addai [9]
https://www.academia.edu/academia-ai-and-applications/2/1/10.20935/AcadAI8163
Nurses’ career fulfilment in resource-constrained primary healthcare (PHC) systems of Western Africa significantly impacts workforce stability and healthcare delivery quality. This study introduces a novel, data-driven predictive modelling framework using a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) neural network, augmented with interpretability and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) techniques, such as quantile-quantile (Q-Q) plot, heatmap, feature importance, Williams plot, Shapley additive explanations (SHAP), and Local interpretable model-agnostic explanations (LIME), to accurately predict and interpret career fulfilment among PHC nurses from six Western African countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sierra Leone). A comprehensive dataset comprising 5120 PHC nurses’ responses was collected through validated instruments aligned with Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory. Rigorous data preprocessing included normality checks, multicollinearity assessment, and robust statistical validations. The optimised MLP model demonstrated exceptional predictive accuracy with a Mean Squared Error (MSE) of 0.015, Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of 0.122, Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.035, and R2 score of 0.970, validated through 5-fold cross-validation. XAI methods, including SHAP and LIME analyses, provided granular insights into country-specific determinants of career fulfilment, highlighting the dual role of hygiene factors and motivators, especially workplace safety, autonomy, professional development, and performance-based promotions. This study’s methodological innovations and practical insights offer targeted, actionable strategies to enhance nursing career satisfaction, retention, and healthcare quality in resource-limited settings.
https://www.academia.edu/journals/academia-ai-and-applications/articles?source=journal-top-nav
The Midterms Lurk Behind Every Health Policy Move Now Author: Drew Altman Published: Feb 26, 2026
https://www.kff.org/from-drew-altman/the-midterms-lurk-behind-every-health-policy-move-now/?utm_campaign=KFF-This-Week&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_IgIGaxVV3ZuSHWf1CjsDnhByxTYqBMRwzUg5cXK-J-0kjd82Q1Y2CPCXgegt1l6tTzLvK7ZHkgH3OeK206OOgELjRGA&_hsmi=406063538&utm_content=406063538&utm_source=hs_email
Look for the midterms to play a role in every health policy decision until November, as both Republicans and Democrats maneuver for advantage with voters. That’s the case with two recent Trump administration moves to strengthen the hand of Republicans in the midterm elections. Democrats start out with a significant advantage on health in the midterms, but rather than cut and run to other issues, Trump wants Republicans to try to erode that advantage where they can.
Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions Published: Feb 27, 2026
https://www.kff.org/medicaid/status-of-state-medicaid-expansion-decisions/
The Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Medicaid expansion expanded Medicaid coverage to nearly all adults with incomes up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level ($21,597 for an individual in 2025) and provided states with an enhanced federal matching rate (FMAP) for their expansion populations.
State Health Facts
https://www.kff.org/state-health-facts/
More than 800 up-to-date health indicators at the state level can be mapped, ranked, and downloaded.
KFF Tracker: America First MOU Bilateral Global Health Agreements Published: Feb 27, 2026
https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/kff-tracker-america-first-mou-bilateral-global-health-agreements/
Editorial Note: Originally published on January 13, 2026, this resource will be updated as needed, most recently on February 27, 2026, to reflect additional developments.
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 aging, trisomy 18, Morgellons disease, the war in Ukraine, and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/longer-looks-interesting-reads-you-might-have-missed-253/
Cigna Acquires Pharmacy That Supplies Prescription Drugs To 10% Of Hospitals
Cigna Acquires Pharmacy That Supplies Prescription Drugs To 10% Of Hospitals
The acquisition of CarepathRX adds to Cigna's ever-growing push for vertical integration and greater control over the flow of pharmaceuticals through the U.S. health care system. Plus: Novartis settles a lawsuit with Henrietta Lacks' estate; Europe uses minipigs to test drugs; and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/cigna-acquires-pharmacy-that-supplies-prescription-drugs-to-10-of-hospitals/
86 Dreamers Deported, 261 Detained In Immigration Crackdown, DHS Confirms
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/86-dreamers-deported-261-detained-in-immigration-crackdown-dhs-confirms/
86 Dreamers Deported, 261 Detained In Immigration Crackdown, DHS Confirms
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients — those who arrived in the United States before the age of 16 — are protected under U.S. law, Democratic senators argued as they called on the Department of Homeland Security to provide more information about the removals.
Instagram To Alert Parents If Teens Search Suicide Content Frequently
Instagram To Alert Parents If Teens Search Suicide Content Frequently
Instagram announced Thursday that it will begin alerting parents who are enrolled in the company's parental supervision program if their teenagers are repeatedly searching for terms related to suicide or self-harm. Plus: Demand for the 988 crisis hotline is on the rise.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/instagram-to-alert-parents-if-teens-search-suicide-content-frequently/
Proposed ACA Rules Billed As A Boon For Consumers; Critics Warn Of Perils
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/proposed-aca-rules-billed-as-a-boon-for-consumers-critics-warn-of-perils/
Proposed ACA Rules Billed As A Boon For Consumers; Critics Warn Of Perils
The Trump administration is proposing Obamacare plans that it says will lower health insurance premiums but that come with much higher deductibles, The New York Times reported. "There’s a chance to really exacerbate the crisis” regarding health care affordability, one expert noted.
Casey Means’ Surgeon General Confirmation Isn’t A Sure Thing
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/casey-means-surgeon-general-confirmation-isnt-a-sure-thing/
Casey Means’ Surgeon General Confirmation Isn’t A Sure Thing
Two Republican senators on the health committee say they have not decided whether to support the wellness influencer's bid to become the country's top doctor. Three others, including Republican Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, are mum on how they will vote. Plus, others weigh in on the nominee.
FDA To Offer Its Workers Monetary Incentives For Faster Drug Reviews
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/fda-to-offer-its-workers-monetary-incentives-for-faster-drug-reviews/
FDA To Offer Its Workers Monetary Incentives For Faster Drug Reviews
The bonus program is designed to reward reviewers who find ways to be more efficient. The pilot program presentation stressed the importance of maintaining quality. Plus: The Trump administration has put a nationwide moratorium on new suppliers for certain medical equipment.
‘You Aren’t Trapped’: Hundreds of US Nurses Choose Canada Over Trump’s America By Brett Kelman February 26, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/us-nurses-move-to-canada-trump-policies-care-shortages/
Last month, Justin and Amy Miller packed their vehicles with three kids, two dogs, a pet bearded dragon, and whatever belongings they could fit, then drove 2,000 miles from Wisconsin to British Columbia to leave President Donald Trump’s America.
‘Kind of Morbid’: Health Premiums Threaten Their Nest Egg. A Terminal Diagnosis May Spare It. By Christine Mai-Duc February 26, 2026
‘Kind of Morbid’: Health Premiums Threaten Their Nest Egg. A Terminal Diagnosis May Spare It.
By Christine Mai-Duc
February 26, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/insurance-premium-payments-terminal-diagnosis-aca-subsidies-covered-california/
COLUSA, Calif. — Early on, Jean Franklin got some career advice she followed religiously: “Pay yourself first.” So she did, socking away hundreds of thousands of dollars in retirement savings by the time she became a stay-at-home mom at age 41.
