NEW: Most of the Medicaid cuts passed by congressional Republicans last year don't take effect until after the midterms, but the Trump's signature law is already squeezing state Medicaid programs.
In Idaho, one service on the possible chopping block is home care for people with disabilities.
Lonny Fritzler installs paneling on a future therapeutic foster home for kids whose parents need addiction treatment elsewhere. He says he had to leave his hometown of Lodge Grass to recover from his own addiction to meth.
Illustration by Oona Zenda of a man having to weigh prioritizing either his job or access to health care with a lawmaker in the background.
Hundreds of people join a protest in downtown Hamilton, Montana, in April supporting the work of federal employees as President Donald Trump oversees efforts to restructure the nation’s government.
Hi — new to BlueSky! I’m a journalist covering how health policy and systems impact people. Lately I’ve reported on federal cuts hitting a rural bioscience hub, a town recovering from meth, and a man who said he had to break Medicaid rules.
Based in Montana, I write for both 📰 and 📻
RFK Jr. was sworn in as health secretary one year ago, after promising not to cut funding for vaccine research or change the nation’s vaccine recommendations.
Since then, he’s done both.
Watch for more on some of the promises Kennedy made during his confirmation process ⤵️
A hospital near Oregon’s coast could collapse in a natural disaster. Hospital leaders got a FEMA grant to build a new one with a tsunami shelter. Then the Trump admin canceled the grant—unlawfully, a judge ruled.
My latest for @kffhealthnews.org + @cbsnews.com: kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
New moms all over social media are talking about their incredibly high medical bills after having a baby. I wanted to know, why is that the case? And what are possible solutions?
Here's my video for @kffhealthnews.org:
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Turning 26 has become a birthday many Americans dread. Young adults without jobs that provide health insurance find that their options are limited and expensive. The problem is about to get worse.
You can watch/read our story for @kffhealthnews.org + the NYT: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/h...
Medicaid work requirements. We've been hearing that a lot lately. But what exactly are they? And how will the affect Americans?
Renuka Rayasam breaks down what you need to know about Medicaid work requirements.
📹: @hannahnorman.bsky.social kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Under the Trump admin, the National Cancer Institute is cutting $ for a program designed to improve disparities in cancer care by linking U.S. cancer centers with minority-serving colleges and universities.
These partnerships have trained 8,500+ scientists.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Among the thousands of federal workers that HHS fired this year: CDC researchers who advised clinicians on how to prescribe contraception safely for millions of women with underlying medical conditions.
My latest on @cbsnews.com.web.brid.gy @kffhealthnews.org www.cbsnews.com/news/hhs-cdc...
NEW: Violent crime was already trending down when Trump campaigned on addressing unbridled crime in America.
Now his administration has cut about $500 million for crime prevention.
My latest for @cnn.com and @kffhealthnews.org
www.cnn.com/2025/06/03/h...
Millions of rural Americans live in counties with doctor shortages and where high-speed internet connections aren’t adequate to access advanced telehealth services.
My latest @kffhealthnews.org video with @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social: kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Melt resistant ice cream? That's due to a super ingredient: Polysorbate 80, an emulsifier. Researchers say such ingredients may cause a variety of health problems like damaging the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, or triggering inflammation.
Watch this video by @hannahnorman.bsky.social ⤵️
You can read the full story by @davidhilzenrath.bsky.social here: kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
In the name of science (& @kffhealthnews.org), I left a Drumstick vanilla caramel sundae cone on my kitchen counter for 24 hours.
Spoiler: It didn't melt!
Here's what happened: www.youtube.com/shorts/YYklG...
Many processed foods are made with chemicals linked to health concerns. To a great extent, the FDA allows food companies to determine whether their ingredients and additives are safe.
What could go wrong?
📹 w/ @oonazenda.bsky.social for @kffhealthnews.org:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLx9...
NEW: The last time Missouri's Medicaid program was strapped for cash:
- 100,000 people lost their health insurance,
- credit card debt went up,
- debt in collections increased.
Now, Republicans in Congress are considering cuts that would big even bigger and hit every state.
My latest 👇
My latest, for @kffhealthnews.org and @cbsnews.com: Social Security is cracking.
It's declaring people wrongly dead. Beneficiaries and lawyers say records are getting misplaced. Checks are getting sent to the wrong address.
The agency is getting worse, they think, at sending money to people:
This week marks 100 days into the second Trump administration. Here's what we're watching in health care and health policy:
Do you have an experience related to reductions in the Department of Health and Human Services workforce that you’d like to share with KFF Health News?
Message us on Signal at (415) 519-8778 or get in touch here. ⤵️ kffhealthnews.org/hhs-tips/
Exclusive: NIH officials have advised scientists to remove reference to mRNA vaccines from their grant applications, in expectation the Trump administration intends to abandon most research in the field.
By @arthurallen202.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Want to know the top health care and health policy issues each week? KFF Health News will be back with a weekly recap of the news you need to know about.
Read our reporting at kffhealthnews.org and be sure you’re following us!
UPDATE: At least some fired CDC workers have had their jobs reinstated and have been cleared to return to work March 5, according to emails I obtained. "We apologize for any disruption that this may have caused," said the CDC email, which was unsigned and sent this afternoon.
What is Medicaid, again??? We made an explainer @kffhealthnews.org:
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Duo was fatally hit by a Tesla Cybertruck, the language-learning company announced this week. The snarky owl has been the face of Duolingo for over a decade. Why his sudden demise, and what's next?
NEW: I want to tell you about some of the most courageous people I've ever met.
One year ago they were injured during the mass shooting at the Super Bowl parade in Kansas City: Shot, trampled, burned, scarred.
They've allowed @peggylowe.bsky.social and me into their lives to see their journeys
We’d like to speak with personnel from the Department of Health and Human Services or its component agencies who believe the public should understand the impact of what’s happening within the federal health bureaucracy.
Share your story: kffhealthnews.org/hhs-tips/
In key moments during his first confirmation hearing for secretary of HHS, RFK Jr. mixed up Medicaid with Medicare and showed limited knowledge of the job’s scope.
KFF Health News journalists will break down key takeaways from the hearings in a live web event on Jan. 30 at 3:30pm ET: bit.ly/4hD8ati
Has a denial from your insurer impacted your health or the life of someone you love?
We're looking for people to talk to who've experienced difficulty getting treatment due to prior authorization.
Share your story with us: kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Two Senate committees will question RFK Jr. this week about everything from vaccines to abortion to Medicaid.
What are the biggest takeaways? What comes next? Tune in for a discussion with Arthur Allen, Phil Galewitz and Julie Rovner, Thurs., Jan. 30, at 3:30pm EST. www.youtube.com/live/_ZzzWrP...
We will be watching the upcoming RFK Jr. nomination hearings closely. @kffhealthnews.bsky.social reporters will break down their biggest takeaways live on Thursday afternoon. You can tune in on YouTube here:
www.youtube.com/live/_ZzzWrP...
