My Search for a Psychiatric Bed in an Overburdened Health System By Helen Santoro Illustration by Oona Zenda July 9, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/health-industry/psychiatric-bed-shortage-overburdened-health-system/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20Colorado&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8TY--1dxjW4tJ05YujqtJaBJGj61leCkxCZbvrAw25gk44NCSQduCs6aotWi9mmI1q359L-u1zDpAcKaA5SD1k4XixJQ&_hsmi=430352733&utm_content=430352733&utm_source=hs_email By Helen Santoro Eight days before my 33rd birthday in April, a social worker at a crisis clinic near Denver determined I was an imminent danger to myself. She placed me on an involuntary 72-hour mental health hold. What came next wasn’t treatment, but a search for a bed. Clinic staffers called area hospitals with inpatient psychiatric units, asking if they had available beds. They didn’t. So, I was told I had to spend the night at the clinic, which is open 24/7. I settled into a recliner, trying to make myself comfortable as my mind drifted in a blank, disassociated haze. Sleep came in brief bursts. Since the 1950s, the United States has seen a dramatic decline in the number of psychiatric beds nationwide due in part to deinstitutionalization and the rise of antipsychotics. But that has created a critical shortage for those needing help. From 2011 to 2023, the number of hospitals with inpatient psychiatric units dropped significantly, according to a 2025 study. Another study from that year found that this country has 28.4 inpatient psychiatric beds per 100,000 people — not even half the 60-bed ratio researchers frequently refer to as the optimal level. The shortage has created what the American Psychiatric Association calls a crisis: emergency rooms overwhelmed with people suffering from severe mental health illnesses, inpatient stays prematurely shortened to speed up bed turnover, and acutely ill individuals left without critical care.

How Many Uninsured Are in the Coverage Gap and How Many Could be Eligible if All States Adopted the Medicaid Expansion? Authors: Sammy Cervantes, Clea Bell, Jennifer Tolbert, and Anthony Damico Published: Jul 27, 2026

https://www.kff.org/medicaid/how-many-uninsured-are-in-the-coverage-gap-and-how-many-could-be-eligible-if-all-states-adopted-the-medicaid-expansion/ This analysis estimates that 1.2 million uninsured individuals in the ten states without Medicaid expansion, including many working adults, people of color, and those with disabilities, remain in the "coverage gap," ineligible for Medicaid or for tax credits that would make coverage affordable through the Affordable Care Act's Marketplaces.

Donor Government Funding for HIV Drops by $2.1 Billion in 2025 Due to Declines in Funding from the United States, Marking Largest Annual Decrease Since Scale-up for the HIV Response Began Published: Jul 27, 2026

https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/donor-government-funding-for-hiv-drops-by-2-1-billion-in-2025-due-to-declines-in-funding-from-the-united-states-marking-largest-annual-decrease-since-scale-up-for-the-hiv-response-began/ Donor government funding to combat HIV in low- and middle-income countries fell by $2.1 billion in 2025, a 25% decrease from the previous year, according to a new report by KFF and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Total disbursements dropped to $6.2 billion in 2025, down from $8.3 billion in 2024, marking the largest single-year decline since donor funding scale-u

Donor Government Funding for HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries in 2025 Authors: Adam Wexler, Jennifer Kates, and Stephanie Oum Published: Jul 27, 2026

https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/donor-government-funding-for-hiv-in-low-and-middle-income-countries-in-2025/ This report provides an analysis of donor government funding to address the HIV response in low- and middle-income countries in 2025, the latest year available, as well as trends over time. It includes both bilateral funding from donors and their multilateral contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), UNITAID, and Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

KFF Health Tracking Poll: Ebola & Pandemic Preparedness Authors: Lunna Lopes, Isabelle Valdes, Audrey Kearney, Mardet Mulugeta, and Liz Hamel Published: Jul 28, 2026

https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-health-tracking-poll-ebola-pandemic-preparedness/ Much of the public has yet to form an opinion on the U.S. government’s response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this poll finds. Four in ten adults say the U.S. is less prepared for a pandemic now than it was in 2020.

Comparing U.S. Ebola Outbreak Response Capabilities and Practices Over Time Authors: Josh Michaud and Jennifer Kates Published: Jul 28, 2026

https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/comparing-u-s-ebola-outbreak-response-capabilities-and-practices-over-time/ This brief compares the U.S. response to the current Ebola outbreak in DRC with U.S. responses to prior Ebola outbreaks across a variety of characteristics. It finds the US is on par or even faster with response funding, but the restructuring of the US response mechanisms and leadership (such as eliminating USAID) since 2025 have changed the organizational approach with unknown consequences, and how the US is engaging with international partners is different now.

