jueves, 30 de abril de 2026
How America’s medical system encourages psychiatric overdiagnosis Adam Omary, Jeffrey Singer | Cato Institute | April 30, 2026
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/04/30/how-americas-medical-system-encourages-psychiatric-overdiagnosis/
Psychiatric diagnoses in the United States are rising across virtually every category, in every age group. According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, more than one in five US adults—59.3 million people—lived with a mental illness in 2022. An estimated 49.5 percent of American adolescents have met diagnostic criteria for at least one mental disorder at some point in their lifetime.
Anti-vaccine activists are now the majority in RFK, Jr.’s CDC Vaccine Panel Walker Bragman | Important Context | April 30, 2026
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/04/30/anti-vaccine-activists-are-now-the-majority-in-rfk-jr-s-cdc-vaccine-panel/
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is giving several prominent right-wing and anti-vaccine medical groups a formal role in meetings of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee.
The myths of “process”: What science says about the “dangers’ of synthetic products and ultra-processed foods Josh Bloom | April 30, 2026
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/04/30/the-myths-of-process-what-science-says-about-the-dangers-of-synthetic-products-and-ultra-processed-foods/
Two words used to scare people are impossible to avoid: synthetic and its younger cousin, ultra-processed. They’re everywhere—on supermarket shelves, on television, and baked into the psyche of nervous consumers who no longer know what to believe. And that’s entirely intentional. And it works very well.
MAHA wellness influencers deride proven anxiety medications, tout lifestyle fixes Phillip Reese | April 30, 2026
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/04/30/maha-wellness-influencers-deride-proven-anxiety-medications-tout-lifestyle-fixes/
After a grueling year of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation to treat breast cancer, Sadia Zapp was anxious — not the manageable hum that had long been part of her life, but something deeper, more distracting.
Feeling Sleepy? You're Not Alone: Nearly Half Of US Adults Aren't Getting Enough Z's
Feeling Sleepy? You're Not Alone: Nearly Half Of US Adults Aren't Getting Enough Z's
A study by the CDC shows that women are less likely than men to wake up feeling rested, and they have a harder time falling and staying asleep. Thirty percent of adults surveyed sleep fewer than seven hours a night. Also: carbon pollution's effect on the food we eat; ultraprocessed food's link to increased dementia risk; and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/this-one-needs-an-excerpt-feeling-sleepy-youre-not-alone-nearly-half-of-us-adults-arent-getting-enough-zs/
Humana To Cut Medicare Advantage Benefits For 2027
Humana To Cut Medicare Advantage Benefits For 2027
Unlike other insurance giants, Humana had held off on shrinking benefits up until this point, Modern Healthcare reports. But in a change of events, President and CEO Jim Rechtin announced the company will be streamlining offerings in order to shrink the gap between expenses and federal payments, Modern Healthcare reported.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/health-industry-6/
Justices Side With NJ Faith-Based Pregnancy Center Over State Subpoena
Justices Side With NJ Faith-Based Pregnancy Center Over State Subpoena
The unanimous ruling is a victory for First Choice Women’s Resource Centers. The case revolves around First Amendment concerns the center has regarding a subpoena to turn over donor lists and whether the center used misleading practices.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/maybe-3-reproductive-health/
High Court Hears 'Skinny Labeling' Case That Could Make Generic Rx Harder To Get
High Court Hears 'Skinny Labeling' Case That Could Make Generic Rx Harder To Get
Skinny labeling, Stat explains, is when a generic drugmaker seeks approval to market a drug for a specific use other than those for which the brand-name medicine is prescribed as a way to avoid patent infringement lawsuits. The outcome of the hearing could affect access to generics.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/pharma-and-tech-2/
New Limits On Voting Rights Act May Upend Racial Makeup Of Congress
New Limits On Voting Rights Act May Upend Racial Makeup Of Congress
Wednesday's Supreme Court ruling gives Republicans an opportunity to break up Black and Hispanic majority districts for partisan gain, The Washington Post reported. One activist in Louisiana, Press Robinson, who grew up in South Carolina during segregation, predicted that Republicans in Southern states would move aggressively to reshape the political landscape, The New York Times reported. “They are determined to see to it that we don’t have a voice at all,” he said.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/new-limits-on-voting-rights-act-may-upend-racial-makeup-of-congress/
Days After Alleged Assassination Plot, Feds Want To Loosen Gun Rules
Days After Alleged Assassination Plot, Feds Want To Loosen Gun Rules
On Wednesday, the Department of Justice rolled out dozens of planned changes to federal gun regulations, including rolling back a Biden-era measure that sought to end the "gun show loophole."
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/1-guns-admin/
States Rush To Figure Out How To Enforce Trump’s Medicaid Work Requirements By Rachel Spears April 30, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/medicaid/medicaid-work-requirements-kff-survey-state-implementation-strategies/
State officials remain uncertain on how to enforce a requirement that many adult Medicaid enrollees show they’re working — even as one state launches its program this week — and they’re taking a variety of approaches to the job, including, in a handful of states, using artificial intelligence.
When Natural Disasters Strike, Another Crisis Hits Those Recovering From Opioid Addiction By Andrew Jones April 30, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/public-health/substance-use-disorder-treatment-natural-disasters-opioid-suboxone-emergency-supply/
A day after Hurricane Helene ripped through western North Carolina in late September 2024, Toni Brewer had no power or water. The storm had strewn fallen trees across most roads, wiped out phone and internet communications, and put some neighborhoods near her Asheville home underwater.
AHRQ QI Listening Session - Diagnostic Excellence Measures 13 may 2026 03:00 p. m.
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SwTmLyFRSseMsFsVlLFqIQ#/registration
AHRQ QI Diagnostic Excellence Listening Session — Registration Now Open
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) invites you to participate in an upcoming Diagnostic Excellence Listening Session to be held on May 13, 2026, from 2 - 3 p.m. ET.
This webinar will introduce AHRQ’s newly released Diagnostic Excellence Measures and related resources. The session will be useful to individuals and organizations seeking to examine diagnostic excellence at a health system or population level, including hospitals, health systems, researchers, state and local health departments, insurers and payers, federal agencies and federal health systems.
Topics will include:
Diagnostic Excellence module overview and development
https://qualityindicators.ahrq.gov/tools/diagnostic_excellence
Resources — Exploratory Cancer-Related Diagnostic Measures and the Symptom-Disease Pair Analysis of Diagnostic Error (SPADE) research tool
https://qualityindicators.ahrq.gov/tools/diagnostic_excellence#Cancer-Tab
Real-world testing and implementation examples
https://qualityindicators.ahrq.gov/tools/diagnostic_excellence#spade-tab
Participants will have the opportunity to engage with AHRQ and their measure developers during a live question-and-answer session.
To register please visit: http://bit.ly/4cmkvlZ
FDA-Approved Marijuana Products and Those Subject to State-Issued Licenses Rescheduled; Marijuana Hearing Calendared; Dispensary Applications Accepted April 30, 2026 By Larry K. Houck —
https://www.thefdalawblog.com/2026/04/fda-approved-marijuana-products-and-those-subject-to-state-issued-licenses-rescheduled-marijuana-hearing-calendared-dispensary-applications-accepted/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fda-approved-marijuana-products-and-those-subject-to-state-issued-licenses-rescheduled-marijuana-hearing-calendared-dispensary-applications-accepted
President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order in December directing the Attorney General to expedite completion of marijuana rescheduling to facilitate medical research begun in October 2022. The President opined that federal officials were “slow-walking” marijuana rescheduling during the signing of an Executive Order expanding the review of psychedelic drugs last week. Then on Thursday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) issued a final rule rescheduling FDA-approved products containing marijuana and marijuana products regulated by state medical marijuana licenses from schedule I to schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”). Schedules of Controlled Substances: Rescheduling of Food and Drug Administration Approved Products Containing Marijuana From Schedule I to Schedule III; Corresponding Change to Permit Requirements, 91 Fed. Reg. 22,714 (Apr. 28, 2026). DEA also under Blanche’s signature issued a notice withdrawing the May 2024 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the prior rescheduling hearing and issued a separate Notice of Hearing for an expedited rescheduling hearing to begin June 29th. Schedules of Controlled Substances: Rescheduling of Marijuana; Withdrawal, 91 Fed. Reg. 22,778 (Apr. 28, 2026); Schedules of Controlled Substances: Rescheduling of Marijuana, 91 Fed. Reg. 22,777 (Apr. 28, 2026).
miércoles, 29 de abril de 2026
Did Kennedy just stack the deck on FDA oversight of peptides? It sure looks like it By Paul KnoepflerApril 29, 2026
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/29/rfk-jr-peptides-upcoming-fda-policy-shift-compounding-drugs/
By Paul KnoepflerApril 29, 2026
Knoepfler is a professor of cell biology and human anatomy at UC Davis School of Medicine.