viernes, 27 de febrero de 2026
CMS announces pause on new durable medical equipment suppliers The decision impacts new suppliers of equipments such as oxygen tanks and urinary catheters
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/26/cms-national-moratorium-durable-medical-equipment/
By O. Rose BroderickFeb. 26, 2026
Disability in Health Care Reporting Fellow
Cigna, extending reach into prescription drugs, acquires major pharmacy used by hospitals Move is latest example of health insurers’ push for ‘vertical integration’
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/26/cigna-carepathrx-acquisition-vertical-integration/
By Bob HermanFeb. 26, 2026
Business of Health Care Reporter
Justice Department backs AbbVie in its bid to overturn a Colorado law guiding a drug discount program Drugmakers allege that using contract pharmacies led to abuses and ineligible rebates
https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2026/02/26/justice-department-backs-abbvie-340b-hospitals-medicines-pharma/
By Ed SilvermanFeb. 26, 2026
Pharmalot Columnist, Senior Writer
U.S. government must invest more in research around men’s sexual and reproductive health Too many initiatives focused on STIs and unplanned pregnancy ignore half the population
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/27/mens-sexual-reproductive-health-contraception-stis-research/
By Kenneth H. MayerFeb. 27, 2026
Mayer is medical research director and co-chair of The Fenway Institute as well as a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Everything you need to know about RFK Jr., MAHA, and ‘glypho-gate’ A recent executive order has put the health secretary at the center of controversy
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/26/glyphosate-herbicide-maha-backlash-alex-hogan-status-report/
By Alex HoganFeb. 26, 2026
Senior Multimedia Producer
Can an RFK Jr. action figure help cement the MAHA-MAGA alliance? He’s an action figure. He’s a milk-drinking rave-goer. He’s America’s health secretary
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/27/rfk-jr-action-figure-video-hhs-policy-memes/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_oJMjI8F7ECK7-JuCht3ZrJUqnOMGqI6wcT2DoR89oWbe1EreZvWdHWKYHvEq6-xsj48wCwqx4_AnG07RxhZl7lt0vWQ&_hsmi=405991766&utm_content=405991766&utm_source=hs_email
By Chelsea Cirruzzo and Daniel PayneFeb. 27, 2026
Beyond the Data: A Column by Dr. Drew Altman
https://www.kff.org/series/beyond-the-data/?utm_campaign=KFF-Drew-Columns&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--X2aLmuM4p8OzNa_McuGMAfZHDYlzj6eiA9DEustvbpNslGmhapKFYkEr9ymiKzc-IEnEP9PrZeCGm2UyAeazKKDBrpw&_hsmi=405758647&utm_content=405758647&utm_source=hs_email
The Midterms Lurk Behind Every Health Policy Move Now
Look for the midterms to play a role in every health policy decision until November, as both Republicans and Democrats maneuver for advantage with voters. That’s the case with two recent Trump administration moves to strengthen the hand of Republicans in the midterm elections. Democrats start out with a significant advantage on health in the midterms, but rather than cut and run to other issues, Trump wants Republicans to try to erode that advantage where they can.
One example is the shake-up at Health and Human Services, surrounding Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. with a new cadre of advisers, deposing others and installing the Director of the National Institutes of Health as Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention at the same time. This augments a controversial secretary with administration appointees placed there to deliver on policies the administration wants Republicans to trumpet, such as their initiatives to lower drug costs, including “most favored nation” (MFN) drug pricing and Trump Rx. Keeping the secretary in place rather than replacing him also appeases Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) supporters in the Republican base and may appeal to other voters who support MAHA ideas.
Four in 10 adults say they are MAHA supporters—the amorphous cause RFK Jr. champions—including 22% of Democrats and 38% of Independents. We don’t know if many of them will vote in the midterms for that reason, but some may if they feel strongly about MAHA-related issues or a candidate who champions them. Make America Great Again (MAGA), Independent and Democratic MAHA adherents almost certainly have different elements of MAHA-ism they care about, from vaccines to healthier food to environmental chemicals, to general distrust of government—and not all of these issues will be in play in the midterm races they vote in. Anti-vax views can be strongly held but notably, 31% of MAHA adherents disapprove of RFK Jr.’s handling of vaccines. The secretary sometimes takes heat from the more extreme MAHA groups for not going far enough, but overall, he holds down a lot of the MAHA flank for Trump and Republicans while the newly installed advisors pursue policy deliverables.
Saying the quiet part about underlying political strategy out loud as he often does, Trump recently linked the drug cost policies he wants to advance directly to the midterms, calling on Republican candidates to emphasize efforts to bring down drug costs as a midterm campaign message. It’s an effort to play offense and blunt attacks from Democrats focusing on affordability and rising premiums, especially in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces. Politically, the goal for Trump and Republicans is not to “win” the health care issue but to erode the Democratic advantage on it by talking a lot about drug costs and villainizing drug companies. (Lately, adding insurance companies to the mix of villains as well.) Of course, Democrats also have advanced drug cost policies they can talk about if they choose to fight on that terrain rather than health care affordability generally.
Overall, as the chart shows, Democrats still have a sizable advantage on health heading into the midterm campaigns, including a modest one on drug costs despite the administration’s initiatives. Their primary strategy is to link health care costs to the public’s broader concerns about affordability at a time when paying for health care has emerged as voters’ top economic worry.
It remains to be seen if Republican candidates in close races will want to go head-to-head with Democrats on health care, despite Trump’s urging them to do so. They may feel they have other cards to play, and some will not want to highlight decisions they made to cut Medicaid and double people’s ACA premium payments in a general election.
Policies have declared and undeclared purposes. We analyze the pros and cons of policies like Trump Rx or MFN when the primary purpose of the policy is to signal to voters that “I care about your drug costs” and “I am doing something about it.” The political strategy behind them is usually undeclared but almost everything in health policy between now and November will be substantially about the midterms.
Contact: Tammie Smith | 202.654.1410 | Tammies@kff.org
Upcoming Product-Specific Guidances for Generic Drug Product Development
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/guidances-drugs/upcoming-product-specific-guidances-generic-drug-product-development?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Product-Specific Guidance Meetings Between FDA and ANDA Applicants Under GDUFA
Guidance for Industry
https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/product-specific-guidance-meetings-between-fda-and-anda-applicants-under-gdufa?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Product-Specific Guidances for Generic Drug Development
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/psg/index.cfm?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
FDA Drug Competition Action Plan
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/guidance-compliance-regulatory-information/fda-drug-competition-action-plan?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
What About the State of Health? Episode 435 February 26, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast/what-the-health-435-trump-sotu-state-of-the-union-casey-means-surgeon-general-february-26-2026/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--noWbuprFvsIP4w0Gat7eb_9V3-JUCzOio1NSY7uEBhB5iiJRmTIPzlMPNMAY30oK-yQmMtWHdrsyMoWZTYMa1_5DVnQ&_hsmi=406038664&utm_content=406038664&utm_source=hs_email
KFF Health News: 'What The Health? From KFF Health News': What About The State Of Health?
After urging Republicans earlier this year to make health care a central issue in their midterm campaigns, President Donald Trump gave the issue only passing mention in his record-long State of the Union address this week. Meanwhile, Trump’s nominee to become U.S. surgeon general, Casey Means, a favorite of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, got her long-delayed hearing before a Senate committee this week. Means’ nomination has been controversial not only because of her outside-the-mainstream medical views but also because she would be the first surgeon general without an active medical license. (Rovner, 2/26)
He Needs an Expensive Drug. A Copay Card Helped — Until It Didn’t. By Elisabeth Rosenthal February 27, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/expensive-drug-copay-card-discount-bill-of-the-month-february-2026/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8qICujt3c9fQ9c6423-JBhr9F0Vc-1qP3y7J-v4wS3KgRHUei-Omn182dp0gMmzvtTc4Y5YHPTE55wCFYo_tpGs6BrDA&_hsmi=406038664&utm_content=406038664&utm_source=hs_email
KFF Health News: He Needs An Expensive Drug. A Copay Card Helped — Until It Didn’t
Over the course of 2025, Jayant Mishra of Mission Viejo, California, progressively developed scaly, itchy red patches on his skin. Then came the pain and swelling in the joints of his hands, making it difficult to do his work at a bank. His primary care doctor referred him to a rheumatologist, who diagnosed psoriatic arthritis. She advised Mishra that while there’s no cure, there were many new medicines that could keep the autoimmune disease in check, and she recommended one, Otezla. (Rosenthal, 2/27)
To Avoid Care Disruptions, Know When the Clock Runs Out on Your Prior Authorization By Sarah Boden Ilustrations by Oona Zenda February 27, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/health-care-helpline-prior-authorization-insurance-companies-plans-drugs-pbms-tips/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9psVOL7Rpymp2s6zmk7_yTEcONoHqDkKtCNBappG_OOoSDBOayWr54fUwznMxbsobMB_VT01cd8mOVAFvQNLFJs1dZHA&_hsmi=406038664&utm_content=406038664&utm_source=hs_email
KFF Health News: To Avoid Care Disruptions, Know When The Clock Runs Out On Your Prior Authorization
A woman with multiple sclerosis wanted to be able to walk up the stairs at home without losing her balance. Her doctor prescribed medicine that helped, but then approval from her insurance plan for the drug expired. (Boden, 2/27)
How AI Can Both Detect and Enable Fraudulent Research Irving Washington , Hagere Yilma , and Joel Luther
https://www.kff.org/health-information-trust/how-ai-can-both-detect-and-enable-fraudulent-research/?utm_campaign=22234741-KFF-Information-Trust&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8kUMjU53UsWpFNdk--wGXSz5RtHhmqko4TdmySSsU98p6LqKb6JOZsLB6q5HF_5SWSReZB-1Y5nEtJxH9qVNVZiekD2Q&_hsmi=405757832&utm_content=405757832&utm_source=hs_email
Nearly 10% of cancer research papers showed signs of being fabricated by “paper mills” that sell manuscripts at industrial scale, with the share increasing exponentially over time, according to new research. The problem may intensify as generative AI becomes more sophisticated, prompting lawmakers to demand information from federal agencies about safeguards in place.
