Daniel Payne

CDC pauses billions in public health infrastructure grants to states The CDC has paused more than 100 grants to states and organizations to update infrastructure for public health projects.

CDC pauses billions in public health infrastructure grants to states

via @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2026/01/24/p...

Planned Parenthood CEO won’t negotiate with ‘bullies’ And other health news today from the Morning Rounds newsletter

Planned Parenthood has had a bruising few years.

But in many ways, the group isn't changing course in Washington, its CEO tells STAT.

She wishes other health sector leaders would do the same.

www.statnews.com/2026/01/23/h...

Health insurance execs shift blame for costly, confusing health care system Health insurance execs blame the high cost of health care on hospitals, doctors, and prescription drugs.

Health insurance execs shift blame for costly, confusing health care system

www.statnews.com/2026/01/22/h...

Top CDC vaccine adviser questions need for polio shot, other longstanding recommendations The chair of a federal vaccine advisory panel charted a new course for the committee in a podcast released Thursday, questioning longstanding recommendations.

The top CDC vaccine advisor downplayed established vaccine science in an interview published today — and suggested policy goals, not new research, were the driving force behind new government recommendations in recent months.

www.statnews.com/2026/01/22/v...

What’s in Congress’ sweeping health care deal: PBM reform, telehealth, science funding The health department would get $116.8 billion in funding, a modest increase over 2025 but $33 billion more than Trump requested.

What’s in Congress’ sweeping health care deal

www.statnews.com/2026/01/20/c...

Trump releases health care plan amid pressure over affordability Trump's most consequential proposals would require action from Congress.

Trump announced a health plan that, if passed into law, would have implications for the entire sector.

But the plan is vague (no bill text), hasn't been scored for cost, doesn't address ACA subsidies, and has to be sold to a skeptical Congress.

www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/t...

Hospitals and doctors are ignoring RFK Jr.’s new vaccine schedule and relying on pediatricians’ guidance instead Their decisions underscore a growing divide between federal health authorities and major medical groups.

RFK Jr. said the new vaccine schedule was meant to restore trust in federal recommendations.

But major health systems don't appear to trust the new guidance — instead saying they plan to ignore it.

www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/n...

HHS dismisses member of vaccine injury advisory panel RFK Jr. is considering changes to the federal vaccine injury compensation program.

HHS dismisses member of vaccine injury advisory panel, via @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/h...

Kennedy adds two OB-GYNs to vaccine advisory panel amid review of shots for pregnant women ACIP is reviewing the shots recommended for pregnant women as RFK Jr. upends federal vaccine policy.

New: RFK Jr. adds two OB-GYNs to vaccine advisory panel amid review of shots for pregnant women

w/ @lizzylawrence.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/n...

Slashing of U.S. vaccine schedule creates new uncertainty on manufacturers’ legal protections RFK Jr.’s allies hope reducing the number of recommended pediatric vaccines opens the door to stripping vaccine makers of the liability shields.

Some vaccine critics hope changes to the vaccine schedule will strip makers of the shots of longstanding liability shields.

But legal experts — and industry insiders — aren't so sure.

w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2026/01/08/v...

Panel behind new dietary guidelines had financial ties to beef, dairy industries The industry connections of an advisory panel for the new dietary guidelines are notable, especially in light of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s criticism of corporate influence.

The industry connections of an advisory panel for the new dietary guidelines are notable, especially in light of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s criticism of corporate influence.
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/n...

CMS divvies up first payments from $50B rural health fund, with an eye toward MAHA goals The Trump administration on Monday announced the distribution of the first payments from a new $50 billion rural health fund — but not all states are getting equal payouts.

A first look at where the $50 billion rural health fund will go — and the MAHA priorities that funding will support:

www.statnews.com/2025/12/29/t...

The 3 biggest issues to watch in vaccine policy in 2026 STAT examines how U.S. vaccine policy is set to change next year.

2026 is set to be a hugely consequential year for America’s vaccine policy.

What’s on the horizon:

www.statnews.com/2025/12/24/v...

The 3 biggest issues to watch in vaccine policy in 2026 STAT examines how U.S. vaccine policy is set to change next year.

Robert Kennedy has long disbelieved the science around the safety & benefits of vaccines. Since becoming HHS head, he's wasted no time in altering vaccine policy. And there's more to come in 2026, @statnews.com's @danielpayne.bsky.social reports. www.statnews.com/2025/12/24/v...

Trump administration’s plan to shrink vaccine schedule sends health sector scrambling The health sector is working to navigate what could be the most significant changes to the U.S. vaccine program in decades.

NEW: The Trump administration’s plan to shrink the vaccine schedule is sending the health sector scrambling

w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @helenbranswell.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/12/23/t...

