The Growing Inequality in Life Expectancy Among Americans
By Amy Maxmen
To deliver on pledges from the new Trump administration to make America healthy again, policymakers will need to close gaps in longevity among racial and ethnic groups.
Covered California Hits Record Enrollment, but Key Subsidies in Jeopardy
By Claudia Boyd-Barrett
Enhanced federal subsidies and more state aid for out-of-pocket costs have made health insurance purchased through California’s marketplace more affordable. It’s unclear if the incoming Republican Congress will extend the enhanced subsidies beyond 2025.
Long-Covid Patients Are Frustrated That Federal Research Hasn’t Found New Treatments
By Sarah Boden
The federal government has allocated $1.15 billion to long-covid research without any new treatments yet brought to market. Patients and scientists say it’s time to push harder for breakthroughs.
Daily Edition for Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Trump Decree Says There Are No Transgender People, Only Women And Men: President Donald Trump signed executive orders Monday asserting that the U.S. government recognizes only two sexes that are “not changeable.” Read more from the Los Angeles Times and Advocate. He also cleared the way to ban transgender people from the military. Read more from The 19th.
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“Health Minute” brings original health care and health policy reporting from the KFF Health News newsroom to the airwaves each week.
Amid Wildfire Trauma, L.A. County Dispatches Mental Health Workers to Evacuees
By Molly Castle Work
Catastrophic wildfires are common in California, and mental health specialists have become a key part of local governments’ response to extreme weather events, which scientists say are becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change. Los Angeles County has been modifying its approach with each disaster.
Dogs Paired With Providers at Hospitals Help Ease Staff and Patient Stress
By John Daley, Colorado Public Radio
Some hospitals are bringing in dogs to spend entire shifts with doctors and nurses. The trained canines help staffers cope with the stress of their work amid high levels of burnout.
Days From Trump Inauguration, Journalists Weigh California, Federal Health Policies
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on regional media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Daily Edition for Friday, January 17, 2025
Stomach Virus Circulating Among Wildfire Evacuees: Health officials confirmed Thursday that a stomach bug is circulating among people at the wildfire evacuation center in Pasadena. They have been unable to determine the cause of the virus. However, norovirus is circulating throughout the wider Los Angeles County population. Read more from the Los Angeles Times and Palm Springs Desert Sun. Keep scrolling for more on the wildfires.
Junk Food Turns Public Villain as Power Shifts in Washington
By Stephanie Armour and David Hilzenrath
Some Trump insiders are ready to take on the food industry. It remains to be seen whether their entrée will result in any meaningful change in government oversight of “Big Food” — or in American health.
