Alex Wayne
@aawayne.bsky.social
Executive Editor, KFF Health News
Read and republish everything we do for $0: https://kffhealthnews.org/about-us/
Florida man | Never cruise
*I do not respond to most PR pitches*
AlexW@kff.org
Read and republish everything we do for $0: https://kffhealthnews.org/about-us/
Florida man | Never cruise
*I do not respond to most PR pitches*
AlexW@kff.org
Reposted by Alex Wayne
NEW: While so much attention is being paid to possible *causes* of autism, states are starting to cut funding on *treatment* for kids who already have it.
I wanted to know why.
Read my latest with @arjonesreports.bsky.social
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
I wanted to know why.
Read my latest with @arjonesreports.bsky.social
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
It's the 'gold standard' in autism care. Why are states reining it in?
Budget shortfalls and nearly $1 trillion in looming federal Medicaid cuts have prompted states to rein in spending on a widely embraced autism therapy, pinching families who depend on the services.
www.npr.org
December 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM
NEW: While so much attention is being paid to possible *causes* of autism, states are starting to cut funding on *treatment* for kids who already have it.
I wanted to know why.
Read my latest with @arjonesreports.bsky.social
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
I wanted to know why.
Read my latest with @arjonesreports.bsky.social
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Reposted by Alex Wayne
In eastern Congo, where rape is widespread, the cancellation of USAID funding for life-changing — sometimes lifesaving — post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) kits has left many victims vulnerable, according to nearly 50 interviews.
Congolese rape survivors search in vain for medicine after USAID cuts
In eastern Congo, where rape is widespread, the cancellation of USAID funding for PEP kits has left many victims vulnerable, according to nearly 50 interviews.
wapo.st
December 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM
In eastern Congo, where rape is widespread, the cancellation of USAID funding for life-changing — sometimes lifesaving — post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) kits has left many victims vulnerable, according to nearly 50 interviews.
Reposted by Alex Wayne
Trump officials were warned repeatedly that cutting off food aid to refugees in Kenya would lead to violence and death. They did so anyway, and thousands starved. @propublica.org www.propublica.org/article/keny...
After Trump Officials Cut Food Aid to Kenya, Children Starved to Death
“Brutal and traumatizing”: Interviews and a trove of internal documents show government officials and aid workers desperately tried to warn Trump advisers about impending disaster and death.
www.propublica.org
December 17, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Trump officials were warned repeatedly that cutting off food aid to refugees in Kenya would lead to violence and death. They did so anyway, and thousands starved. @propublica.org www.propublica.org/article/keny...
Reposted by Alex Wayne
NEW: Pardoned January 6 rioters have been advising Justice Department officials how to pursue – and perhaps prosecute – the very prosecutors who helped put them behind bars.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
December 17, 2025 at 2:32 PM
NEW: Pardoned January 6 rioters have been advising Justice Department officials how to pursue – and perhaps prosecute – the very prosecutors who helped put them behind bars.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Alex Wayne
With no extension of enhanced tax credits, ACA enrollees are going to start the year with premium payments increasing by an average of 114%, or over $1,000 a year per person. Some will find a way to pay it, some have switched to higher deductibles, and some have dropped coverage.
December 16, 2025 at 4:21 PM
With no extension of enhanced tax credits, ACA enrollees are going to start the year with premium payments increasing by an average of 114%, or over $1,000 a year per person. Some will find a way to pay it, some have switched to higher deductibles, and some have dropped coverage.
Reposted by Alex Wayne
Enten highlights that Trump is underwater on every key issue: "The report card is negative. Every single day since March 12 Trump has been in the red. 281 days in a row. The bottom line is Americans don't like what Trump is doing and they haven't liked what Trump's doing for a long period of time."
December 17, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Enten highlights that Trump is underwater on every key issue: "The report card is negative. Every single day since March 12 Trump has been in the red. 281 days in a row. The bottom line is Americans don't like what Trump is doing and they haven't liked what Trump's doing for a long period of time."
Reposted by Alex Wayne
President Trump’s attack on Rob Reiner after the Hollywood director and his wife, Michele, were found dead drew immediate outrage, including from some fellow Republicans.