Family Awarded $7.65M In Fatal Contamination Case At KU Med
Family Awarded $7.65M In Fatal Contamination Case At KU Med
The jury attributed 88% of the fault to the University of Kansas Hospital Authority and 12% of the fault to LivaNova USA Inc., the medtech company that manufactured the device that was used in Stephen Nolte's heart surgery at KU Med. This is one of more than two dozen lawsuits filed against the University of Kansas Hospital Authority and LivaNova, the Kansas City Star reports.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/health-industry-5/
CDC Reports Drug-Resistant Salmonella Cases Linked To Backyard Poultry
CDC Reports Drug-Resistant Salmonella Cases Linked To Backyard Poultry
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly a dozen of the 34 people who became ill are younger than 5. Also in the news: consequences of covid screening; a report on deaths related to hepatitis B and C; the dangers of chatbots and bioterrorism; and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/public-health-20/
FDA Panel To Decide Whether New Breast, Prostate Cancer Drugs Are Worth The Risks
FDA Panel To Decide Whether New Breast, Prostate Cancer Drugs Are Worth The Risks
FDA staff have expressed concerns about the use of camizestrant to treat metastatic breast cancer and capivasertib for patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. The Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee will vote on these two drug applications Thursday.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/cancer/
Federal Advisory Panel Recommends Changing Definition Of 'Profound Autism'
Federal Advisory Panel Recommends Changing Definition Of 'Profound Autism'
Despite pushback from some members, the reconstituted Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee also recommended the establishment of safety measures to protect people who wander from their caregivers and to encourage Medicaid to set guidelines for diagnosis and possible health risks, Stat reported.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/mental-health-15/
GOP Points Finger At Hospitals For Skyrocketing Healthcare Costs
GOP Points Finger At Hospitals For Skyrocketing Healthcare Costs
But NBC News reports that hospital CEOs pushed back during the House hearing Tuesday, saying high costs were a product of factors including low reimbursement rates and their obligation to treat sicker and sometimes uninsured patients. Meanwhile, a Gallup poll finds a record 55% of Americans report that their financial situation is worsening.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/cap-watch-2/
Purdue Pharma Sentenced In OxyContin 'Crime Scheme,' Will Dissolve
Purdue Pharma Sentenced In OxyContin 'Crime Scheme,' Will Dissolve
The last step necessary to clear the way to a settlement was delivered via a criminal sentence Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo, resolving thousands of lawsuits, AP reports. As part of the deal, Purdue will cease to exist and will be replaced by a new company, Knoa Pharma, with the aim of combating the opioid crisis.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/opioid-pharma/
Trump’s Medicaid Work Mandate Debuting in Nebraska to Much Dismay By Phil Galewitz April 29, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/medicaid/nebraska-medicaid-work-requirement-fears-losing-coverage/
Schmeeka Simpson of Omaha works as a patient navigator for the American Civil Liberties Union and an administrative assistant at Nebraskans for Peace, plus picks up shifts at a Dunkin’ shop.
Saving Lives by Changing Lives: The Next Frontier in Suicide Prevention By Aneri Pattani April 29, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/mental-health/suicide-prevention-mental-health-upstream-solutions-eleven-minutes/
Someone in America dies by suicide every 11 minutes. It’s a tragic and entrenched problem. A new approach to prevention shifts the focus from stopping harm in moments of crisis to upstream policies that give people reasons to live.
UK and US deepen regulatory cooperation on medical devices, building on wider pharmaceutical partnership
UK and US deepen regulatory cooperation on medical devices, building on wider pharmaceutical partnership
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration are strengthening cooperation on medical device regulation, to support faster access to safe, innovative technologies for patients in both countries.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-us-deepen-regulatory-cooperation-on-medical-devices-building-on-wider-pharmaceutical-partnership?utm_campaign=42504259-FnB%2C%20Cosmetics%2C%20Med%20Dev%2C%20Drugs%20%7C%20Newsfeed%20%7C%20Global%20%7C%202026&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9Q8OYEoIF8A6kq7MqjFsDZSOG8mrV0RJj39nNBluA-NKhFH1c_twjSNbKwrWO3gMQ335bONcizS-nHSmcGZ6QWJK0AIA&_hsmi=416156928&utm_content=416156883&utm_source=hs_email
U.S. and U.K. Expand Medical Device Regulatory Cooperation
The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the U.S. FDA have announced deeper cooperation on medical device regulation to support faster access to safe, innovative technologies in both countries. The announcement says the agencies will explore ways to improve and align regulatory approaches, including possible future mutual recognition mechanisms intended to reduce duplication and streamline approval processes, while keeping each regulator’s work independent and maintaining safety standards.
For medical device companies, this signals a meaningful step toward greater regulatory alignment between two major markets. While this does not change current requirements overnight, it points to a future in which manufacturers may face less duplicative effort and a more coordinated pathway for bringing products to market across the U.S. and U.K.
Over-The-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Program (OMUFA)
https://www.fda.gov/industry/fda-user-fee-programs/over-counter-monograph-drug-user-fee-program-omufa?utm_campaign=42504259-FnB%2C%20Cosmetics%2C%20Med%20Dev%2C%20Drugs%20%7C%20Newsfeed%20%7C%20Global%20%7C%202026&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9Pwe3L1NjcGXyBgiUYISktq2r10ZeLRTX6zWiPmssr0uCDJr11j52-B1bun2pEAGz-liZ4jdhC5LkCQ39qHSl0EUs_jQ&_hsmi=416156928&utm_content=416156883&utm_source=hs_email
FDA OMUFA Updates Highlight 2026 Fee Obligations for OTC Manufacturers
FDA’s OMUFA page now reflects key FY2026 updates for companies manufacturing OTC monograph drugs, including new facility fee rates, OMOR fee rates, and updated arrears and paid facilities lists. The page states that FY2026 facility fees are $19,188 for monograph drug facilities and $12,792 for contract manufacturing organization facilities, and that FY2026 facility fees are due on June 1, 2026. FDA also notes that paper-based payments are no longer accepted and payments must be made electronically, by credit card, or by wire transfer.
For OTC drug companies, these updates reinforce that OMUFA is not just a background fee program but an active compliance obligation tied to facility status, registration information, and payment timing. Companies should confirm whether their facilities fall within the statutory definition of an OTC monograph drug facility, verify payment readiness, and make sure internal teams are aligned well ahead of the June deadline.
An Early Look at State Approaches to Implementing Medicaid Work Requirements Event Date: Apr 30, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.
https://www.kff.org/event/an-early-look-at-state-approaches-to-implementing-medicaid-work-requirements/
Starting January 1, 2027, federal law will require that adults enrolled in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion and enrollees in partial expansion waiver programs in Georgia and Wisconsin meet new work requirements. On Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET, KFF will host an hour-long interactive virtual briefing focused on states’ efforts to implement these new Medicaid work and community engagement requirements, which have created new administrative demands on states at a time of federal funding cuts, slowing revenue growth, and increasing spending demands.
How State Policies Shape Access to Abortion Coverage
How State Policies Shape Access to Abortion Coverage
Editorial note: Updated April 27, 2026 with new updates for Pennsylvania.
State and federal efforts to limit abortion coverage began soon after the 1973 Supreme Court’s Roe v Wade decision. In 1977, the Hyde Amendment banned federal funding for abortion, with exceptions for pregnancies that endanger the life of the woman, or result from rape or incest. Some states use their own funds to cover other medically necessary abortions for their Medicaid enrollees or have been compelled to do so by the courts. The passage of the ACA in 2010 led to renewed legislative efforts to limit abortion coverage, this time in private insurance plans. The ACA maintains the Hyde Amendment’s limits, and permits states to ban abortion coverage from Marketplace plans. Since 2010, many states have enacted private plan restrictions and also banned abortion coverage from Marketplace plans, some of which are more restrictive than the Hyde limitations. A handful of states, however, have enacted laws that require private plans to cover abortion and state funds to cover abortions for Medicaid enrollees.
https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/state-policies-on-abortion-coverage-in-medicaid-private-insurance-and-aca-exchange-plans/
Abortion in the United States Dashboard
Abortion in the United States Dashboard
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating the federal constitutional standard that had protected the right to abortion. Without any federal standard regarding abortion access, states will set their own policies to ban or protect abortion. The Abortion in the United States Dashboard is an ongoing research project tracking state abortion policies and litigation following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Click on the buttons or scroll down to see all the content. It will be updated as new information is available.
https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/abortion-in-the-u-s-dashboard/
Tracking Key Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Actions Under the Trump Administration Authors: Nirmita Panchal and Heather Saunders Published: Apr 27, 2026
https://www.kff.org/mental-health/tracking-key-mental-health-and-substance-use-policy-actions-under-the-trump-administration/
In 2024, over 61 million adults in the U.S. experienced a mental illness and deaths due to suicide, gun violence, and drug overdose remained high. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic and necessary public health responses exacerbated an already existing mental health and substance use crises. At the same time, many people experience difficulties affording mental health treatment or finding providers. Among insured adults who described their mental health as fair or poor, 43% reported at least one time in the past year when they needed mental health services or medication but did not receive them; some groups – including communities of color, youth and young adults – experience greater barriers.