How Has ACA Marketplace Enrollment Changed Across States in 2026? Authors: Justin Lo, Matt McGough, and Cynthia Cox Published: Jul 28, 2026

https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/how-has-aca-marketplace-enrollment-changed-across-states-in-2026/ Following several years of rapid enrollment growth in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces that corresponded with temporary enhanced premium tax credits, enrollment fell for the first time in seven years in 2026, when those tax credits expired. Every state except for New Mexico saw a drop in ACA Marketplace enrollment from 2025 to 2026. State-based Marketplaces that run their own enrollment platforms, including those that partially offset the expiring federal enhanced tax credits, generally…

Most Aren’t Confident in the CDC and FDA to Make Recommendations About Childhood Vaccine Schedules Published: July 28, 2026

https://www.kff.org/quick-insights/most-arent-confident-in-the-cdc-and-fda-to-make-recommendations-about-childhood-vaccine-schedules/ Most adults (56%) say they have “little” to “no confidence” in federal health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make recommendations about childhood vaccine schedules.

Are Health Care Costs THE Top Issue for Voters? Author: Drew Altman Published: Jul 29, 2026

https://www.kff.org/from-drew-altman/are-health-care-costs-the-top-issue-for-voters/ In a new column, Dr. Drew Altman, Founding President and CEO, analyzes the polling on health costs as a voting issue and concludes that there is no one top voting issue. He writes: “I have come to the conclusion that the search for a single top issue through polling questions—whether it’s health costs, or gas prices, or the cost of food—is artificial. People worry about and experience these costs together. There is no top issue,…

What Could Medicaid Work Requirements Mean for SSI Applicants? Authors: Abby Sachar, Amaya Diana, Alice Burns, and Jennifer Tolbert Published: Jul 29, 2026

https://www.kff.org/medicaid/what-could-medicaid-work-requirements-mean-for-ssi-applicants/ Medicaid work requirements may make it more difficult for some SSI applicants to maintain coverage due to the added complexity of navigating the verification process for the medical frailty exclusion. KFF's policy analysis explains why SSI applicants are particularly at risk of going uninsured under the new Medicaid rules.

CMS’s Decision to End Temporary Subsidies to Medicare’s Stand-Alone Drug Plans Could Mean Larger Premium Increases for Some Beneficiaries Next Year Juliette Cubanski Juliette Cubanski

https://www.kff.org/quick-insights/cmss-decision-to-end-temporary-subsidies-to-medicares-stand-alone-drug-plans-could-mean-larger-premium-increases-for-some-beneficiaries-next-year/ Without these extra subsidies in place for 2027, some Part D stand-alone drug plan (PDP) enrollees could see a larger premium increase for drug coverage next year than they’ve faced in recent years, though plan-specific premium amounts are not yet known. While some policymakers questioned the rationale for and cost of the premium stabilization demonstration, which totaled $9.8 billion in 2025 and 2026, the extra subsidies worked as intended to stabilize year-over-year PDP premium increases…

Medicare’s Proposed Cut to 340B Drug Payments Would Hit Safety-Net Hospitals While Benefiting For-Profit Hospitals Authors: Scott Hulver, Zachary Levinson, Juliette Cubanski, and Meredith Freed Published: Jul 29, 2026

https://www.kff.org/health-costs/medicares-proposed-cut-to-340b-drug-payments-would-hit-safety-net-hospitals-while-benefiting-for-profit-hospitals/ This analysis finds that CMS’s proposed cut to Medicare reimbursement for 340B drugs, and accompanying increase for other outpatient services, would reduce revenues among safety-net hospitals while increasing revenues among for-profit hospitals.

Donor Government Funding for HIV Dropped by $2.1 Billion in 2025 Due to Declines in U.S. Disbursements, Marking the Largest Annual Decrease Since HIV Response Scale Up Began Published: July 29, 2026

https://www.kff.org/quick-insights/donor-government-funding-for-hiv-drops-by-2-1-billion-in-2025-due-to-declines-in-u-s-disbursements-marking-largest-annual-decrease-since-hiv-response-scale-up-began/ Donor government funding to combat HIV in low- and middle-income countries fell by $2.1 billion in 2025, a 25% decrease from the previous year. The 2025 decrease was driven by a decline in U.S. disbursements following the administration’s substantial cuts in global health funding, programs, and personnel. Despite this decline, the U.S. remains the largest donor to HIV in the world.

KFF Health Tracking Poll: Mifepristone and the Midterms Authors: Isabelle Valdes, Audrey Kearney, Lunna Lopes, Mardet Mulugeta, and Liz Hamel Published: Jul 30, 2026

https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-health-tracking-poll-mifepristone-and-the-midterms/ Amid an ongoing FDA re-review of mifepristone, awareness of the safety and prevalence of the abortion pill remains limited. This KFF poll also finds that the voters who say abortion policy is an important issue for 2026 midterm candidates to discuss are disproportionately Democrats.

