Morning Briefing
In This Edition:
- KFF HEALTH NEWS ORIGINAL STORIES
- 1. In Lodge Grass, Montana, a Crow Community Works To Rebuild From Meth’s Destruction
- 2. Solving the Home Care Quandary
- 3. Political Cartoon: ‘All The Seats Have Been Taken?’
- ADMINISTRATION NEWS
- 5. Red Meat, Full-Fat Dairy Get Top Billing In Updated Dietary Guidelines
- 6. Trump And Policymakers Should Work To Ensure Big Families, Group Says
- VACCINES
- 7. RFK Jr. Suggests Fewer Kids Should Get Flu Vaccine; Boston Sees First Pediatric Flu Deaths In More Than A Decade
- EDITORIALS AND OPINIONS
- 11. Viewpoints: RFK Jr.’s War On SSRIs Could Cost Lives; Changing The Food Pyramid Won’t Stop The Health Crisis
From KFF Health News:
KFF HEALTH NEWS ORIGINAL STORIES
1. In Lodge Grass, Montana, a Crow Community Works To Rebuild From Meth’s Destruction
Meth is a problem most everywhere, but particularly in Indian Country. On the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana, new buildings serve as symbols of a town trying to rebuild after being devastated by addiction. (Katheryn Houghton, 1/8)
2. Solving the Home Care Quandary
Paid home care is buckling under the surging demands of an aging population. But there are alternatives that could upgrade jobs and improve patient care. (Paula Span, 1/8)
3. Political Cartoon: ‘All The Seats Have Been Taken?’
KFF Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with “Political Cartoon: ‘All The Seats Have Been Taken?'” by Mark Lynch.
Here’s today’s health policy haiku:
EXPERT ADVICE? PLEASE HOLD.
My child has hep B.
Who can I call for some help?
A voodoo doctor!
– Anonymous
If you have a health policy haiku to share, please Contact Usand let us know if we can include your name. Haikus follow the format of 5-7-5 syllables. We give extra brownie points if you link back to an original story.
Opinions expressed in haikus and cartoons are solely the author’s and do not reflect the opinions of KFF Health News or KFF.
Summaries Of The News:
4. Bipartisan Coalition Pushes The House Forward On ACA Subsidies Extension
Nine House Republicans joined Democrats in forcing a vote on a three-year extension of the tax credits, bucking GOP leadership. A vote is slated to take place Thursday. Meanwhile, zero-dollar premiums appear to be a sticking point in discussions on the Senate side.
AP: House Takes Step Toward Extending Health Insurance Subsidies
Overpowering Speaker Mike Johnson, a bipartisan coalition in the House voted Wednesday to push forward a measure that would revive an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowered health insurance costs for roughly 22 million people, but that had expired last month. The tally of 221-205 was a key test before passage of the bill, which is expected Thursday. And it came about because four GOP centrist lawmakers joined with Democrats in signing a so-called discharge petition to force the vote. (Freking and Mascaro, 1/7)
The Hill: These Nine Republicans Back Democrats’ Effort To Revive ObamaCare Subsidies
Nine House Republicans voted on Wednesday to compel the lower chamber to vote on a Democratic bill to revive ObamaCare subsidies after they expired at the start of the new year. Republican Reps. Mike Lawler (N.Y.), Nicolas LaLota (N.Y.) Robert Bresnahan (Penn.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Penn.), Ryan Mackenzie (Penn.), María Elvira Salazar (Fla.), Max Miller (Ohio), David Valadao (Calif.) and Thomas Kean (N.J.) voted with all 212 House Democrats. The House will vote on final passage on Thursday. (Mancini, 1/7)
Axios: House ACA Vote Could Pressure Senate To Act On Obamacare Subsidies
The drama will be in the House on Thursday, when an extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies is expected to pass — but the action to watch is the bipartisan talks in the Senate to hammer out a compromise. (Sullivan, 1/8)
Politico: Senate Group Nears Deal On Obamacare Subsidies
Sen. Bernie Moreno, a key negotiator, said text could be released early next week. (Carney, 1/7)
Democrat who pushed for landmark Americans with Disabilities Act will retire next year —
The New York Times: Steny Hoyer, Longest-Serving House Democrat, To Retire From Congress
Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the longest-serving House Democrat who for decades was one of his party’s top leaders, will not seek re-election and plans to retire when his term ends in early 2027, according to a person familiar with his plans. A moderate in a party that has often been dominated by progressives, Mr. Hoyer’s legacy after nearly a half-century of service in Congress includes leading the charge in the House to enact the Americans with Disabilities Act and writing the Help America Vote Act, a measure to clean up federal elections that became law in 2002. (Karni, 1/7)
In related news about Medicaid and SNAP —
News Service of Florida: Judge Rules Against Florida In Medicaid Case
A federal judge Tuesday ruled that Florida has violated the constitutional rights of people who were dropped from the Medicaid program because it sent notices to them that “border on the incomprehensible.” (Saunders, 1/7)