And, persistent claims that physicians are financially incentivized to promote vaccines may be contributing to vaccine hesitancy and declining trust, even as recent analyses show doctors typically break even or lose money when administering vaccines.
AI & Emerging Technology
Machine Learning Can Help Detect “Paper Mills,” Even as Generative AI May Contribute to Rise in Fraudulent Papers
What does new research show about the prevalence of fraudulent papers?
As generative AI makes it easier to produce fraudulent papers, researchers are turning to AI-powered detection methods in response. A study published in BMJ developed a machine learning model to identify cancer research papers with similarities to known “paper mill” publications that write and sell manuscripts at industrial scale. When applied to millions of cancer research papers published between 1999 and 2024, the model found that nearly 10% showed signs of coming from these paper mills, sharing textual characteristics with retracted publications.
The number of flagged papers increased exponentially over time, rising from about 1% in the early 2000s to over 15% of annual cancer research output by the 2020s. Flagged papers were not limited to low-impact journals, with the share of these papers in high-impact journals also increasing over time to over 10% in recent years.
Lawmakers demand safeguards
The study comes as trust in medical institutions, including scientific journals, becomes increasingly politicized, with officials questioning the legitimacy of leading medical journals. House Republicans sent oversight letters in early February to five federal agencies, demanding information on safeguards to prevent falsified or fraudulent studies from influencing federal grants and research. The letters specifically raised concern about paper mills linked to the Chinese Communist Party, arguing that pressures imposed on Chinese researchers have increased demand for fabricated research. The letters note that major publishers have retracted thousands of papers linked to paper mill activity, with some forced to shut down journal subsidiaries after discovering widespread fraud.
Why this matters
The findings suggest that paper mills represent a large and growing threat to research integrity, with generative AI potentially exacerbating the problem through automated text generation. As AI tools become more sophisticated and accessible, fraudulent paper mill activity may increase, requiring ongoing development of detection methods and stronger institutional safeguards to protect research integrity. Fabricated research entering the scientific literature can misdirect research funding and erode public trust in medical research at a time when confidence in scientific institutions is already declining.
Why Protecting Confidential Information is Key to the FDA’s "Gold Standard"
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices/why-protecting-confidential-information-key-fdas-gold-standard?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
When Americans look to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, they are expecting to see the "Gold Standard" of regulatory review—the rigorous scientific scrutiny that determines whether a new therapy, medical device, or food process is safe and effective. Behind every one of these critical decisions lies one of the world’s most sensitive repositories of intellectual property and personal data.
In an era defined by radical transparency, the FDA operates at a unique crossroads. As public servants, the staff of the FDA are driven by the principle that the American people deserve openness regarding decisions that affect their health. The FDA remains committed to evolving policies that aim for more transparency and taking steps to support innovation through greater transparency and predictability. At the same time, the integrity of that very process—and the life-saving innovation we oversee—depends on the agency’s ability to act as a fortress for the sensitive information entrusted to us.
Federal Court Preliminarily Enjoins Texas Labeling Law February 27, 2026 By Riëtte van Laack —
https://www.thefdalawblog.com/2026/02/federal-court-preliminarily-enjoins-texas-labeling-law/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=federal-court-preliminarily-enjoins-texas-labeling-law
As we previously reported, in June 2025, Texas enacted a labeling law requiring a warning statement on any food and beverage containing one of 44 specified substances. We indicated that such state law initiatives might well be challenged by industry.
jueves, 26 de febrero de 2026
How AI Can Both Detect and Enable Fraudulent Research Irving Washington , Hagere Yilma , and Joel Luther
https://www.kff.org/health-information-trust/how-ai-can-both-detect-and-enable-fraudulent-research/
Nearly 10% of cancer research papers showed signs of being fabricated by “paper mills” that sell manuscripts at industrial scale, with the share increasing exponentially over time, according to new research. The problem may intensify as generative AI becomes more sophisticated, prompting lawmakers to demand information from federal agencies about safeguards in place.
And, persistent claims that physicians are financially incentivized to promote vaccines may be contributing to vaccine hesitancy and declining trust, even as recent analyses show doctors typically break even or lose money when administering vaccines.
The Midterms Lurk Behind Every Health Policy Move Now Author: Drew Altman Published: Feb 26, 2026
https://www.kff.org/from-drew-altman/the-midterms-lurk-behind-every-health-policy-move-now/
Look for the midterms to play a role in every health policy decision until November, as both Republicans and Democrats maneuver for advantage with voters. That’s the case with two recent Trump administration moves to strengthen the hand of Republicans in the midterm elections. Democrats start out with a significant advantage on health in the midterms, but rather than cut and run to other issues, Trump wants Republicans to try to erode that advantage where they can.
Morning Briefing: Today's News Summaries Thursday, Feb 26 2026 UPDATED 9:12 AM ++++++ ++
Morning Briefing: Today's News Summaries
Thursday, Feb 26 2026 UPDATED 9:12 AM
$259M In Medicaid Funds Is Withheld From Minn.; More States May Follow
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/259m-in-medicaid-funds-is-withheld-from-minn-more-states-may-follow/
The Trump administration announced the move Wednesday, warning that similar crackdowns may be coming for other states, including California. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, called the move "devastating for veterans, families with young kids, folks with disabilities, and working people across our state.”
In Interview For Top Doc Post, Means Sidesteps Vaccine Recommendations
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/in-interview-for-top-doc-post-means-sidesteps-vaccine-recommendations/
Although surgeon general nominee Casey Means acknowledged vaccines are a key public health tool, she would not specifically say she endorses them. Separately, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has parted ways with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
With Little Notice, Trans Kansans Will Have Driver's Licenses Canceled Today
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/with-little-notice-trans-kansans-will-have-driver-licenses-invalidated-today/
A Senate bill was passed by a Republican supermajority in the Kansas Legislature last week and will go into effect today, despite the governor's veto. Other states making news: New Hampshire, Michigan, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and California.
PFAS Chemicals May Be Making Men In Their 50s Age Faster, Study Suggests
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/pfas-chemicals-may-be-making-men-in-their-50s-age-faster-study-suggests/
The study indicates that men between 50 and 65 are most affected by "forever chemicals," exposure to which has been linked to accelerated epigenetic aging. Meanwhile, 5 out of 6 adults in the U.S. want the government to do more to protect them against toxic chemicals, according to a Pew survey.
Sex, Abortion Are Taboo Topics For Meta Chatbots, Leaked Papers Show
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/sex-abortion-are-taboo-topics-for-meta-chatbots-leaked-papers-show/
According to leaked documents, company policy forbids AI chatbots from offering underage users “content that provides advice or opinion about sexual health” or information “that helps a user obtain or carry out an abortion," Mother Jones reports. A spokesperson for Meta disputes the claims.
New Guidance On Psychotropic Meds Focuses On Deprescribing
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/new-guidance-on-psychotropic-meds-focuses-on-deprescribing/
The task force convened by the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology focused on recognizing situations and circumstances where deprescribing would be appropriate as opposed to the logistics of how to do it. Also in the news: radiation doses from heart scans; the FDA approves a drug for allergic fungal rhinosinusitis; and more.
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-57/
Viewpoints: Why So Many Girls With Autism Don’t Get Diagnosed; Anti-Vax Rhetoric Endangers Seniors
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/viewpoints-why-so-many-girls-with-autism-dont-get-diagnosed-anti-vax-rhetoric-endangers-seniors/
Surprise! Fifth Circuit Rejects DEA’s Longstanding Interpretation of a Pharmacist’s “Corresponding Responsibility” and “Usual Course of Professional Practice” Regulations February 26, 2026 By Andrew J. Hull & Karla L. Palmer —
https://www.thefdalawblog.com/2026/02/surprise-fifth-circuit-rejects-deas-longstanding-interpretation-of-a-pharmacists-corresponding-responsibility-and-usual-course-of-professional-practice/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=surprise-fifth-circuit-rejects-deas-longstanding-interpretation-of-a-pharmacists-corresponding-responsibility-and-usual-course-of-professional-practice
One year ago, we blogged on a DEA decision revoking the registration of a Louisiana pharmacy, Neumann’s Pharmacy, LLC, based on the pharmacy’s purported violation of its “corresponding responsibility” (21 C.F.R. § 1306.04(a)) and filling of prescriptions without resolving so-called “red flags” of diversion. The pharmacy appealed the Administrator’s decision to the Fifth Circuit, arguing, in part, that DEA “misinterpreted” its own regulations. In a decision that obliterates DEA’s longstanding interpretation of a pharmacist’s “corresponding responsibility” and “usual course of professional practice” regulations–and now reflects a circuit split–the Fifth Circuit sided with the pharmacy and remanded the case back to DEA.
Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform: Fact or Fiction? Laura Tollen Benjamin N. Rome March 24, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/he20260218.815137/full/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=linkedin+newsletter&utm_campaign=insidermarketing&utm_content=eventspecific
Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform: Fact or Fiction?
President Donald Trump recently signed a spending package, ending a short government shutdown. The spending measure includes $116 billion for HHS as well as reforms for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).
Some experts are unclear how impactful these reforms might be to the pharmaceutical space.
On March 24, Benjamin Rome , assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, will join Health Affairs’ Laura Tollen to get Insiders up to speed on PBMs, potential reform, and how these new measures may affect industry.
The FDA Office of Clinical Pharmacology’s Division of Applied Regulatory Science Announces Availability of Its 2025 Annual Report
https://www.fda.gov/media/191276/download?attachment=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), Office of Translational Sciences (OTS), Office of Clinical Pharmacology (OCP), Division of Applied Regulatory Science (DARS) announced the availability of the 2025 DARS Annual Report. As OCP’s dedicated research division, DARS specializes in the application of translational approaches such as in vitro and in vivo laboratory methods, experimental medicine, in silico computational modeling and informatics, and integrated clinical research to meet regulatory and public health challenges.
The accomplishments described in this year’s report reflect DARS’s commitment to enhance public health and address emerging issues through applied regulatory science. The dedication of a highly collaborative and expert staff, working with a broad range of stakeholders, delivered new review and drug development tools to support decision-making.
For more details on DARS’s scientific contributions to regulatory science and public health, read the 2025 DARS Annual Report. To learn more about DARS, visit the DARS webpage.
miércoles, 25 de febrero de 2026
Drugmakers lay out their legal arguments against Trump’s drug pricing experiments Medicare wants to lower U.S. drug prices by linking them to what other countries pay
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/24/pharma-opposition-medicare-drug-price-pilot-programs-strategy-emerges/
By John WilkersonFeb. 24, 2026
Washington Correspondent
Will Novo Nordisk’s slashing of obesity drug prices save patients’ money? It depends Experts say some will benefit from cuts to list prices, but it’s net prices that often matter more
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/24/novo-nordisk-weight-loss-drug-price-cut-examined/
By Elaine ChenFeb. 24, 2026
Elaine Chen, a national biotech reporter, is the co-author of The Readout, a newsletter about the business, science, and politics of biotech.
The Rural Health Transformation Program could fail patients like mine I worry it will fall short on expanding innovation while also accelerating hospital closures
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/25/rural-health-transformation-program-hospitals-innovation/
By Daniel TorrentFeb. 25, 2026
Torrent is a vascular surgeon with the Longstreet Clinic at Northeast Georgia Health Systems.
Casey Means, a MAHA leader, makes bid to be nation’s top doctor Critic of mainstream medicine cites need for ‘restoring wholeness’
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/25/casey-means-maha-surgeon-general-hearing-restore-wholeness/
By Elizabeth CooneyFeb. 25, 2026
Cardiovascular Disease Reporter
Trump touts lower drug costs and anti-fraud measures in lengthy State of the Union The president steered clear of more divisive subjects, including vaccines and science funding cuts
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/24/trump-state-union-health-plan-drug-prices-maha/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--wgc0xK3IEmy4VFCXbUb_HibqErS-eUfVUaRUNa8XA0i6enr97Tn2D07ZPKQqKYsU7Q_ZN1G_LqZ-PjN0iZNZhmN1xSQ&_hsmi=405477496&utm_content=405477496&utm_source=hs_email
By Chelsea Cirruzzo and John WilkersonFeb. 24, 2026
In the first State of the Union address of his second term, President Donald Trump played the health care hits, touting lowered drug prices even as more than half of Americans say health care has become more unaffordable for them and their families.
https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-health-tracking-poll-health-care-costs-expiring-aca-tax-credits-and-the-2026-midterms/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8LJstbqosP54jTB5nswXkCxHyKACSwEVpq8OqB0JdMvdv0oxumcuQqp9S2FydL5ySmqspbgLBHzDJFmLTL0eBhZwwC9w&_hsmi=405477496&utm_content=405477496&utm_source=hs_email
In his speech, Trump claimed he had brought prescription drug costs from the highest in the world to the lowest, thanks to his most-favored nation policy. And he implored congressional Republicans to codify the policy into law, lest his successor hike prescription drug prices. (A STAT analysis of the brands on TrumpRx found that many are available as cheaper generics elsewhere, despite Trump on Tuesday night touting TrumpRx and his other drug pricing policies as a “big achievement.")
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/06/trumprx-discount-drug-website-undercut-by-cheaper-generics/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9GNBEh_eJl4mbFNI2rwnXN66KSrNCOiA8DwTqCqkVu4t9nYRsYOrId3MB2YhpNkdcIYMwLmWEDqB8KrCjrNeUsme3swA&_hsmi=405477496&utm_content=405477496&utm_source=hs_email
He also said he wants to shift more government funding from premium tax credits to health accounts that resemble health savings accounts, promised to crack down on fraud in government programs, and said states should not be allowed to make decisions on issues like gender-affirming care without parental consent.
Missing from the speech were several hot button issues that have consumed his administration’s HHS over the last few months, including shifting vaccine mandates and major cuts to health and science funding. Read STAT’s full rundown here. — Chelsea Cirruzzo and John Wilkerson
Filling in the Gap in Federal Medicaid Funding to Planned Parenthood: State Responses Authors: Rolonda Donelson, Laurie Sobel, and Alina Salganicoff Published: Feb 25, 2026
Filling in the Gap in Federal Medicaid Funding to Planned Parenthood: State Responses
Authors: Rolonda Donelson, Laurie Sobel, and Alina Salganicoff
Published: Feb 25, 2026
https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/filling-in-the-gap-in-federal-medicaid-funding-to-planned-parenthood-state-responses/
Major Health Care Changes May Be Ahead For Nearly 800,000 Hawaiians
Major Health Care Changes May Be Ahead For Nearly 800,000 Hawaiians
Lawmakers met with the Hawaii Medical Service Association and Hawaii Pacific Health to outline a plan to fix the state's health care crisis. The deal would likely affect about 760,000 residents and their doctors, news media reported. Plus, news from Tennessee, Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, and Minnesota.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/major-health-care-changes-may-be-ahead-for-nearly-800000-hawaiians/
Medical Puzzle: Calif. Officer Dies From Fentanyl Ingestion After Giving Narcan
Medical Puzzle: Calif. Officer Dies From Fentanyl Ingestion After Giving Narcan
Highway Patrol Officer Miguel Cano began feeling unwell shortly after administering Narcan to a DUI suspect. But precisely how Cano ingested a deadly amount of fentanyl remains unclear. Other news from the Golden State is on autism training for police, a possible San Francisco ban on retail sales of laughing gas, and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/medical-puzzle-calif-officer-dies-from-fentanyl-ingestion-after-giving-narcan/
Ozempic, Wegovy Maker Announces List Price Cut By Up To 50% For 2027
Ozempic, Wegovy Maker Announces List Price Cut By Up To 50% For 2027
This is the latest move in the ongoing war between weight loss drug rivals Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Lowering the list price makes GLP-1 drugs more accessible for patients, including those who have high deductibles and those who pay coinsurance for medications.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/ozempic-wegovy-maker-announces-list-price-cut-by-up-to-50-for-2027/
Texas Medical Supplier At Center Of Global Medicare Billing Scam, Feds Say
Texas Medical Supplier At Center Of Global Medicare Billing Scam, Feds Say
Investigators allege that two companies reportedly linked to a Russian citizen living in Texas billed Medicare and other health programs for urinary catheters that patients did not need or receive. CBS News reported that millions of dollars were allegedly funneled overseas, according to a federal criminal complaint.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/texas-medical-supplier-at-center-of-global-medicare-billing-scam-feds-say/
Casey Means Faces Senate Today Over Qualifications To Be Surgeon General
Casey Means Faces Senate Today Over Qualifications To Be Surgeon General
The wellness influencer and MAHA architect — who does not hold an active medical license — will sit for the confirmation hearing after a monthslong maternity delay. Plus, 15 Democratic-led states are suing to reverse the government's decision to pull back on the number of recommended immunizations children receive.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/casey-means-faces-senate-today-over-qualifications-to-be-surgeon-general/
Save For A Few Brief Moments, Trump Avoided Health Care In Lengthy Speech
Save For A Few Brief Moments, Trump Avoided Health Care In Lengthy Speech
In his State of the Union address, the president touched on his efforts to lower prescription drug costs and touted his “Great American Health Plan” that would shift health care payments to people. But he noticeably did not mention changes his administration has made regarding vaccine recommendations, Medicaid and research funding cuts, or the hot-button issue of abortion.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/save-for-a-few-brief-moments-trump-avoided-health-care-in-lengthy-speech/
martes, 24 de febrero de 2026
In 2026, drug discovery faces a higher bar Biopharma’s recovery is real, but the data show a sector that now rewards validated biology, late-stage execution, and commercial relevance.
