Flawed Federal Programs Maroon Rural Americans in Telehealth Blackouts
By Sarah Jane Tribble and Holly K. Hacker
Data visualizations by Lydia Zuraw
Taxpayers — through federal infrastructure programs — have paid billions of dollars to internet companies to hook up rural Americans. Some communities have nothing to show for it, leaving medically vulnerable rural patients disconnected and without access to telehealth.
Daily Edition for Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Newsom Tells Cities To Ban Homeless Camping ‘Without Delay’: Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday called on every local government in the state to adopt ordinances that restrict public camping. He provided a hypothetical model ordinance that lays out exactly what he’d like to see banned: camping in one place for more than three nights in a row, building semi-permanent structures on public property, and blocking streets or sidewalks. Read more from CalMatters, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the San Diego Union-Tribune. Keep scrolling for more on the housing crisis.
Listen: Black Swimmers Make Waves Overcoming Fear and Old Perceptions
By Cara Anthony
Segregation and lack of access have kept many Black Americans from learning to swim, which raises their risk of drowning. Groups across the country are working to teach more Black kids and adults the skills to save their lives, or someone else’s.
After Promising Universal Health Care, Gov. Newsom Must Reconsider Immigrant Coverage
By Angela Hart and Christine Mai-Duc
Gov. Gavin Newsom was elected to office in 2019 on a promise of universal health care. He dramatically expanded coverage, but after six years, the Democrat is forced to contemplate deep cuts — including to the nation’s largest health care expansion to immigrants living in the U.S. without legal permission.
Daily Edition for Monday, May 12, 2025
Water Safe To Drink Again After LA Wildfires: Tap water is now safe to drink in areas served by all nine water systems where damage from the firestorms in Altadena and Pacific Palisades had prompted “do not drink” notices, state regulators said Friday. The last water utility with such a notice, the Las Flores Water Co. in Altadena, was cleared Friday. Read more from the Los Angeles Times. Keep scrolling for more on the fires.
Readers Scrutinize Federal Cuts and Medical Debt
KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
An Arm and a Leg: A Health Policy Veteran Puts 2025 in Perspective
By Dan Weissmann
Two stories from Washington, D.C., give listeners a sense of what changes the Trump administration has been making to health policy, with KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner and Arthur Allen.
Medicaid Payments Barely Keep Hospital Mental Health Units Afloat. Federal Cuts Could Sink Them.
By Tony Leys
Patients seeking mental health care are more likely to be on Medicaid than patients in more profitable areas of care, such as cancer or cardiac treatment.
Daily Edition for Friday, May 9, 2025
SF Mayor Touts Funds To Address Homelessness: Mayor Daniel Lurie has raised $37.5 million from wealthy donors to address San Francisco’s homelessness and behavioral health crises, making good on one of his early pledges to supplement taxpayer funds by tapping private dollars to clean up streets and get more people into treatment and housing. Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle and Bloomberg.
