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Charting the Way Forward: New Efforts to Advance Electronic Health Information Sharing | KFF
In July 2025, the Trump administration announced a new effort (“Making Health Tech Great Again”) towards health data interchange.. This brief describes the new, voluntary Trump administration interoperability initiative, provides an overview of key health information technology laws and regulations, and highlights some of the challenges and limitations of these efforts.
Medicare Advantage Enrollees Account for 25% of all Inpatient Hospital Days | KFF
This analysis examines the recent growth of Medicare Advantage as a share of hospital inpatient days. Medicare Advantage rose from 13% to 25% of all inpatient days from 2015 to 2023, although there was wide variation among hospitals.
CMS Phasing Out Medicaid Workforce Initiatives | KFF
On July 11, CMS notified states that, going forward, it does not anticipate approving new 1115 demonstration workforce initiatives or extending existing waivers. Such changes may limit states’ abilities to pursue initiatives investing in the Medicaid workforce.
Income and Assets of Medicare Beneficiaries in 2024 | KFF
This brief examines the income, assets, and home equity of Medicare beneficiaries, overall and by age, race and ethnicity, and gender, using data derived from the Dynamic Simulation of Income Model (DYNASIM) for 2024. The analysis highlights that most Medicare beneficiaries live on relatively low incomes and have modest financial resources to draw upon in retirement if they need to cover costly medical care or long-term services and supports, with notable disparities by age, race and ethnicity, and gender.
How Recent Manufacturer Savings Programs May Impact Individual Out-of-Pocket Spending on Asthma and COPD Inhalers | KFF
A new analysis shows that individuals with employer insurance could save 41% on their out-of-pocket spending for asthma and COPD inhalers through manufacturer savings. In response to a U.S. Senate investigation into inhaler costs, 3 drug makers voluntarily capped out-of-pocket costs on their brand-name asthma and COPD inhalers.
Overview of President Trump’s Executive Actions Impacting LGBTQ+ Health | KFF
This tracker examines Executive Actions taken by the Trump administration that have the potential to impact LGBTQ+ people’s health. It lists the action taken by date, provisions relevant to LGBTQ+ health, and describes potential impact, including litigation challenging these actions.
Health Costs Consume a Large Portion of Income for Millions of People with Medicare | KFF
To document the affordability challenges posed by out-of-pocket health care costs for people with Medicare, this brief analyzes out-of-pocket health care costs as a share of Social Security income and total income, including other sources of income in addition to Social Security.
A Spotlight on Vasectomy | KFF
As part of the 2024 KFF Women’s Health Survey, a nationally representative sample of 1,191 men ages 18 to 64 were surveyed on a broad range of health issues. This data note highlights their responses to their experiences, knowledge, and perspectives about vasectomy services.
How Much and Why ACA Marketplace Premiums Are Going Up in 2026 | KFF
This analysis of initial rate filings from all 50 states and DC shows ACA Marketplace insurers are proposing a median premium increase of 18% for 2026, more than double last year’s 7% median proposed increase. The analysis includes proposed rate changes by state and insurer.
KFF/ESPN Survey of 1988 NFL Players Finds the Vast Majority Say Pro Football Left Them With a Range of Serious Health Problems, but Most Would Play Again and Encourage Their Kids To Play | KFF
KFF and ESPN today jointly released a first-of-its-kind, in-depth polling and reporting project that sheds new light on the health issues and other challenges facing NFL players after they leave the game.
Tracking the Medicaid Provisions in the 2025 Reconciliation Bill | KFF
KFF is tracking the Medicaid provisions in the 2025 federal budget bill, including new Medicaid work and verification requirements and a reduction in the expansion match rate for states that use their own funds to cover undocumented immigrants.
Minors’ Ability to Consent to Contraception and Abortion Services | KFF
This brief examines state consent requirements for minors accessing contraceptive and abortion care, processes for minors to attempt to obtain abortion without parental involvement, and trends in state policy increasing requirements for parental involvement in minors’ health care decisions.
Overview of President Trump’s Executive Actions on Global Health | KFF
This guide provides an overview of executive orders and other executive actions made by the Trump Administration since January 21, 2025 that directly address or affect U.S. global health efforts. This resource identifies each executive action, describes its purpose and actions taken, and outlines the implications and what happens next for each. The resource will be updated as needed.
KFF/ESPN Survey of 1988 NFL Players | KFF
The Survey of 1988 NFL players, conducted by KFF in partnership with ESPN, looks at the overall health and well-being of former professional football players who played in the 1988 NFL season. While many are grappling with the immense toll the sport has taken on their physical and neurological health, most say they would do it all over again.
Global COVID-19 Tracker | KFF
This tracker provides data on global COVID-19 cases and deaths by country, region, and income-level. Additionally, the tracker reports current closure, economic, and health system policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic globally. This tracker will be updated as new data are available.
Kindergarten Routine Vaccination Rates Continue to Decline | KFF
This issue brief provides an update on the latest trends in kindergarten children's routine vaccination and exemption rates. Over three-quarters (39) of states had measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)vaccination rates below the “target” rate of 95% for the 2024-2025 school year.
KFF Health Information and Trust Tracking Poll: Health Information and Advice on Social Media | KFF
KFF's Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust finds that just over half of adults use social media for health information and advice at least occasionally but fewer than half say they find “most” or “some” of the information they see on each platform trustworthy.
A Look at the New Executive Order and the Intersection of Homelessness and Mental Illness | KFF
This brief describes the new executive order, examines the intersection of homelessness and mental illness, reviews the history of the deinstitutionalization movement, and discusses specialized treatment services for people with SMI.