KFF Tracker: America First MOU Bilateral Global Health Agreements Published: Apr 27, 2026
https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/kff-tracker-america-first-mou-bilateral-global-health-agreements/
On September 18, 2025, the U.S. government (USG) released its new America First Global Health Strategy, which details how the U.S. will engage in global health efforts moving forward. As part of this new strategy, the U.S. has announced that it will be establishing bilateral health cooperation agreements with countries that receive U.S. global health assistance. These agreements, or Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), between the U.S. and partner countries represent five-year plans (for the period 2026-2030) outlining U.S. engagement in each country’s health efforts with the goal of “helping countries move toward more resilient and durable health systems.” Central to these plans is transitioning country programs from U.S. assistance to long-term country ownership, with a pledge from each partner country to increase its domestic health spending, or co-investment in health, over the next five years as the U.S. decreases its health assistance. The U.S. began signing these agreements in late 2025 and this process is ongoing. Implementation is slated for later this year.
Health Care’s AI Disruption, Ready or Not April 28, 2026
https://www.kff.org/other-health/health-cares-ai-disruption-ready-or-not/
Episode 1, AI Series: The AI revolution is already here — but what does it mean for patients, clinicians, and health care industry leaders? Eric Larsen, veteran health care strategist and longtime advisor to CEOs across the industry, joins Chip for a discussion about why the U.S. health care industry is uniquely exposed to AI-driven disruption and the implications for patients, clinicians, and the health care workforce. Listen to Eric’s take on “the most consequential technology humanity’s ever developed.”
House Appropriations Committee Releases FY 2027 National Security, Department of State and Related Programs (NSRP) Appropriations Bill Published: Apr 28, 2026
https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/house-appropriations-committee-releases-fy-2027-national-security-department-of-state-and-related-programs-nsrp-appropriations-bill/
Note: This resource was originally published on April 27, 2026 and has been updated to reflect additional information.
The House Appropriations Committee released its Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations bill on April 22, 2026 and accompanying report on April 27, 2026. The bill and report include discretionary funding for U.S. global health programs at the State Department as follows:...
Poll: The Cost of Health Care Remains at the Top of the Public’s List of Economic Concerns, Even as Concerns About Gas Prices Climb Majorities Say Health Costs Will Influence Their Vote and Voters Favor Democrats on the Issue, with Republicans Holding an Advantage on Addressing Fraud and Abuse Published: Apr 29, 2026
https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/poll-the-cost-of-health-care-remains-at-the-top-of-the-publics-list-of-economic-concerns-even-as-concerns-about-gas-prices-climb/
Health care costs continue to top the public’s list of economic anxieties, even as fuel prices and economic uncertainty rose following the start of the Iran war, a new KFF Health Tracking poll finds. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of U.S. adults are worried about being able to afford health care costs, including three in ten who say they are “very worried.” The same share (64%) are worried about gasoline or other transportation costs, up from about half (52%) in January.
KFF Health Tracking Poll: Health Care Costs and the Midterms Authors: Audrey Kearney, Mardet Mulugeta, Alex Montero, Isabelle Valdes, Lunna Lopes, and Ashley Kirzinger Published: Apr 29, 2026
https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-health-tracking-poll-health-care-costs-and-the-midterms/?utm_campaign=KFF-Polling-Surveys&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--YJA3kQN9mto5LyFGiQw7S-W00SqYH2_daDND-ghp2Kfibz1bUrCmz8nM_2SCYL6xd8nzA8xbcqJV863VrNudtxzOC_Q&_hsmi=416352232&utm_content=416352232&utm_source=hs_email
Poll: The Cost of Health Care Remains at the Top of the Public’s List of Economic Concerns, Even as Concerns About Gas Prices Climb
Majorities Say Health Costs Will Influence Their Vote and Voters Favor Democrats on the Issue, with Republicans Holding an Advantage on Addressing Fraud and Abuse
Health care costs continue to top the public’s list of economic anxieties, even as fuel prices and economic uncertainty rose following the start of the Iran war, a new KFF Health Tracking poll finds. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of U.S. adults are worried about being able to afford health care costs, including three in ten who say they are “very worried.” The same share (64%) are worried about gasoline or other transportation costs, up from about half (52%) in January.
Underscoring these concerns, nearly half of insured adults (46%) say that lowering out-of-pocket costs is their most-wanted change to their health insurance. Additionally, majorities of voters say health care costs will have a “major impact” on their decision to vote (55%) and which party’s candidate they support (61%).
While the poll finds that voters trust Democrats more than Republicans to address both health care costs (37% vs. 26%) and prescription drug costs (33% vs. 26%), voters are more likely to trust Republicans on the issue of fraud and waste in government health care programs (34% vs. 26%)—an issue on which the Trump administration has been particularly engaged.
Media Contact: Tammie Smith | 202-654-1410 | TammieS@kff.org
CRL Release Update – No litigation war yet, but new Citizen Petition beats the drums April 29, 2026 By Peter G. Dickos & Michelle L. Butler —
https://www.thefdalawblog.com/2026/04/crl-release-update-no-litigation-war-yet-but-new-citizen-petition-beats-the-drums/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=crl-release-update-no-litigation-war-yet-but-new-citizen-petition-beats-the-drums
Last September, we blogged about FDA’s release of Complete Response Letters (“CRLs”) for unapproved NDAs and BLAs, which since then have continued at a steady clip. We observed that the policy marked a significant change from FDA’s longstanding position that such CRLs were exempt from disclosure under FOIA and FDA’s own regulations, that this shift in policy was accomplished without undertaking expected administrative processes, such as a Federal Register Notice or a docket to solicit public comment, and that litigation may well follow.
martes, 28 de abril de 2026
AHRQ Integration Academy - From Coding to Braiding: Strategies for Financing and Sustaining Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care Settings Share Icon SHARE Wed, Jun 10 2026, 1 - 2:30pm EDT
https://integrationacademy.ahrq.gov/news-and-events/calendar/event/24131?oy1-4-AN
Financing remains one of the biggest barriers to integrating behavioral health and primary care, but there are strategies that can help. Join the AHRQ Academy for Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care on Wednesday, June 10, from 1:00–2:30pm ET for a webinar on financing and sustaining integrated behavioral health (IBH) in primary care settings. The session will provide an inside look at the new Integrated Behavioral Health Financing Toolkit and explore practical approaches to building sustainable IBH funding models across primary care, health systems, safety net settings, and rural communities. Attendees will learn how practices can move beyond fee-for-service reimbursement by leveraging braided financing strategies, to include alternative payment models, grants, philanthropy, graduate medical education funding, and internal cross-subsidization. The webinar will also feature a case example of a rural health clinic using the IBH Financing Toolkit to add a behavioral health consultant to address opioid use disorder and suicide risk. This exercise will illustrate how organizations can combine revenue streams, optimize coding and billing, strengthen EHR capabilities, and build community partnerships to support IBH implementation and long-term sustainability.
Toolkit for Improving Skin Care and MDRO Prevention in Long-Term Care
https://www.ahrq.gov/hai/tools/mrsa-prevention/mdro-ltc/index.html
Infection prevention training can be evidence based and engaging. A new escape room-style game in the AHRQ Toolkit for Improving Skin Care and MDRO Prevention in Long-Term Care brings a collaborative, story-driven tabletop experience to post-acute and long-term care settings, transforming how staff learn and apply essential practices. In the tabletop game, players respond to changes in a resident’s skin condition and work with environmental services staff, a physician, an infection preventionist and the resident. They reinforce core topics such as skin assessment, hand hygiene, contact precautions, enhanced barrier precautions and environmental cleaning.
https://www.ahrq.gov/hai/tools/mrsa-prevention/mdro-ltc/teachable-moments-1.html#:~:text=Safe%20key%20strategies.-,Protect%20Skin%2C%20Prevent%20Infection
Across four themed rooms, teams solve puzzles and crack a code to advance. The game highlights the role every staff member plays in infection prevention, emphasizing teamwork, communication and critical thinking. Free resources, including the user guide and printable materials, are available online and were developed as part of the AHRQ Safety Program for MRSA Prevention, which has been implemented in more than 300 facilities nationwide. Read more about the game in Caring for the Ages.
https://www.caringfortheages.com/article/S1526-4114(25)00320-8/fulltext
Escape the Infection: An Interactive Game to Engage Staff in Infection Prevention and Control in Post-Acute and Long-Term Care
Robin L.P. Jump, MD, PhD ∙ Morgan J. Katz, MD, MHS ∙ Heather Stoltzfus, RN, MPH, CIC ∙ … ∙ Leyi Lin, MD ∙ Melissa A. Miller, MD, MS ∙ Lisa L. Maragakis, MD, MPH
Webinar: Making Safety a Core Value: Building the Foundation
https://www.ahrq.gov/action-alliance/index.html
The National Action Alliance for Patient and Workforce Safety, a collective effort of federal agencies and private partners, aims to improve the safety of patients and the healthcare workforce to catalyze change by applying known harm reduction strategies and sharing best practices and lessons learned. The National Action Alliance envisions a future with safe care everywhere and zero preventable harm for all. On Jan. 27, AHRQ’s National Action Alliance staff hosted “Making Safety a Core Value: Building the Foundation,” the first webinar in a series spotlighting the findings from the Best Practices to Strengthen Safety Culture, Leadership and Governance report and change package. Moderated by Martin J. Hatlie, J.D., of Patients for Patient Safety U.S., the event featured real-world insights from three leading healthcare systems on how they operationalize safety as a true organizational core value. This topic aligns with its mission to pursue a total systems approach to improving safety that aligns with the first element of the National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety’s four foundational elements of safety: culture, leadership and governance; patient and family engagement; workforce safety; and learning health system development. Access other previous webinars and register for upcoming events on the National Action Alliance: Webinars page.