https://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/in-2026-drug-discovery-faces-a-higher-bar-16997?utm_campaign=DDN_Newsletter_Dose&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8yAVWjuXEKY32ZcNe9QydBmgJyTL4i8znpMLbjAOaQQRcBp_f_YKgfxwUnDKXf9PRoeB49U712rocMUeu57uhUykhIeg&_hsmi=405284917&utm_content=405284917&utm_source=hs_email
After several years of contraction, biopharma is heading into 2026 with measurable signs of recovery. The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index reached a record high in late 2025, large pharmaceutical companies committed more than $36 billion to biotech acquisitions in just two months, and late-stage clinical successes have begun translating into higher valuations.
Blockbuster drugs face a massive patent cliff in 2026 Generic and biosimilar competition is poised to disrupt billions in annual drug sales, reshaping market dynamics for some of the industry’s most important medicines.
https://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/blockbuster-drugs-face-a-massive-patent-cliff-in-2026-17019?utm_campaign=DDN_Newsletter_Dose&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_8FpRA_clew71NPJmVat5rbxixpCI0Md-EB1dhkQKKfSzev0alK-lbF0ggSI-7uEbMWJsrU5qONEcy5mH3ES7wCMiNMQ&_hsmi=405284917&utm_content=405284917&utm_source=hs_email
In the world of pharmaceuticals, patents matter. They grant drugmakers exclusive rights to sell a medicine for a defined period, allowing companies to recover massive research and development costs and, in many cases, generate profits to fund future innovation. Once those patents expire, however, the competitive landscape shifts dramatically as cheaper generic or biosimilar versions can enter the market, often leading to steep price reductions and sharply reduced revenue for the original brand.
Florida, Trump Administration At Odds Over Medicaid Program Application
Florida, Trump Administration At Odds Over Medicaid Program Application
Florida’s Republican congressional delegation is getting involved in an effort to get approval for the program, which boosts payments to state hospitals. Also: AbbVie is planning two manufacturing facilities in North Chicago; Camp Mystic parents sue the state of Texas; and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/florida-trump-administration-at-odds-over-medicaid-program-application/
On Trump’s Request, High Court Agrees To Hear Case On Fossil Fuel Lawsuits
On Trump’s Request, High Court Agrees To Hear Case On Fossil Fuel Lawsuits
In an unusual move, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to take up the case of whether or not states and cities can sue large oil and gas companies for climate change damages driven by greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from the industry.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/on-trumps-request-high-court-agrees-to-hear-case-on-fossil-fuel-lawsuits/
Dentists Keep Prescribing Clindamycin Despite ‘Black Box’ Label, C Diff Risk
Dentists Keep Prescribing Clindamycin Despite ‘Black Box’ Label, C Diff Risk
CIDRAP takes a deeper look at the antibiotic's health effects. Also in the news: The FDA has approved milsaperidone to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; Bayer sues Johnson & Johnson; Mounjaro may reduce alcohol intake; and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/dentists-keep-prescribing-clindamycin-despite-black-box-label-c-diff-risk/
Kaiser Mental Health Therapists Vote To Strike Just As Nurses Are Returning
Kaiser Mental Health Therapists Vote To Strike Just As Nurses Are Returning
A day after the union representing more than 31,000 Kaiser Permanente health care professionals noted productive labor negotiations and agreed to end the four-week walkout, KP mental health therapists in California voted to authorize a one-day unfair labor practice strike.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/kaiser-mental-health-therapists-vote-to-strike-just-as-nurses-are-returning/
FDA Unveils Framework To Fast-Track Rare Disease Gene Therapy Approvals
FDA Unveils Framework To Fast-Track Rare Disease Gene Therapy Approvals
The proposed system would create a standardized process for authorizing cutting-edge treatments where there is a plausible reason to think they might work, the AP reported.
CDC’s Second-In-Command Resigns After Less Than 2 Months On The Job
CDC’s Second-In-Command Resigns After Less Than 2 Months On The Job
Ralph Abraham said “unforeseen family obligations” are pulling him away from his role as the agency’s deputy secretary general. Plus, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force might be in HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s crosshairs, former members warn.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/cdcs-second-in-command-resigns-after-less-than-2-months-on-the-job/
Primary Care Research Webinars: Building the Primary Care Research Workforce: Fellowships in Action
Primary Care Research Webinars: 2026 Webinar Series: Tools and Resources to Support Primary Care Research Register for AHRQ Webinar—Building the Primary Care Research Workforce: Fellowships in Action. Join AHRQ’s National Center for Excellence in Primary Care Research (NCEPCR) for a webinar on February 26 from 2–3:30 p.m. ET. In this webinar, learn about fellowships in primary care research and a new AHRQ resource with information about these opportunities. We will hold a panel discussion with fellows and fellowship directors from selected programs.
Join AHRQ’s National Center for Excellence in Primary Care Research (NCEPCR) for the webinar titled, Building the Primary Care Research Workforce: Fellowships in Action, on February 26 from 2–3:30 p.m. ET. In this webinar, learn about fellowships in primary care research and a new AHRQ resource with information about these opportunities. We will hold a panel discussion with fellows and fellowship directors from selected programs. Fellows will share how their experience has impacted their primary care research career. Fellowship directors will share information about the requirements and expectations of fellowships, and the value of these programs for their institutions. There will be a Q&A period at the end.
TrumpRx: What’s the Value for Customers? Authors: Kaye Pestaina, Michelle Long, and Justin Lo Published: Feb 24, 2026
https://www.kff.org/patient-consumer-protections/trumprx-whats-the-value-for-customers/?utm_campaign=KFF-Health-Costs&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8n467AwUXTer2172rbYuuVPKZBwJdMZ0lhnUk2kuZxrMx6rbGADq-npak5W0efrcT2OADATBxB_aTnag1jFJ4WU5v1pw&_hsmi=405263454&utm_content=405263454&utm_source=hs_email
KFF Examines the Potential for New TrumpRx Website to Help Consumers
A new KFF analysis examines the drugs and price discounts available on the TrumpRx website and assesses its potential to help consumers save money on their medications. Launched earlier this month, the website allows consumers to search for discounts on primarily brand-name drugs for customers who buy the drugs without using insurance. Consumers can print out manufacturer coupons that they typically can use at retail pharmacies.
As of today, the site offers discounts on 43 different medications from five manufacturers that are used to treat a range of conditions, including asthma, arthritis, infertility, and diabetes. The discounts are only available to people who do not use insurance to purchase the drugs. In some cases, lower-cost generic versions of the drugs are available, potentially saving consumers even more money than the coupons. For people with insurance, the analysis walks through various scenarios to illustrate different factors that could determine whether the discounted drugs would provide any cost savings compared to using their insurance.
FDA unveils rules for bespoke gene therapies, predicting flood of rare disease applications Guidance on ‘plausible mechanism pathway’ includes limits, though questions remain on scope
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/23/fda-rare-disease-new-guidelines-plausible-mechanism-pathway/
By Jason Mast and Lizzy LawrenceFeb. 23, 2026
Digital twins, the holy grail of preventative health, are still only a ‘Frankensteinian proof of principle’ True implementation in medicine is still years or even decades away, experts say
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/24/digital-twins-health-care-hype-reality/
By Mohana RavindranathFeb. 24, 2026
In this series of stories, Ravindranath, a 2025 Association of Health Care Journalists fellow, takes a closer look at future of personalized medicine and how that’s impacting health care.