Trump administration proposes Medicare pilots to lower drug prices on par with peer countries The experiments would cut the prices of some drugs to bring them in line with what other countries pay, saving Medicare billions.

New drug pricing policies are here — with the potential for billions in savings.

www.statnews.com/2025/12/22/t...

Kennedy vaccine adviser to take a new role at CDC on children’s health research A vaccine adviser at the CDC with ties to health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is being given a new portfolio overseeing research into adverse childhood experiences.

News: The CDC employee who has been advising RFK Jr. on vaccines is getting a new role at the agency: overseeing research on adverse childhood experiences — and aligning it with MAHA priorities.

www.statnews.com/2025/12/19/w...

White House set to announce largest batch of drug pricing agreements yet Nine drugmakers are set to unveil deals with the Trump administration to lower the prices of some of their drugs, marking the administration’s largest such deal to date.

News: White House set to announce largest batch of drug pricing agreements yet

www.statnews.com/2025/12/19/t...

In major effort to end gender-affirming care, Trump administration takes aim at hospitals The Trump administration intends to make its most forceful attempt yet at restricting gender-affirming care for transgender youth in the U.S.

The Trump administration intends to make its most forceful attempt yet at restricting gender-affirming care for transgender youth in the U.S.

www.statnews.com/2025/12/18/t...

More drugmakers set to sign pricing deals with Trump on Friday Pharma companies have agreed to lower prices and invest in the U.S. in exchange for avoiding tariffs and benefits like faster drug reviews.

More drugmakers set to sign pricing deals with Trump on Friday

www.statnews.com/2025/12/17/p...

YouTube video by STAT New CDC hepatitis B vaccine guidance, explained

Anyway check out the full new @statnews.com STATus Report video to learn all about the new CDC hepatitis B vaccine guidance! Feat @danielpayne.bsky.social youtu.be/43QtKjCnO5c

CDC approves new hepatitis B vaccine recommendation as some hospitals reject changes Many states, hospitals, and doctors say they will continue to recommend hepatitis B shots at birth.

As CDC approves the new vaccine recommendations, some pediatricians and health systems say they won't follow them

www.statnews.com/2025/12/16/h...

We've received a wonderfully large number of requests for gift subscriptions to @statnews.com this holiday season. We don't have the ability (yet) to send a nice "Amanda bought this for you!" note, but reach out to subscribers[at]statnews[dot]com and we'd love to help! 🧪 📰

FDA staff fear Tracy Beth Høeg will bring bias and instability to embattled drug center Høeg is set to become the fifth head of the FDA's drug center in a year.

A(nother) must-read from @lizzylawrence.bsky.social on one of the most important storylines in health care today:

www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/t...

ACA premium spike looms as Senate votes fail, House bill faces long odds Democratic and Republican proposals on health insurance voted down as year-end expiration of subsidies draws closer.

ACA premium spike looms as Senate votes fail, House bill faces long odds

www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/a...

Postscripts from the frontlines of Trump's attacks on science: no simple happy endings Stories from the frontlines of Trump's attack on science: Follow-ups from a year of struggles in Part 7 of our series "American Science, Shattered."

This year, we @statnews.com have brought you the stories of who-knows-how-many scientists, federal workers, policy experts, and patients

For the next part of American Science, Shattered we revisit the stories of some of those people and how the year panned out

www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/a...

RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel is laying the groundwork for more scrutiny of childhood shots RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel is laying the groundwork for more scrutiny of childhood shots.

The federal vaccine advisers laid the groundwork this week to reexamine the childhood vaccine schedule broadly.

Then, late Friday, Trump himself directed HHS to do exactly that.

w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c...

RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel is laying the groundwork for more scrutiny of childhood shots RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel is laying the groundwork for more scrutiny of childhood shots.

RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel is laying the groundwork for more scrutiny of childhood shots www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c... via @statnews.com @danielpayne.bsky.social @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

In sweeping presentation, vaccine critic set to urge government advisers to rethink childhood shots WASHINGTON — The future of children’s vaccines is on the agenda at today’s meeting of federal vaccine advisers, who are reviewing the childhood schedule.

Next up: ACIP is set to review the childhood vaccine schedule broadly.

Aaron Siri, a leading voice in the anti-vaccine movement with ties to RFK Jr., will brief them.

More on Siri’s presentation:

www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/a...

CDC panel recommends delaying birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine The CDC's ACIP panel voted to recommend delaying the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, ending a policy that has reined in the virus.

A panel that advises #CDC on vaccine policy votes to do away with the recommendation all babies should be vaccinated against #hepatitisB at birth. "We are doing harm," said panel member Cody Meissner, who voted against this #ACIP recommendation. www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c...