Health and Health Care Experiences of Uninsured Immigrants Authors: Drishti Pillai and Samantha Artiga Published: Jul 30, 2026

https://www.kff.org/immigrant-health/health-and-health-care-experiences-of-uninsured-immigrants/ This brief provides data on health and health care experiences of uninsured immigrant adults based on a KFF survey of immigrant adults ages 18 and older conducted in partnership with The New York Times in Fall 2025. The data provide insight into how the projected coverage losses under the 2025 reconciliation law may impact health and health care for immigrant families as more lawfully present immigrants become uninsured.

Five Key Facts About People Experiencing Homelessness Authors: Akash Pillai and Heather Saunders Published: Jul 31, 2026

https://www.kff.org/medicaid/five-key-facts-about-people-experiencing-homelessness/ This data note reviews trends in homelessness and characteristics of people who are homeless using data from HUD’s Point-in-Time (PIT) count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness.

Are Health Care Costs THE Top Issue for Voters? Author: Drew Altman Published: Jul 29, 2026

https://www.kff.org/from-drew-altman/are-health-care-costs-the-top-issue-for-voters/?utm_campaign=KFF-This-Week&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9GpF4kaEQFREQus_5gNzfPHLOBxilDZtjjJGJ_z_RlnxZH3TAy3I8-j71acem-NzDD4Z9mrtjkG3E0WzVbg0gA4ScTBw&_hsmi=431040760&utm_content=431040760&utm_source=hs_email In a new column, Dr. Drew Altman, Founding President and CEO, analyzes the polling on health costs as a voting issue and concludes that there is no one top voting issue. He writes: “I have come to the conclusion that the search for a single top issue through polling questions—whether it’s health costs, or gas prices, or the cost of food—is artificial. People worry about and experience these costs together. There is no top issue, unless that issue is the catchall, ‘cost of living.’”

Syphilis spreads while researchers contend with federal constraints and a drug shortage End to cross-border collaboration makes infections easier to miss By Eric BoodmanJuly 31, 2026

https://www.statnews.com/2026/07/31/syphilis-drug-shortage-case-study-san-diego-patient-researcher-advocate/

Governing the Attention Dividend: AI-Reclaimed Clinician Capacity as a Health Policy Resource Yusuke Shono, MD, PhD, Vice Director

https://academic.oup.com/healthaffairsscholar/advance-article/doi/10.1093/haschl/qxag197/8748697?rss=1&login=false

Corporate Consolidation And The Youth Mental Health Crisis: Evidence From Medicaid Managed Care In 2022 Authors: K. John McConnell mcconnjo@ohsu.edu, Sara Edelstein, Courtney Benjamin Wolk, Kelsey Watson, Katherine Courchaine, Stephan Lindner, and Jane M. Zhu

https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2025.01619 Medicaid managed care organizations serve as the primary vehicle for delivering behavioral health services to low-income youth. However, market consolidation has shifted enrollment toward a handful of large national parent firms. Understanding the implications of this shift is critical for identifying and closing gaps in adolescent mental health services. Using national Medicaid claims data from 2022, we examined the associations between managed care organization ownership by five major parent firms and measures of youth mental health service use and provider composition. Managed care organizations owned by large national parent firms were characterized by lower mental health screening rates and, for most firms, higher use of emergency department, inpatient, and medication-based care, including psychotropic prescribing without psychotherapy. Provider composition also varied by firm, suggesting differences in how these organizations structure their behavioral health networks, with some relying more heavily on psychiatrists and psychologists and others depending more on master’s-level therapists. The growing influence of large national parent firms in shaping behavioral health access for Medicaid-enrolled youth underscores the need for closer scrutiny of how managed care structures serve youth with significant mental health needs.

The Accumulated Inconvenience Of Insurance Coverage Denials Margaret Winchester July 31, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/accumulated-inconvenience-insurance-coverage-denials?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_YlaBOABIAjFjEZ0HKiSgfaSOmyl_Yq8v2vvnZdV2099z_Hw116oUoQmWwX0o2WLEEeTbeG8CnwWn3aMEddcB5dOVLvg&_hsmi=431087348&utm_source=hasu In a new book review, Senior Editor Margaret Winchester reviews Coverage Denied: How Health Insurers Drive Inequality in the United States by Miranda Yaver.

Reducing Barriers To Out-Of-State Pediatric Care Through The Accelerating Kids’ Access To Care Act Joshua GreenbergandNick Manetto July 27, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/reducing-barriers-out-state-pediatric-care-through-accelerating-kids-access-care-act?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--GbnzX_-1_MArWSRCC8j2T9n0ejEyt8rx1dzzinkVU8XuxatiGRwvdl-sMxSpGH3jfjZvSxyqba7DILGgOwGB07dW4ow&_hsmi=431087348&utm_source=hasu Pediatrics is increasingly moving toward regionalized hub-and-spoke models organized around comprehensive “centers of excellence.” This shift makes out-of-state care for patients with medically complex conditions more common.