Trump Seizes on Rob Reiner’s Death to Attack the Hollywood Director
The president attributed the killing of Rob Reiner and his wife to “Trump derangement syndrome.” There was no indication that the couple’s political beliefs were linked to their deaths.
nyti.ms
December 15, 2025 at 7:30 PM
President Trump’s attack on Rob Reiner after the Hollywood director and his wife, Michele, were found dead drew immediate outrage, including from some fellow Republicans.
Reposted by Alex Wayne
This is the fifth GOP congressperson I’ve seen criticizing Trump’s post on Rob Reiner, and the first who isn’t either leaving the House (MTG, Bacon), a frequent critic (Massie), or in a swing district (Lawler).
December 15, 2025 at 7:20 PM
This is the fifth GOP congressperson I’ve seen criticizing Trump’s post on Rob Reiner, and the first who isn’t either leaving the House (MTG, Bacon), a frequent critic (Massie), or in a swing district (Lawler).
Reposted by Alex Wayne
Fetterman expressed surprise when I confirmed we had a copy of the letter he wrote to Israel President Herzog, pushing for a pardon for Netanyahu. “I know you guys use things like leaks but I don’t know who did that.” Story from @joshkovensky.bsky.social + me: talkingpointsmemo.com/news/fetterm...
Fetterman Writes Letter Asking Israel’s President to Pardon Netanyahu
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) prepared a letter in recent days asking Israel’s...
talkingpointsmemo.com
December 11, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Fetterman expressed surprise when I confirmed we had a copy of the letter he wrote to Israel President Herzog, pushing for a pardon for Netanyahu. “I know you guys use things like leaks but I don’t know who did that.” Story from @joshkovensky.bsky.social + me: talkingpointsmemo.com/news/fetterm...
Reposted by Alex Wayne
🧵My talk w/John Weiser, an HIV expert & doctor who resigned from CDC after refusing to censor data.
"I thought about my transgender patients and how I would face them...knowing that I had erased their existence from CDC."
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
"I thought about my transgender patients and how I would face them...knowing that I had erased their existence from CDC."
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
This HIV Expert Refused To Censor Data, Then Quit the CDC - KFF Health News
HIV physician John Weiser talks about why complying with President Donald Trump’s orders to erase transgender people is bad for science and society. And he notes that acquiescing didn’t spare the CDC ...
kffhealthnews.org
December 10, 2025 at 7:33 PM
🧵My talk w/John Weiser, an HIV expert & doctor who resigned from CDC after refusing to censor data.
"I thought about my transgender patients and how I would face them...knowing that I had erased their existence from CDC."
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
"I thought about my transgender patients and how I would face them...knowing that I had erased their existence from CDC."
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Reposted by Alex Wayne
Community health centers were created to be medical safety nets for people who struggle to afford primary care.
But we found that several are suing patients and garnishing their paychecks – which experts say contradicts their mission.
www.propublica.org/article/fede...
But we found that several are suing patients and garnishing their paychecks – which experts say contradicts their mission.
www.propublica.org/article/fede...
These Health Centers Are Supposed to Make Care Affordable. One Has Sued Patients for as Little as $59 in Unpaid Bills.
Federally funded community health centers receive grants in exchange for serving patients regardless of their ability to pay. But ProPublica found at least five across the country garnishing patients’...
www.propublica.org
December 9, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Community health centers were created to be medical safety nets for people who struggle to afford primary care.
But we found that several are suing patients and garnishing their paychecks – which experts say contradicts their mission.
www.propublica.org/article/fede...
But we found that several are suing patients and garnishing their paychecks – which experts say contradicts their mission.
www.propublica.org/article/fede...
Reposted by Alex Wayne
The CEO of a community health center that sues its patients over unpaid medical bills tried to intimidate ProPublica and patients as @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social reported the story. www.propublica.org/article/fede...
December 9, 2025 at 3:56 PM
The CEO of a community health center that sues its patients over unpaid medical bills tried to intimidate ProPublica and patients as @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social reported the story. www.propublica.org/article/fede...