https://www.ahrq.gov/action-alliance/webinars/core-value-foundation.html
https://www.ahrq.gov/action-alliance/webinars/index.html
Join AHRQ EPC Grand Rounds Session May 6 on Dental Services
https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/news/may-2026-grand-rounds
Join the AHRQ Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Program Grand Rounds webinar on Medicare coverage for dental services. This session will present findings from an AHRQ–CMS interagency collaboration examining the relationship between dental services and health outcomes tied to Medicare-covered care, including implications for the Physician Fee Schedule. Speakers will review current evidence on the impact of dental care on health outcomes, with a focus on patients undergoing cancer treatment and those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Topics include the role of pretreatment dental care in reducing complications such as oral infections, mucositis and osteonecrosis in cancer patients, as well as the association between oral health and CKD outcomes. The webinar also will address evidence gaps and key policy considerations related to Medicare coverage of dental services. Register for the webinar, scheduled for 2-4 p.m. ET May 6. Learn more about the Grand Rounds series.
https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/about/webinars
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Evidence-Based Practice Center (EPC) Program, following the program's 25th Anniversary Grand Rounds series in 2022, introduces a new series of Grand Rounds to promote and facilitate the use of EPC evidence reports in healthcare. With support from the Scientific Resource Center (SRC) of the EPC Program and AcademyHealth, these meetings feature presentations from EPC report authors followed by discussions with stakeholders to explore EPC report findings.
Not So Fast: When “RAPID” Isn’t Enough April 28, 2026 By Jennifer D. Newberger —
https://www.thefdalawblog.com/2026/04/not-so-fast-when-rapid-isnt-enough/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=not-so-fast-when-rapid-isnt-enough
Parallel review. Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology (MCIT). Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies (TCET). Each of these initiatives promised to close the persistent gap between FDA marketing authorization and CMS coverage for medical devices. None has fully delivered. Some were formally withdrawn; others simply faded from relevance.
3 Drugs On Horizon Could Help Lower Lp(a), A Genetic Form Of Cholesterol That Raises Heart Attack Risk
3 Drugs On Horizon Could Help Lower Lp(a), A Genetic Form Of Cholesterol That Raises Heart Attack Risk
At least three pharma firms — Novartis, Amgen, and Eli Lilly — say they're closer to unraveling the mystery of lipoprotein(a), which is a more dangerous cousin to LDL cholesterol. Diet and exercise don't influence lp(a) levels, CNBC reported, and there is currently no medication for it.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/lauren-will-do-this-one-pharma/
High Court Hears Arguments In Tug-Of-War Over Who Has Authority In Roundup Lawsuits
High Court Hears Arguments In Tug-Of-War Over Who Has Authority In Roundup Lawsuits
Gardener John Durnell in 2019 filed a lawsuit in state court claiming a chemical in the weedkiller caused his cancer. He won that case. Now, the federal government contends it isn't a state-level issue. A Supreme Court ruling in his favor could open Bayer, the maker of Roundup, up to a flood of lawsuits; a ruling against him could endanger similar claims against the company.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/pub-health/
Judge Blocks Wyoming Abortion Ban, Pending Lawsuit Resolution
Judge Blocks Wyoming Abortion Ban, Pending Lawsuit Resolution
On Friday, Natrona County District Judge Dan Forgey granted a temporary restraining order against a new state law banning abortion after embryonic cardiac activity can be detected. Forgey claimed it was likely to be overturned on the grounds that it violates the state Constitution, which says competent adults have the right to make their own healthcare decisions, AP reported.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/states-112/
Physicians See Higher Liability Premiums For 7th Year In A Row: Survey
Physicians See Higher Liability Premiums For 7th Year In A Row: Survey
One outlier in the American Medical Association's analysis was California, Fierce Healthcare reports, where reported premiums were “significantly lower,” perhaps due to a state law capping noneconomic damages.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/health-industry-4/
Worst Of South Carolina's Measles Outbreak Is Over, But 3 More States See Surges
Worst Of South Carolina's Measles Outbreak Is Over, But 3 More States See Surges
Texas, Florida, and Utah are experiencing large outbreaks, while pockets of infection are still popping up around the U.S. Plus, The Hill examines what the loss of the hepatitis B vaccine could mean for the country; Roll Call looks at hepatitis C's grip on America; and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/measles-outbreaks/
In Policy Reversal, Trump Admin Ends Funding For Fentanyl Test Strips
In Policy Reversal, Trump Admin Ends Funding For Fentanyl Test Strips
The federal government has paid to supply the test strips, which also check for other contaminants, to states since 2021, but the Trump administration now contends that harm-reduction measures encourage drug use, The New York Times reports. Experts assert that more information is better, and the distribution of test strips can stave off overdoses and encourage people who use drugs to exercise more caution.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/admin-2/
An Urgent Care Treated Her Allergic Reaction. An ER Monitored Her — For $6,700. By Andrew Jones April 28, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/health-industry/er-monitoring-anaphylactic-shock-allergic-reaction-bill-of-the-month-april-2026/
Silvana Toska was playing in a grass field with her daughters late last fall when she felt a sting on her ankle. The family had come to listen for barred and great horned owls as the sun set on a large park near their Davidson, North Carolina, home.
Big Companies Position Themselves for Payday From $50B Federal Rural Health Fund By Sarah Jane Tribble April 28, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/rural-health/rural-health-transformation-program-cms-state-contractors-ehr-patients/
Tory Starr is worried about the people who get medical care at Open Door Community Health Centers along California’s North Coast.
Tips to Help Charge Medical Devices Safely and Avoid Overheating
lunes, 27 de abril de 2026
VACCINES AND OUTBREAKS ++++++
VACCINES AND OUTBREAKS
CIDRAP: CDC: 6 More US Children Die Of Flu As Season Winds Down
Six more US children died of influenza last week as seasonal respiratory virus activity continues slowing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today in its weekly FluView report. Pediatric flu deaths so far this season now total 149. About 85% of the children who died and had a known vaccination status were unvaccinated. (Van Beusekom, 4/24)
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/influenza-general/cdc-6-more-us-children-die-flu-season-winds-down?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9QM4pY2ke9qFhIWt3FjoeMjAr2f3ecQ_wLeiu2PfzmN4A1_Ga15f7OVJD_RSNg6-QbBmtSnSPeJR5TVEZTnkr3Ekv7gQ&_hsmi=415847415&utm_content=415847415&utm_source=hs_email
CIDRAP: Flu Vaccination Rate Lags In US Nursing Homes
The first national data on influenza vaccination among nursing home residents finds that they are less likely to receive flu shots than older adults living in the community, according to a new analysis. Only 61% of nursing home residents received flu shots during the 2024-2025 flu season, compared with 76% of people over age 75 who live in the community, according to a report published yesterday in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. (Szabo, 4/24)
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/influenza-vaccines/flu-vaccination-rate-lags-us-nursing-homes?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-915T_CfHavTsXXO-wICR0Y5wku9FFQMNUJtmtLSOuZG941mg0ZMWhKv0TxIq4gvgiUS5Y6CiWr9yN4B9Lnq88X6d5vOQ&_hsmi=415847415&utm_content=415847415&utm_source=hs_email
Stat: Nancy Cox, A CDC Veteran And Stalwart In Global Flu Research, Dies At 77
Nancy Cox, who for decades was a global leader in influenza research, has died. Cox headed the influenza team at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 22 years, shepherding it from a branch of 14 people to a division of over 100. She was also director of the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Center for the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Control of Influenza at the CDC. (Branswell, 4/25)
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/25/nancy-cox-flu-researcher-obituary/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_hcPQZqx3UeEFvCxilmkiJrWyrv3CWBRxxNjaKRS6cxSgvzpVbdvBA9OHUu6J4thVOcIL-tCZXPv3bLXj0CeW7IAXMeQ&_hsmi=415847415&utm_content=415847415&utm_source=hs_email
The Baltimore Sun: Health Officials Confirm Two Measles Cases In Anne Arundel Area
Two cases of measles in the Baltimore metro area have been confirmed by health officials, the Maryland Department of Health announced in a release. (Byrne, 4/24)
Stat: Is Covid Still A Thing? The Risk Has Waned, But Hasn't Vanished
In April 2020, people around the globe were struggling to come to grips with the strictures of unprecedented societal shutdowns aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19. Flattening the curve, in 2020-speak. Six years later, school and business closures, mask wearing, and social distancing are dim, unpleasant memories. And Covid, though it still animates political animus plenty, feels like a threat from yesteryear. (Branswell, 4/27)
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/27/is-covid-still-a-thing-expert-analysis-who-needs-vaccine-booster-shot/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_aiSxY8-4oo66Uc6VhfUKfoaUbye7N6LSpLhvUSKIaqO8zXjU4Q7NmMqNM3GCC73UGBpMRYg4spwUXa-hoCxGqjAbUtA&_hsmi=415847415&utm_content=415847415&utm_source=hs_email
CIDRAP: COVID Virus Clears From Placenta Weeks After Maternal Infection, Study Suggests
The virus that causes COVID-19 does not appear to linger in placental tissue after a pregnant patient recovers from acute infection, according to a small case-control study published this week in JAMA Network Open. The findings suggest that placental infection is unlikely in the weeks and months after illness, even in cases with adverse outcomes. (Bergeson, 4/24)
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/covid-virus-clears-placenta-weeks-after-maternal-infection-study-suggests?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9uLLvZ4ilJDjXUbwYK8ZzFgnBElckjQaKGNVtcKUIXv1OutomMCwFaU7vMlrtDMmEVEr9yrE3BeaR3lyKqQFEXscqi0g&_hsmi=415847415&utm_content=415847415&utm_source=hs_email
CIDRAP: Low Risk Of Clade 1 Mpox Spread During Air Travel Revealed
Transmission of clade 1 mpox virus during commercial air travel appears to be uncommon, according to a study published yesterday in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The analysis looked at data from five commercial flights taken by three men with active mpox symptoms to assess the risk of in-flight transmission. The three men were aged 20 to 40 years. The flights took place from November 2024 to January 2025. (Bergeson, 4/24)
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/mpox/low-risk-clade-1-mpox-spread-during-air-travel-revealed?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--eQ_uIsUKGYwmGOnfC0prGL_aIy_6S99acTDLliCEKqUicMXrXALZmiW_3UmS_DuhiaTMhNlAQ-AKsAzPOMSLwRa515w&_hsmi=415847415&utm_content=415847415&utm_source=hs_email
I’m a fourth-year med student, but I only learned one historical example of medical racism Tuskegee is important — but medical racism is more pervasive than a single study
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/27/medical-school-education-health-care-inequity-cdc-trial-tuskegee/
By Uzma RentiaApril 27, 2026
Rentia is a medical student at George Washington University.