PHARMA AND TECH +++ +++ +
PHARMA AND TECH
MedPage Today: New Pill Approved For Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder
https://www.medpagetoday.com/psychiatry/bipolardisorder/120004?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--M08xiIrZYvY8hS7xptzTnMEmSU_aZpf65Av35DNWUAYIjND4I8XAo7_C0Z-FnwnxKnN7PEd6ILpLIRjHR90-KP3X50g&_hsmi=405257711&utm_content=405257711&utm_source=hs_email
The FDA approved milsaperidone (Bysanti) tablets as first-line therapy for adults with schizophrenia and manic or mixed episodes related to bipolar I disorder, Vanda Pharmaceuticals announced on Friday. Milsaperidone is an active metabolite of Vanda's existing drug iloperidone (Fanapt) and represents a new chemical entity in the atypical antipsychotic class. In clinical research, milsaperidone was bioequivalent to iloperidone across all therapeutic doses, Vanda said. (Monaco, 2/23)
Stat: Bayer Sues J&J Over 'Misleading Claims' About Prostate Cancer Drug
https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2026/02/23/bayer-jnj-prostate-cancer-false-advertising-lawsuit/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--OCwTg_fRunJy-w7GIsQJBo0qLyP1-pKVY-E0fDg3fFrnDWskqevwzl8lWCHHyZ0VI_7WN5ZNsd7m9BnmzV_9E8Kvizw&_hsmi=405257711&utm_content=405257711&utm_source=hs_email
Underscoring the high-stakes market for prostate cancer medicines, Bayer filed a lawsuit accusing Johnson & Johnson of launching a “false advertising campaign” that uses flawed data to wrongfully promote its rival drug as a more effective treatment. (Silverman, 2/23)
Chicago Tribune: AbbVie Plans To Build Two New Manufacuturing Facilities
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/23/abbvie-new-manufacturing-facilities/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9_tAiJi3bZqRuMXf_dTsYhasGOTPo4fkqT6ZuUuxDq38n4jlR5bBgOrQ9Ih7fdysvv0ldv7CJ6nNCxluoL6muaAMvSzA&_hsmi=405257711&utm_content=405257711&utm_source=hs_email
Biopharmaceutical company AbbVie plans to spend $380 million building two new manufacturing facilities in North Chicago — a rare example of a project that’s in line with initiatives by the administrations of Gov. JB Pritzker and President Donald Trump. (Schencker, 2/23)
The Wall Street Journal: Merck Revamps Pharmaceutical Unit, Creating Separate Cancer Business
https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/merck-creates-separate-cancer-business-as-sales-pressure-looms-2d6b1b65?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--urs7S0Gdbj-80rhX2xEzZtg3NqSV7VJWRTcCrxy3F0ibUn1Y1HEzpsWXaZDhB7VDfp2Jz4mnr05FQIr2viEu80lSB7w&_hsmi=405257711&utm_content=405257711&utm_source=hs_email
Merck is shaking up the leadership of its main pharmaceutical unit as the U.S. drugmaker braces for sales pressure later this decade. The Rahway, N.J.-based company said Monday it will split its human-health business into two divisions. One will house its cancer drugs, including the blockbuster Keytruda. The immunotherapy accounts for nearly half of total Merck sales but is due to lose U.S. patent protection in 2028, exposing it to lower-cost copycat competition. (Loftus, 2/23)
Bloomberg: Pfizer Nabs China Obesity Drug Rights In $495 Million Deal
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-24/pfizer-secures-china-rights-to-obesity-drug-in-495-million-deal?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8SHihiLhwUEc1FnseWA22vTuzkR-FIEqMtUsKsA8-U4VNylnCufTgUg_6jvUdryWuio3AZxqb8FmCab_kzGr1LGnelBQ&_hsmi=405257711&utm_content=405257711&utm_source=hs_email
Pfizer Inc. has acquired exclusive rights to commercialize an obesity therapy in China, strengthening its push into the fast-growing weight loss market. The American drugmaker struck a deal with local startup, Hangzhou Sciwind Bioscience Co., for ecnoglutide, a drug recently approved in China for diabetes and is currently under regulatory review for obesity, according to a statement on WeChat. (Tong, 2/24)
The Hill: Diabetes Drug Mounjaro Linked To Reduced Alcohol Intake: Study
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5751372-tirzepatide-mounjaro-alcohol-study/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--PSBgRVL-adts_sIzoEEguHhiY4BgJVaVD8QRcZivbZe1Za4Rm4DpYSjnal7tDcn7NWa1xZ_MYHNmCYrB4sNiDsmQTIA&_hsmi=405257711&utm_content=405257711&utm_source=hs_email
An ingredient in the prescription diabetes drug Mounjaro was found to reduce alcohol intake in rodents, according to a recent study. In the study, published in early January in the medical journal eBioMedicine, researchers in Sweden, South Carolina and Brazil looked at how the ingredient, tirzepatide, affected rodents. The researchers found that alcohol’s “rewarding properties” were lessened by the ingredient and that behaviors including the voluntary consumption of alcohol and binge drinking dropped. (Suter, 2/23)
MedPage Today: Breakable Mechanical Heart Valves Eyed For Future Intervention
https://www.medpagetoday.com/cardiology/interventionalcardiology/120008?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_GPgNpeJ9-5Jzu43N_Du-BS4TIalJzbvMKLZSLPO2cOI6iK5OBDSZncx3z0_nH1YLqvbNz46wePv_2UziT3rWb7w04Mg&_hsmi=405257711&utm_content=405257711&utm_source=hs_email
Failed mechanical heart valves could get a new life with device fracture and subsequent valve-in-valve therapy, research suggested. Contemporary mechanical valve leaflets were successfully fractured using standard angioplasty balloons in controlled lab experiments, leaving the intact valve rings unobstructed and available for possible transcatheter heart valve implantation -- which has implications for people with dysfunctional mechanical heart valves, reported Paulina Jankowska, MD, of University Hospital Heart Center Brandenburg in Neuruppin, Germany, and colleagues. (Lou, 2/23)
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION +++++
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
Stat: Ralph Abraham, No. 2 Official At CDC, Abruptly Steps Down
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/23/ralph-abraham-cdc-resigns/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--DdAOaG-EfcXWUbteHN1i15f6JTfRDORCKhFQTfQ9hNSUCnzd49wPCAWI-RhxJOgkhAILZwAlEf4f4JEE4e9bVjkQwaA&_hsmi=405257711&utm_content=405257711&utm_source=hs_email
The drama and chaos surrounding the leadership of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have taken another twist, with the announcement Monday that the agency’s No. 2 official, Ralph Abraham, has resigned. (Branswell, 2/23)
MedPage Today: FDA Proposes New Approval Pathway For Rare Disease Gene Therapy
https://www.medpagetoday.com/publichealthpolicy/fdageneral/120010?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_ZEmuYM-4GWdG4bSTOdbV1ED_EGT2_P6AxfKRg1zyFxkI_fwThPGfov5YsGpR53eXkYWQ4Vp_Fe4qXXzh3xT6_Eb2unw&_hsmi=405257711&utm_content=405257711&utm_source=hs_email
The FDA on Monday unveiled draft guidance for a new "plausible mechanism" approval pathway for ultra-rare disease treatments. "What is a 'plausible mechanism' pathway? It's common sense," FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, MPH, said at a press conference at HHS headquarters. "For the first time, the FDA is issuing guidance giving drug developers of ultra-rare disease therapies a path to accelerated or traditional approval based on the experience of individuals." (Frieden, 2/23)
Politico: RFK Jr. Says We Need More Herbicide Production, Stunning His Followers
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/23/rfk-jr-s-endorsement-of-trumps-plan-to-boost-u-s-herbicide-production-threatens-maga-maha-alliance-00793648?utm_campaign=KHN:+First+Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--oQPBetyv65qj5cWWwbhq5bxBVYaPpCHupiHQvqH7z6KMwg0OzNbW-lc8zhDFZk1N1clE_D3pRBaaMOtuSXyAVNd30xQ&_hsmi=405257711&utm_content=405257711&utm_source=hs_email
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to endorse increased production of a chemical herbicide he has previously called a carcinogen has sparked a furious reaction among his followers and stressed the MAGA-MAHA alliance. The health secretary explained in a post to X on Sunday night he was backing a directive from President Donald Trump to boost manufacturing of agricultural chemicals he says “put Americans at risk” in order to reduce dependence on them from “adversarial nations,” alarming supporters of his Make America Healthy Again movement. (Reader, Burns and Brown, 2/23)
Becker's Hospital Review: AHA Urges HHS To Align AI Rules With Existing Healthcare Regulations
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/ai/aha-urges-hhs-to-align-ai-rules-with-existing-healthcare-regulations/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_Judqe-xQpGC8Rs4zTwhk7jCt42pQTBS8gylrv_SKR7_asNDH8sXRHLdnyEZqiYFQT4j2SiQPZY-EGIVaqZ6o71WwV3A&_hsmi=405257711&utm_content=405257711&utm_source=hs_email
The American Hospital Association is calling on federal health officials to reduce regulatory barriers and ensure clinician oversight as artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into clinical care. In a Feb. 23 letter to the Department of Health and Human Services, the AHA outlined recommendations in response to the agency’s request for information on accelerating AI adoption in healthcare. (Diaz, 2/23)
The New York Times: Trump, Bruised And Unpopular, Turns To State Of The Union For A Reset
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/us/politics/trump-popularity-agenda-state-of-the-union.html?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8bB9kL1mtYzKrrcnTKWGm33ZcflCWyW4tpa8glo6QSEILVyVc4yvbYcOix61sz_aQvibtGqsIsVmfl8rWJW6nVcNYd8A&_hsmi=405257711&utm_content=405257711&utm_source=hs_email
This year, a substantial number of Democrats are planning to boycott the speech and attend an alternative event, a rally called the “People’s State of the Union,” which will take place on the National Mall near the Capitol. Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, has encouraged members to either sit silently through the speech or boycott it altogether, rather than attend and create distractions in the House chamber. Such protests potentially risk alienating swing voters ahead of the midterms. (Broadwater, 2/24)
Hospitals Fighting Measles Confront a Challenge: Few Doctors Have Seen It Before By Andrew Jones February 24, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/measles-outbreak-cdc-carolina-sc-nc-vaccines/
The virus exposed at least 26 other people in the hospital that January day, federal investigators determined. Health inspectors for CMS investigated the measles infections and other failures in care and concluded that the twins’ symptoms should have triggered an isolation procedure for which Mission Hospital staffers had trained seven months earlier. CMS designated Mission in “Immediate Jeopardy” for the exposures and other unrelated issues, one of the most severe sanctions a hospital can face, threatening to pull federal funding unless it remedied the problems.
