In This Edition:
- KFF HEALTH NEWS ORIGINAL STORIES
- 1. GOP Promotes MAHA Agenda in Bid To Avert Midterm Losses. Dems Point to Contradictions.
- 2. Readers Balk at ‘Gold Standard’ of Autism Treatment
- 3. Physician-Journalist Shines Light on Measles Upsurge and New GLP-1 Study
- 4. Political Cartoon: ‘I Believe?’
- EDITORIALS AND OPINIONS
- 11. Viewpoints: AI In The Doctor’s Office Isn’t Scary — It’s The Future; Stem Cell IVF Needs Guardrails Instead Of Fear
From KFF Health News:
KFF HEALTH NEWS ORIGINAL STORIES
1. GOP Promotes MAHA Agenda in Bid To Avert Midterm Losses. Dems Point to Contradictions.
As fractures emerge in the Make America Great Again movement, some Republicans see its health-focused “MAHA” counterpart as the party’s next big thing. But doubts abound. (Stephanie Armour, 1/20)
2. Readers Balk at ‘Gold Standard’ of Autism Treatment
KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories. (1/20)
3. Physician-Journalist Shines Light on Measles Upsurge and New GLP-1 Study
KFF Health News’ editor-at-large for public health recently took to the airwaves to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of her appearances. (1/17)
4. Political Cartoon: ‘I Believe?’
KFF Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with “Political Cartoon: ‘I Believe?'” by Bob and Tom Thaves.
Here’s today’s health policy haiku:
ONCE BITTEN, TWICE BURNED
Ghost bills arrive late.
Go away and rest in peace.
Ghost us every one!
– Philippa Barron
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:
5. Maternal Acetaminophen Use Does Not Increase Autism Risk, Review Confirms
Acetaminophen remains “the first-line treatment that we would recommend if the pregnant women have pain or fever in pregnancy,” said Dr. Asma Khalil, the lead author of the study. Other MAHA news looks at fluoridated water, whole milk, and more.
The New York Times: No Link Between Acetaminophen In Pregnancy And Autism, A Study Finds
A scientific review of 43 studies on acetaminophen use during pregnancy concluded that there was no evidence that the painkiller increased the risk of autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders. “We found no clinically important increase in the risk of autism, A.D.H.D. or intellectual disability,” Dr. Asma Khalil, a professor of obstetrics and maternal fetal medicine at St. George’s Hospital, University of London, and the lead author of the report, said at a news briefing. The study was published on Friday in the British medical journal The Lancet. (Ghorayshi, 1/16)
CNN: Many Women And Doctors Dismiss Trump’s Tylenol Claim As More Research Suggests No Autism Link
When President Donald Trump claimed last year that taking Tylenol during pregnancy can be linked with an increased risk of autism, ob-gyn Dr. Nathaniel DeNicola’s office had an influx of questions and confusion – but only for a few days. (Howard, 1/16)
KFF Health News: KFF Health News’ ‘Letters To The Editor’: Readers Balk At ‘Gold Standard’ Of Autism Treatment
Autism Care: Pros and Cons. I am writing to provide additional context and research for your article on state cuts to the autism therapy known as applied behavior analysis, or ABA (“It’s the ‘Gold Standard’ in Autism Care. Why Are States Reining It In?” Dec. 23). While the piece focused on caps or cuts in service hours being a harmful thing, there have been recent studies showing that increased hours of therapy do not lead to better outcomes for autistic children. (1/20)
In other MAHA news —
ProPublica: After Sowing Distrust In Fluoridated Water, Kennedy And Skeptics Turn To Obstructing Other Fluoride Sources
Last year, when Utah lawmakers passed the nation’s first statewide ban on community water fluoridation, they included a provision making it easier for people to get fluoride supplements without having to visit a dental provider. This would make fluoride available through individual choice, rather than “mass public dosing,” as a Utah House of Representatives webpage put it — part of the rising rhetoric of skepticism that’s led to rollbacks of water fluoridation, a proven method to reduce tooth decay. (Clark, 1/16)