Reposted by Alex Wayne
Over the last decade, Eastern Shore Rural Health in Virginia filed more than 7,000 lawsuits for unpaid medical bills in two counties where 45,000 people live. It sued one couple for $59 in January 2024, an amount that ballooned by more than 600%. @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
These Health Centers Are Supposed to Make Care Affordable. One Has Sued Patients for as Little as $59 in Unpaid Bills.
Federally funded community health centers receive grants in exchange for serving patients regardless of their ability to pay. But ProPublica found at least five across the country garnishing patients’...
www.propublica.org
December 9, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Over the last decade, Eastern Shore Rural Health in Virginia filed more than 7,000 lawsuits for unpaid medical bills in two counties where 45,000 people live. It sued one couple for $59 in January 2024, an amount that ballooned by more than 600%. @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
Reposted by Alex Wayne
SCOOP: The Jan. 6 pipe bomb suspect told the FBI he believed in 2020 election conspiracy theories.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Pipe bomb suspect told FBI he believed 2020 election conspiracy theories
The suspect has been cooperating with the FBI, according to sources, and is expected to make his first court appearance on Friday.
www.nbcnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:14 PM
SCOOP: The Jan. 6 pipe bomb suspect told the FBI he believed in 2020 election conspiracy theories.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Reposted by Alex Wayne
Chairman of Senate’s health committee with his sharpest words yet as CDC’s vaccine advisers meeting gets underway.
The question is what does Cassidy do now, beyond issue rebukes.
The question is what does Cassidy do now, beyond issue rebukes.
December 4, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Chairman of Senate’s health committee with his sharpest words yet as CDC’s vaccine advisers meeting gets underway.
The question is what does Cassidy do now, beyond issue rebukes.
The question is what does Cassidy do now, beyond issue rebukes.
Reposted by Alex Wayne
This is new FDA CDER Director with a father who believes his son was killed by COVID vaccine. She is in front of FDA sign and smiling while pointing to his vest which has Pfizer's logo and a bloody handprint on it.
December 4, 2025 at 2:20 PM
This is new FDA CDER Director with a father who believes his son was killed by COVID vaccine. She is in front of FDA sign and smiling while pointing to his vest which has Pfizer's logo and a bloody handprint on it.
Reposted by Alex Wayne
NEW: In a letter to Trump, Juan Orlando Hernandez cast himself as the victim of “political persecution” by Biden's DOJ & compared his fate to Trump's.
Trump announced a pardon of Hernandez hours after receiving the letter.
Hernandez was freed from prison yesterday, per the Bureau of Prisons.
Trump announced a pardon of Hernandez hours after receiving the letter.
Hernandez was freed from prison yesterday, per the Bureau of Prisons.
Former President of Honduras Is Freed From Prison After Trump Pardon
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:14 PM
NEW: In a letter to Trump, Juan Orlando Hernandez cast himself as the victim of “political persecution” by Biden's DOJ & compared his fate to Trump's.
Trump announced a pardon of Hernandez hours after receiving the letter.
Hernandez was freed from prison yesterday, per the Bureau of Prisons.
Trump announced a pardon of Hernandez hours after receiving the letter.
Hernandez was freed from prison yesterday, per the Bureau of Prisons.
Reposted by Alex Wayne
Donald Trump appeared to struggle to stay awake for the second time in a month on Tuesday.
Trump's eyes were cumulatively closed for ~6 minutes over roughly 75 minutes, per a Post analysis of multiple video feeds.
w/ @ddiamond.bsky.social & Natalie Allison
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Trump's eyes were cumulatively closed for ~6 minutes over roughly 75 minutes, per a Post analysis of multiple video feeds.
w/ @ddiamond.bsky.social & Natalie Allison
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
December 3, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Donald Trump appeared to struggle to stay awake for the second time in a month on Tuesday.
Trump's eyes were cumulatively closed for ~6 minutes over roughly 75 minutes, per a Post analysis of multiple video feeds.
w/ @ddiamond.bsky.social & Natalie Allison
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Trump's eyes were cumulatively closed for ~6 minutes over roughly 75 minutes, per a Post analysis of multiple video feeds.
w/ @ddiamond.bsky.social & Natalie Allison
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
NEWS: Before it cuts $900 billion-plus from Medicaid, Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" sends $50 billion to states for rural health care.