Prior Authorization Process Policies in Medicaid Managed Care: Findings from a Survey of State Medicaid Programs | KFF
This brief examines state policies related to prior authorization processes in Medicaid managed care and includes findings about how states approach prior authorization decision timeframes, electronic denial notices, and access to external medical reviews, all as of July 1, 2024.
How Will the 2025 Reconciliation Law Affect the Uninsured Rate in Each State? | KFF
This analysis apportions the increase in the number of uninsured across the 50 states and DC. CBO estimates that the reconciliation law will increase the number of uninsured by 10M in 2034 and rise to over 14M if enhanced premium tax credits for ACA Marketplace enrollees expire later this year.
Policy Tracker: Youth Access to Gender Affirming Care and State Policy Restrictions | KFF
This tracker provides an overview of state laws/policies restricting minor access to gender affirming care and any associated litigation by state, identifying which groups of people are impacted in addition to minors, the types of penalties providers face, the status of legal challenges, and other key information.
Few Trust Most Health Content on Social Media, Autism Claims Follow Thimerosal Policy Shift, and Misleading Narratives About SSRIs in Pregnancy — The Monitor | KFF
This volume analyzes findings from the latest KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust, which show that just over half of adults say they use social media to find health information and advice, but less than half trust the health content they see across an array of social media sites and apps. It also examines false claims linking a mercury-based vaccine preservative to autism, following a federal decision to withdraw recommendations for flu vaccines containing the compound. In addition, it explores misleading narratives about antidepressant use during pregnancy and unproven claims about the health benefits of nicotine.
Health Provisions in the 2025 Federal Budget Reconciliation Law | KFF
On July 4, President Trump signed the budget reconciliation bill, previously known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” into law. This summary provides background, description, budgetary impact and related information on the health care provisions of the law in four categories: Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
How Recent Manufacturer Savings Programs May Impact Individual Out-of-Pocket Spending on Asthma and COPD Inhalers | KFF
A new analysis shows that individuals with employer insurance could save 41% on their out-of-pocket spending for asthma and COPD inhalers through manufacturer savings. In response to a U.S. Senate investigation into inhaler costs, 3 drug makers voluntarily capped out-of-pocket costs on their brand-name asthma and COPD inhalers.
Health Provisions in the 2025 Federal Budget Reconciliation Law | KFF
On July 4, President Trump signed the budget reconciliation bill, previously known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” into law. This summary provides background, description, budgetary impact and related information on the health care provisions of the law in four categories: Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
KFF Health Information and Trust Tracking Poll: Health Information and Advice on Social Media | KFF
KFF's Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust finds that just over half of adults use social media for health information and advice at least occasionally but fewer than half say they find “most” or “some” of the information they see on each platform trustworthy.
Implementation Dates for 2025 Budget Reconciliation Law | KFF
This searchable timeline shows the implementation date for the health care provisions included in the 2025 federal budget reconciliation law. previously known as "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." It includes provisions related to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
Senate Committee on Appropriations Approves FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor HHS) Appropriations Bill & Accompanying Report | KFF
The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved its FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor HHS) appropriations bill, accompanying report, and amendments on July 31, 2025. While most U.S. global health funding is provided to the State Department through a separate appropriations bill, the Labor HHS appropriations bill includes funding for<span class="readmore-ellipsis">…</span><a href="https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/fact-sheet/senate-committee-on-appropriations-approves-fy-2026-labor-health-and-human-services-education-and-related-agencies-labor-hhs-appropriations-bill-accompanying-report/" class="see-more light-beige no-float inline-readmore">More</a></p>
Minors’ Ability to Consent to Contraception and Abortion Services | KFF
This brief examines state consent requirements for minors accessing contraceptive and abortion care, processes for minors to attempt to obtain abortion without parental involvement, and trends in state policy increasing requirements for parental involvement in minors’ health care decisions.
Kindergarten Routine Vaccination Rates Continue to Decline | KFF
This issue brief provides an update on the latest trends in kindergarten children's routine vaccination and exemption rates. Over three-quarters (39) of states had measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)vaccination rates below the “target” rate of 95% for the 2024-2025 school year.
Prior Authorization Process Policies in Medicaid Managed Care: Findings from a Survey of State Medicaid Programs | KFF
This brief examines state policies related to prior authorization processes in Medicaid managed care and includes findings about how states approach prior authorization decision timeframes, electronic denial notices, and access to external medical reviews, all as of July 1, 2024.
How Much and Why ACA Marketplace Premiums Are Going Up in 2026 | KFF
This analysis of initial rate filings from all 50 states and DC shows ACA Marketplace insurers are proposing a median premium increase of 18% for 2026, more than double last year’s 7% median proposed increase. The analysis includes proposed rate changes by state and insurer.
A Spotlight on Vasectomy | KFF
As part of the 2024 KFF Women’s Health Survey, a nationally representative sample of 1,191 men ages 18 to 64 were surveyed on a broad range of health issues. This data note highlights their responses to their experiences, knowledge, and perspectives about vasectomy services.
A Closer Look at the Work Requirement Provisions in the 2025 Federal Budget Reconciliation Law | KFF
On July 4, President Trump signed into law a budget reconciliation package once called the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” that includes significant changes to the Medicaid program. This issue brief provides an overview of the Medicaid work requirement provisions.
KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: COVID-19 Vaccine Update | KFF
As federal vaccine policy changes, this poll finds that most adults do not expect to get a COVID-19 vaccine this fall , and many parents are confused and uncertain about whether the vaccine is recommended for healthy children this year. About one in adults nationally say the changes to vaccine policy are making people safer, while more than a third say they are making people less safe.