Patients seeking mental health treatment are not commodities They deserve to know whether they can follow clinicians who leave
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/27/mental-health-employment-contracts-proprietary-non-compete-non-solicitation/
By Sarah CadyApril 27, 2026
Cady is a psychiatric nurse practitioner near New York City
What happened to Covid? The threat of the virus has clearly subsided, but opinions vary on why and how much of a risk remains
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/27/is-covid-still-a-thing-expert-analysis-who-needs-vaccine-booster-shot/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--I43VZHWMPAt160TFnQTI-wCfO9tbn12sOZo-YHWbqiHzzTmucu08iKD7qKYz_ddkkw-1bgGJXH5u4hRBjNbDjlQTDMg&_hsmi=415801762&utm_content=415801762&utm_source=hs_email
By Helen BranswellApril 27, 2026
Infectious Diseases Correspondent
The Trump administration has run out more than 4,000 National Institutes of Health employees. Here are the consequences Katheryn Houghton, Rachana Pradhan | April 23, 2026
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/04/23/the-trump-administration-has-run-out-more-than-4000-national-institutes-of-health-employees-here-are-the-consequences/
Marc Ernstoff, a physician who has pioneered immunotherapy research and treatments for cancer patients, said his work as a federal scientist proved untenable under the Trump administration.
Kennedy’s CDC blocks publication of study that shows vaccines reduce hospitalizations by 50%, then misrepresents why Lena Sun | Washington Post | April 24, 2026
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/04/24/kennedys-cdc-blocks-publication-of-study-that-shows-vaccines-reduce-hospitalizations-by-50-then-misrepresents-why/
A report showing the efficacy of the covid-19 vaccine that was previously delayed by the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been blocked from being published in the agency’s flagship scientific journal…. The report showed that the vaccine reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations among healthy adults by about half this past winter.
Back to the vax — Is the measles surge testing MAHA’s vaccine rejectionism? Jessica Nix | Bloomberg | April 27, 2026
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/04/27/back-to-the-vax-is-the-measles-surge-testing-mahas-vaccine-rejectionism/
Measles has been spreading in the US, reaching infection levels not seen in decades …. This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 1,748 infections as of April 17 – a rate that’s far outpacing last year’s total – though public health experts say the national numbers are likely a gross undercount.
Viewpoint: ‘Science-as-Satan’ unites the MAHA—MAGA movements. Is a breakup in the works? David Zaruk | April 27, 2026
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/04/27/viewpoint-science-as-satan-unites-the-maha-maga-movements-is-a-breakup-in-the-works/
The MAHA agenda had a bit of a wake-up call following the EPA’s approval of the herbicide dicamba. I think they truly expected all pesticides to be banned. Claims of treason and threats of mid-term vengeance were flowing from the Moms Lobby (Zen even declared war). While it is widely known how activist zealots don’t understand compromise (or politics), there is a question of whether this so-called swing vote will now swing back to the left or just disintegrate.
Report: Johnson & Johnson To Sell 4 Of Its Medications On TrumpRx
Report: Johnson & Johnson To Sell 4 Of Its Medications On TrumpRx
The medications being offered will include the diabetes drug metformin, and the blood thinner Xarelto, CBS News reports. Also in the news: Roundup lawsuits, weight loss pill Foundayo, gabapentin for traumatic brain injuries, and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/pharma-tech/
More US Life Insurance Accounts Reinsured Overseas As Risks Grow
More US Life Insurance Accounts Reinsured Overseas As Risks Grow
Experts are worried that the use of offshore reinsurance in countries that often benefit from looser regulations will create a more risky environment in the life insurance sector. Many retired Americans rely on life insurance to provide financial security through annuities, Bloomberg notes.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/health-industry-3/
Fewer Nursing Home Residents, And Even Fewer Of Their Caregivers, Are Taking Flu Shot
Fewer Nursing Home Residents, And Even Fewer Of Their Caregivers, Are Taking Flu Shot
CDC data indicate that just 61% of people in nursing homes and less than 50% of healthcare workers in the facilities received the annual vaccination during the 2024-25 flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reported six more pediatric deaths from flu.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/flu-other-outbreaks/
HHS To Reinstate 988 Line For LGBTQ+ Youth In Crisis, RFK Jr. Says
HHS To Reinstate 988 Line For LGBTQ+ Youth In Crisis, RFK Jr. Says
Those who called 988 and pressed 3 or texted PRIDE were once connected to crisis counselors trained to provide services for LGBTQ+ youth. According to MedPage Today, the Trump administration has now pledged to revive the dedicated line after cutting it last summer. A 2021 study by The Trevor Project shows that LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to seriously consider and attempt suicide compared with their peers.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/mental-health-14/
Trump Fires National Science Board Members Who Steer Funding
Trump Fires National Science Board Members Who Steer Funding
Multiple scientists were dismissed Friday, effectively immediately. The board typically consists of 25 members from various scientific fields, appointed by the president for a six-year term. Critics say the scientists' dismissal, along with funding cuts, could have national consequences
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/federal-funding-maha/
Investigators Comb Mental Health History Of California Man Suspected In Correspondents' Dinner Shooting
Investigators Comb Mental Health History Of California Man Suspected In Correspondents' Dinner Shooting
A Trump administration official said the man who rushed a security checkpoint "set out to target folks in the administration” and claimed to be a “friendly federal assassin.” Those who know the man described him as "a very nice guy,” "polite," and "peaceful." Plus, security concerns arise.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/guns/
The Help That Many Older Americans Need Most By Paula Span April 27, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/aging/new-old-age-community-health-workers-promotores-home-visits-senior-support/
On a recent Monday, Sandy Guzman, a community health worker in rural Oregon, drove to visit a patient in her 60s in a small city called The Dalles.
Florida Delays Children’s Health Insurance Expansion as Uninsured Rate Rises By Daniel Chang April 27, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/insurance/chip-expansion-florida-delay-children-health-coverage-uninsured-rates/
Like many parents, Tatiana Lafortune wants her children to get a good education, eat nutritious food, and see a doctor when they’re not feeling well.
domingo, 26 de abril de 2026
As States Implement Medicaid Community Engagement Requirements, Due Process Safeguards Loom Large Sara Rosenbaum,Alison Barkoff,andAllyson Crays April 15, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/states-implement-medicaid-community-engagement-requirements-due-process-safeguards-loom
The OBBBA’s community engagement requirements will have a significant impact on the eligibility determination process. So will Constitutional due process safeguards.
Population Health Costs Of Exclusionary And Criminalizing Immigration Policies Nolan Kline,Alana M. W. LeBrón,William Lopez,Nicole L. Novak,Melina Michelen,andMaria-Elena De Trinidad Young
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/briefs/population-health-costs-exclusionary-and-criminalizing-immigration-policies
KEY POINTS:
The current immigration enforcement landscape is an extension of the past thirty years of immigration policy, which has increasingly focused on exclusion and securitization.
