SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " Health Policy " 242 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Recalling health policy giant Bob Blendon | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
At an event celebrating the life of the late Bob Blendon, former colleagues and students recalled him as brilliant, caring, and quirky.
Public Health Leaders and Scholars File Amicus Brief Challenging CMS Medicaid Work Requirement Rule in Taylor v. Kennedy
The American Public Health Association, Grantmakers In Health, the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health’s Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health and National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership, Liberty Health Alliance and 167 public health and health policy deans, chairs and scholars have filed an amicus curiae brief supporting the plaintiffs in Taylor v. Kennedy, a lawsuit challenging a federal Medicaid rule that they argue unlawfully narrows protections for p
National Academy of Medicine’s 2026 Annual Meeting (Scientific Symposium on Chronic Disease)
KFF Founding President and CEO Dr. Drew Altman delivered the Victor J. Dzau Keynote Address at the National Academy of Medicine’s 2026 Annual Meeting (Scientific Symposium on Chronic Disease) on October 10, 2026, where he described the big challenges ahead in health policy, and where chronic illness fits.
Midterm Election Update: Immigrant Health Policy
Immigration restrictions and enforcement are central to the Trump administration’s domestic agenda and a focus of debate in the 2026 midterm elections. These policies have ripple effects on health care: immigration-related fears are leading some immigrant families to avoid medical care and drop coverage, including for U.S. citizen children, and visa restrictions could strain a health care workforce that relies on immigrants. Federal law has also narrowed eligibility for health coverage among lawfully present immigrants, and states are responding in different ways.
Song Li: Maternal And Primary Health Leader, Beijing Veteran - And A Test Case For Post-US Multilateralism?
Who will steer the World Health Organization through its next chapter? Explore Health Policy Watch’s daily series examining the platforms, records, and
What Do the Midterm Election Results Mean for Health Care?
On November 5 at Noon ET, join KFF for a special post-election discussion and live podcast taping on these topics and more. KFF experts and journalists will provide analysis and insights about what the election results could mean for health policy and take audience questions. Part of the discussion will focus on public opinion survey data on how voters weighed health care as they went to the polls nationally and in the four states with abortion-related ballot initiatives.
National bus tour brings healthcare affordability fight to Michigan
A new poll from the health policy research organization KFF found more than six in 10 Americans are worried about affording healthcare. The issue took center stage in Kalamazoo this week as the advocacy group Protect Our Care brought its national "Sick of It! Fix Health Care Now" bus tour to the city.
In memoriam: Frank M. Ahern, teaching professor emeritus of biobehavioral health
The College of Health and Human Development is saddened to share the news that Frank Ahern, teaching professor emeritus of biobehavioral health, passed away last month. Ahern came to Penn State in 1983 as a senior research associate in the Department of Health Policy and Administration and went on to co-found the Department of Biobehavioral Health in 1991.
How Will Patient Voices Influence Digestive Health Policy and Research? - Digestive Cancers Europe
How Will Patient Voices Influence Digestive Health Policy and Research? - Digestive Cancers Europe / cancer, Digestive Cancers Europe, OncoDaily, Oncology,
Briefing Recap | What the midterms could change about U.S. health care
An election lookahead at what’s at stake for health policy
WP Intelligence Briefing | What the midterms could change about U.S. health care
An election lookahead at what’s at stake for health policy
Is Milton Friedman to blame for America’s health care woes?
Health policy experts John McDonough and Stuart Butler debate where the U.S. medical system went wrong — and how to fix it.
Heart doctor: Healthy school meals are heart health policy
Right now, far too many Virginia children lack consistent access to the food they need to grow, learn and thrive. The 2026 Virginia Hunger Study found that one in two (51%) Virginia households with…
Obamacare enrollment fell to 20.5 million people as of June, KFF says
NEW YORK, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Affordable Care Act enrollment fell by 18% to 20.5 million members in June, according to health policy research firm KFF, marking the steepest annual decline since 2015 ...
