Author Profile

[Reprinted with permission from KFF Health News. Authored by Céline Gounder] Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has floated a seismic idea: adding autism to the list of conditions covered by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The program, known as VICP, provides a system for families to file claims against vaccine providers […]

BOGALUSA, La. — Less than a mile from a century-old mill that sustained generations in this small town north of New Orleans, 19-year-old Tajdryn Forbes was shot to death near his mother’s house. She found Forbes face down in the street in August 2023, two weeks before he had planned to move away from the […]

The lowly bean is finally receiving the accolades it deserves. Originally viewed as a diet staple of the poor, the bean is essential in more ways than previously thought and research is indicating its value for everyone. Higher scores for diet quality and greater consumption of shortfall nutrients, especially nutrients of public health concern, are associated with […]

Water—our planet’s most vital resource—is under threat. Across continents, lakes, rivers, and reservoirs are turning green from harmful algal blooms (HABs), fueled by rising temperatures, nutrient pollution, and climate-driven weather extremes. These outbreaks aren’t just unsightly, they’re toxic. They jeopardize drinking water, harm aquatic ecosystems, disrupt local economies, and pose significant health risks. Now, a […]

[By Jariel Arvin June 18, 2025 KFF Health News Original – Reprinted with Permission] On Fridays, Stephanie Johnson has a busy schedule, driving her navy-blue Jeep from one patient’s home to the next, seeing eight in all. Pregnant with her second child, she schleps a backpack instead of a traditional black bag to carry a laptop and essential […]

In an era where access to effective obesity care remains mired in controversy over medication costs and payer reluctance, a promising model is gaining traction—and data is backing it up. A new independent analysis conducted by actuarial firm Milliman reveals that FlyteHealth’s AI-enabled Comprehensive Obesity Care program, piloted in partnership with the State of Connecticut, […]

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have developed a machine learning tool that can help doctors manage blood sugar levels in patients recovering from heart surgery, a critical but often difficult task in the intensive care unit (ICU). The findings were reported in the May 27 online issue of NPJ Digital Medicine.  After cardiac surgery, […]

In 2023, Sheldon Ekirch was diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy, which makes her limbs and muscles feel as if they’re on fire. Specialists recommended a series of infusions to ease her pain, but her insurer refused to pay for the expensive treatment, which it says is “not considered medically necessary.”

California’s Medicaid program pays for the in-home care that Cynthia Williams provides for her sister, a military veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder, and her daughter, who is blind. Williams spoke at a town hall meeting in Tustin, California, on Feb. 20, urging the audience to send GOP lawmakers a loud and clear message: Hands off Medicaid. (Jenna Schoenefeld for KFF Health News)

Kennedy has said exercise, dietary supplements, and nutrition, rather than pharmaceutical products, are key to good health.