The Hill: Donald Trump, RFK Jr.’s Whole Milk Push Reflects Evolving Views On Dairy Fat
The Trump administration has put its full backing behind whole milk, with new dietary guidelines explicitly recommending full-fat dairy products and President Trump signing a bill to allow schools to serve whole milk again. And while the focus may seem abrupt, it reflects a growing discourse over our understanding of fat consumption. The updated 2025-30 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) mentions full-fat dairy or whole milk five times as recommended foods, recommending three servings a day and lumping it in with healthy fats such as olive oil and omega-3-rich seafoods. (Choi, 1/18)
Politico: RFK Jr. Is Bringing The GOP And The Trial Bar Together
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s demonization of food and pharma has put the Trump administration on the wrong side of its traditional allies in industry – but opened a path to a new alliance with a longtime GOP nemesis: lawyers representing consumers who say they were harmed by companies. Kennedy’s moves, from his disparagement of Tylenol and ultraprocessed food to his broadsides against vaccines, have lawyers who assemble aggrieved plaintiffs to sue deep-pocketed companies envisioning the sort of cases that turn attorneys into Hollywood heroes and billionaires. (Chu, 1/19)
KFF Health News: GOP Promotes MAHA Agenda In Bid To Avert Midterm Losses. Dems Point To Contradictions
When a “Make America Healthy Again” summit was held at the posh Waldorf Astoria in Washington, the line of attendees stretched down the block. The daylong, invitation-only event in November featured a who’s who of MAHA luminaries. Vice President JD Vance attended, as did Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the leader of the ad hoc movement whose members rail against vaccines, Big Pharma, and ultraprocessed food. During a fireside chat that organizers broadcasted online, Vance extolled MAHA’s impact on the Trump administration, calling it “a critical part of our success in Washington.” (Armour, 1/20)
More on the Trump administration —
The New York Times: Trump’s Cuts To The C.D.C. Also Hurt Atlanta
The earnest government disease fighter had become a kind of city archetype, alongside aspiring rappers and C-suite strivers. Now scientists are leaving. (Fausset, 1/19)
The Washington Post: Justice Department Weighs Rollback Of Gun Regulations
The Justice Department is considering loosening a slate of gun regulations as it seeks to bolster support from ardent Second Amendment advocates, according to three people familiar with the changes who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans that have not been made public. Some of the changes are expected to ease restrictions on the private sale of guns and loosening regulations around shipping firearms. (Stein, 1/19)
6. As Vaccinations Dip, Experts Warn That Few ERs Can Fully Care For Sick Kids
Only about 17% of hospitals met standards for high pediatric readiness in a 2024 national study of almost 5,000 emergency departments, Axios reported. In related news, the United States is on the cusp of losing its measles elimination status.
Axios: Medical Groups Sound Alarm On Emergency Care For Kids
Outbreaks linked to declining vaccination rates are threatening to overwhelm hospital emergency departments — most of which aren’t fully prepared to treat sick kids. More than 35 million children are taken to emergency rooms each year, but most go to local hospitals that see fewer than 10 children a day. (Goldman, 1/20)
Stat: Is ‘Shared Decision-Making’ Being Hijacked By U.S. Health Officials To Sow Doubt About Vaccines?
Listen to the Trump administration’s rhetoric about vaccines and you’ll hear a refrain. In September, what replaced the government recommendation that everyone over 6 months get an annual Covid shot? “Shared clinical decision-making.” What’s at the heart of timing kids’ immunizations, according to National Institutes of Health director Jay Bhattacharya? “Shared decision-making.” (Boodman, 1/20)
In related news about measles —
The New York Times: Has The U.S. Lost Measles Elimination Status?