Building a More Equitable Maternal Health System, a Conversation with Ta’Sheena Williams of the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health
Michigan has taken a comprehensive approach to maternal and child health policy, with a focus on strengthening Medicaid coverage and reimbursement, expanding community-based care, addressing racial disparities, and investing in prevention and maternal health systems. We asked Ta’Sheena Williams, Policy Director of the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health (MCMCH), to reflect on Michigan’s […]
Using Policy to Promote Healthy Tech Habits for Youth
Learn how jurisdictions are using policy to regulate screen time in school and social media protections for teens and children in this Health Policy Update.
The Council on Black Health Releases a National Advocacy Roadmap
The Council on Black Health today released Law and Policy Strategies to Advance Black Health: An Advocacy Roadmap for the Council on Black Health Policy Roundtable, giving state and local advocates concrete policy strategies to protect and improve the health of Black communities.
Digital detox how-to; artificial intelligence in nursing; when to see your doctor about GI issues; plus other stories with Vanderbilt Health sources
Prevention interviewed Beth Malow, MD, Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics in the Vanderbilt Sleep Division, about a study that found insomnia is linked with a 26% higher risk of stroke and 28% higher odds of hospital admission. William Schaffner, MD, Professor of Health Policy, was quoted by Parade about the most common COVID symptoms people are experiencing right now, HealthLeaders interviewed Deonna Taylor, PhD, ACMP, RN, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Adult Ambulatory Nursing, about how artificial intelligence will affect nursing practice. The Wall Street Journal interviewed Joseph Schlesinger, MD, Professor of Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine, for a story about ICU alarms keeping patients from getting sleep and creating alarm fatigue for nurses. Cathy Eng, MD, Executive Director of the Young Adult Cancers Program was interviewed by the The New York Times about GI symptoms that patients should not ignore. Heather Jackson, PhD, APRN, Administrative Director, Advanced Practice, was interviewed by Fox17 about nurse practitioner roles becoming the fastest growing job in the next 10 years. Prevention interviewed Jonah Garry, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, for stories about how sleep impacts your heart health and how to do a digital detox.
Health policy expert warns California's Medi-Cal spending crisis could drive up insurance costs for families
Paragon Health Institute President Brian Blase discusses California's Medicaid spending, eligibility concerns and the potential impact of higher taxes on privately insured families.
Health Policy Watch | US finally signs health deal with Zambia, but still pursues minerals agreement
In 2024, 84% of Zambia’s HIV programme was funded by PEPFAR – and 1.3 million Zambians are on antiretroviral medicines.
Trump bucks and the politics of mailing checks
The checks started going out last week, nearly one million of them, and mostly to battleground states. With a return address for the U.S. Treasury and a letter enclosed signed by President Donald Trump, these one-time checks for $500 were ostensibly government rebates for Obamacare enrollees who overpaid. In the accompanying letter, however, Trump attacks his predecessor and talks about his record in office on an important issue he’s not polling well on, which makes it seem more like the most expensive political mailer in U.S. history. The average piece of direct mail costs between 30 cents and $3, according to Mail Processing Associates, a print, mail, and fulfillment company. At $500 a pop plus roughly 50 cents each to issue the paper check, the cost of Trump’s healthcare mailer sent to more than 950,000 enrollees comes in at more than $475 million. Trump’s midterm healthcare message “For years, the Biden Administration overcharged you to fund the operation of HealthCare dot gov,” Trump wrote in the letter. “That money belongs to hard-working Americans, not the Government, and now, I am returning it to you!” In the letter, Trump makes false and misleading claims about his administration’s record on healthcare costs, an issue Democrats have a 20 point advantage on over Republicans, according to a recent poll from KFF, a nonpartisan health policy think tank. Trump touts his administration’s TrumpRX program, which he claims is “delivering massive discounts.” However, new research from KFF found that of a selection of drugs available on the TrumpRX platform, just five were the lowest price, while 13 were the highest price. Trump also falsely claims in the letter that he’s fighting to lower healthcare costs. In reality, average monthly premium payment costs for enrollees rose 58% under Trump while marketplace sign-ups declined 5%, per KFF. Under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, it’s estimated 10 million more Americans will be uninsured by 2034. You get a check and you get a check and you get a check Trump’s long promised cash outs to his fans, from his days as a casino operator and gameshow host to his presidency. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the first Trump administration made the unprecedented move to put Trump’s name on checks that went out under the CARES Act (notably the $500 refund checks this time around don’t feature Trump’s name). Ever since, Trump’s been chasing that high. In his second term, Trump’s promised more stimulus that never arrived, like refund checks from DOGE cuts and tariffs, while he said at his party’s convention last month that he’d give out $5,000 checks to everyone if Republicans win in November. In reality, DOGE overstated its cost cutting and Trump’s government actually now spends more than former President Joe Biden’s, while Trump’s tariffs actually grew the trade deficit. His proposal for $5,000 checks would add about $1.2 trillion to the national debt. The problem is there’s no money to give. These $500 checks — plus $90 Medicare rebate checks also going out as well as $250 deposited this week in some Trump Accounts for kids courtesy Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell and his wife Susan — represent the closest Trump’s going to get to making good on his promise to deliver cash fast. And the checks seem especially targeted. Though the $500 checks went out to enrollees in one of 30 states that use the federal HealthCare dot gov marketplace, a Reuters review found 71% of the payments, or $339 million, went to enrollees in 13 states that have the most competitive elections for governor and U.S. Senate. Most Americans don’t buy it Could Trump bucks sway the election? An Economist-YouGov poll found 57% of U.S. adults doubt Trump will deliver on his promise for $5,000 checks, compared to 21% who do. “I’m waiting on my DOGE check and I’m still waiting on my tariff check,” one 2024 Trump voter who’s since turned on him told a recent focus group. “It felt like kind of trying to buy people’s votes, which honestly felt like in elementary when the class president was like, hey we’re going to take you to the water park if you vote for me. It’s like, I don’t think it works like that.” But for voters in swing states who got a check, it could still matter. One survey published in 2022 found receiving a physically personalized check in the mail during the pandemic was associated with a much greater self-reported likelihood of voting for Trump in 2020, and those gains mainly came from out partisans. The issue for Trump comes if these checks are mostly going to Obamacare enrollees whose premiums have gone up by more than just $500 since he took office and who view the money as something like a bribe before the election rather than an actual long-term solution to lowering household costs. Spending $500.50 per mailer would be absurd as a normal campaign expenditure, but since Trump’s checks and letter are a government rebate, his campaign and super PAC didn’t have to spend a dime and he got out his message regardless. If enough voters in key states are swayed by the one-time payment, it could prove to be the best $0 the Trump campaign spent. Subscribe [ ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/why-independent-candidates-are-making) [ Why independent candidates are making independence central to their brand ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/why-independent-candidates-are-making) Hunter Schwarz · Oct 6 [ Read full story ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/why-independent-candidates-are-making) [ ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/these-designers-and-grocery-nerds) [ These designers and grocery nerds will brand Mamdani’s NYC grocery stores ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/these-designers-and-grocery-nerds) Hunter Schwarz · Oct 2 [ Read full story ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/these-designers-and-grocery-nerds) Trump wants to turn his first-ever golf course into a government course for presidents
Guest Commentary: Affordability without access isn’t sound health policy
Byron Donalds’ record of politicizing his health policy is harmful, writes a former healthcare CEO.
Health Policy Watch | COVID-19 drops out of world’s top 10 causes of death for first time since pandemic began
The virus directly killed an estimated 0.9 million people in 2023, ranking 14th, as global life expectancy climbed back to near its pre-pandemic level.
Health policy experts weigh in on ACA refund checks
The refund checks come as health insurance costs have skyrocketed for many people after the enhanced ACA tax credits expired.
Rural Health Transformation Fund: RX or Placebo?
NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis Director Alana Knudson and Virginia's Director of Rural Health Transformation Heidi Hertz briefed NPF fellows about the obstacles and opportunities in federal rural health policy.
State paid health policy nonprofit $108 million before reviewing work plans, audit finds
Rep. criticizes failures in $435 million deal: ‘Major weaknesses exist in the department’s oversight practices’
Bates named executive director of HHS Medical Services Division | Health and Human Services North Dakota
North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has named health policy expert Stephanie Bates to lead its Medical Services Division, which administers Medicaid services, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, autism services and other health-related services that benefit North Dakotans.
Rural MAHA Followers Say Trump Health Policies Haven’t Reached Their Communities
President Donald Trump has championed sprawling health policy changes under the Make America Healthy Again movement, but a KFF-Associated Press survey of rural voters found people aren’t seeing the initiatives reach their communities.
