The Monitor this week examines misleading claims about mifepristone that are driving new legislative and investigative action in Congress, even as major medical organizations and decades of clinical evidence support the abortion pill's safety: https://on.kff.org/4tdP7fp
In many places across the U.S., measles vaccination rates have steadily declined, and these levels are below that needed for herd immunity. Since 2025, most measles cases primarily stem from local outbreaks.
Explore what this means in our updated brief: ⤵️ https://on.kff.org/4bYOxfy
Map shows which ACA expansion states have a provider tax on hospitals, MCOs, ambulances, or other affected providers above 3.5% of net patient revenues as of July 1, 2025.
Looking ahead, states expect setting managed care plan rates will be challenging as Medicaid financing changes, work requirements, and more frequent eligibility redeterminations roll out over the next several years.
Here are 10 things to know about Medicaid managed care: https://on.kff.org/41rOPW2
No group is more screwed (in health research speak, faces more barriers to care), than the chronically ill uninsured. I explain in my new column: on.kff.org/4mhgHWk
Alt text: Graphic featuring a quote from KFF President and CEO Drew Altman. The quote is from his latest Beyond the Data column and says: “The uninsured is not the most politically salient problem in health care now, that’s affordability, nor is it the non-problem some say it is. But it’s coming back. And the problem of the chronically ill uninsured is glaring.”
In a new column, KFF’s @drewaltman.bsky.social explains that while affordability is the most salient issue in health care politics right now, the issue of the uninsured will make a comeback if the number of people without coverage continues to climb as expected. https://on.kff.org/4mhgHWk
Quote from Laurie Sobel, KFF Associate Director for Women’s Health Policy. It says, “Despite for calls from Republican leaders and anti-abortion organizations for the FDA to act quickly, the Louisiana district court has given the FDA until October 7, 2026, one month before the midterms, to file a report with the status of its review and any updated timeframe for completion. In the meantime, clinicians may continue to mail mifepristone to pregnant patients seeking abortions regardless of where they live.”
⚡ KFF’s Laurie Sobel explains what the Louisiana district court’s ruling means for access to mifepristone in the state. #QuickTake https://on.kff.org/4tEzIod
Our updated brief examines the meaning of “measles elimination status” and how it’s decided and declared.
Our experts also tackle how current measles outbreaks may threaten U.S. measles elimination status and what that might mean for U.S. measles control. https://on.kff.org/4bYOxfy
Map shows which ACA expansion states have a provider tax on hospitals, MCOs, ambulances, or other affected providers above 3.5% of net patient revenues as of July 1, 2025.
Most states contract with managed care plans to provide care to Medicaid enrollees. Learn more about Medicaid managed care in our updated brief: https://on.kff.org/41rOPW2
In early 2025, a series of measles outbreaks began in the U.S. and by the end of March 2026, more than 3,800 cases have been reported.
Our experts break down what that could mean for the U.S., which had eliminated endemic measles: https://on.kff.org/4bYOxfy
Chart depicting the divergence in life expectancy and healthcare spending per capita between the United States and comparable countries from 1980 to 2024. The United States line shows significant increases in healthcare spending but a slower rise in life expectancy compared to comparable countries. The graph is titled: In 1980, the U.S. and Comparable Countries Had Similar Life Expectancies and Health Spending, but the Trends Have Diverged Over the Past 40 Years. Sources include KFF analysis, OECD, and national health expenditure data.
While similar in 1980, the U.S. and its peers have diverged in life expectancy and health spending over the past 40 years.
Health care spending has grown faster in the U.S. than in peer countries and life expectancy has grown slower: https://on.kff.org/4dYBbRB
Quote from Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, KFF Associate Director, Program on Medicare Policy. It says, “CMS finalized Medicare Advantage payment rates for 2027, estimating that average per-enrollee payments will increase by nearly 5% — about double the increase in the initial proposal. This reflects technical updates, policy changes, and continued growth in Medicare Advantage risk scores, and translates to roughly $26 billion in additional payments for 2027...”
