States Step Up as Federal Health Institutions Retreat
As federal agencies once trusted to safeguard the nation’s health become increasingly politicized, states across the U.S. are forging their own paths, banding together to uphold science-driven policy and protect…
Medical Students Face Mounting Pressures as OBBBA Cuts Deep
A new study has found that one in five medical students in the U.S. struggles with food insecurity, highlighting how financial pressures are already weighing heavily on the next generation…
This Week in Policy – Wrap up for the week of August 25, 2025
CDC Leaders Resign in Protest, Citing RFK Jr.’s Undermining of Vaccine Science Three senior CDC officials resigned after the ouster of Director Susan Monarez, warning they were asked to endorse…
Fall Blues and a Look Back at a Busy Summer for Health Systems
The Summer of OBBBA Who knew 2025 would be dominated by a bill name that sounds like a Swedish pop band? The health care landscape will likely be forever defined…
This Week in Policy – Wrap up for the week of August 18, 2025
Conflicts of Interest on Vaccine Panels Have Plummeted, Undermining Kennedy’s Claims A new JAMA study finds conflicts of interest on federal vaccine advisory committees are at “historically low levels.” Reported…
Hospitals Brace for $149B Cut to Medicaid State-Directed Payments
Hospitals nationwide are preparing for a projected $149 billion reduction in Medicaid state-directed payments (SDPs) over the next decade, a change expected to hit rural and safety-net providers the hardest….
This Week in Policy – Wrap up for the week of August 11, 2025
RFK Jr. Revives Childhood Vaccine Safety Task Force, Drawing Concern From Medical Experts Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the reinstatement of the long-defunct Task Force…
This Week in Policy – Wrap up for the week of August 4, 2025
RFK Jr. Halts Federal Funding for mRNA Vaccine Research, Sparking Public Health Backlash Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the termination of nearly $500 million in…
U.S. Pharma Tariffs Will Reshape Hospital Supply Chains
Hospitals and health systems are facing a potential shock to pharmaceutical pricing and supply chains following President Donald Trump’s announcement of new tariffs on imported medical goods, including pharmaceuticals. President…
“Hopeful, But Perplexed:” The Feds $50 Billion Rural Health Lifeline
There’s still much to decipher and unwrap from the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) and it’s impact on health care. While Medicaid funding cuts, work eligibility…