Rep. Mike Kennedy questions federal role in health policy
Rep. Mike Kennedy questioned the federal government's role in overseeing Americans' health while speaking at the University of Utah on Tuesday.
Health policy polling shows similar feelings across party lines
With Michigan’s general election underway, a new poll shows voters want many of the same things from government health policy. Colin Jackson has more.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed courts RFK Jr.'s MAHA voters with new health policy platform
Health policy polling shows similar feelings across party lines
New polling shows Michigan Democratic and Republican voters are not all that different when it comes to their views on health policy.
Senate Health Panel Delays Bill as Nominees Await Vote
Senate Health Committee recesses HHS markup as measles cases rise. Surgeon General nominee delayed. See why this matters for public health policy.
ACSH in the media: British Medical Journal, RealClearScience (and Health), plus more podcasts
From a weedkiller paper that cannot carry the weight of its headline to a PFAS rule that treats cookware like a biohazard, we've been busy. Here’s a look at some of our recent media appearances, including in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), RealClearHealth, RealClearScience, SacTown Talks and the Health Policy Podcast.
Health Insurance Coverage of the Urban Population
State level data on Health Insurance Coverage of the Urban Population from KFF, the leading health policy organization in the U.S.
Trump administration cuts ACA coverage for 750,000 people it says were ‘fraudulently’ enrolled
Health policy experts say Affordable Care Act fraud exists, but they question the administration’s claims about the scale.
What CDC's new teen health survey shows, and what it skips
Teen suicide risk hit a 10-year low in 2025. Guns, sexual violence, and self-harm. Where are the 2025 data on transgender teens? Missing data changes public health policy. Teen suicide risk hit a 10-year low in 2025. CDC asked more than 10,000 high school students over 100 questions in spring 2025. Yesterday, it published a report covering a fraction of them. The report focsed on five areas: diet, physical activity, sleep, digital behaviors, and mental health, reflecting the priorities of the Make America Healthy Again movement. There was good news. Fewer teens seriously considered suicide in 2025 than in any survey year since 2015: 14%, down from 20% in 2023. Sadness fell. Underlying Conditions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Sports participation, which dipped to 49% in 2021, is back to its 2015 level of 58%. Daily PE fell from 27% to 20% in two years, while fewer students eat breakfast daily than a decade ago. Guns, sexual violence, and self-harm. The questionnaire is public, and it goes well beyond those five areas. Students answered questions about sexual violence, self-harm, and whether they got help when they felt sad or anxious. They said how quickly they could get a loaded gun. They reported whether food ran out at home and whether they felt close to people at school. There were questions about sexual identity, including whether they were transgender. The report did not publish any of the answers students gave to those questions. CDC posts the raw survey data online, so anyone can see what the report left out. The report doesn’t cover the health of sexual minority students. Among students who identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, questioning, or another non-straight identity, persistent sadness fell from 66% to 57% between 2023 and 2025. Serious thoughts of suicide fell from 41% to 30%. Those drops were bigger than the ones among straight students, although the gap remains wide: 28% of straight students reported persistent sadness, about half the rate of LGBQ+ students. About 1 in 7 girls reported sexual violence in the past year. One in 6 students hurt themselves on purpose. Among students who needed help for sadness or anxiety, half rarely or never got it. And among students who had seriously considered suicide, 43% said they could get a loaded gun without an adult’s permission. One protective factor rose sharply. In 2023, 55% of students said they felt close to people at their school; in 2025, 63% did. CDC’s earlier research ties that kind of connection to better mental health. Where are the 2025 data on transgender teens? In 2023, CDC's national survey asked high school students, for the first time, whether they were transgender. Their answers are the only nationally representative data on transgender teens, and their mental health is by far the worst of any demographic. That year, 71% of transgender students reported persistent sadness, 54% seriously considered suicide, and 26% attempted it, compared with 38%, 18%, and 8% of cisgender students. But we don’t have 2025 data. The timing matters because students took the survey in spring 2025, as federal policy toward transgender youth shifted. On January 28th, an executive order directed agencies to end federal support for gender-affirming care for people under 19, and several hospitals paused that care within days. In February, the CDC said it would no longer process transgender identity data. Later in 2025, the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, and HHS ended the 988 Lifeline’s dedicated line for LGBTQ+ youth. Researchers disagree about how much state policy shapes trans teens’ mental health. A 2024 Trevor Project study estimated that anti-trans laws increased suicide attempts among trans and nonbinary youth. Critics dispute its methods and its estimates. The 2025 survey could have added national evidence to that fight. CDC collected the data but hasn’t publicly released it. Missing data changes public health policy. Surveillance works as a feedback loop. It can show officials whether their policies help or hurt. The CDC didn’t provide data on the students most exposed to transgender policy shifts. The report kept measures that frame health as personal choice, like fruit, breakfast, and sports. It left out measures that track policy, like gun access, mental healthcare, food at home, and school climate, all of which respond to what legislators and agencies decide. HHS did not respond to questions that I sent on September 21st.