Who wants the money and what they'd do with it is less than transparent. But @ajzionts.bsky.social + @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social are on the case.
Who wants the money and what they'd do with it is less than transparent. But @ajzionts.bsky.social + @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social are on the case.
Our story has a map/database of state applications to the Rural Health Transformation Program! Proposals include using drones to deliver meds, installing produce refrigerators, + bringing telehealth to libraries+senior centers.
W/ @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
W/ @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
December 2, 2025 at 7:50 PM
NEWS: Before it cuts $900 billion-plus from Medicaid, Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" sends $50 billion to states for rural health care.
Who wants the money and what they'd do with it is less than transparent. But @ajzionts.bsky.social + @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social are on the case.
Who wants the money and what they'd do with it is less than transparent. But @ajzionts.bsky.social + @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social are on the case.
Reposted by Alex Wayne
Reuters reached out to everyone that Trump or his subordinates singled out publicly for retribution, and reviewed hundreds of official orders, directives and public records. The result: the most comprehensive accounting yet of his campaign of payback.
www.reuters.com/investigates...
www.reuters.com/investigates...
November 27, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Reuters reached out to everyone that Trump or his subordinates singled out publicly for retribution, and reviewed hundreds of official orders, directives and public records. The result: the most comprehensive accounting yet of his campaign of payback.
www.reuters.com/investigates...
www.reuters.com/investigates...
Louisiana's former surgeon general is reportedly now the deputy director of the CDC. Earlier this month, we published a story about how he addressed a deadly (and vaccine-preventable) whooping cough outbreak.
By @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
By @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Louisiana Took Months To Sound Alarm After Two Babies Died in Whooping Cough Outbreak - KFF Health News
Louisiana health officials appear to have deviated from the usual steps for public health communications amid a whooping cough outbreak after it killed two infants.
kffhealthnews.org
November 26, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Louisiana's former surgeon general is reportedly now the deputy director of the CDC. Earlier this month, we published a story about how he addressed a deadly (and vaccine-preventable) whooping cough outbreak.
By @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
By @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Reposted by Alex Wayne
Amazing to learn that Isaac Chotiner can apparently just come for you in your replies. Like suddenly realizing you're swimming in open ocean
November 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Amazing to learn that Isaac Chotiner can apparently just come for you in your replies. Like suddenly realizing you're swimming in open ocean
Reposted by Alex Wayne
BREAKING: Trump is again separating kids from families
The govt isn't releasing info, but we found ICE has sent record # of kids to shelters.
One family went to govt office , only to have parents detained while the children—aged 5, 11 and 1--went to shelters
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
The govt isn't releasing info, but we found ICE has sent record # of kids to shelters.
One family went to govt office , only to have parents detained while the children—aged 5, 11 and 1--went to shelters
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
ICE Sent 600 Immigrant Kids to Detention in Federal Shelters This Year. It’s a New Record.
Under a zero tolerance policy, the first Trump administration separated immigrant children from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border. New data suggests separations are happening all over the count...
www.propublica.org
November 24, 2025 at 6:10 PM
BREAKING: Trump is again separating kids from families
The govt isn't releasing info, but we found ICE has sent record # of kids to shelters.
One family went to govt office , only to have parents detained while the children—aged 5, 11 and 1--went to shelters
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
The govt isn't releasing info, but we found ICE has sent record # of kids to shelters.
One family went to govt office , only to have parents detained while the children—aged 5, 11 and 1--went to shelters
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
Reposted by Alex Wayne
HOT OFF THE PRESSES: RFK Jr. told me he personally instructed CDC to abandon its longstanding position that vaccines don't cause autism. He acknowledged that large-scale studies of MMR vaccine and thimerosal show no link. But he cited gaps in vaccine safety science.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
Kennedy Says He Told C.D.C. to Change Website’s Language on Autism and Vaccines
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:16 PM
HOT OFF THE PRESSES: RFK Jr. told me he personally instructed CDC to abandon its longstanding position that vaccines don't cause autism. He acknowledged that large-scale studies of MMR vaccine and thimerosal show no link. But he cited gaps in vaccine safety science.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...