Despite historically falling under the domain of civil law, immigration matters in the US have increasingly been treated as issues of criminal law.
Immigration enforcement policies have individual, interpersonal, and communitywide harms that affect all people in the US.
Beyond the health-related harms of immigration enforcement policy, there are broader economic and social harms that affect all US residents.
Consumer Debt, Race, And Health: Can Debt Relief Be A Solution For Reducing Racial Health Disparities? Fenaba R. Addo December 11, 2025
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/briefs/consumer-debt-race-and-health-can-debt-relief-solution-reducing-racial-health
KEY POINTS:
Black Americans have been systematically excluded from wealth accumulation through policies and practices that increase debt burdens and limit asset building, leading to chronic financial vulnerability and worse health outcomes.
Debt negatively influences health through resource constraints, financial stress, and social stigma. These mechanisms limit access to health care, increase risky health behaviors, and cause psychological distress, and they disproportionately affect Black Americans.
Evidence on the health benefits of debt relief, such as debt discharge from bankruptcy, suggest improved health outcomes but is limited when it comes to determining the benefits for Black communities.
Improvements in data infrastructure and algorithmic matching may offer new pathways to study debt, race, and health more effectively.
Although more research is needed, policy actions focused on expanding health insurance, supporting student debt relief, reforming bankruptcy systems, and asset building could address racial disparities in debt and health.
Podcast: Which Star Ratings Are Driving Medicare Advantage Quality Gains Rob LottandAndrew Anderson April 21, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hp20260416.449153/full/?utm_campaign=podcast&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_cfX2b1_r5eKgjIJlHjsGx9AmohzHKzpFy9N8OdKum5j2dmoRibPJS562upHdfGJ7nz0Nxa6EiiLrqJqo23knahkJkTg&_hsmi=415566602&utm_content=ahp&utm_source=hasu
Health Affairs Publishing's Rob Lott interviews Andrew Anderson of Johns Hopkins University about his recent paper that explores new research on the Medicare Advantage Star Ratings program and how effectively it has driven quality improvement over time.
New Prior Authorization Proposals: Implications for Prescription Drug Access Jeff ByersandMichael S. Gerber April 24, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hp20260423.626376/full/?utm_campaign=podcast&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8AKh9tc2c7lwiwd8YGwKSzg8GXMbeWtjGYlOhiGzv0nyFNyC0gwFgFB-2nil87YC81AIIHhdNKS6mDiz7W5HkXq-K1Ew&_hsmi=415566602&utm_content=hatw&utm_source=hasu
Health Affairs Publishing's Jeff Byers welcomes Senior Editor Michael Gerber back to the pod to discuss recent federal action on prior authorization, including CMS’s proposal to expand response-time requirements to prescription drugs. The conversation also covers insurer efforts to reduce prior auth volume, the promise of AI and prior authorization, and what increased transparency could reveal about costs.
A Global Resolution To Bring Liver Health Into The NCD Mainstream Jeffrey V. Lazarus April 21, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/global-resolution-bring-liver-health-into-ncd-mainstream?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_g7bz85huBhxC982LRvG0ZoWfPANy1ONNYhU9xZbr6pdzF3qH-Z1OrGy7tr0m8SgGztrJFpmw3aQoCtnt7TeHMtXh0Iw&_hsmi=415566602&utm_source=hasu
Despite its scale, steatotic liver disease remains largely absent from global and US noncommunicable disease strategies.
Expanding The GUIDE Model To Include Adults With Intellectual Disability And Dementia Matthew P. JanickiandPhilip McCallion April 23, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/expanding-guide-model-include-adults-intellectual-disability-and-dementia?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--gJ-jgHgWuJwqe0LQe8Jv5tWHtsgNOtii7OAp8ZcrtLcfNnBWFZGMM2jE0Bxsd-S2EmxOn56uyvK-Opb0fdS8Rvw_d_A&_hsmi=415566602&utm_source=hasu
Expanding the GUIDE model’s eligibility language to include adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities offers a practical opportunity to address emerging service gaps while advancing health equity.
Unleashing The Full Potential Of MSSP To Drive Greater ACO Participation And Savings Sean Cavanaugh,Travis Broome,andFarzad Mostashari April 24, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/unleashing-full-potential-mssp-drive-greater-aco-participation-and-savings?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_-3kpXp-KJr6r9s7ynmewBF8AiaH3Qv9Ftdd46GEkODHIlxPQoesryKZmCQmRSFCKfcG7pWqTZhSk6e90-9SSSACHM5w&_hsmi=415566602&utm_source=hasu
Cost savings in traditional Medicare translate directly into lower benchmarks and cost savings in Medicare Advantage. This interaction between traditional Medicare spending and Medicare Advantage benchmarks is the first step in establishing the competitive environment between the two programs that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services leadership has repeatedly stated they want.
New Rural Funding Can Support Accountable Care Through Data And Digital Investments Joshua M. LiaoandAmol S. Navathe April 20, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/new-rural-funding-can-support-accountable-care-through-data-and-digital-investments?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_rVzuWF82BshjmrhT16ZbnsGS0V6Vb2n7JqUvPCkzF0xZZ0PErU2bvmhT8LxYLy_Ub6aTSIHlmQ6C3zX67uMpYteJCzw&_hsmi=415566602&utm_source=hasu
The capital flowing into rural communities through the Rural Health Transformation Program can unlock previously unattainable progress, creating a window to address resource constraints, and make accountable care more viable at scale in rural America.
The 340B Drug Pricing Program Is A Hidden Tax Expenditure Ike BrannonandAnthony T. Lo Sasso April 24, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/340b-drug-pricing-program-hidden-tax-expenditure?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_J3hiiHPD9kz5rNBbMJoR-NntNxUMlR9Op0tuUKO9Wcyr5CWazGQ975omnzaLHgfvcMJnOTcpx1tbvK03H4K4Tby8JaA&_hsmi=415566602&utm_source=hasu
Although 340B does not operate through the tax code, its economic effects mirror those of a tax expenditure. Recognizing it as such would not prejudge the program’s merits but would force a long-overdue accounting of its costs and encourage a more rational discussion of reform.
How States Are Preparing For Looming Medicaid Budget Cuts And Program Eligibility Changes Arielle Kane April 23, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/states-preparing-looming-medicaid-budget-cuts-and-program-eligibility-changes?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9PzUvrb32ukP-bnDKrFamKsKhcIPRgrJFh03fUOdGukCukXanC4t4DOQXKfqSdUHpze00dYl2i8VbGeHuXerN2KEYu6A&_hsmi=415566602&utm_source=hasu
In anticipation of changes to Medicaid coming in 2027 and beyond, states are already exploring ways to tighten eligibility, build verification systems, reduce enrollment growth, and close budget gaps.
The Attack On Race-Conscious Health Policies: The UCLA Lawsuit And The Trump Administration’s Broader Campaign Andrew Twinamatsiko April 21, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/attack-race-conscious-health-policies-ucla-lawsuit-and-trump-administration-s-broader?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--ar4NKq7kJtRjXyjuymIK0TcUz-fxpEdF_C7GKcuYL_F2ydk2VBBQzuQqV8F2sb62I6nnBu8fvhsIv51xKc2sBESj8LQ&_hsmi=415566602&utm_source=hasu
The litigation against health equity measures has expanded and accelerated. Now the federal government has thrown its weight behind interest groups that have struggled to establish standing, eliminating the constraints that limited private litigants.
An Agenda For CMS: Strengthen Integrated Care Programs For Dually Eligible Adults With Behavioral Health Needs Ellen BreslinandDennis Heaphy April 20, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/agenda-cms-strengthen-integrated-care-programs-dually-eligible-adults-behavioral-health?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9nNVIFTmqbXsq9HnlWQ_Tf4cZwMkJMJzXnQCtRXWyZrNBiibqwxBsW0cTvGM9QCqJY6UkJacjECcER2NdtawOC3IXVeg&_hsmi=415566602&utm_source=hasu
Congress has an obligation to direct the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to partner with state Medicaid leaders and disability advocates to protect full-benefit, dually eligible adults with behavioral health needs from harm.
Theme Issue Briefing: Climate, Health, and Equity May 6, 2026, 1:00 PM
Theme Issue Briefing: Climate, Health, and Equity
Cecilia Sorensen,Stefan Wheat,Sacoby M. Wilson,Arturo Bustamante,Margaret Winchester,Jeff Romine,Carlos Gould,Kartikeya Bhatotia,Chris Boyer,Lisa Clemens-Cope,Elizabeth Moore,Cori Cohen Grant,Bradley Kramer,Cynthia Strathman,Maud Powell,Sara Locke,Dhara Patel,andErin Marcus
May 6, 2026, 1:00 PM
https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/he20260414.92163/full/?utm_campaign=event&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--E1HsNrTeh3iwq3aLl0iKCnRjELqHeBqV6ru_FylaGoCOILhEfq1Cry-EAsNIFQ2P2k6DPe4c-IeWB146VLCqAFZa-Ow&_hsmi=415566602&utm_content=briefing&utm_source=hasu
Join Health Affairs Publishing on May 6th for a free virtual event discussing research, insights, data, and takeaways from the May 2026 theme issue on climate, health, and equity.