⚡ The Trump administration this week backed off a key element of its Medicare Advantage rate proposal, resulting in billions of dollars in additional payments to private insurers. KFF’s Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek explains what’s driving the higher payment rates. #QuickTake https://on.kff.org/47NoIMQ
Amid federal cuts and state financing changes, KFF examines initial guidance and other early insights from California on how the state is planning to implement work requirements: https://on.kff.org/4mb67QG
Our new issue brief examines California’s state budget context and cuts to Medicaid spending amid the state’s preparations for implementing Medicaid work requirements: https://on.kff.org/4mb67QG
Chart comparing life expectancy and per capita healthcare spending in 2024 for various countries. The United States is highlighted, showing the lowest life expectancy at 79 years and the highest spending at $14,775. The "Comparable Country Average" is 82.7 years for life expectancy and $7,860 for spending. The visualization is titled "The U.S. Had the Lowest Life Expectancy Among Comparable Countries While Outspending Its Peers on Health Care." The source is from KFF analysis.
The U.S. has a lower life expectancy than peer countries (79 vs. 82.7 years) and spends nearly twice as much as its peers on health care per person (and nearly $5,000 more per person than the next highest-spending country: Switzerland): https://on.kff.org/4dYBbRB
In 2024, life expectancy in the U.S. reached an all-time high of 79 but remained years behind the average in comparable countries. Chart shows life expectancy at birth, in years, 1980-2024.
The life expectancy gap between the U.S. and peer countries decreased from 4.1 years in 2023 to 3.7 years in 2024 as U.S. mortality dropped, with a lower mortality rate from COVID-19, drug overdoses, and some chronic diseases: https://on.kff.org/4dYBbRB
Bar chart showing voter trust in Democrats and Republicans on health care costs from 2012 to 2023. The chart shows specific questions: lowering health care costs for people like them; reducing health care costs; and affordability of health care. In each year and on each topic, the percentage trusting Democrats is higher. In 2023, 59% trust Democrats and 39% trust Republicans on affordability. Data source: KFF Health Tracking Polls.
Bar chart titled "Democrats Are More Trusted Than Republicans on Health Care; Opposite Is True on the Economy." It shows voter trust from 2012 to 2024 in health care and the economy, comparing Republican and Democrat candidates: Mitt Romney, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris. Democrats are consistently more trusted on health care, while Republicans are more trusted on the economy. The chart is sourced from KFF.
Health care is a top voter concern, and the public has historically trusted Democrats more than Republicans on the issue.
Our new issue brief dives into the polling and other data: https://on.kff.org/4sflEjU
Health care affordability is top of mind for many Americans, rising well above other necessities based on recent KFF polling.
Our policy explainer lays out the trends contributing to rising health care costs and the issues shaping the 2026 policy debates: https://on.kff.org/4thnpxR
A bar chart titled "Heading Into This Year’s Midterm Elections, Health Care Costs Are Voters’ Top Economic Concern." It shows survey results from voters on their financial worries. Categories include "Health care," "Food and groceries," "Monthly utility bills," and "Gasoline or other transportation costs." Each category is divided into four voter groups: Total voters, Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. The chart highlights that 31% of total voters are very worried about health care costs, with Democrats at 33%, Independents at 36%, and Republicans at 25%. The source of the data is the KFF Health Tracking Poll.
KFF polls have consistently found that the cost of health care is an important part of voters’ economic concerns.
More on the role health care may play in the 2026 election here: https://on.kff.org/4sflEjU
The image features a quote by Drew Altman, KFF President and CEO, on a blue background. The quote says “…There is no question that the public’s priority is not underlying costs or payment reform or value, or AI, or many of the things that occupy the attention of experts: people simply want to be able to afford their health care coverage.” The bottom includes "Beyond the Data from Dr. Drew Altman" and the KFF logo.
At a moment when candidates want simple ideas they can campaign on and voters want their health care costs to come down, KFF’s Drew Altman writes about the competing and complex priorities facing Democrats searching for new health policy proposals ahead of 2028. https://on.kff.org/4bMtpJm
Explore the public's experiences with prescription drugs, GLP-1s, and their prices, as well as their views on policy options to address them via our updated collection of our most recent and relevant polling data: https://on.kff.org/4c1FVUb
A pie chart illustrating the concentration of hospital markets in metropolitan areas from 2015 to 2024. The chart shows three segments: 15% representing markets that were monopolies from 2015 to 2024, 20% for markets that were less concentrated in 2024 than in 2015, and 65% for markets that were more concentrated in 2024 than in 2015. The source is credited to KFF.
Most hospital markets in metro areas became less competitive from 2015 to 2024 or were controlled by one health system over that entire period.