The Trillion-Dollar Algorithm: Lessons From Machine Learning For MA Risk Adjustment Micah Johnson,Divya Shanmugam,David J. Meyers,Jenna Wiens,andEmma Pierson July 28, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/trillion-dollar-algorithm-lessons-machine-learning-ma-risk-adjustment?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--gCoo-sWBMP5fSFkw_NJMMmh9sDoxaFzGQrIOWf3HL_N5Xn9wzwJpRV34TpUYtp_kX7VztfJiVTXaaceeGccqDIAd0gA&_hsmi=431087348&utm_source=hasu The current MA risk adjustment model has shortcomings, both in predictive accuracy and payment equity across the Medicare program, which could be mitigated using lessons from machine learning.

One Shot Or Three? Understanding The Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Vaccine T. Joseph Mattingly II July 27, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/one-shot-three-understanding-measles-mumps-rubella-mmr-vaccine?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8RZpRj1WQPAtTqL67oIri8_tUDywvYeDV1tUgJR-x3QAaICYXBpKDfNb9HXhK8gnZoPYMk9rdihUUm1boMC1dItjM8Ow&_hsmi=431087348&utm_source=hasu Since 1971, protection against measles, mumps, and rubella has been delivered in a single combined injection. A proposal to separate the vaccine into three separate shots could compound the coverage declines now allowing measles to reemerge.

The Equity Cliff: Federal Medicaid Cuts Are About To Undo California’s Health System Gains Jim Hickman,Abner Mason,andJeremy Cantor July 29, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/equity-cliff-federal-medicaid-cuts-undo-california-s-health-system-gains?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--KYlRxKG3FUFmLMf2k0fvOrdQ0E4Wllu1Nlv3zk2dbcAJigozQx7zavXccLxTC9neJJEPe7bf_gLzk9GJf4eqJc_j-_A&_hsmi=431087348&utm_source=hasu What California chooses in the next six months will determine whether a decade of Medicaid transformation holds or collapses and how the health and well-being of thousands or millions of California’s most vulnerable people will change as a result.

A Technological Agenda For Risk-Adjustment Reform Daniel K. Shenfeld,Ravi Parikh,andEzekiel J. Emanuel July 28, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/technological-agenda-risk-adjustment-reform?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9S0jnBUbUfI2hLtgfkqRCzSwV3hw4I6opDa84JjmAa0xh55WjRUdCPvgpUBtWGfUyoyA6FMcuK18m5UN_gwUJD0Cl5tw&_hsmi=431087348&utm_source=hasu Instead of sporadically updating antiquated models, CMS must develop a new risk-adjustment platform. This will require the technology and analytics infrastructure to evaluate, deploy, and update models annually—or even faster.

Assessing The Value Of Post-Approval Research For U.S. Policy Makers Dan CrippenandKirsten Axelsen July 29, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/research-agenda-assess-value-post-approval-drug-research-us-policy-makers?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_FCqOr2kF_ta9ahMTd5ILrFUwTVgNYGbls_jGE-t9r2PNwR3SdlRTBmr64ju01JDSnfS20doofvh_PJsJDsiZK8e4aVA&_hsmi=431087348&utm_source=hasu Understanding the impact of price controls on drug research and approvals of secondary indications is critical for policy makers considering the expansion of price setting within and beyond the Inflation Reduction Act.

The Trump Administration’s Deals With Pharma: Policy Progress Or Political Theater? Matthew Vogel,Sanam Rangaraj,andOlivier J. Wouters July 30, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/trump-administration-s-deals-pharma-policy-progress-political-theater?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--JEZa6N-YbHuWPJsWzocybjgDIbLV-QadZtSGMMBZgxB6my6PLPmk-_8TIWzDbYxu_rVZhEIR-He-bwAjd8d_v3asBGQ&_hsmi=431087348&utm_source=hasu Many details of these agreements remain undisclosed, but what we know suggests they may be less far-reaching than claimed.

The Collision Of 340B Pricing And Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Rory MartinandKatheryne Richardson July 31, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/collision-340b-pricing-and-medicare-drug-price-negotiation?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8oXXeko6f_Dr2Ne_7MDNL6ehMj9cMJDDnENSy6Rj9q7PO8pAsz-hZVU29t2gYeY_4Xwfr3npOzTIXEJT5Iy_8W9yFF1Q&_hsmi=431087348&utm_source=hasu When the first set of prices under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program went into effect, they intersected with the 340B Drug Pricing Program and created the potential for billions of dollars in duplicate discounts and administrative complexity.