The briefing will consist of three panels:
Addressing Climate Through Policy and Intervention
Community-Based Solutions to Climate Crises
Health System Approaches to Climate Adaptation
Extreme Heat, Health Care Use, And Costs: Evidence From Commercial Insurance, Medicaid, And Medicare Advantage Authors: Jeff Romine jeff.romine@carelon.com, Amy Liu, Daniel Cullen, Katelyn Tang, Hakon Mattson, Mark Talavera, Arax Nazarian, Melissa Clarke, and Winnie C. Chi
https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2025.01665?utm_campaign=may%202026%20issue&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Vt36HO4mAu_7IvVmr_bIBW-deuIfWTcmamcsGbifF3-gFOSFCTKL--ZBYsRdWBLkVVEWyGbfcWApxkcnXZYufCeaLQg&_hsmi=415566602&utm_content=ahead%20of%20print&utm_source=hasu
Extreme heat events have been demonstrated to increase emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and mortality, but evidence of their impacts on the associated costs and on outpatient use is more limited. We used 2016–23 health insurance claims from a large, national insurer and national temperature and humidity data to conduct a regression analysis on the relationship between extreme heat exposure and ED, inpatient, and outpatient use and cost in the commercial insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare Advantage (MA) populations. One additional day with a heat index of 100°F or hotter within a week was associated with increased ED use and cost across nearly all coverage populations and age groups. Extreme heat was associated with significant increases in inpatient use for children with commercial coverage (1.4 percent), members ages 18–64 with Medicaid coverage (0.47 percent), and MA members (0.5 percent) but was not associated with statistically significant increases in inpatient cost for any population group. It was not associated with increases in outpatient use or cost in any population group. MA members had the highest annual cost due to extreme heat. These findings provide evidence to inform population health management strategies, seasonal preparedness planning, and policy interventions to mitigate heat-related morbidity and health care costs.
Government Monopsony and Its Biological Consequences: How Price Controls Sabotage the Conservation of Human Life Gary Puckrein, PhD, President and CEO, National Minority Quality Forum April 19, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/sponsored-content/national-minority-quality-forum/government-monopsony-and-its-biological-consequences-how-price-controls-sabotage-the-conservation-of-human-life?utm_campaign=34032557-Health%20Affairs%20Sunday%20Update%202026&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9yu0Njpw8iWZBzfz7awbiJdiw1NVFJa32S5Hk7Vb_d_QpmUoirkiQNlSe0MZmlhTaHIdgPx9HqN5JJ_KRmxm4qon4VOA&_hsmi=415566602&utm_content=415566602&utm_source=hs_email
Consider two facts that rarely appear in the same sentence. First: a tumor in an untreated patient does not pause its molecular evolution while a prior authorization appeal works its way through administrative channels. Mutations continue accumulating, clonal selection continues favoring therapeutic resistance, and disease advances through biological stages — indifferent to bureaucratic timelines. Second: the United States federal government has, through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Most Favored Nation (MFN) drug pricing policies, assembled the most comprehensive architecture of pharmaceutical price control in its history — multiple interlocking mechanisms operating potentially on the same drugs and in the same markets, whose combined effect on patients is greater than any single mechanism would produce alone.
New Prior Authorization Proposals: Implications for Prescription Drug Access Jeff ByersandMichael S. Gerber April 24, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hp20260423.626376/full/
Health Affairs Publishing's Jeff Byers welcomes Senior Editor Michael Gerber back to the pod to discuss recent federal action on prior authorization, including CMS’s proposal to expand response-time requirements to prescription drugs. The conversation also covers insurer efforts to reduce prior auth volume, the promise of AI and prior authorization, and what increased transparency could reveal about costs.
It’s Not All In The Genes Michael S. Gerber April 24, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/s-not-all-genes
The two authors approach race and ethnicity from different backgrounds and introduce the book as an “adaptation of adversarial collaboration”—less about finding consensus than about identifying and understanding disagreements.
Has Your Care Been Compromised by VIP Syndrome? Lisa Mulcahy April 24, 2026 +++
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/has-your-care-been-compromised-vip-syndrome-2026a1000d1j
Medscape Physician Wealth & Debt Report 2026: Is the Rising Net Worth Tide Carrying Your Boat?
Jon McKenna
https://www.medscape.com/p11/medscape-physician-wealth-debt-report-2026-rising-net-worth-2026a10009up
April 24, 2026
Despite their substantial paycheck, many doctors would tell you that building wealth and a secure retirement is not easy. Early in their practicing careers, investing for the future can take a back seat to paying down school debt. In a Medscape survey, physicians reported their net worth, discussed their approaches to retirement savings and investments, revealed how well their family does with money management, and expressed unease about inflation. Our report also shows physician wealth disparities by gender and race/ethnicity remain substantial, even when improvements were made.
Termination Clauses: How Physicians Can Protect Themselves
Ericka L. Adler, JD, LLM
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/termination-clauses-how-physicians-can-protect-themselves-2026a1000btp
April 23, 2026
The Race for Relevance: Medscape Most Popular Specialties for Doctors Report 2026 Jennifer Nelson April 21, 2026 ++++
https://www.medscape.com/p11/race-relevance-medscape-most-popular-specialties-doctors-2026a1000a3c?ecd=WNL_physrep_260425_MSCPEDIT_specialities-report_etid8291319&uac=148436CN&impID=8291319
American physicians must navigate a high-stakes obstacle course between the subsidy cliff that has left millions of patients uninsured and new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services efficiency mandates, shifting the definition of a "desirable" specialty. Relevance isn't just about who has the best job, but which specialties can survive and thrive. We asked physicians whether their specialty was appealing or not to assess how specialties are faring amid these economic headwinds.
Switching Medical Specialties: Yes, It’s Possible
Kaitlin Sanzone, MD
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/switching-medical-specialties-yes-its-possible-2025a1000uyd?ecd=WNL_physrep_260425_MSCPEDIT_specialities-report_etid8291319&uac=148436CN&impID=8291319
November 14, 2025
Two Specialties Becoming Increasingly More Competitive
Kaitlin Sanzone, MD
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/two-specialties-becoming-increasingly-more-competitive-2025a1000te5?ecd=WNL_physrep_260425_MSCPEDIT_specialities-report_etid8291319&uac=148436CN&impID=8291319
November 05, 2025
Med Students: Here’s a Look at Average Annual Salaries for the Top-Searched Medical Specialties
Joanna Broder
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/med-students-heres-look-average-annual-salaries-top-searched-2025a1000i1d?ecd=WNL_physrep_260425_MSCPEDIT_specialities-report_etid8291319&uac=148436CN&impID=8291319
July 08, 2025
sábado, 25 de abril de 2026
Dropping the flu vaccine requirement puts U.S. military readiness at risk Since the 1918 pandemic, the military has acknowledged the influenza’s threat. Now that’s changing
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/23/military-flu-shots-no-longer-required-retired-general-criticizes-move/
By Paul FriedrichsApril 23, 2026
Friedrichs is a retired military medical officer whose last job in uniform was in the Pentagon as the senior medical adviser to the Joint Chiefs. He then served as the senior director for global health security and biodefense on the National Security Council.
A CAR-T biotech’s dramatic turnaround, and drugmakers’ tactics to drive more scripts
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/23/readout-loud-podcast-kelonia-lilly-telehealth-pharma-medicare-obesity/
By Allison DeAngelis, Elaine Chen, and Adam FeuersteinApril 23, 2026
Growing use of guest editors has turned some journals into a ‘playground of bad science’ Concerns raised after a genetics journal retracted most of a special issue
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/24/science-journal-retractions-highlight-guest-editor-special-edition-problem/
By Anil OzaApril 24, 2026
General Assignment Reporter
The local news crisis is also a public health crisis Health and science reporting is often treated as optional coverage. It is anything but
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/24/local-news-crisis-health-science-reporters-public-health/
By Ava DzurendaApril 24, 2026
Dzurenda is a science writer and an ACSM-certified exercise physiologist from Pittsburgh.
I started medical school at 69 and will begin residency at 72. Here’s what I learned After more than 40 years as a neonatal nurse practitioner, I’m finally an M.D.
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/24/medical-school-late-in-life-np-to-md/vBy Dawn Zuidgeest-CraftApril 24, 2026
Zuidgeest-Craft is an incoming resident in family medicine in Michigan.
The podcast telling the stories behind Ambien, Ozempic, EpiPens, and other game-changing drugs ‘Drug Story’ examines how blockbuster pharmaceuticals intersect with modern life
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/25/drug-story-podcast-interview-transcript/
By Torie BoschApril 25, 2026
Editor, First Opinion
Nancy Cox, a CDC veteran and a stalwart in global flu research, dies at 77 Known for dedication and diplomacy, she was critical to surveillance efforts and pandemic preparedness
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/25/nancy-cox-flu-researcher-obituary/
By Helen BranswellApril 25, 2026
Infectious Diseases Correspondent
Will bargain-basement telehealth visits help pharma drive drug scripts? As links between pharma and telehealth grow, experts sound alarms By Katie PalmerApril 23, 2026
Will bargain-basement telehealth visits help pharma drive drug scripts?
