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KFF’s policy research provides facts and analysis on a wide range of policy issues and public programs.
KFF designs, conducts and analyzes original public opinion and survey research on Americans’ attitudes, knowledge, and experiences with the health care system to help amplify the public’s voice in major national debates.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the organization’s core operating programs.
Health Policy 101 is a comprehensive guide covering fundamental aspects of U.S. health policy and programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, employer-sponsored insurance, the uninsured population, health care costs and affordability, women's health issues, and health care politics. The Public Health chapter examines how public health is governed and delivered in the United States. It includes explanations of key public health frameworks, services, capabilities and characteristics, how the public health system works in state, local and territorial governments, and public health funding, workforce, and communication challenges in an era of declining trust.
This resource chronologically lists and briefly describes key actions taken by the Trump Administration through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that affect public health in the U.S. The actions are listed in the order in which they were first issued, reported or announced.
The proposed rule would likely lead to further declines in use of health care and programs among immigrant families. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) suggests that one of the benefits of the rule would be “a reduction in the number of aliens dependent on public benefit programs” and notes that it will result in reduced federal and state payments for individuals who disenroll or forgo enrollment in programs.
This volume shares findings from the KFF/The Washington Post Survey of Parents about exposure to and trust in children’s health content on social media, along with misleading claims following the approval of a generic version of mifepristone, reports of autism possibly being added to the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, and patients using AI chatbots to interpret lab results.
Family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance reached an average of $26,993 this year, KFF’s annual benchmark health benefits survey of large and smaller employers finds. On average, workers contribute $6,850 annually to the cost of family coverage, with employers paying the rest.
States have begun to form "health alliances" as a counter to federal public health recommendations and policies under the Trump Administration. This Policy Watch describes the goals of these alliances, and discusses what effects they may have for U.S. public health policy.
This Policy Watch examines the continued impact the Trump Administration’s Executive Order on gender is having on LGBTQ health policy issues, inlcude the removal of information and data, adoption of new CDC priorities, and approach to new PrEP recommendations.
The KFF-Washington Post partnership Survey of Parents explores experiences and views pertaining to childhood vaccines. The Survey of Parents also sheds light on school vaccination requirements, views on federal health agencies and policy changes, and the views of parents with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. This poll comes as the Trump administration revamps federal policies, and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to question the childhood vaccine schedule.
Efforts to correct misinformation can unintentionally amplify it by increasing engagement, repetition, and visibility. During times of low trust, even debunked claims can erode confidence in health institutions. Communicators can limit amplification by focusing on verified facts, using prebunking and strategic debunking, and strengthening trust with credible messengers.
Following the Trump administration’s warning last month that using acetaminophen – the active ingredient in Tylenol – during pregnancy can increase the risk of autism in children, very few adults say the claim about a causal relationship is “definitely true,” though much of the public is uncertain whether to believe it. Trust in the CDC to provide reliable vaccine information has fallen to a new low.
This Health Policy 101 chapter examines the evolution, governance and delivery of public health in the United States. The chapter includes explanations of key public health frameworks, services, capabilities and characteristics, how the public health system works in state, local and territorial governments, public health funding, workforce, and communication challenges in an era of declining trust and more.
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