When the Payer Defines the Product: How a Medicare Pricing Rule Would Deepen the Divide in Cancer Care Gary A. Puckrein, PhD | President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Minority Quality Forum July 26, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/sponsored-content/national-minority-quality-forum/when-the-payer-defines-the-product?utm_campaign=34032557-Health%20Affairs%20Sunday%20Update%202026&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-96B7IKIODIgyxkBOlk1uzQ8I8LZvtoOd-Wns55uYuzpjHiM162s2GqfkYavHA1hDC-su94HoKNz3GJHsgICLYYoWxTdA&_hsmi=431087348&utm_content=431087348&utm_source=hs_email Publisher's note: This material was paid for by National Minority Quality Forum and provided by National Minority Quality Forum. The views expressed by the author are their own. This material is not part of Health Affairs Forefront; it has not been subject to editorial review or revision by Health Affairs or Health Affairs Forefront except to avoid offensive, dangerous, or deceptive content and to conform with Health Affairs style conventions.

Health Care Price Transparency: Policy, Practice, and Impact Christopher M. WhaleyandLaura Tollen August 19, 2026, 1:00 PM

https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/he20260715.671369/full/?utm_campaign=insidermarketing&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--7CCJmuTnWsuZi9tH-JcS00V2xtgQc3SSBp7yiLFnddURuupgaRvg6mEq1VA44NsmbTIzVHSC_2hyWyoAGVqFyhJ9Ueg&_hsmi=431087348&utm_content=eventspecific&utm_source=hasu Both the Trump and Biden administrations embraced and enacted price transparency policies in the health care space, including the Hospital Price Transparency Rule, Transparency in Coverage Rule, and the No Surprises Act, to name a few. But have these policies resulted in better consumer understanding of the prices of their health care services? And how well have plans and hospitals complied with these policies? On August 19, Christopher Whaley of Brown University will join Health Affairs Publishing’s Laura Tollen to get Insiders up to speed on price transparency policies and what to watch moving forward.

Number of Measles Cases Roars Past Last Year's Total As Vaccine Hesitancy Takes Hold

Number of Measles Cases Roars Past Last Year's Total As Vaccine Hesitancy Takes Hold A little more than halfway through the year, the United States has already confirmed more cases — 2,318 — than it had in 2025. Public health experts say a full-throated vaccination push at the national level would stem the tide in cases but acknowledge that seems unlikely under the current administration. Plus, the latest on rising cyclosporiasis cases. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-briefing/monday-july-27-2026/

Cyclospora Outbreak Prompts Inquiry Into Lettuce Supplier's Ties To White House

Cyclospora Outbreak Prompts Inquiry Into Lettuce Supplier's Ties To White House Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) has requested documents from Taylor Farms, the White House, the FDA, and the CDC that could shed light on reports that company executives and government officials sought "to distance the company from the outbreak and cast doubt on the officials’ conclusion," The Hill reported. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-briefing/tuesday-july-28-2026/

Millions On Medicare May Soon See Higher Drug Costs As Trump Ends Subsidy Program

Millions On Medicare May Soon See Higher Drug Costs As Trump Ends Subsidy Program CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said Tuesday in a post on social media that the subsidies had been ended because the insurers no longer needed them, The New York Times reported. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-briefing/wednesday-july-29-2026/

Fauci Invokes Fifth Amendment During Covid Senate Committee Hearing

Fauci Invokes Fifth Amendment During Covid Senate Committee Hearing During a heated Senate hearing Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked his constitutional right not to incriminate himself, reported The New York Times. Republicans, led by Sen. Rand Paul, accused him of causing the coronavirus pandemic, making him personally responsible for every covid death and adverse vaccine reaction. The Senate will decide next week whether to hold Dr. Fauci in contempt. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-briefing/thursday-july-30-2026/

Viewpoints: To Better Protect Our Kids, We Need Solid Guidance When Wildfire Smoke Streams In; How Are Cities With Clean Needle Programs Faring?

https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/viewpoints-wildfire-smoke-will-be-back-we-need-a-better-plan-how-are-cities-that-implemented-clean-needle-programs-faring/

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 mental health, daylight saving time, "SuperAgers," oral health, and more. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/longer-looks-interesting-reads-you-might-have-missed-268/

Most American Kids Are Consuming Caffeine, CDC Study Finds

Most American Kids Are Consuming Caffeine, CDC Study Finds Nearly two-thirds of children ages 2-19 have an average of 19.4 milligrams of caffeine in their diet, according to a CDC report. Soda and baked goodies are two of the big culprits. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children consume no caffeine. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/public-health-073126/

Health Insurers Predict A Better Year Ahead In 2027 Amid Medicaid Changes

Health Insurers Predict A Better Year Ahead In 2027 Amid Medicaid Changes Medicaid managed care organizations are trying to reassure investors that Medicaid margins will rise in 2027, marking a trend reversal. But, as Modern Healthcare explained, investors remain skeptical due to looming policy changes and persistently high costs. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/health-industry-073126/

