Bird flu is here to stay. The H5N1 avian influenza is proliferating among U.S. cows and there are now two strains circulating among mammals and birds. Though there are only 68 confirmed cases in people—largely dairy workers—public-health officials think bird flu is likely more widespread. Last week, a CDC report documented three asymptomatic cases in veterinarians who took care of cattle they didn't know had H5N1.
The Trump administration slashed funding for Affordable Care Act navigators, which help people sign up for ObamaCare coverage on the law's exchanges, by 90%. CMS announced health insurance navigators will receive just $10 million per year over the next four years. Navigators received $98 million in 2024.
A federal judge on Monday questioned the authority of billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency but was skeptical of a request to block DOGE from accessing sensitive data and firing employees at half a dozen federal agencies. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan held a hearing on a request from 14 states for a temporary restraining order seeking to curtail Musk's power in President Donald Trump's quest to downsize the federal government. Chutkan said she would rule within 24 hours.
Workers who were still on probation at the HHS and the agencies it oversees, were informed that they were being terminated for poor performance, even though many said they had previously received only strong performance evaluations. Though their employment was effectively terminated immediately, they were told they would receive 30 days of administrative leave.
What's been a brewing think-tank fight over Medicaid payments to hospitals and doctors could soon spill onto the main political stage should Republicans decide this is the most politically palatable way to cut the program's spending by hundreds of billions of dollars.
In a few weeks, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is expected to give its annual report on a big number: the compensation package of its top executive. This disclosure happens every year in early March, and typically generates loud news headlines and snide comments on social media. It's coming at an awkward time this year for new Blue Cross CEO Tricia Keith, even though the pay package number getting revealed — potentially $15 million or more — won't be hers, but rather that earned last year by her predecessor, Daniel Loepp, who retired Dec. 31 after nearly 20 years in the top job. Blue Cross recently raised premiums on many group plans by 11.5% for 2025 — the biggest price jump in years — and gave voluntary buyout offers to its nonunionized workforce in an effort to cut $285 million in costs this year, or $600 million total over "several" years. On the coverage front, Blue Cross on Jan. 1 stopped covering the popular and highly effective class of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, including Mounjaro and Wegovy, for patients who only use them to lose weight. (Coverage for diabetes patients continues.) The insurer cited the drugs' high cost as part of the reason for this decision.