PolicyAug 28, 2026
Why Older Pedestrians Fare Worse in Car Crashes
People age 65 and up are more likely than other age groups to die after being hit by a vehicle.
Policy
Updated Sep 15, 2026 5:00 AM PT
Policy Psychologist News
Current reporting, research and professional developments across Policy, curated for psychologists and behavioral-health professionals.
PolicyAug 28, 2026
High Fertility Costs Push Americans Abroad for IVF Treatment
Despite President Donald Trump’s promises to make fertility treatment more affordable, the overall costs for one IVF cycle in the U.S. remain in the tens of thousands of dollars. So more Americans than ever are going to…
PolicyAug 28, 2026
Trump and Kennedy’s Health Industry Deals Haven’t Been Enforced and Are at Risk of Vanishing
The agreements, covering issues like drug pricing, reducing the use of synthetic food dyes, and cutting back on insurance prior authorization rules, were announced with fanfare and touted as victories. But it’s not clear…
PolicyAug 27, 2026
$50B Rural Health Transformation Program Needs More Transparency, Groups Say
States must submit Rural Health Transformation Program progress reports to the federal government, but they aren’t required to proactively post those reports, or related information, publicly.
PolicyAug 27, 2026
A Camp for Children With Brain Injuries Zips Ahead, Despite Federal Uncertainty
Federal programs that support brain injury research and services are in flux, with lapsed legislation and a diminished injury-tracking workforce. Still, in rural Pennsylvania, children with acquired brain injuries…
PolicyAug 26, 2026
In Toss-Up House District, Voters Crave Leadership To Fix Broken Healthcare
Voters in California’s 22nd Congressional District call healthcare a top priority in November’s midterm elections. Although challenger Randy Villegas has built a following among residents craving change, undecided voters…
PolicyAug 26, 2026
Her Breast MRI Was Approved, But That Didn’t Mean Her Insurance Would Pay
Stephanie Halver’s doctor recommended she get a breast MRI, partly because of her family’s cancer history. Her insurer approved the scan, but unlike mammograms, breast MRIs aren’t universally covered as zero-cost…
PolicyAug 26, 2026
Trump Puts Autistic Kids in the Spotlight and Cuts Agencies Built To Protect Them
Researchers and disability rights advocates warn that the Trump administration’s dismantling of the Education Department and its erosions of civil rights oversight risk widening the disparities autistic children face in…
PolicyAug 26, 2026
Reducing barriers to accessing mental health
If access to mental health care is a barrier, you don’t have to live near a specialist or wait months, to take the first step to improve your mental health.
PolicyAug 25, 2026
The Medicare GLP-1 Discount Has One Big Catch: Some Sick Patients Don’t Qualify
The new Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program promises eligible beneficiaries access to popular weight loss drugs for as little as $50 a month. But for some, having the very medical conditions these drugs are approved to treat…
PolicyAug 25, 2026
Where Florida’s Gun Violence Exacts Its Biggest Toll on Black and Latino Children
An analysis of hospital claims data in Florida found that firearm injuries of children disproportionately hit families in a handful of ZIP codes, almost all of them in Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami, or Tampa Bay.
PolicyAug 24, 2026
What Should Modern Employee Health Insurance Cover?
A modern employee health plan should cover far more than a hospital stay. Good employee cover now pays for everyday care, check-ups, mental health, and maternity too.
PolicyAug 24, 2026
California Weighs Penalties for Healthcare Providers That Don’t Rein In Costs
About half of U.S. adults say they can’t afford healthcare. California is among at least eight states that have set spending growth targets for the healthcare sector. It may soon impose enforcement penalties aimed at…
PolicyAug 24, 2026
Ebola Is Still Killing in Central Africa. These Groups Are Working To Save Lives.
Health workers are continuing to treat patients and train caregivers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak on record continues.
PolicyAug 23, 2026
Mental health lifeline moves closer as NJ funds new crisis centers
A restored $16.45 million will help open crisis centers across New Jersey for people facing mental health and substance use emergencies.
PolicyAug 22, 2026
How poverty, unemployment, financial insecurity are increasing mental health issues in Nigeria – Powell
Jecinta Powell is a mental health advocate and the founder of SENA Psychotherapy and Counseling. In this interview with NGOZI ...
PolicyAug 22, 2026
Journalists Highlight Innovations in Vaccines and Safeguarding Maternal Health
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
PolicyAug 22, 2026
How a Billionaire Shaped Trump’s Homelessness Policy
As Republicans have embraced tough measures to clear the streets, no group has led the way more than the Cicero Institute, founded by the venture capitalist Joe Lonsdale.
PolicyAug 21, 2026
TAL creates chief customer and health officer role as mental health claims double in five years
The Code Compliance Committee has flagged that some insurers still default to broad mental health exclusions rather than individual assessment. Denby's prevention and recovery mandate is part of the s ...
PolicyAug 21, 2026
New DOJ Guidance Could Give States Cover To Cut Disability Services
A new rule from the Justice Department upends a 25-year-old interpretation of federal disability law. Advocates fear it could result in cuts to services that help many disabled Americans live at home instead of in…
PolicyAug 21, 2026
Watch: Mark Cuban Says You Can’t Fix Healthcare Until Every Price Is Known
With his online pharmacy, Mark Cuban changed how generic drugs are sold — and he has thoughts about how to fix the healthcare system. The billionaire businessman talks to KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to answer the…
PolicyAug 21, 2026
How Louisiana’s New Surgeon General Wants To Transform Public Health
Evelyn Griffin is pushing for more emphasis on wellness and prevention. She has also aligned with the MAHA movement in fighting government mandates and questioning the safety of some vaccines.
PolicyAug 21, 2026
Mental Health Is a Warfighting Readiness Problem for the U.S. Navy
You cannot be at mental peace always. You will be worried. So even my family — they are scared all the time, and they were anxiously praying the vessel ...
PolicyAug 20, 2026
Stakeholders review indicators to track mental health policy implementation
Stakeholders have reviewed and prioritised indicators to assess how effectively Nepal’s mental health policies and programmes are being implemented.
PolicyAug 20, 2026
How Much of a Cancer Drug Is Too Much? Patients, Researchers Challenge FDA-Approved Dosages
Patients and researchers point to evidence that many cancer drug dosages are excessive, and that reducing the amount and frequency could save billions of dollars and prevent some of the worst side effects.
PolicyAug 20, 2026
Violence Against Healthcare Workers and Staffing Shortages Fuel Hospital Strikes
Healthcare workers at a Michigan hospital have been on strike since last September. Violence on the job is one reason behind it, with federal data showing hospital workers are seven times as likely to be injured on the…
PolicyAug 19, 2026
You Want To Join a Clinical Trial. Here’s What To Know About the Hurdles.
The Department of Health and Human Services has launched an effort to streamline clinical research, and legislation is pending in Congress. But patients and providers face participation challenges.
PolicyAug 19, 2026
Medicare’s Paying Less for Cataract Surgery. Eye Doctors Are Turning to Lucrative Lasers.
More cataract patients, wanting not only restored but improved vision, are paying extra for their doctors to use a laser when a scalpel would do.
PolicyAug 18, 2026
Mental health benefits go unused as awareness gap persists, study finds
A Lincoln Financial and IBI study of 1,503 call center workers finds the utilization problem is driven by communication failures, not coverage gaps ...
PolicyAug 18, 2026
Mental health claims are reshaping life insurance – and advisers are on notice
Australia’s life insurance industry is confronting a structural claims shift it cannot address at the point of claim alone. AIA Australia’s announcement on August 18 of a Premier Partnership with ...