New York Times: “Millions of Americans appear to be dropping Obamacare coverage in the months since Congress failed to extend the generous subsidies that had become a defining feature of the Affordable Care Act.”

“Initial sign-ups had already fallen by about 1.2 million people. But insurance companies, state officials and industry analysts are reporting that many more have lost Obamacare coverage now that people are facing long-term higher costs. The federal government has yet to report current enrollment data.”

President Trump has pulled the nomination for stalled surgeon general nominee Casey Means and says he’ll put forth Dr. Nicole Saphier, the AP reports.

New York Times: “Vaccine skeptics, ‘organic moms’ and environmental activists came together to elect President Trump. But some voters are disillusioned and might not turn out again.”

“Personally, sir, even as you seem distracted while I talk to you about deadly diseases, I think you’re dangerous to the American public, and you ought to be fired. And if you’re not fired, you ought to have the decency to resign. You’re way in over your head.”

— Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), at a Senate hearing with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“The acting head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has canceled the publication of a study that found that the Covid vaccine sharply cut the odds of hospitalizations and emergency visits last winter,” the New York Times reports.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that the U.S. military will no longer require all American troops to get the flu vaccine, citing “medical autonomy” and religious freedom, the AP reports.

“Britain aims to raise a ‘smoke-free generation’ by permanently banning the sale or supply of tobacco and vape products to anyone born in 2009 or after, with a bill that was approved by Parliament on Tuesday,” the New York Times reports.

“The bill applies to people currently 17 years old or younger and aims to keep them from ever picking up the habit in their lifetime. The proposal is expected to soon go into law after the final formality of approval by King Charles III.”

“Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday refused to commit to supporting the vaccine recommendations of President Trump’s nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” the New York Times reports.

“The nominee, Dr. Erica Schwartz, has publicly supported immunizations and drawn applause from mainstream public health leaders.”

“President Donald Trump signed an executive order to expedite research and access to psychedelics used outside the US to treat post-traumatic stress disorder,” Bloomberg reports.

NOTUS: “While Democrats continue to champion lower health care costs on the campaign trail and prepare to hammer Kennedy on the issue, there is still little appetite among both Democrats and Republicans to team up and overcome the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster and achieve much of anything on health care –– whether it’s extending the ACA tax credits, codifying drug-pricing caps or something else.”

Tom Bartlett: “Kennedy recently seems to be steering clear of public statements about vaccines because the White House fears that his anti-vaccine agenda will tank Republicans in the midterms. Instead, he’s touted the government’s new inverted food pyramid and the return of whole milk to school cafeterias…”

“This more restrained version of Kennedy is appearing as the Trump administration is making moves to tamp down turmoil at HHS.”

Wall Street Journal: “President Trump said Thursday he will nominate Dr. Erica Schwartz to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

“The CDC has been without a permanent director since Susan Monarez was ousted last year after clashing with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccine policy.”

New York Times: “Utah has become a hotbed of measles cases in the United States, as a long-simmering outbreak continues to spread.”

“There have now been nearly 600 cases, mostly in children, since the outbreak began along the Utah-Arizona border last summer. Roughly one-third of those diagnosed have been so sick that they sought treatment in emergency rooms, mainly for severe dehydration caused by vomiting and diarrhea. So far, 49 people have been hospitalized.”

CNN: “President Donald Trump plans to impose new tariffs on pharmaceutical companies that have not struck deals to sell their drugs directly to consumers as part of his ‘Most Favored Nation’ pricing initiative.”

“Those medications would be hit with a 100% tariff, according to the draft order, while providing some pathways for drugmakers to reduce or avoid those levies if they negotiate a deal with the administration or move their production to the US.”

ProPublica: “Two Stanford University researchers wondered how many people would suffer if vaccination rates dropped or shots became entirely unavailable for four of the most infamous diseases: polio, measles, rubella and diphtheria…”

“Their model shows that at current vaccination rates, the nation is already teetering on the brink of an explosion in measles cases — one that would be virtually wiped out with just a 5% increase in vaccination. But if current rates drop by half, all four diseases could return.”

New York Times: “The Food and Drug Administration is moving toward allowing compounding pharmacies to produce more than a dozen injectable peptides that were banned because of potentially significant safety risks, according to a senior administration official.”

“In 2023, 14 peptides were removed from a list of products that the F.D.A. allows compounding pharmacies to produce. The pharmacies tailor products for individual patients’ needs. The peptides had not been approved by the F.D.A. as safe or effective and, in recent years, the agency had noted that they were increasingly being marketed with unproved claims that they had cosmetic, anti-aging and disease-fighting benefits.”

A majority of Americans say the Trump administration has not done enough to “Make America Healthy Again,” according to a new Politico Poll, including 41% of Donald Trump’s 2024 voters.

“Democrats as better positioned on the movement’s key health priorities. They were more likely, for example, to say the Democratic Party can be trusted to make the country healthier.”

“The GOP, on the other hand, is seen as more likely to be influenced than Democrats by lobbyists for the food and pesticide industries, who rank among the MAHA movement’s top enemies.”