An international panel of experts must determine whether this resurgence will cost the United States its elimination status, a designation given to countries that have not had continuous spread of measles for more than a year. It’s a public health victory that the country achieved in 2000 after a nearly 40-year campaign to promote the vaccine and has maintained every year since. (Rosenbluth and Mandavilli, 1/19)
NBC News: South Carolina Measles Outbreak Doubles Within A Week: ‘Staring Over The Edge’
The South Carolina measles outbreak is growing at an astounding speed. “Over the last seven to nine days, we’ve had upwards of over 200 new cases. That’s doubled just in the last week,” Dr. Johnathon Elkes, an emergency medicine physician at Prisma Health in Greenville, South Carolina, said during a media briefing Friday. “We feel like we’re really kind of staring over the edge, knowing that this is about to get a lot worse.” On Friday, the state’s health department said that 124 measles cases had been diagnosed since Tuesday, bringing the state’s total since the outbreak began last fall to 558. (Edwards, 1/16)
NBC News: First Case Of Measles Reported On Clemson University’s Campus
The fast-moving South Carolina measles outbreak has spread to Clemson University. The state’s Department of Public Health has told Clemson officials that an “individual affiliated with the University” has come down with a confirmed case of the contagious disease, Clemson said in a statement. (Edwards and Siemaszko, 1/19)
KFF Health News: KFF Health News’ ‘On Air’: Physician-Journalist Shines Light On Measles Upsurge And New GLP-1 Study
KFF Health News editor-at-large for public health Céline Gounder discussed an increase in measles cases in the U.S. on CBS News’ CBS Mornings on Jan. 15. Gounder also discussed a new study on GLP-1 weight loss drugs on CBS News’ CBS News 24/7 and CBS Mornings on Jan. 8. (1/17)
On influenza —
CIDRAP: US Flu Activity Declining But Remains High
Seasonal flu activity in the United States remains high nationally but appears to be declining, according to an update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The latest FluView report from the CDC shows several flu markers on the decline for the week ending January 10. (Dall, 1/16)
CIDRAP: Current Flu Vaccine Provides Moderate Protection Against Severe Disease, Interim Analyses Suggest
Two new analyses, one from France and one from China, suggest that seasonal influenza vaccination provided moderate protection during the early months of the 2025–26 flu season, despite the rapid spread of influenza A(H3N2) subclade K viruses, which differ from the strains anticipated during vaccine development for the current flu season. (Bergeson, 1/16)
CNN: A 4-Year-Old Died Of Flu Complications. Her Mother Has A Message For Other Parents
Ellie Rudd will be buried in a light blue and white Princess Elsa costume, made for her as a last gift from her aunt. “Frozen” was one of her favorite movies. The rambunctious 4-year-old – who loved mud and getting dressed up and having dance parties with her brother and sisters – died January 6, after the flu and a co-infection with an adenovirus turned into pneumonia and sepsis. (Goodman, 1/16)
On the common cold —
The Wall Street Journal: The Secret Weapon To Fight A Cold Is Inside Your Nose, New Study Finds
A new study helps explain why you get sick from a common cold virus. The secret, it turns out, lies inside your nose. Winter brings a surge of respiratory illnesses, including rhinoviruses, the most frequent cause of the common cold. How your nasal-passage cells respond to the rhinovirus helps determine whether you get sick and how bad you feel, according to a new study published Monday in the journal Cell Press Blue. (Woodward, 1/19)
7. Future Of Abortion Rights In Virginia Will Be Decided By Voters
A proposed constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights cleared the Virginia General Assembly last week. The issue will go before voters in November. Virginia currently allows abortion through the second trimester of pregnancy.
Rewire News Group: Virginia Voters Will Decide The Future Of Abortion Access Later This Year
Virginia lawmakers have approved a constitutional amendment that would protect reproductive rights in the Commonwealth. The proposed amendment—which passed 64-34 in the House of Delegates on Wednesday and 21-18 in the state Senate two days later—will be presented to voters later this year. (Holmes and Oakes, 1/16)
The Colorado Sun: Colorado To Pay $6.1 Million To Settle Case On Abortion Pill ‘Reversal’
Colorado will pay $6.1 million to two religious rights organizations to settle a case over a law that sought to ban so-called abortion pill “reversal.” The law, supported by Democrats and passed in 2023, was blocked by a federal judge who found it unconstitutionally infringes upon religious liberty. (Ingold, 1/19)
Missouri Independent: Abortion Safety Examined As Missouri Trial Enters 2nd Week