Why an influential GOP health policy expert still backs the Medicaid cuts — and which policy target is next
Why an influential GOP health policy expert still backs $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts — and which policy target is next.
Health Policy Watch | Controversy, secrecy and suffering after year one of the America First Global Health Strategy
Country controversies, secret terms, opaque procurement, and massive unspent Congressional funds have characterised the first year of the America First Global Health Strategy.
Health wonks question who saves in Trump drug program
President Trump boasted about his administration’s work on drug pricing, announcing the “most-favored-nation” program, but health policy experts question whether the changes will directly save consume...
Outcome of suit against Department of Labor could boost skimpy employer health plans
A long-running lawsuit challenging what it means to be an employee and therefore have access to work-based health plans is being closely watched by health policy analysts.
Biggs releases MAHA-aligned health policy platform for Arizona governor campaign
Rep. Andy Biggs released a list of health policy commitments in his campaign for Arizona governor. Public health experts say proposals to loosen vaccine requirements could have dangerous consequences.
Health Policy Watch | LGBTIQ groups in repressive countries are worst affected by US funding cuts
HIV services, mental health and harm reduction programmes have been severely affected by the huge funding cuts to organisations providing services for LGBTIQ people over the past 18 months.
Outcome of employment lawsuit could promote use of skimpy health plans
A long-running lawsuit challenging what it means to be an employee and therefore have access to work-based health plans is being closely watched by health policy analysts.
How $500 explains Republican health policy, and the GLP-1 Rx wave
The one health care policy Republicans agree on, and a look at how rural providers are approaching AI.
Trump's FDA followed the science on vaping. Politicians are furious
The FDA authorized e-cigarettes based on evidence of adult smoking cessation. Public health policy must choose data over politics.
PAHO and The University of the West Indies postgraduate programme strengthens health leadership in the Caribbean
Since 2022, the Postgraduate Diploma and Certificate in Health Policy and Health Systems has helped strengthen regional capacity to address challenges such as health workforce shortages, migration and growing demand for health services.
Health insurance premiums estimated to increase upwards of 10%, analyses say
Health insurance premiums in Ohio are expected to increase by about 10.7%, according to an analysis from Healthinsurance.org based on health premiums in the individual market. Affordable Care Act Marketplace insurers are proposing a median premium increase of 15% in 2027, according to an analysis of insurers with publicly available filings by KFF, a nonprofit health policy research, polling, and news organization.
Health insurance premiums estimated to increased upwards of 10%, analyses say
Health insurance premiums in Ohio are expected to increase by about 10.7%, according to an analysis from Healthinsurance.org based on health premiums in the individual market. Affordable Care Act Marketplace insurers are proposing a median premium increase of 15% in 2027, according to an analysis of insurers with publicly available filings by KFF, a nonprofit health policy research, polling, and news organization.
Health Policy Watch | US to phase out HIV support for Namibia after data-sharing impasse
The US will no longer fund Namibia’s HIV program after 2027, following an impasse over data- and information-sharing terms required by the US for a longer aid package.
Governance by Consent in Health Policy? - Petrie-Flom Center
Health lawyers are accustomed to thinking about statutes, regulations, and agency action.
Independent journalism in global health: Priti Patnaik
Independent journalism in global health: Priti Patnaik / Gevorg Tamamyan, global health financing, Global Health Policy, health accountability, health
Update: What We’re Watching, Sept. 4, 2026
This update covers the latest federal health policy news and its potential impact on Kansas.