Our analysis explores competition among hospitals as regulators consider the impact of consolidation: https://on.kff.org/4dGAgp5
A bar chart titled "Heading Into This Year’s Midterm Elections, Health Care Costs Are Voters’ Top Economic Concern." It shows survey results from voters on their financial worries. Categories include "Health care," "Food and groceries," "Monthly utility bills," and "Gasoline or other transportation costs." Each category is divided into four voter groups: Total voters, Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. The chart highlights that 31% of total voters are very worried about health care costs, with Democrats at 33%, Independents at 36%, and Republicans at 25%. The source of the data is the KFF Health Tracking Poll.
KFF is tracking the role of health care in the midterms over the coming months.
Here’s what KFF’s polling, exit polls, and other data show about health care as an election issue currently and historically: https://on.kff.org/4sflEjU
What our Health Information and Trust program is watching: A recent court ruling on the federal vaccine schedule may add to confusion as trust in federal recommendations declines.
More in the latest edition of The Monitor: https://on.kff.org/41JezNz
Two things candidates need to connect with voters on health:
+ Convince them they really care about their health care costs
+ Have a simple, tangible solution voters can understand (even if it doesn’t solve the whole problem and isn’t a comprehensive health reform plan).
My @kff.org colleagues and I have been working on this for a while... the latest on the role that we think health care may be playing in voters' plans for 2026 www.kff.org/public-opini...
Quote from Kaye Pestaina, KFF Director of the Program on Patient and Consumer Protections. It says, “Because the information is aggregated across all items and services (except prescription drugs), with no breakdown about what types of services are being approved and denied, these statistics provide limited insight into insurers’ prior authorization practices.”
⚡ New prior authorization metrics that certain insurers are now required by federal regulation to report were published earlier this week. KFF’s Kaye Pestaina explains some of the limitations of the new data. #QuickTake https://on.kff.org/3PIliF2
Bar chart showing opinions from a KFF poll on whether ICE and CBP should arrest or detain people near health care facilities. It displays responses from total adults, Democrats, Independents, Republicans, and MAGA supporters/Non-MAGA supporters among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, with a majority indicating "should not be allowed." 86% of Democrats, 59% of Independents, and 24% of Republicans say it should not be allowed. Source: KFF Tracking Poll, February 24 to March 2, 2026.
86% of Democrats and 59% of independents say immigration enforcement activity should *not* be allowed in or around hospitals, doctors offices and clinics, while 60% of Republicans say it *should* be allowed, rising to 71% of MAGA supporters. https://on.kff.org/3PHhDat
A bar graph illustrates Medicare and Medicaid gross spending before rebates on GLP-1s from 2019 to 2024. In 2024, Medicaid spending reached $8.6B and Medicare spending reached $27.5B. Data source: KFF.
Medicare & Medicaid gross spending (before rebates) on GLP-1s rose a lot from 2019 to 2024, even though Medicare can't cover the drugs for weight loss and in Medicaid coverage is optional.
The BALANCE model could expand access to GLP-1s in both programs. https://on.kff.org/486FXsx
A quote from Drew Altman, KFF President and CEO, is featured on a blue background. The quote says, “What I see is a conundrum facing those who are thinking about big new health policy ideas for a possible new political and policy world….only so much can be done at one time…and there are real tradeoffs. The voters’ priorities and the candidates' needs are often not the experts’ priorities, and choices will need to be made between the ideas that will be popular and resonate with voters in campaigns and after elections, and those often more weedy and wonky things that are deemed important to do…” The KFF logo is displayed in the bottom right corner.
In a new column, KFF’s Drew Altman writes about the “conundrum of health policy ideas” for 2028: candidates want simple ideas they can campaign on, voters want their costs to come down, and Democrats face competing and complex priorities. https://on.kff.org/4bMtpJm
The image is a purple infographic from KFF featuring a statistic: 47% of metropolitan areas in the U.S. had only one or two hospitals or health systems providing general inpatient care in 2024. In the top right corner, there is a pie chart representing 47%. The source is KFF's analysis of various health data for 2023 and 2024.
Just one or two hospitals or health systems controlled the entire inpatient hospital market in nearly half of metropolitan areas across the country.
Our updated analysis explores the competitiveness of hospital markets amid a continuing wave of consolidation: https://on.kff.org/4dGAgp5