The Beacon: Safety-Net Clinics Warn Of Cuts From Kansas City Levy Plan
A move to change how Kansas City distributes some of the $70 million raised annually through a city health levy has triggered alarm among safety-net clinics. (King, 1/6)
Modern Healthcare: How CMS’ Medicare Advantage C-SNP Proposal May Shake Up Medicaid
A federal plan to align benefits for people with both Medicare and Medicaid could reorder competition among health insurance companies that do business with both programs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is considering a requirement that health insurance companies selling Medicare Advantage Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans, or C-SNPs, also be Medicaid managed care contractors. (Tepper, 1/7)
The Nevada Independent: Nevada Preparing Waiver To Block Food Aid Recipients From Buying Sugary Drinks, Candy
The Nevada agency responsible for administering food stamps is planning to ask the federal government to prohibit recipients from using benefit dollars toward sugary and energy drinks and certain candies. During a legislative meeting Tuesday, officials with the Division of Social Services confirmed that they are planning on requesting a waiver that would go into effect in 2028. They said the state is also planning to ask the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to allow food stamp recipients to buy additional hot foods, such as rotisserie chicken. (Neugeboren, 1/7)
5. Red Meat, Full-Fat Dairy Get Top Billing In Updated Dietary Guidelines
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s guidance still encourages people to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, as well as limit sugar intake. Americans also are advised to consume less alcohol, but unlike previous guidance, no clear limits are indicated.
The New York Times: RFK Jr. Overhauls Food Pyramid To Emphasize Red Meat And Dairy
In a striking reversal of past nutrition guidance, the Trump administration released new dietary guidelines on Wednesday that flip the food pyramid on its head, putting steak, cheese and whole milk near the top. … After years of being advised to avoid eating too much red meat and foods high in fats, Americans are now being told to embrace them. The document, which is far shorter than previous versions, codifies some of Mr. Kennedy’s frequent talking points, like recommending that people cook with butter and beef tallow despite the fact that scientific evidence does not support doing so. (Callahan and Blum, 1/7)
Stat: Experts Behind New Dietary Guidelines Have Ties To Beef, Dairy Industries
A group of researchers that formed the scientific basis of new dietary guidelines included people with financial ties to the beef and dairy industries, as well as food companies and other groups. (Cueto and Todd, 1/7)
The New York Times: New Dietary Guidelines Abandon Longstanding Advice On Alcohol
Ever since the federal government began issuing the Dietary Guidelines in 1980, it has told Americans to limit themselves to one or two standard alcoholic drinks a day. Over time, the official advice morphed to no more than two drinks a day for men, and no more than one for women. No longer. The updated guidelines issued on Wednesday say instead that people should consume less alcohol “for better overall health” and “limit alcohol beverages,” but they do not recommend clear limits. (Caryn Rabin, 1/7)
MedPage Today: How Medical Groups Reacted To The New Dietary Guidelines
Reaction has been mixed to the Trump administration’s announcement Wednesday of new dietary guidelines that focus on increasing intake of whole foods and decreasing consumption of overly processed foods. (Frieden, 1/7)
In other news about nutrition and health —
Undark: As Guidelines Shift, A Curious Debate Over Seed Oils Persists
Before beginning his tenure as secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted an old picture of his father, Bobby Kennedy, and another man at a drive-in fast food restaurant on the social media platform X. RFK Jr. took the family photograph as an opportunity to rail against plant-based seed oils, cooking oils extracted from seeds like sunflowers, soybean, and corn. He wrote in the caption that they “are one of the driving causes of the obesity epidemic” and that Americans are being “unknowingly poisoned” by them. (López Lloreda, 1/8)
CNN: Common Food Preservatives Linked To Cancer And Type 2 Diabetes
Common preservatives used to keep food safe and extend shelf life may be linked to a higher risk of several cancers and type 2 diabetes, according to two new studies from France. (LaMotte, 1/7)
6. Trump And Policymakers Should Work To Ensure Big Families, Group Says
The conservative Heritage Foundation calls for policies that implement tax credits for bigger families and that “commit to protecting life from fertilization.” The group’s report also discusses alimony, online dating, and climate change. Plus, the president’s take on the ICE shooting in Minneapolis.