Full Senate To Vote Next On CDC Director, Pandemic Preparedness Nominees

Full Senate To Vote Next On CDC Director, Pandemic Preparedness Nominees Despite some shifting reservations, the Senate health committee voted Thursday to advance the nominations of Erica Schwartz as CDC director and Sean Kaufman as assistant secretary for preparedness and response, Stat reported. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/administration-news-073126/

Main Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Is Winding Down, But Others Are Emerging

Main Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Is Winding Down, But Others Are Emerging Health officials are trying to identify the sources of five other outbreaks caused by cyclospora — a parasite that causes diarrhea, among other symptoms — as the peak season for this foodborne illness continues, The Hill reported. Other outbreak news is on measles, chronic wasting disease, and Ebola. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/outbreaks-and-health-threats-073126/

Connecticut Refugees Struggle To Afford Food After SNAP Benefits Were Cut

Connecticut Refugees Struggle To Afford Food After SNAP Benefits Were Cut According to officials at the state Department of Social Services, SNAP enrollments in Connecticut have dropped by about 35,000 since December, tied in part to new federal work requirements. The CT Mirror reported on the stark reversal in resettlement policies demonstrated by the new federal policy affecting refugee food assistance, as an estimated 1,745 refugees and asylum seekers are expected to lose food aid in Connecticut. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/state-watch-073126/

Judge Denies Injunction Against New Medicaid Work Requirements For Sick Patients

Judge Denies Injunction Against New Medicaid Work Requirements For Sick Patients A federal judge denied without prejudice a request filed by Democratic state officials to stop the Trump administration's requirement that chronically ill Medicaid patients prove that they are physically unable to work in order to keep their coverage. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/coverage-and-access-073126/

Trump Has Quietly Throttled an Agency Devoted to the Safety of American Healthcare By Arthur Allen July 29, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/news/ahrq-funding-grants-trump-healthcare-safety-research-agency-hobbled/ The Trump administration has effectively shut down most of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s activities, closing the spigot on federal funding estimated to have saved thousands of lives and billions of dollars over the past 27 years by improving medical practice.

Hospice’s Bad Reputation Amid Fraud Crisis Will Hurt Patients, Industry Experts Warn By Laurie Udesky July 29, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/aging/hospice-agencies-california-survival-gains-hospital-cms-fraud/ Mark Vantrease regularly sees his Vietnam War buddies over breakfast, attends his grandchildren’s Little League games, and, when he’s up to it, tends to his lush front-yard garden, which is dotted with shells retrieved from his abalone-diving days.

The Politics of Grant Cuts Episode 457 • July 30, 2026 •

https://kffhealthnews.org/podcast/what-the-health-457-trump-grant-cuts-fauci-hearing-covid-july-30-2026/

Abortion Drug Law in Louisiana Heightens Hemorrhage Risk for Pregnant Patients By Halle Parker, Verite News July 30, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/courts/abortion-drug-access-misoprostol-louisiana-law-pregnancy-hemorrhage-risk/ Over the past decade, Louisiana hospitals began stocking specialized carts designed to treat hemorrhages, one of the most common pregnancy complications in the state. The plug-in cart can be wheeled from room to room and holds surgical tools and lifesaving medications to stem blood loss.

Medicaid Insurers’ Contracts on the Line in Tight Governor’s Race By Tony Leys July 30, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/health-industry/medicaid-insurer-contracts-iowa-governor-race/ One of America’s most competitive gubernatorial races could settle a heated argument over whether private insurance companies should run Medicaid.

A Native American woman stands outside in the late afternoon sun. The Newest Federally Recognized Tribe Wants Better Healthcare. It May Be On Its Own. By Andrew Jones July 31, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/rural-health/tribe-native-disparities-indian-health-service-federal-recognition-lumbee-north-carolina/ LUMBERTON, N.C. — Soybean fields surround Angie Lowery’s home in Robeson County, on a plot of rural land in southeastern North Carolina. Dozens of antique gas station signs, 20 feet tall, dominate her front yard. A framed re-creation of The Last Supper, Lone Ranger posters, and a 3-foot-wide tobacco harvesting basket adorn the walls of her home. A collector, Lowery over the years has amassed remnants of her region’s past.

Journalists Catch You Up on Fauci Hearing, Peptides, and Kids’ Caffeine Consumption Aug. 1, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/on-air/on-air-august-1-2026-fauci-hearing-fda-peptides-epa-grants-children-caffeine/

They Worked To Protect Public Health. Now They Want the Public’s Votes. By Phil Galewitz, Christine Mai-Duc, and Amanda Seitz July 31, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/elections/election-midterms-candidates-becerra-acton-el-sayed-california-ohio-michigan/ A handful of former public health officials are campaigning for top statewide offices across the country, testing whether their experience with covid and other hot-button health issues will appeal to voters in November.

