Ali Swenson

Trump administration widens its anti-fraud efforts with a Medicaid probe in New York President Donald Trump's administration is expanding its crackdown on state Medicaid programs to New York, launching a fraud probe in the state.

The Trump administration is expanding its crackdown on state Medicaid programs to New York, launching a fraud probe in the state a week after it said it was freezing nearly $260 million in Medicaid funding in Minnesota over similar accusations. apnews.com/article/oz-m...

Casey Means faces the Senate health committee in a confirmation hearing to be US surgeon general Wellness influencer and entrepreneur Dr. Casey Means shared a vision for addressing the root causes of chronic disease instead of what she calls “reactive sick care” during her confirmation hearing to...

Dr. Casey Means is facing senators in a confirmation hearing to be the nation's surgeon general. Tune in and learn more about her here: apnews.com/article/case...

How Trump’s pick for surgeon general uses her big online following to make money President Donald Trump’s pick to be U.S. surgeon general has said the nation’s medical and food systems are corrupted by special interests and people out to make a profit at the expense of Americans’ ...

Surgeon General nominee Casey Means has gotten a lot of questions today about whether she properly disclosed her business interests when promoting products. @aliswenson.bsky.social and I found she at times failed to disclose in an investigation last year --->

RFK Jr. fought pesticides for years. Now he's backing their production Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is doubling down on his support for an executive order that would aim to boost the production of a controversial weedkiller ingredient called glyphosate, even though it is wideni...

RFK Jr. fought pesticides for years. Now he’s backing their production
apnews.com/article/maha...

Hard hats and dummy plates: Reports of ICE ruses add to fears in Minnesota Legal observers and officials say they have received a growing number of reports of federal agents impersonating construction workers, delivery drivers and in some cases anti-ICE activists in Minnesot...

As the sweeping immigration crackdown in Minnesota continues, legal observers and officials say they have received a growing number of reports of federal agents impersonating construction workers, delivery drivers and in some cases anti-ICE activists.
apnews.com/article/immi...

'Take the vaccine, please,' Dr. Mehmet Oz says in an appeal as measles cases rise A leading U.S. health official is urging people to get inoculated against the measles at a time of outbreaks across several states. The appeal is from Dr.

CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz on Sunday urged people to get inoculated against the measles at a time of outbreaks across several states and as the United States is at risk of losing its measles elimination status.
apnews.com/article/meas...

Newly revealed emails undermine RFK Jr testimony about 2019 Samoa trip ahead of measles outbreak Kennedy later said the purpose of his trip had nothing to do with vaccines. US embassy and UN staff at the time said otherwise, emails show

RFK Jr said during his Senate confirmation hearings that his trip to Samoa in 2019 ahead of a devastating measles outbreak had “nothing to do with vaccines." Documents obtained by @us.theguardian.com and @apnews.com undermine that testimony. Details here, by me and @aliswenson.bsky.social ⬇️

Trump administration to launch TrumpRx website for discounted drugs The Trump administration is set to launch TrumpRx, a website to help patients buy prescription drugs directly from manufacturers at discounted rates.

Trump administration to launch TrumpRx website for discounted drugs
apnews.com/article/trum...

MAHA has reshaped health policy. Now it's working on environmental rules MAHA activists who want to hold corporations accountable for harming Americans’ health have found an unlikely ally in a Republican-led Environmental Protection Agency that has traditionally supported ...

A fragile collaboration has been building between the EPA and the MAHA movement.

It's a high stakes dance: After MAHA devotees came together to help Trump return to the White House, disappointing them could mean losing the support of a vocal voting bloc.
apnews.com/article/maha...

Newsom files a civil rights complaint against Dr. Oz in latest feud with the Trump administration A new front in the battle between Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump's Republican administration has opened over a video in which the head of the Centers for Medicare a...

A dayslong public scuffle between Gavin Newsom and Dr. Oz over the CMS administrator's video accusing Armenians of health care fraud in Los Angeles has escalated with Newsom's office filing a civil rights complaint for discrimination.
apnews.com/611ee3156c37...

Republican calls are growing for a deeper investigation into the fatal Minneapolis shooting A growing number of Republicans are pressing for a deeper investigation into federal immigration tactics after a U.S.

A growing number of Republicans are pressing for a deeper investigation into federal immigration tactics in Minnesota: apnews.com/article/minn...

Doctors in Minnesota decry fear and chaos amid Trump administration's immigration crackdown Doctors say immigrant patients are missing key medical appointments, afraid to come to medical clinics amid the Trump administration’s sweeping Minnesota immigration crackdown.

ICYMI: Doctors in Minnesota say the Trump administration's immigration crackdown has led to some patients being afraid to seek care. apnews.com/article/immi...

Final day to select ACA health plans arrives in most states, with no subsidy deal yet The final day to select Affordable Care Act health insurance for the year has arrived across much of the country.

Thursday is the final day to select an Affordable Care Act health insurance plan across much of the country, as the expiration of federal subsidies drives up health costs and lawmakers remain locked in a debate over how to address the issue.
apnews.com/article/affo...

Democrat blasts HHS for creating confusion in cutting, then reinstating SAMHSA grants A top Democrat is slamming the Trump administration for cutting thousands of substance abuse and mental health grants and then abruptly reversing course. Rep.

As news reports roll in that the grant cuts have now been reversed, a top Democrat is slamming the Trump administration for creating uncertainty and confusion: apnews.com/article/samh...