The Washington Post: Heritage Paper On Families Calls For ‘Marriage Bootcamp,’ More Babies
A report from the Heritage Foundation, titled “Saving America by Saving the Family,” urges President Donald Trump and lawmakers “to save and restore the American family” through massive tax credits for families with more children while capping alimony payments, enacting strict work requirements on social benefit programs, discouraging online dating, creating marriage “bootcamp” classes and more. (Tucker and Bogage, 1/8)
In related news about parenting —
AP: Trump Funding Threats Set Child Care Providers And Parents On Edge
Without federal subsidies, Breyanna Rodriguez’s child care bill for her four children would run $4,400 a month, which would eat up most of her husband’s paycheck. With child care assistance, Rodriguez, who lives in Cortland, Illinois, is able to work part-time and take community college classes while she prepares for nursing school. Now, citing concerns about fraud, the Trump administration has said it will withhold frozen federal child care funding for Illinois and other states while it conducts an extensive review. If she loses her subsidy, Rodriguez said, “I’ll have to drop out of work. I’ll have to drop out of school.” (Balingit and Kramon, 1/8)
On the immigration crisis —
The New York Times: What Trump Said About the ICE Shooting In Minneapolis When Pressed
Just hours after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot a 37-year-old woman in Minneapolis on Wednesday, President Trump told a group of New York Times reporters that the woman was at fault because she had tried to “run over” the officer. … As a slow-motion surveillance video of the shooting played on the laptop, we told him that this angle did not appear to show an ICE officer had been run over. “Well,” Mr. Trump said. “I — the way I look at it … ” “It’s a terrible scene,” Mr. Trump said at the end of the video. “I think it’s horrible to watch. No, I hate to see it.” But did this fatal shooting mean his ICE operation had gone too far? Mr. Trump sidestepped the question, instead blaming his predecessor’s immigration policies. (Kanno-Youngs, 1/8)
The Washington Post: Trump Administration Jails Migrant Teens In Facility Known For Child Abuse
The Trump administration says it is focused on protecting unaccompanied migrant children. It imposed strict new background checks on those seeking custody of young migrants and cut ties with a chain of youth shelters accused of subjecting children in its care to pervasive sexual abuse. (MacMillan, 1/8)
On the environment and health —
Bloomberg: Trump Expands US Climate Retreat With Exits From UN Bodies
President Donald Trump extended the US retreat from global cooperation on climate action by signaling a withdrawal from flagship international organizations, including the main United Nations and scientific bodies focused on the issue. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change are among a total of 66 groups the US will exit, spanning multiple sectors. The climate moves are seen as likely to diminish the US role in addressing greenhouse gas emissions, and significantly limit the global influence of those entities. (Stringer and Dlouhy, 1/8)
The Washington Post: Advocates Sue Trump Officials For Answers On East Wing Asbestos Risks
Public health advocates sued the Trump administration Wednesday to compel officials to disclose whether their rapid demolition of the White House’s East Wing annex exposed workers or the public to hazardous building materials. The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, which filed Freedom of Information Act requests in November but says it has yet to receive any relevant documents, is demanding that the White House explain whether it undertook asbestos inspections, air monitoring, waste disposal safeguards and other legally required steps as part of its demolition project. (Diamond and George, 1/7)
A medical emergency has happened on the International Space Station —
Bloomberg: NASA Mulls Ending Space Mission Early After Medical Emergency
NASA is considering ending a mission on board the International Space Station early after an astronaut suffered a medical emergency. The US space agency said Wednesday it could curtail the Crew-11 mission in a rare move, which involve astronauts from the US, Japan and Russia, after postponing a Jan. 8 spacewalk in light of the emerging health concern. “Safely conducting our missions is our highest priority, and we are actively evaluating all options,” NASA said in a statement. (Lee, 1/8)
In an interview with CBS News, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said it might be a “better thing” if fewer youths received that shot. He also said insurance would still cover the vaccine, but the decision to vaccinate a child must be made in consultation with a doctor. Plus: Two young children have died from flu complications in Boston.