As links between pharma and telehealth grow, experts sound alarms
By Katie PalmerApril 23, 2026
Katie Palmer is investigating how telehealth is driving the consumerization of drugs. This is Part 4 of the series The VirtualRX Boom. Read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/23/telehealth-visit-deep-discounts-questions-raised-pharma-ties/
FDA to speed up review of three psychedelics as mental health treatments Compass, Usona, Transcend benefit from Trump’s embrace of psychedelics
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/24/trump-psychedelic-drugs-fda-priority-review-mental-health-treatment/?utm_campaign=daily_recap&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8ov9kmTDGchXVt9V_E5yJO9CNhFYzusw52-Xz67S7-b6sSQQfS7mFxX4Ivw_9ODsik9VyuhMIG8g_uE5dIjMJWgfqsBQ&_hsmi=415619628&utm_content=415619628&utm_source=hs_email
By Elaine Chen, Damian Garde, and Daniel PayneApril 24, 2026
Introducing The Lancet Regional Health – Eastern Mediterranean +...
https://www.thelancet.com/regional-health/eastern-mediterranean?dgcid=hubspot_update_feature_lanemelaunch_neurology&utm_campaign=infocusalerts-neurology&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8uOZSy0ThiUkfgZxpZpiTB9SLbo2gGw5UY8tRgWH8mbdXTgFKHS04FK6q-8jlRVIRkP46-6KGItFepdxt0IBXs5tSx3Q&_hsmi=415600531&utm_content=415074509&utm_source=hs_email
The Lancet Regional Health – Eastern Mediterranean promotes the advancement of clinical practice and health policy in the Eastern Mediterranean with the goal of improving health outcomes for all people regionally and globally. We aspire to increase the quality of research in Eastern Mediterranean countries and across the region.
NIST Workshop on AI Incident Management Share May 14
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/events/2026/05/nist-workshop-ai-incident-management
Registration is now open: NIST Workshop on AI Incident Management on May 14
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), within the U.S. Department of Commerce, invites stakeholders to participate in an upcoming workshop on AI Incident Management.
As AI systems become increasingly integral to critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, and national security, a new class of incidents is emerging where AI systems are both targets and sources of risk. Addressing these challenges may require new methods and coordinated action across government, industry, and academia.
Building on the collaborative model of efforts, this workshop will convene leaders from across the AI and cybersecurity stakeholder communities to initiate a shared dialogue on scalable, mission-aligned approaches to AI incident response.
The workshop will:
Present a high-level NIST roadmap to advance AI incident response standards and practices
Engage stakeholders to understand current approaches, including existing playbooks and frameworks
Explore definitions, lifecycles, and taxonomy of AI-related incidents
Identify gaps in today’s cybersecurity and AI risk management guidance
Highlight emerging AI incident types beyond cybersecurity, including misuse scenarios
This engagement will inform future Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) and Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI)* efforts to implement America’s AI Action Plan, including updates to existing guidelines and the development of new recommendations.
NIST invites stakeholders to contribute their expertise and help shape a coordinated, forward-looking approach to AI incident management. Outcomes from this workshop will inform future guidelines, strengthen ecosystem readiness, and support national and global alignment.
Audience: AI developers, service providers, incident responders, critical infrastructure partners, academics, cybersecurity professionals, and government stakeholders.
*For more information about NIST’s efforts in AI, please visit the Information Technology Laboratory AI site (https://www.nist.gov/artificial-intelligence/nist-information-technology-laboratory-itl-ai-program) and the Center for Artificial Intelligence Standards and Innovation site (https://www.nist.gov/caisi).
A One-Pager on What’s Wrong with U.S. Health Care Author: Drew Altman Published: Apr 23, 2026
https://www.kff.org/from-drew-altman/a-one-pager-on-whats-wrong-with-u-s-health-care/?utm_campaign=KFF-This-Week&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--mIOvlQUQd_nzkTqzRBTS6vK7MHoJQ5yVWri64Z13cxcRJhwu-8N97WwlXjjsK3aGdVHxIAu1d67OE4dFJ9nsrHznuKA&_hsmi=415552419&utm_content=415552419&utm_source=hs_email
The other day, I was asked for a one-pager on what’s wrong with the U.S. health system. “Just one page.” To my amazement, with our thousands of fact sheets and policy briefs and even our Health Policy 101, we didn’t have anything short or current, nor could I find one elsewhere to send along. The closest we came was this 2022 policy brief. So, while this isn’t my usual column about current issues, and it’s only about problems, not the reasons for them or solutions, it might be useful to some of you.
Asked for a one-pager on what’s wrong with the U.S. health system, Dr. Drew Altman, Founding President and CEO, explains the top issues in this piece, published today as his latest column. Altman explains, “We have neither a competitive health care system nor a regulated one—we have a fragmented, micromanaged health system that fails to control costs and makes both patients and health professionals more miserable than they should be…”
They’re in Remission, but Their Medical Bills Aren’t: Cancer Survivors Navigate Soaring Costs By Renuka Rayasam April 22, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/health-care-costs/cancer-survival-costs-testing-treatment-premiums-deductibles-trump/?utm_campaign=KHN%20-%20Weekly%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8FIkWVqlWLzhD7fOXp9WBo4j4FVKsi7juQUtACx_gfwVWr367wp4yoZiM6CMW1HW4zSs1bFOQhleVvsXTKD_WYD0L0yA&_hsmi=415587051&utm_content=415587051&utm_source=hs_email
They’re in Remission, but Their Medical Bills Aren’t: Cancer Survivors Navigate Soaring Costs
By Renuka Rayasam
The costs of posttreatment care are forcing cancer survivors to make tough choices. GOP proposals to bring down health insurance costs won’t help people who need constant care and monitoring, health policy researchers and patient advocates say.
Skyrocketing health care costs and insurance premiums combined with congressional inaction have forced a perilous decision upon many people: Pay higher prices for health insurance or go uncovered. KFF Health News is telling their stories.
Diagnosis: Debt
Diagnosis: Debt
More than 100 million people in America — a startling 41% of adults — are saddled with medical bills they cannot pay, according to a KFF Health News investigation with NPR and CBS News. The project exposed that medical debt — rather than fighting disease — is now a defining feature of the nation’s health care system.
https://kffhealthnews.org/diagnosis-debt/?utm_campaign=KHN%20-%20Weekly%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--9pU4QK7dNGVu0axC1S-pQbn4kgJ2KmzfB6qgw8lxypoWRJIaCF75xPa9EaQ5rf3yCh3DO3PN44TXkg-ht3QX97-VYJA&_hsmi=415587051&utm_content=415587051&utm_source=hs_email
I’m Noam Levey, senior correspondent at KFF Health News, and I’ve reported on medical debt across America. For this story, I collaborated with reporters at CT Mirror.
By Noam N. Levey
How often do hospitals, physicians, and other providers sue patients over unpaid bills?
That’s a question we’ve asked a lot over the last several years at KFF Health News. Since 2022, we’ve been working with newsrooms around the country, such as the Connecticut Mirror, to explore the scale and impact of America’s medical debt crisis. It’s part of a project we call “Diagnosis: Debt.”
We know that this type of debt burdens many people — about 100 million adults, according to a nationwide survey we did. But in most states, it’s almost impossible to gauge how many patients are getting taken to court over health care debt.
Connecticut’s court data is different.
It offered an opportunity to explore just how many people are being sued over medical and dental bills, who is suing patients, and for how much. Over the past year, I’ve collaborated with CT Mirror reporters Katy Golvala and Jenna Carlesso to learn more about the people facing legal actions.
What we found was surprising … and sad. This week, we shared the first of our articles, which explores how hospitals have been supplanted by physician groups and other medical and dental providers as the most aggressive bill collectors.
That’s a major reversal from five years earlier, when hospital system lawsuits made up three-quarters of health-related collection cases in the state’s courts.
The shift is moving medical debt collections into a less regulated realm. Most hospitals, because they are tax-exempt nonprofits, must make financial aid available to low-income patients and follow federal regulations that limit aggressive collection activities. Other medical providers, such as private medical groups, are generally exempt from these rules.
Lawsuits can lead to garnished wages, liens on homes, and hundreds of dollars of added debt from interest and court fees. They also pile additional financial strains on struggling families, prevent patients from getting needed care, and sap trust in medical providers.
“It’s really messed up,” said Allie Cass-Wilson, a nurse in Bristol, Connecticut, who was sued over a $1,972 debt by an OB-GYN practice where she’d been a patient years earlier. She did not contest the lawsuit, court records show. Still, she asked: “How can they do that to people?”
https://kffhealthnews.org/health-care-costs/diagnosis-debt-investigation-100-million-americans-hidden-medical-debt/?utm_campaign=KHN%20-%20Weekly%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Ids1SnSecODFikTb6na0LuKiDh5MXsmudVBN0soT3O2yUc4qPTqi2H4aFnM-p8kA7Eb0Xle5TtWE_tmTU299q7RKsvw&_hsmi=415587051&utm_content=415587051&utm_source=hs_email
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