Roughly 1% of the more than 53,000 Missourians who received abortions over the past 10 years in Illinois and Kansas experienced complications, ranging from infection to incomplete abortions to hemorrhaging. Lawyers for Planned Parenthood and the Missouri attorney general’s office are dissecting dozens of Missouri’s Targeted Regulation of Abortion, or TRAP laws, as a judge decides which, if any, should remain in place. The safety of abortion is at the heart of the debate. (Spoerre and Hardy, 1/19)
ProPublica: Under Abortion Bans, Women With High-Risk Pregnancies Have Few Options
For over a year, we’ve been writing about pregnant women who have died in states that banned abortion after Roe v. Wade was overturned. And we’ve been trying to better understand: Who are the women who are most likely to suffer because of these new laws? Many of the early cases we uncovered involved fast-moving emergencies. While women were miscarrying, they needed procedures to quickly empty their uterus, and, tragically, they didn’t get them in time. (Surana and Presser, 1/20)
Also —
The Hill: Sen. Bernie Sanders Slams Mehmet Oz For Praising Robot Ultrasounds In Alabama
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Friday told Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz that it is not “cool” that robots are performing ultrasounds in Alabama, after Oz brought up the subject at the White House earlier in the day. Oz joined President Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to tout rural health in the U.S. Oz said there are no OB-GYNs in most Alabama counties, “so they’re doing something pretty cool. They’re actually having robots do ultrasounds on these pregnant moms.” (Mancini, 1/16)
8. Minnesota Residents ‘Holding Off’ On Medical Care In Order To Avoid ICE
Also: More older adults are protesting in California; geriatricians say it can be beneficial to their health. Other news from around the nation comes from Maryland, Florida, Oregon, and Illinois.
CIDRAP: Minnesota Residents Delay Medical Care For Fear Of Encountering ICE
Tina Ridler has been living with long COVID since 2020. The condition has sent her to the hospital many times, including a trip to the emergency department to treat a life-threatening blood clot. Until now, Ridler has never been afraid to seek medical care. Ridler, 60, is delaying health appointments at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, for fear of crossing paths with agents from Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE), who are conducting raids and arrests near the hospital. Although Ridler is a US citizen who was born in this country, she said she worries about being stopped in her car, hassled by ICE agents, or caught up in the crossfire. (Szabo, 1/16)
San Francisco Chronicle: Older Adults Turning Out For Protests; Doctors Say It Can Be Healthy
There’s a spot on El Camino Real on the San Francisco Peninsula where Dr. Deborah Kado likes to get brunch after working out on the weekends, and lately she’s spotted a trend: protesters, not a lot of them, but all looking over age 65, marching down the street with signs and flags. “It’s not a super diverse group in any way, shape or form,” said Kado, a Stanford geriatrician and co-director of the Stanford Longevity Center. “But what it says to me is that, regardless of age, this person has agency. They’re saying, ‘Look at me, I have something to say.’” (Allday, 1/19)
More health news from across the U.S. —
CalMatters: California Counties Must Jump Through New Hoops To Get Homelessness Funds
Gov. Gavin Newsom has threatened many times to withhold state homelessness funds from cities and counties that aren’t doing enough to get people off the streets. This year, those threats seem more real than ever. Newsom’s administration and the Legislature are adding new strings to that money, which they hope will help address one of the state’s most obvious policy failures: Despite California’s large recent investments in homelessness, encampments are still rampant on city streets. But cities and counties already are chafing under the tightening requirements, which they worry will make it harder to access crucial state funds without directly improving conditions on the street. (Kendall and Christopher, 1/16)
Maryland Matters: Maryland Turns To Private Insurers To Help Fund Shift To New Hospital Rate-Setting Framework
State officials last week voted to tap private health insurance plans to make up for an expected loss in funding and rate-setting control as Maryland transitions to a new federal framework for Medicare payments to state hospitals. The changes approved Wednesday by the Health Services Cost Review Commission will not take effect for at least a year, but will likely mean higher premiums for people on private health insurance plans when they do kick in. (Brown, 1/19)
WUSF: Moffitt Holds Grand Opening For Outpatient Cancer Center On Burgeoning Pasco Campus
Tampa Bay’s oncology “arms race” took a major step with the recent grand opening of Moffitt Cancer Center’s outpatient center in Pasco County, adding to a flurry of recent expansions and new technologies aimed at elevating cancer care in the region. The 120,000-square-foot outpatient facility — the first completed project on Moffitt’s 775-acre Speros biotech campus — will begin treating patients Monday. Services will include cancer screenings, imaging, infusion and specialty clinics. (Mayer, 1/19)