‘The Antidote to Corporatization of Medicine’: Medscape Self-Employed Physicians Report 2025 Jon McKenna | +++ +++ +...
‘The Antidote to Corporatization of Medicine’: Medscape Self-Employed Physicians Report 2025
Jon McKenna |
https://www.medscape.com/slideshow/Self-Employed-Physicians-Report-2025-6018776?ecd=mkm_ret_260223_mscpmrk_top-content_etid8128494&uac=148436CN&impID=8128494
Medscape Physicians Evaluate Telemedicine Report 2025: Where the Technology Goes From Here
Jon McKenna
https://www.medscape.com/slideshow/Telemedicine-Report-2025-6018761?ecd=mkm_ret_260223_mscpmrk_top-content_etid8128494&uac=148436CN&impID=8128494
An 'Imperative' to Organize?: Medscape Residents and Unions Report 2025
Jon McKenna |
https://www.medscape.com/slideshow/Medscape-Residents-and-Unions-Report-2025-6018721?ecd=mkm_ret_260223_mscpmrk_top-content_etid8128494&uac=148436CN&impID=8128494
Medscape Physical Security in Medical Workplaces Report 2026: Is It Thorough Enough to Suit Physicians?
Jon McKenna |
https://www.medscape.com/slideshow/2026-Security-Medical-Workplaces-%206018979?ecd=mkm_ret_260223_mscpmrk_top-content_etid8128494&uac=148436CN&impID=8128494
Big Raises Become Less Commonplace: Medscape APRN Compensation Report 2025
Jon McKenna |
https://www.medscape.com/slideshow/2025-APRN-compensation-6018790?ecd=mkm_ret_260223_mscpmrk_top-content_etid8128494&uac=148436CN&impID=8128494
13 Doctors Celebrate Their Mentors
Jennifer Nelson |
https://www.medscape.com/slideshow/Doctors-Mentors-6019103?ecd=mkm_ret_260223_mscpmrk_top-content_etid8128494&uac=148436CN&impID=8128494
Medscape Turning to Foreign-Trained Physicians Report 2026
Most doctors practicing in the US see physicians who were educated or trained in another country as a solution to doctor shortages here, especially in rural areas.
Medscape Features Slideshows, February 20, 2026
https://www.medscape.com/index/list_12363_0?ecd=mkm_ret_260223_mscpmrk_top-content_etid8128494&uac=148436CN&impID=8128494
lunes, 23 de febrero de 2026
Deepfakes raise profound ethical questions in science Ankit Singh | AZO Robotics | February 23, 2026
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/02/23/deepfakes-raise-profound-ethical-questions-in-science/
Much of the public concern around deepfakes has focused on abuse, particularly non-consensual intimate imagery, political misinformation, and the erosion of trust in audio-visual evidence. These issues are real and can have serious implications.
‘We were lied to’: Will Trump’s order to increase the domestic supply of the weedkiller glyphosate split MAHA? Hiroko Tabuchi, Sheryl Gay Stolberg | New York Times | February 23, 2026
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/02/23/we-were-lied-to-will-trumps-order-to-increase-the-domestic-supply-of-the-weedkiller-glyphosate-split-maha/
[T]he executive order Mr. Trump issued February 17 to increase domestic production of glyphosate — a widely used weedkiller and possible carcinogen that has been the target of thousands of lawsuits, including one brought by Mr. Kennedy — stunned and infuriated the activists.
Epidemiology and risk factors of malaria in Cabo Verde, 2015–2023, in the elimination era Graça Maria Carvalho Mendes Moniz* [1] , António Lima Moreira [2] , Adilson José DePina [3]
https://www.academia.edu/academia-global-and-public-health/1/1/10.20935/AcadPHealth8078
Introduction: Cabo Verde was certified as malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in January 2024, becoming the fourth African nation to achieve this status. This study examines the epidemiological characteristics and associated factors of malaria cases in Cabo Verde from 2015 to 2023 to inform sustainable prevention strategies. Materials and methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis was conducted using national surveillance data from 706 confirmed cases of malaria. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were employed to identify factors associated with autochthonous versus imported cases. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v29.0.1.0. Results: Most cases (74.5%) occurred in males, with the highest incidence among individuals aged 20–54 years. The municipality of Praia accounted for 98.5% of autochthonous cases and 55% of imported cases. Fever (52.7%), headache (36.4%), and myalgia (20.4%) were the most common symptoms. Plasmodium falciparum caused all autochthonous infections, while imported cases included P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and mixed infections. Logistic regression identified fever (OR = 2.90; 95% CI: 1.24–6.78) and treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) plus primaquine (OR = 7.72; 95% CI: 1.12–53.29) as significant predictors of autochthonous cases. Chills were associated with imported cases (OR = 0.15; 95% CI: 0.07–0.29). Conclusions: Despite achieving malaria-free status, Cabo Verde remains vulnerable to imported cases due to its connectivity with endemic regions and receptivity level. Enhanced fever surveillance, targeted screening of travelers, and sustained vector control are critical to preventing reintroduction.