Trump Administration Demands Hospitals Share Emergency Room Records By Amanda Seitz, Maia Rosenfeld, and Darius Tahir July 27, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/health-industry/cpsc-consumer-product-safety-commission-trump-er-injury-data-grab-neiss-konza/ The tiny federal agency that tracks consumer product safety is pressuring hospitals to turn over patient records from ER visits, including about injuries that have nothing to do with consumer products.

Health Research Funding Suddenly Cut: Dr. Aaron Carroll Explains Jeff ByersandAaron E. Carroll July 23, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hp20260722.700568/full/?utm_campaign=podcast&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9AsKtoD7Ln2Q6nYAqWOwIARNePpy6ObVbl4k_jK82IsJy7829qwtsiVbdfMLHTltiqltFfS_ZWooOs9IlkPjIPVMr9_g&_hsmi=431087453&utm_content=hatw&utm_source=well%20read

Cash Transfers And Child Health In The US: What Is Known And What Questions Remain Aditi Vasan,Meredith Matone,Jordan I. Wood,andRebecka Rosenquist July 16, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/briefs/cash-transfers-and-child-health?utm_campaign=health%20policy%20brief&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--jvbzzb7ZlbPTUjdiveXflmID3Zcla3Ekfqf87KJh67bqNQbm10QbjEakJ7riOyGsB20Kt1S8kRocmfRLp5jl3vzC2dQ&_hsmi=431087453&utm_source=well%20read Key Points Cash transfer programs are a promising strategy for improving families’ economic security because of their relative simplicity and respect for individuals’ autonomy. Policy makers have increasingly also looked to cash transfers as a tool to improve child health. There are multiple mechanisms by which cash transfers could improve child health, including by increasing household income and enabling health-promoting investments, by reducing income instability and caregiver stress, and by strengthening social connections and building community trust. Recent evidence on cash transfers and child health is mixed. A large randomized controlled trial and a quasi-experimental study examining birthweight thresholds for Supplemental Security Income receipt both found no significant effects on child health. However, several studies of the 2021 expanded child tax credit showed that these payments were associated with small but significant improvements in birth outcomes. Some findings have been consistent across studies, including that parents tend to invest cash transfers in ways that promote child health and well-being. The divergent child health impacts observed across studies could be due to differences in payment timing, limited versus universal payments, focus population, and study design. Future research should examine these issues, selecting outcomes carefully and using both robust causal inference designs and community-engaged research methods. Cash transfers show promise in improving child health but should ideally complement, not replace, other evidence-based economic support programs. Policy makers should ground their decisions about these programs in findings that emerge consistently from rigorous research over time.

The 340B Rebate Fight Is Really Over Data Infrastructure Nobody Has Built Manasi Sudhir Salgaonkar July 15, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/340b-rebate-fight-really-over-data-infrastructure-nobody-has-built?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8EDQ1qQmOnFatyJz-qURowgfmx_heLZR8_IMajKnDxKOKYN-_bWrebNSpywWGjLH31qTr6AMM6awC7Wpg7XmUjqDsEcQ&_hsmi=431087453&utm_source=well%20read Editor's Note: The article initially published on this page under the title "The 340B Rebate Fight Is Really A Fight Over Data Nobody Has Built" was taken down on July 30, 2026. Subsequent to publication, the author notified the editors about concerns with several interpretations in the article but declined offers to revise those interpretations. Also subsequent to publication, the editors learned that the author failed to disclose their primary employer IQVIA whose business is directly related to the subject matter discussed in the piece. This material omission compelled the editors to reevaluate the article and ultimately, due to the undisclosed conflict, remove it from the public record.

We Make For Poor Bandits: A Rural Pharmacist's Answer To The 340B 'Grift' John Mildenberger July 6, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/we-make-poor-bandits-rural-pharmacist-s-answer-340b-grift?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--com9vlH_66D3ubb2ft-Ufq7Sst099NbRRbvIzXYfCVk25BGdu26Uk5KlDBRJgNGXZlEiCCzTxlw2yCtwonOlfbS6juA&_hsmi=431087453&utm_source=well%20read Targeted transparency requirements, clearer guidance on contract pharmacy use, and stronger duplicate-discount safeguards would address 340B abuses without severing the lifeline that keeps rural and safety-net providers solvent.

Addressing Medical Affordability Without Compromising Care Ezekiel J. EmanuelandKevin A. Schulman July 9, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/addressing-medical-affordability-without-compromising-care?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Y7z9Ysaw_m8X8YL0ggf8HcTb-DFKglPe_wFNkH33c1jd1GU-9v-IHUV4LrWyd_PpdDQUyHMbEfHeakD0LKRIZkxsayQ&_hsmi=431087453&utm_source=well%20read The US spends 25 percent of all health care costs on administration, a big part of which involves billing for medical services. To realize savings requires standardizing and digitizing billing.