Radiologist seeks to better understand consolidation in the specialty
Benjamin E. Northrup, MD, with the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, recently scored a grant from the Neiman Health Policy Institute to help fuel his curiosity
Behavioral Health Risks and State Strategies Related to Increasingly Potent and Accessible Psychoactive Products
On August 26, 2026, the NGA Health team convened state and territory health policy advisors to discuss how they are addressing the rapidly evolving market for psychoactive substances. The call featured Dr. Lynn Silver, Program Director at the Public Health Institute, to share her expertise on trends in cannabis potency, behavioral health considerations in relation […]
Outbreaks, Equity, and Public Health Policy
Outbreaks reveal who we protect and who we leave behind.
McDermottPlus Ends Big Health Lobbying After Five Years
McDermottPlus LLC terminates its 5-year lobbying relationship with Big Health Inc. Learn what this means for health policy advocacy.
Radiology experts call for stricter rules around self-interpretation of imaging orders
Neiman Health Policy Institute researchers make their case in a new analysis published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
LGBTQ+ adults more likely to miss or forgo healthcare, survey finds
LGBTQ+ adults are more likely than other adults to miss healthcare appointments due to cost or other reasons — with a third reporting their health worsened as a result, according to a new survey by health policy research group, KFF. Among the 2,640 LGBTQ+ adults surveyed, those who are transgender, younger than 30, those with lower incomes or without insurance were most likely to miss or forgo care due to cost.
RFK Jr. wanted ‘gold standard’ science. mRNA just delivered it
Recent mRNA milestones prove public health policy must be driven by gold-standard evidence rather than political ideology.
Summer’s health policy themes
As summer comes to a close, some of the season’s major health policy stories continue to simmer, including declining insurance coverage, increasing
Supporting State and Local Health Policy Leaders Through High-Stakes Change
News article: Welcoming 2026-27 Milbank State Leadership Program Cohorts Improving health outcomes through gubernatorial transitions and amid significant federal
Fort Worth mental health nonprofit launches youth trauma and grief collaborative
With the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Soar is training 180 school clinicians in trauma and grief therapy.
FDA digital health leader promises generative AI regulatory guidance is coming
FDA expects to issue guidance on policies regarding generative AI devices, according to Rick Abramson, the agency’s head of digital health policy.
Politics Unusual: NYC Councilmember Feliz, Fiscal Policy Institute Health Policy Director
In this episode of Politics Unusual, FOX 5 NY's political reporter Morgan McKay speaks with New York City Councilmember Oswald Feliz about a seven hour 911 outage in the Bronx, and his role as Chair of the Committee on Public Safety. Also, a conversation with the Fiscal Policy Institute's Health Policy Director, Michael Kinnucan, about how nearly half a million New Yorkers are losing their health insurance coverage.
Update: What We’re Watching, Aug. 21, 2026
This update covers the latest federal health policy news and its potential impact on Kansas.
How States Leverage Policy to Build Up Community Health Workers
Learn how states are bolstering CHWs through training, funding, and more in this Health Policy Update.
18 Months of Action: President Trump, Secretary Kennedy Deliver Historic Reforms to Make America Healthy Again
In just 555 days, President Trump and HHS Secretary Kennedy have delivered sweeping changes across American health policy.
NV lawmakers mull maternal health protections for ’27 session, punt on child welfare funding fix
Nevada lawmakers approved several health policy proposals, including a maternal health momnibus bill and plans to study child welfare funding.
Health policy must be driven by data, not political grandstanding
'The administration’s anti-vaccine rhetoric will only sow widespread confusion, ultimately driving up rates of entirely preventable childhood diseases,' writes an L.A. Times reader.
Former OMB, State Budget Leader Lauren Larson Joining the Bipartisan Policy Center as Executive Vice President for Economic and Health Policy
Washington, DC — Today, the Bipartisan Policy Center announced that Lauren Larson will join the organization as executive vice president of economic and health policy on August 25. Larson brings deep expertise in fiscal and health policymaking at the state and federal levels. She will run the economic policy and health programs and lead the … Continued
MAHA Political Endorsements Shape August Republican Primaries
MAHA political endorsements target state Republican primary elections with medical freedom legislation. Analysis of Kennedy's health policy impact on 2026 races.