Trump administration slashes funding for substance abuse and mental health programs nationwide The Trump administration has made significant cuts to substance abuse and mental health programs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has canceled around 2,000 grants, totali...

For McShin Foundation CEO Honesty Liller, the loss of about $1.4 million in grant funding is personal. She said her foundation saved her life 18 years ago when she was struggling with heroin addiction.

“I’ve just never felt so gut punched,” she told me.
apnews.com/article/samh...

Fewer Americans sign up for Affordable Care Act health insurance as costs spike Fewer Americans are signing up for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans this year. New federal data shows a 3.5% drop in enrollment, with around 800,000 fewer people selecting plans compared to ...

New federal data shows fewer Americans are signing up for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans this year as costs spike from expiring subsidies and other factors. apnews.com/article/affo...

Judge orders HHS to restore funding for children's health programs as lawsuit continues A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore nearly $12 million in funding to the American Academy of Pediatrics. U.S.

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore nearly $12 million in funding to the American Academy of Pediatrics as its lawsuit against HHS plays out.
apnews.com/article/aap-...

New dietary guidelines urge Americans to avoid processed foods and added sugar New guidelines for healthy eating say Americans should eat more whole foods and protein, fewer highly processed foods and less added sugar.

New dietary guidelines urge Americans to avoid processed foods apnews.com/article/diet...

Republicans defy Speaker Johnson to force House vote on extending ACA subsidies Four centrist Republicans have broken with their party's leadership over health care. They signed onto a Democratic-led petition that will force a House vote on extending for three years an enhanced p...

Four centrist Republicans have broken with Speaker Mike Johnson and signed onto a Democratic-led petition that will force a House vote on extending Affordable Care Act enhanced subsidies for three years. apnews.com/article/heal...

Higher cost, worse coverage: Affordable Care Act enrollees say expiring subsidies will hit them hard Americans are feeling the strain already with less than three weeks to go until the expiration of COVID-era tax credits that have helped many people pay for health insurance through the Affordable Car...

For one Wisconsin couple, the loss of government-sponsored health subsidies next year means choosing a lower-quality insurance plan.

For a Michigan family, it means going without insurance altogether.

How Congress’ impasse on health policy is affecting Americans:
apnews.com/article/cong...

The Senate is set to vote on 2 rival health plans. Here's what's at stake for Americans The U.S. Senate is set to vote on two partisan health bills addressing expiring COVID-era subsidies. These subsidies help millions of Americans with insurance costs.

The Senate is set to vote on 2 rival health plans. Here’s what’s at stake for Americans apnews.com/article/heal...

Swing district Republicans brace for political fallout if health care subsidies expire House Republicans in key battleground districts are working to contain the political fallout expected when thousands of their constituents face higher bills for health insurance coverage obtained thro...

Swing district Republicans brace for political fallout if health care subsidies expire apnews.com/article/heal...

US vaccine advisers say not all babies need a hepatitis B shot at birth A federal vaccine advisory committee has voted to end a longstanding recommendation that all U.S. babies get the hepatitis B vaccine on the day they’re born.

NEW: A federal vaccine advisory committee voted Friday to end a longstanding recommendation that all U.S. babies get the hepatitis B vaccine on the day they’re born. apnews.com/article/vacc...

Kennedy's vaccine advisory committee meets to discuss hepatitis B shots for newborns A federal vaccine advisory committee is meeting in Atlanta to discuss whether newborns should still get the hepatitis B vaccine on the day they’re born.

A federal vaccine advisory committee is convening to discuss whether newborns should still get the hepatitis B vaccine on the day they're born. The shots are widely considered to be a public health success for preventing illnesses.

Follow along:
apnews.com/article/cdc-...

Affordable Care Act premiums are set to spike. A new poll shows enrollees are already struggling A new survey of Affordable Care Act health insurance enrollees finds that many are already struggling with the high cost of health care.

Affordable Care Act premiums are set to spike. A new poll shows enrollees are already struggling
apnews.com/article/affo...

MAHA idealism meets political reality as RFK Jr. attempts to wrangle a growing movement Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is fending off criticism from his own base as some of the environmental and anti-vaccine activists who propelled him into politics have said they want stronger a...

New: MAHA idealism meets political reality as RFK Jr. attempts to wrangle a growing movement apnews.com/article/rfk-...

CDC website is changed to raise suspicions of a vaccines-autism link The Trump administration has revised a website to contradict the scientific consensus that vaccines do not cause autism.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has been changed to contradict the longtime scientific conclusion that vaccines do not cause autism, spurring outrage among a number of public health and autism experts. apnews.com/article/cdc-...

An emerging shutdown deal doesn't extend expiring health subsidies. Here's what could happen to them A legislative package that could end the weekslong government shutdown leaves out any clear resolution on the expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits that have made private health insurance less cost...

An emerging shutdown deal doesn’t extend expiring health subsidies. Here’s what could happen to them
apnews.com/article/shut...

Trump unveils deal to expand coverage and lower costs on obesity drugs President Donald Trump has unveiled a deal with drugmakers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to expand coverage and reduce prices for their popular obesity treatments Zepbound and Wegovy.

Trump unveils deal to expand coverage and lower costs on obesity drugs
apnews.com/article/trum...

Federal judge rules Trump can’t require citizenship proof on the federal voting form President Donald Trump’s request to add a documentary proof of citizenship requirement to the federal voter registration form cannot be enforced. U.S.

President Donald Trump’s request to add a documentary proof of citizenship requirement to the federal voter registration form cannot be enforced, a federal judge ruled Friday. apnews.com/article/trum...