National Health Expenditure Projections, 2025–34: Strong Utilization Growth Initially, Legislative Impacts Later Authors: Jacqueline A. Fiore jacqueline.fiore@cms.hhs.gov, Andrea M. Sisko, John A. Poisal, Sheila D. Smith, Gigi A. Cuckler, Andrew J. Madison, Sean P. Keehan, Kathryn E. Rennie, and Nicholas J. Feehley

https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2026.00642 By 2034, national health spending is projected to total nearly $9.0 trillion and to represent 20.6 percent of the economy, compared with $5.3 trillion and 18.0 percent in 2024. The rate of national health spending growth during this period is influenced by continued elevated use of medical services and goods through 2026; major legislative changes that affect insurance coverage and spending through 2028; and continued demographic shifts toward public programs, mainly Medicare. The insured share of the population is expected to be 90.5 percent in 2034, compared with 91.8 percent in 2024.

Spending, Prior Authorization, Health Equity, And More Authors: Donald E. Metz and The Editorial Staff

https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2026.00906 This issue of Health Affairs includes articles on health care spending, nonprofit hospitals’ investment portfolios, prior authorization in Medicare Advantage, and health equity. We also present articles in our sponsored series Eye On The IRA, Age-Friendly Health, and The Practice Of Medicine, supported, respectively, by the National Pharmaceutical Council, the John A. Hartford Foundation, and the Physicians Foundation.

Access To Community Pharmacies Associated With Reduced Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Use Of Prescription Drugs, 2010–19 Authors: Maitreyi Sahu msahu1@bwh.harvard.edu, Tyler D. Wagner, Drew DeJarnatt, Haley Lescinsky, Meera Beauchamp, Sawyer W. Crosby, Kayla Taylor,

https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2025.01459?utm_campaign=july%202026%20issue&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--NZWVetkDVWJLv18ufuQmOxtsbaZz0TjHy0esg2MeD94FFf65Yf-e1GRE8UG1hq4SZE57m_B47-3SxqWyLgcIWdgr4ZQ&_hsmi=431087453&utm_source=well%20read Racial and ethnic disparities in access to medicines persist across the US. Community pharmacies serve as critical access points for prescription drugs, yet their availability varies widely, potentially contributing to health disparities. We estimated the share of the population living within ten minutes of a community pharmacy across counties, by race and ethnicity, during the period 2010–23. We linked these measures to race and ethnicity–specific, state-level estimates of age- and prevalence-standardized medication use for twenty-seven health condition categories through 2019. A 1 percent increase in people living within ten minutes of a community pharmacy at the state level was associated with 0.7 percent higher use of medications per prevalent case. This association was strongest for Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, and Hispanic populations. In addition, a 1 percent increase in ten-minute community pharmacy access was associated with a 0.52 percent decrease in racial and ethnic disparities in medication use. These findings suggest that uneven community pharmacy access may exacerbate racial and ethnic disparities in medication use. Policy makers seeking to improve medication access should consider targeted interventions to preserve or expand pharmacy availability for underserved communities.

Workforce Projections For Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, And Physician Associates Authors: Monica O’Reilly-Jacob mo2986@cumc.columbia.edu, Lusine Poghosyan, Susan Kelly-Weeder, Sean Clarke, and David Auerbach

https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2025.01747?utm_campaign=july%202026%20issue&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8hgbOuFhR9Yoeg7AzXrlNyjr5vGFhrMzGrD-edssw4cmwx-Ouglg7Q4RacoUuZkFoKHxKC-H_ahnFtfsXJK4qZ7c0pUQ&_hsmi=431087453&utm_source=well%20read Ensuring an adequate supply of clinicians is a critical policy concern. In our forecast, physician supply growth remains consistent with prior forecasts, at 1 percent annually, but the numbers of nurse practitioners and physician associates, respectively, are projected to increase 11 percent and 5.6 percent annually through 2030. The surge in nurse practitioner graduates, especially, has implications for onboarding, team-based care, and policies.

Trends In US Health Care Spending By Income, 2005–23 Authors: Betsy Q. Cliff bqcliff@uchicago.edu and Giacomo Meille

https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2025.01325?utm_campaign=july+2026+issue&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Urjj3j5NShfemaiwCg0_AgkXA7qUgR57BHRd10e_iPxvd3eCL-KnRaNQGdSFjUiNS6z1qCbLJH8xgpgOovrDCqk5-8g&_hsmi=431087453&utm_source=well+read From 2005 to 2023, per capita health care spending was highest and grew most rapidly among Americans in the top income quintile. During this period, age- and health-adjusted real spending grew 1.8 percent per year among people in the highest income quintile compared with no growth among people in the lowest income quintile. Differences among income levels were most prominent in outpatient services and prescription drugs.