Commentary: AI Could Help to Implement Health Policy
Artificial intelligence may enhance implementation of a new federal rule requiring aduts enrolled under the Affordable Care Act expansion of Medicaid eligibility to complete qualifying work hours or community engagement activities or meet exemption criteria to maintain coverage, according to a new commentary.
[AIDS 2026] Health Policy Watch: Adjusting to a post-PEPFAR world
Many African PEPFAR-funded countries had developed sustainability plans to integrate HIV services into primary healthcare to be phased in over five years.
[AIDS 2026] Health Policy Watch: Fiji has the world’s fastest growing HIV epidemic
A graph showing the progression of HIV infections in Fiji resembles a cobra poised to strike.
Change to Census Data Processing Methods Threatens Health Policy Research and Federal Data Systems
On June 4, 2026, the Commerce Department issued Department Administrative Order (DAO) 216-26, Disclosure Avoidance for Statistical Products, which bans a class of privacy techniques called “noise infusion” in all data products coming out of the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). This order, which was made effective immediately without opportunity for […]
Families USA Hosts Action-Packed Health Care Affordability Week of Action
Families USA brought partners, advocates and health policy experts together for the Health Care Affordability Week of Action.
Paltry Medicare pay fueling imaging access gaps, radiology experts charge
Along with radiology providers, Medicare’s failure to keep pace with inflation is harming patients, too, according to new Neiman Health Policy Institute research.
Health Policy Watch: African Union pushes for greater domestic spending on health amid reports of huge disruptions to HIV and TB services
The African Union held a special health summit on 21-22 July, primarily aimed at mobilising high-level political support for more domestic health spending.
Hospices worry patients will be unfairly punished amid fraud crisis
Health policy researchers and providers say negative attention and the potential for overly punitive regulations could put patients at risk.
Temporal Changes in Pediatric Influenza Test Positivity Across COVID-19 Public Health Policy Phases: A Five-Year Retrospective Cohort Study
Background The COVID-19 pandemic coincided with substantial changes in respiratory virus circulation, healthcare utilization, and diagnostic testing. Although population-level influenza activ...
2026 Health Policy Leadership Forum
The National Governors Association Center for Best Practicesconvened state and territory governors’ health policy advisors in Charlotte, North Carolina, July 8-10 for the 2026 Health Policy Leadership Forum. Through a discussion-based format, the forum provided governors’ advisors, NGA Partners and invited guests with an opportunity to exchange perspectives, share implementation strategies, and discuss emerging policy challenges shaping state and territorial health systems. Discussions focused on advancing governors’ health priorities in a rapidly evolving policy and fiscal environment while highlighting innovative approaches and peer-informed solutions from across the country.
Young Ohioans struggle to access mental health care, study finds
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — According to a new study from the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, some young Ohioans find it difficult to access mental health care. Policy analyst Becky Ca…
On Demand — Health on the Plains Coffee Hour, Featuring Tom Morris
On July 15, KHI hosted Tom Morris, M.P.A., for a discussion on the evolution of federal rural health policy and lessons for today.
Eat your ice cream for a long, healthy life? This doctor says so
Dr. Zeke Emanuel, a renowned U.S. health policy physician, takes on the wellness industry with a back-to-basics approach to optimizing good health.
NC’s first full budget since 2023 reflects transformed health policy landscape
It’s been more than 1,000 days since the legislature passed a state budget, but sweeping federal health care changes may force North Carolina to rethink how it funds Medicaid, food assistance and other health programs.
Rural Health in Focus at NGA Health Policy Leadership Forum
Governors’ health advisors collaborate to sustain the rural health workforce, leverage the Rural Health Transformation Program and boost preventive care Charlotte, N.C. – The National Governors Association (NGA) this week hosted its Health Policy Advisors Institute, bringing together leaders from close to 20 states and territories to collaborate on strategies to advance access, trust and […]
What USPSTF Recommendations Mean for State and Territorial Health Law
This Health Policy Update highlights how U.S. states and territories are using policy to codify important public health recommendations.
Making Medical Decisions with Uncertain Science
What is the best way to make medical and health policy choices in the face of uncertainty? That question was the focus of the Tradeoffs podcast and an Aspen Ideas: Health panel.
