Inside the delicate, high-stakes search for a new CDC director, via @rickberke.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2026/03/20/n...

The future of promising therapeutics is on the line in the Trump administration's FDA, says the agency's former commissioner www.statnews.com/2026/03/19/p...

Trump’s Medicare director seeks to rein in expectations for TrumpRx www.statnews.com/2026/03/19/c...

Many interesting conversations ahead today at #STATBreakthrough — including on CMS and FDA, both at critical junctures:

@statnews.com conducted a national survey of NIH-funded researchers and found that, a year after Trump's return, many scientists are reeling, with some closing labs entirely. ‘This is like the Titanic,' one respondent told me. For full details, see our special report www.statnews.com/2026/03/19/n...

The Trump administration is "gearing up for war" to push Congress to codify its drug pricing policy — despite little appetite for it on the Hill. Still, the pharma industry sees risk in the back-and-forth. www.statnews.com/2026/03/17/m...

Federal judge stalls health secretary RFK Jr.’s overhaul of vaccine policy www.statnews.com/2026/03/16/k...

Thursday, STAT's @mariojoze.bsky.social will sit down with the Director of Medicare, Chris Klomp, to talk about Medicare's high-tech cost-cutter, and much more. #STATBreakthrough full agenda and tickets here: www.statnews.com/stat-summit-... Get 40% off virtual passes with promo code: LASTCALL-40

“We’re just kind of done with the vaccine issue,” said one White House official. “We’ve done what we want to do on the vaccine front.” On the future of the MAGA-MAHA alliance, w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2026/03/13/t...

President Trump heralded TrumpRx as “one of the most transformative health care initiatives of all time.” A month in, administration pledges are far from being met — even as drug pricing has become a key part of its pitch to voters. www.statnews.com/2026/03/05/t...

He’s an action figure. He’s a milk-drinking rave-goer. He’s America’s health secretary — and he’s looking to cement the MAHA-MAGA alliance with political clout. w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2026/02/27/r...

“It was always the case: if it’s FDA, leave it alone,” one lobbyist told STAT. “There’s been a swing. … Now the conversations are: Can we influence the process? I had never had that conversation before.”

NEW: Pharma lobbyists are working to influence an agency once thought largely off-limits — the FDA. How Trump-era politics are being injected into the agency tasked with regulating U.S. medicines: w/ @lizzylawrence.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2026/02/23/f...

Good cop, bad cop? @lizzylawrence.bsky.social and @danielpayne.bsky.social — neither a cop — checked out Oz and Makary as they addressed pharma executives and lobbyists today in Washington. www.statnews.com/2026/02/17/p...

RFK Jr. has long criticized pharma's influence on the federal government. But Dr. Oz, talking to PhRMA today, took a different approach: welcoming the idea of closed-door meetings and urging industry leaders to work in the admin. w/ @lizzylawrence.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2026/02/17/p...

Major shakeup underway at HHS as White House braces for midterms www.statnews.com/2026/02/13/h...

I’m at the Boston federal court this AM for a hearing on the suit from AAP and other groups challenging a slew of changes to vaccine policies – which could affect the forthcoming ACIP meeting and the change to the childhood vaccine schedule

The American Academy of Pediatrics has become a leader in the effort to reverse RFK Jr.'s vaccine policies. The success — or failure — of the group's approach will have consequences for kids' health nationwide. Inside the AAP's plan for the MAHA age: www.statnews.com/2026/02/13/a...

Scoop: Top FDA official Vinay Prasad overruled the agency’s reviewers when he refused to accept Moderna’s application for a new influenza vaccine, STAT has learned. www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/m...

Biotechs, wary of being tied to Big Pharma, form new industry group as hedge against Trump policies via @elaineywchen.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/b...

So about TrumpRx: We crunched the numbers today and about half of the drugs on there have cheaper generics available already. www.statnews.com/2026/02/06/t...

TrumpRx claims to offer the lowest prices. But many drugs have cheaper generics. (Full story below)

Trump's drug price deals may not be done www.statnews.com/2026/02/06/w...

In a break from other major U.S. medical groups, plastic surgeons society recommends delaying gender-affirming procedures until age 19 w/ @theresagaff.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2026/02/03/g...

In a @kff.org survey from fall '25, nearly half of likely undocumented immigrant adults, and one in seven who are lawfully present, said they had avoided medical care since January '25 due to immigration-related concerns -- recent increases in ICE presence could further exacerbate these challenges

The ICE crackdown is having all kinds of far-reaching consequences — including on immigrants' health. @danielpayne.bsky.social reports on how patients are delaying or avoiding treatment because of the risks of leaving their homes, leading to unnecessary suffering www.statnews.com/2026/02/03/i...

Doctors nationwide are seeing patients avoid care amid ICE crackdowns, sometimes with dire consequences. Health providers are now employing pandemic-era tactics to keep care accessible. How immigration policy is changing American health care: www.statnews.com/2026/02/03/i...

Top Trump officials push Senate Republicans on new drug price legislation www.statnews.com/2026/01/29/m...

#CDC sets the list of vaccinations recommended for all kids. But decisions about which inoculations kids require for school entry are made at the state level. Anti-vax forces are shifting their focus there @danielpayne.bsky.social & @isabellacueto.bsky.social report. www.statnews.com/2026/01/29/v...

NEW: RFK Jr.'s allies on vaccine policies are already on the move in statehouses across the country, seeking to roll back school entry requirements and expand exemptions. Via @danielpayne.bsky.social @isabellacueto.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2026/01/29/v...

With a new U.S. vaccine schedule in hand, RFK Jr. allies aim for a bigger prize: changing state law If they're successful, vaccine requirements for schools and daycares could be a thing of the past w/ @isabellacueto.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2026/01/29/v...

CDC pauses billions in public health infrastructure grants to states via @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2026/01/24/p...

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

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

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...

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, via @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/h...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

New drug pricing policies are here — with the potential for billions in savings. www.statnews.com/2025/12/22/t...

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...

News: White House set to announce largest batch of drug pricing agreements yet www.statnews.com/2025/12/19/t...

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...