Sandhya Raman

Government funding runs out at midnight, but the stalemate over whether to tack on an extension of health tax credits continues. The story on the state-of-play from Jessie, @arielcohen37.bsky.social and me on CQ.

plus.cq.com/doc/news-833...

HHS released its contingency plans if the government shuts down this week. @arielcohen37.bsky.social and I have more on what to expect across agencies:

plus.cq.com/doc/news-833...

Public Health Further Politicized Under the Threat of More Firings - KFF Health News In a rambling news conference that shocked public health experts, President Donald Trump — without scientific evidence — blamed the over-the-counter drug acetaminophen, and too many childhood vaccines...

On this week's #WTHealth podcast: Former CDC official @drdemetre.bsky.social on the ACIP meeting and autism announcement...plus @sandhyawrites.bsky.social and @annaedney.bsky.social on the rest of this week's health news. Have a listen:
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

And from earlier this morning: CQ has the first look at a report from Sen. Cantwell that shows how much rates from the top marketplace insurer in each state are expected to go up in 2026.

plus.cq.com/doc/news-832...

Once again catching up but ICYMI here's Tuesday's story about HHS confirming to GOP AGs that it is conducting a review of the safety and regulation of the abortion drug mifepristone.

plus.cq.com/doc/news-832...

Health subsidies standoff - Roll Call A partisan divide over extending health insurance subsidies that expire at year’s end threatens to trigger a partial government shutdown next week. CQ Roll Call’s Sandhya Raman and David Lerman explai...

rollcall.com/podcasts/cq-...

CBO is out with estimates about how permanently extending the ACA premium tax credits and rolling back two other policies would affect the deficit and number of people insured. plus.cq.com/doc/news-825...

GOP leaders try to quell stopgap concerns as House vote nears - Roll Call The assassination of Charlie Kirk spurred intense negotiations on how much more should be appropriated to help protect public officials.

Icymi: rollcall.com/2025/09/17/g...

Lia and I have a rundown of the health provisions in the CR released earlier today for CQ plus.cq.com/doc/news-832...

Actors Moore, Nyong'o push for women's health on Hill - Roll Call Actors Mandy Moore, Lupita Nyong'o are pushing for women's health legislation, the rare issue with bipartisan support on Capitol Hill.

Lupita Nyong'o and Mandy Moore were on Capitol Hill today at a bipartisan event calling for more women’s health research and recounting their own personal experiences.

rollcall.com/2025/09/16/a...

Kennedy adds vaccine advisers just before panel convenes - Roll Call New appointees to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices include a skeptic of the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic.

and on Roll Call as well rollcall.com/2025/09/15/k...

HHS Secretary Kennedy taps 5 more for ACIP

plus.cq.com/doc/news-832...

The Trump administration announced that the start of the application process for states seeking funds for rural hospitals and providers (part of the reconciliation law).

plus.cq.com/doc/news-832... ($)

My story from earlier this afternoon: An Appeals Court stayed the preliminary junctions issued by a district court judge in Planned Parenthood’s case challenging the defunding provision of the GOP reconcilliation law ($) plus.cq.com/doc/news-831...

Countdown to Government Shutdown - KFF Health News With less than three weeks before the deadline to pass legislation to keep the federal government running, lawmakers are still far apart on a strategy. Democrats hope Republicans will agree to extend ...

new #WTHealth podcast up! Join me, @annaedney.bsky.social, @sandhyawrites.bsky.social, and @laurenweberhp.bsky.social to discuss the latest health budget news, the MAHA report, and banning drug ads on TV?
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers are split as they are still awaiting guidance from the WH on support for extending the ACA premium tax credits. They expire Dec. 31.
plus.cq.com/doc/news-831...

The enhanced health care subsidies are still in play as top Republicans are cracking open the door to some form of extension being tacked onto the emerging stopgap funding bill ($) plus.cq.com/doc/news-831...?

What’s happening next with the government spending and the ACA premium subsidies? More from CQ’s health and budget teams today 3️⃣

House appropriators advanced the Labor-HHS-Education spending bill in the wee hours of the morning on party lines. Read our rundown on CQ: plus.cq.com/doc/news-831...

Howdy -- back after a little time off and catching up. Following a lot of things right now as Congress is back, so the usual ask to pls send tips. Email and signal in bio.

Kennedy Cancels Vaccine Funding - KFF Health News The Health and Human Services secretary is winding down nearly $500 million in mRNA research funding, citing false claims that the technology is ineffective against respiratory illnesses — and…

New "What the Health?": RFK Jr. cancels $500 million in mRNA research funding, President Trump demands lower drug prices for Americans, news from Congress, and more.

Host Emmarie Huetteman is joined by @SandhyaWrites.bsky.social, Lauren Weber, and @sarahkarlin-smith.bsky.social! bit.ly/3Jo5qUM

There's so many more stories and anecdotes that didn't fit into these pieces.
To all the smart, accommodating folks I spoke to during my travels: tack!

Navigating the unknown - Roll Call Some studies indicate that tobacco snus can increase the risk of stomach, pancreatic, and rectal and esophagus cancers.

Going forward, experts say there are a number of unknowns they still want more answers on about burgeoning nicotine products about long-term use and if people stop using them during pregnancy.
rollcall.com/2025/08/06/n...

One interesting point is how different people respond to questions about their smoking habits depending on how it’s phrased. Stigma can affect whether people agree that they smoke “from time to time” or “sometimes” or socially.

Sweden’s push for smokeless products leads some to wonder about risks - Roll Call Gaps in data and long-term research about the safety of smokeless products raise questions about whether the means will truly lead to the end.

Experts highlighted their concerns about the rise in use of other tobacco and nicotine products, gaps in data and how demographics play a factor.
rollcall.com/2025/08/06/s...

And just like that it’s the last of my AHCJ series from Sweden. For the final dispatch I spoke to a number of public health experts about some of the challenges they face to further reduce smoking.

The Senate Saves PEPFAR Funding — For Now - KFF Health News The Senate narrowly approved the Trump administration’s request to claw back about $9 billion for foreign aid and public broadcasting but refused to cut funding for the international AIDS/HIV program ...

On this week's #WTHealth podcast: @shefali.bsky.social, @sandhyawrites.bsky.social, and @joannekenen.bsky.social on the recissions bill, a major abortion precedent from West Virginia, and the latest chaos at HHS. Have a listen:
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

Supreme Court Upholds Bans on Gender-Affirming Care - KFF Health News The Supreme Court this week said Tennessee may continue to enforce its law banning most types of gender-affirming care for minors. The ruling is likely to greenlight similar laws in two dozen states. ...

SCOTUS ruling on gender affirming care, Trump's budget reconciliation bill, and the third anniversary of the Dobbs decision.

Victoria Knight, @sandhyawrites.bsky.social, and @alicemiranda.bsky.social joined host @julierovner.bsky.social
on #WTHealth! kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

Still more in the pipeline!

The U.S. has seen huge strides in reducing youth uptake, but there are also a number of changes (as the earlier stories have noted!) related to regulation, policy, and personnel here which could change things!