https://www.academia.edu/journals/academia-global-and-public-health/articles?source=journal-top-nav
Morning Briefing: Today's News Summaries Monday, Feb 23 2026 UPDATED 9:11 AM +++ +++ +
Morning Briefing: Today's News Summaries
Monday, Feb 23 2026 UPDATED 9:11 AM
High Court's Tariff Ruling Likely Won't Affect Deals Struck With Drugmakers
The Trump administration may impose sector-specific tariffs if pharmaceutical companies stray from most-favored-nation pricing for prescriptions, Managed Healthcare Executive reported. The administration is also looking at other statutes that would allow the use of tariffs to further its policy priorities.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/high-courts-tariff-ruling-likely-wont-affect-deals-struck-with-drugmakers/
Trump's EPA Supports Biden Admin's 10-Year Deadline To Replace Lead Pipes
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump says he'll deploy a hospital ship to Greenland, but Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen says, “It’s a no thank you from here." Also in the news: Jay Bhattacharya, glyphosate, ICE, and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/trumps-epa-supports-biden-admins-10-year-deadline-to-replace-lead-pipes/
With Nearly 1,000 Infections, Measles Tally Is Outpacing 2025's Case Count
More than half of the states have confirmed measles cases, with South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona experiencing widespread outbreaks. Meanwhile, five more children have died from the flu, which is still circulating at high levels across much of the country.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/with-nearly-1000-infections-measles-tally-is-outpacing-2025s-case-count/
Ransomware Attack Forces Closure Of All University Of Mississippi Clinics
The extent of the attack is still being evaluated at one of the state’s largest health care providers. Roughly three dozen clinics around the state were forced to close, and elective procedures have been canceled. Officials are warning the shutdown could continue for days.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/ransomware-attack-forces-closure-of-all-university-of-mississippi-clinics/
New Mexico Will Investigate History Of Forced Sterilization Of Native Women
Last week, legislators in New Mexico approved a measure to investigate the history and impact of forced and coerced sterilization of women of color in the state. Also in the news: abortion in Wyoming, elderly health care in California, and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/new-mexico-will-investigate-history-of-forced-sterilization-of-native-women/
Study Sheds Light On Why Women Are More Prone To Chronic Pain Than Men
The study, published Friday in Science Immunology, suggests that men's immune systems have higher levels of cells with a mechanism that switches off pain signals to the brain. Plus: autism, heart disease in women, SUIDS in recalled sleepers, and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/study-sheds-light-on-why-women-are-more-prone-to-chronic-pain-than-men/
Viewpoints: Policies That Help Hospital Giants Need To Be Changed; Human Toll Of Trump’s Anti-Science Stance
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/viewpoints-policies-that-help-hospital-giants-need-to-be-changed-human-toll-of-trumps-anti-science-stance/
No one in health care should be called a ‘provider’ It’s a matter of ethics and professionalism
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/23/provider-ethical-objections-physician-acp/
By Lois Snyder SulmasyFeb. 23, 2026
Snyder Sulmasy is the director of the American College of Physicians Center for Ethics and Professionalism.
Novo Nordisk’s next-gen obesity drug stumbles in comparison study The results add to the challenges facing the one-time leader in the weight loss market
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/23/novo-nordisk-cagrisema-fail-comparison-trial-zepbound-eli-lilly-obesity/
By Andrew JosephFeb. 23, 2026
Europe Correspondent
Health care reform might be a focus in midterms. For Congress, pursuing it will be an uphill climb Lowering costs would be politically popular, but Republicans would face a host of challenges
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/23/health-care-reform-midterms-trump/
By John WilkersonFeb. 23, 2026
Washington Correspondent
A provocative proposal asks the FDA to let some AI devices on the market without review Petition would shift the burden of evidence to post-market monitoring for six product types
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/23/harrisonai-fda-petition-exempt-ai-devices-premarket-review/
By Mario Aguilar and Katie PalmerFeb. 23, 2026
Gilead to buy Arcellx in nearly $8B deal The two companies were already partnered on a multiple myeloma CAR-T treatment
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/23/gilead-arcellx-acquisition-car-t-multiple-myeloma/
By Adam FeuersteinFeb. 23, 2026
Adam Feuerstein, a senior writer and biotech columnist, is the author of Adam’s Biotech Scorecard, a subscriber-only newsletter about the crossroads of drug development, business, Wall Street, and biotechnology.
Pharma lobbyists focus on a surprising new target: the FDA The FDA has long been shielded from political influence, but that’s changing under Trump
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/23/fda-lobbying-efforts-grow-under-trump-administration/
By Daniel Payne and Lizzy LawrenceFeb. 23, 2026
Daniel Payne and Lizzy Lawrence interviewed lobbyists and government officials and reviewed corporate disclosures for this story.
MORE ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION +++ +++
MORE ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
AP: Trump Says He Will Send A Hospital Ship To Greenland But The Territory's Leader Says No Thanks
https://apnews.com/article/greenland-trump-denmark-us-b2624bb6ed7d66de874e333779c505fe?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8ztMYqH4rDggma8lK2iK6QOY8ZntwD5Haq1874YZNglUTcjGA8iy422jN21O8guEDL8XCNi8KH84T-uOjnbqZlQZG6Ug&_hsmi=405016981&utm_content=405016981&utm_source=hs_email
U.S. President Donald Trump said he would deploy a hospital ship to Greenland, alleging that many people there are sick and not receiving care, even though both of the U.S. Navy’s hospital ships are currently docked at a shipyard in Alabama. Trump’s announcement prompted a defense on Sunday of Denmark and Greenland’s health care system from their leaders, and it was the latest point of friction with the American leader who has frequently talked about seizing the massive Arctic territory. “It’s a no thank you from here,” said Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen. (Keaten and Toropin, 2/22)
AP: Trump Administration Backs 10-Year Deadline To Replace Harmful Lead Pipes
https://apnews.com/article/trump-lead-pipes-drinking-water-contamination-epa-6e1c7c45f1ba41ae69dfb13fa9510ef8?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--RKn52SSQI0yiqhfi_NZ6BdrLEy-PvhGNucy5rplt-FsWvB8M_Z5Vf6DPso54opPkhGMzUTFBQla1rxriWyEGstPE-xw&_hsmi=405016981&utm_content=405016981&utm_source=hs_email
The Trump administration said Friday it backs a 10-year deadline for most cities and towns to replace their harmful lead pipes, giving notice that it will support a tough rule approved under the Biden administration to reduce lead in drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency told a federal appeals court in Washington that it would defend the strongest overhaul of lead-in-water standards in three decades against a court challenge by a utility industry association. (Phillis, 2/21)
Stat: Petition Pushes FDA To Exempt AI Devices From Premarket Review
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/23/harrisonai-fda-petition-exempt-ai-devices-premarket-review/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9GgB7kcohgZFRGaMFn2gGWHhWrYG0A9ieZjxAWejQxudBXql-KRKkhUpwF57W_KtjZjXb61Hi458l-eBpgG5yfP5m0uA&_hsmi=405016981&utm_content=405016981&utm_source=hs_email
The Trump administration has promised to reduce the barriers between health artificial intelligence developers and patients. With a provocative new proposal, an AI company has offered regulators a way to let a broad swath of potentially risky AI devices flood the market. (Aguilar and Palmer, 2/23)
Stat: Pharma Companies Turn To Trump-Connected Firms For FDA Lobbying
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/23/fda-lobbying-trump-connected-firms-cash-in/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8BrpOT0EyAFOdppAyfMm83NuuJ4gzTuw8o5-BLoNmkeg4OlBybrD_L-PtSFQ30_cpFfv9VimXpMTvQf76kRdKfwTvJOA&_hsmi=405016981&utm_content=405016981&utm_source=hs_email
Pharmaceutical giants, seeing a wave of new risks and potential rewards in President Trump’s second term, are boosting their spending on lobbying firms with connections to the White House. (Payne and Lawrence, 2/23)
Politico: RFK Jr.’s Billionaire Running Mate Is Making A Comedy About The Pandemic
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/22/the-next-hollywood-hero-jay-bhattacharya-00791313?utm_campaign=KHN:+First+Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--80_4mNt9We1GVUQWjUaYI3EcB-SUhI6F8VmdEEozVdMnB1drWwxvyvnDUMMvmqQuD0xEeho3Aluv8hifENqdr7hLDMw&_hsmi=405016981&utm_content=405016981&utm_source=hs_email
Covid contrarians tight with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are pitching Hollywood on an unlikely leading man: National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya. Nicole Shanahan, Kennedy’s running mate in the 2024 presidential campaign, is searching for investors to fund a movie that pokes fun at the pandemic response with a star based on Bhattacharya, who rose to prominence with his anti-lockdown manifesto and relentless tweets opposing social distancing. (Hooper, 2/22)
Politico: Trump’s Law Is Crushing The Next Generation Of RFK Jr. Disciples
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/23/rfk-naturopaths-student-loans-education-00790060?utm_campaign=KHN:+First+Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9D1ZxhFPxZP7GUJW9JdP5bMmXBHjUTNZNaUfZH0U5EvncI2BFHE-ZVV6pnCUsFc-PO3H1mzh29zCQfnBuDIX0cgNWBsA&_hsmi=405016981&utm_content=405016981&utm_source=hs_email
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made it his Make America Healthy Again mission to challenge the medical establishment. President Donald Trump’s signature law, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, could entrench it. Kennedy sees America’s medical schools as bastions of groupthink that ignore the root causes of disease. But newly proposed caps on student loans that stem from the law would favor establishment institutions over nontraditional schools aligned with Kennedy’s view that Americans are sicker than ever because of what they eat, the chemicals they’re exposed to, and how little exercise they get. (Chu, 2/23)
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