CBS News: RFK Jr. Says It May Be “Better” If Fewer Children Receive The Flu Vaccine
It may be a “better thing” if fewer children receive the flu vaccine, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told CBS News, after the Trump administration announced sweeping changes to childhood vaccine recommendations. This week, the Centers for Disease Control announced vaccines to fight respiratory syncytial virus, meningococcal disease, flu, and COVID are now recommended only for children at high risk of serious illness or after consultation between doctors and parents, as a part of the CDC’s scaling back of key childhood vaccination recommendations. Until recently, the CDC recommended that everyone 6 months and older get the annual flu vaccine. (Watson, 1/7)
CIDRAP: Boston Reports First Pediatric Flu Deaths Since 2013 As Flu Illness Surges Across US
Two young children are dead from flu complications in Boston, city officials said yesterday, noting that these are the first pediatric flu deaths in the city since 2013. The two children were both under the age of 2 years; earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said nine pediatric influenza deaths had been recorded so far in the 2025-26 flu season as of January 5, before the two deaths in Boston were confirmed. (Soucheray, 1/7)
San Francisco Chronicle: Adolescent Dies In Flu-Related Case In San Mateo County
San Mateo County health officials said Wednesday that an adolescent died in a flu-related case in December. The child had not received this season’s flu shot, and it was unknown whether the person suffered from other health conditions, officials said in a statement. The child’s name and age were not released. Adolescence usually covers ages 10 to 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Hernandez, 1/7)
Also —
Bloomberg: Flu Patients Struggle To Find Tamiflu As Virus Surges Across US
The antiviral treatment Tamiflu is in short supply in parts of the US, as patients and pharmacists battle one of the worst flu seasons in decades. A Walgreens store outside of Macon, Georgia, has experienced shortages for weeks – especially for the capsule version of the flu treatment. Normally, the pharmacy can receive supply overnight, but now it’s taking two to three days, according to one of the store’s pharmacists. (Nix, Edney and Swetlitz, 1/7)
ABC News: This Season’s Flu Shot May Not Be A Perfect Match But Vaccination Still Offers Protection: Expert
As flu activity continues to increase in the U.S., public health experts have been urging Americans to get vaccinated to protect themselves. Health systems have reported a somewhat challenging flu season as a new variant spreads across the country, driving a rise in cases. Additionally, research has shown that the annual flu shot is not perfectly matched with the new variant. (Kekatos, 1/6)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: New Guidance On Flu Shots For Kids Puts Missouri, Illinois At Odds With CDC
Health officials in Missouri and Illinois are still recommending flu shots for children six months and older despite federal officials scrapping that guidance earlier this week. (Suntrup, 1/7)
More news about vaccines —
The Washington Post: CDC ‘Blindsided’ As Child Vaccine Schedule Unilaterally Overhauled
Five career scientists and researchers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, said they are angered by the bypassing of expertise in Monday’s decision. That process to alter vaccine recommendations, they and several former health officials said, did not include extensive consultation with the agency’s subject matter experts or the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel that is usually done. (Sun, 1/7)
Stat: Vaccine Policy Shift Raises New Liability Questions For Drugmakers
Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s allies are hopeful that his agency’s move this week to reduce the number of recommended pediatric vaccines opens the door to stripping vaccine makers of the liability shields afforded to them by a landmark 40-year-old law. (Cirruzzo and Payne, 1/8)