CMS Approach to Work Reporting Requirement Won’t Work for People with Substance Use Disorders or Mental Health Conditions
By Deborah Steinberg, Senior Health Policy Attorney, Legal Action Center A few weeks ago, CCF explained how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a new interim final rule with comment period (IFR) that went far beyond its authority to implement the new work reporting requirements. H.R. 1 – the budget reconciliation law […]
Eight Health Professionals Selected for RWJF Health Policy Fellows Program at the National Academy of Medicine
The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today named the 2026-2027 class of RWJF Health Policy Fellows. Beginning
Obamacare insurance costs set to increase again in 2027
Health insurance companies want a median rate hike of 14% for 2027 Affordable Care Act plans, according to KFF, a health policy nonprofit.
Academic Excellence Award Winner
Academic Excellence Award Winner Erin shares her experiences as a Public and Community Health Major, with double minors in Legal Studies and Health Policy and Management:"I came to Ithaca from the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts knowing that I wanted an education that would allow me to change the world in a positive light. Admittedly, I was unaware when choosing the public health major just how much of an impact I could make, but through my experiences in this rigorous program, I know public health is where I am meant to be. Being a public health major during the COVID-19 pandemic was a unique experience. My education granted me the opportunity to work on and off campus with different populations to provide support during the pandemic. Professor Srijana Bajracharya was my professor for Research Methods in Health. She encouraged her class to create research projects that would benefit our communities. She was a mentor for me and helped me find my passion in research, which I have brought with me to my job as a research assistant for Rescue - The Behavior Change Agency. I thank Professor Bajracharya for her guidance and support throughout my time as a public health student."
Why you should wash new clothes before wearing; signs that you are aging well; effective leadership in health care; plus other stories with Vanderbilt Health sources
Jami Miller, MD, Professor of Clinical Dermatology, and David Gaston, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, are quoted in a Southern Living piece about the importance of washing new clothes before wearing them. Dyes, chemicals, mold and bacteria are all potential troublemakers lurking around your new duds. Parul Goyal, MBBS, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, was quoted in a Huff Post story outlining signs that you are aging well. Tae Kon Kim, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, was interviewed by Healio for a story headlined, “Effective leadership in health care ‘starts with listening.’” AAMC News reporter Patrick Boyle interviewed Wes Ely, MD, Professor of Medicine and Critical Care, for a story about ICU delirium. PharmaVoice reporter Kelly Bilodeau interviewed Romney Humphries, PhD, Vice Chair and Executive Medical Director, Clinical Services, for a story about the CDC’s new data that shows an alarming increase in the prevalence of a gene that can make “nightmare bacteria” significantly harder to treat. American Community Media interviewed William Schaffner, MD, Professor of Preventive Medicine, for a piece about Ebola that was reused by several media outlets around the U.S., including The Mississippi Link. Stacie Dusetzina, PhD, Professor of Health Policy, was quoted by The Independent in a story about how Medicare will soon cover weight-loss drugs. Courtney Schadt, MD, Associate Professor of Dermatology, was interviewed by Tennessean reporter Beth Warren, about tanning safety and tanning fads circulating social media. WKRN News 2 interviewed Amanda Peltier, MD, Professor of Neurology, about the correlation between head trauma and ALS following the diagnosis of former Titans running back Chris Johnson.
Supreme Court makes health policy
The Supreme Court handed down its last decisions of its 2025-26 term this week, including in an immigration case that could result in the loss of hundreds
NC’s first full budget since 2023 reflects transformed health policy landscape
North Carolina's first full budget since 2023 reflects Medicaid expansion, Healthy Opportunities Pilot funding, SNAP changes and new federal health policies.
Trump administration puts religious freedom at heart of US health policy
Critics say the new focus could reshape LGBTQ+ healthcare, abortion access and vaccine policy
LDI and American Healthcare
A news feature from the Pennsylvania Gazette reflects on LDI’s history and leaders, and how they are currently meeting the federal health policy moment.
5 million have dropped ACA insurance after Trump and the GOP let prices skyrocket
The number of people who signed up for a health plan and then didn't pay their premium fell much more sharply than it has in years past. Trump officials blame fraud. Health policy experts blame costs.