Heading into the 2024-2025 school year, KFF explores the variation and range in policies in a growing number of states that are implementing or considering state-wide bans on cellphones in schools. on.kff.org/4dL77WK

VP Harris’s push to reduce medical debt is a tangible signal to voters about making health care more affordable, which is a top economic concern for the public. jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-…

As president, Trump proposed cuts of about $1 trillion over a decade in Medicaid and the ACA by turning the programs into block grants to states and capping federal spending. kff.org/compare-2024-c…

With VP Harris vowing to address medical debt in her campaign, @Larry_Levitt explores its connection to broader issues around affordable health care for families and recent policy efforts aimed at addressing it in his latest post JAMA Health Forum: on.kff.org/4dRKHD9

From a KFF poll last year: About 4 in 10 adults say that they live in a household with a gun. Most say that at least one gun in their home is stored in at least one way that doesn’t reflect some common gun safety practices. kff.org/other/poll-fin…

New: 4 in 10 people with private insurance are clinically eligible for GLP-1s like Ozempic & Weygovy for diabetes, weight loss, and other conditions. It's hard to think of another drug that is so expensive and has the same potential for such widespread use healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-many…

NEW: More than 50 million adults under 65 with private health insurance or 42% of the market could take GLP-1 drugs. This could have implications for private insurance premiums and health system spending. healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-many… KFF Peterson Center on Healthcare

Some employers are considering higher BMI thresholds as a criterion for covering GLP-1s for weight loss. With over 160 million people covered by an employer plan, even a higher threshold may mean millions of people. healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-many… KFF Peterson Center on Healthcare

Our new analysis looks at state school cellphone policies and the connection between cellphone use and mental health by way of social media use, cyber bullying, and distraction from in-person socialization — all of which are linked to poor mental health. on.kff.org/4dL77WK

One person’s idea of “ waste” is another’s vital program. There’s a response most republicans would whisper to a Trump government efficiency and performance task force chaired by Elon Musk: please don’t complete the work until after the midterms.

Two questions Trump has not been asked (to my knowledge) or answered: Would you support cuts in federal Medicaid funding to states? Would you support  any policy that weakens protections for people with pre- existing medical conditions?

New: A detailed look at the divergent records of Harris and Trump on Medicaid, as well as proposals from outside policy groups, including Project 2025. kff.org/medicaid/issue…

Nearly 4 in 10 (approximately 40%) of public schools report moderate to severe negative impacts on student learning and on teacher and staff morale when students use their electronic devices without permission. Our analysis has the details: on.kff.org/4dL77WK

We’re live at #TribFest24! In our panel on health policy and the election, KFF’s Larry Levitt kicked things off by saying he’d like to hear more from the candidates about Medicaid. Here in Texas, Medicaid hasn’t expanded.

Our new analysis shows over 50 million people with private coverage could be clinically eligible for GLP-1 drugs that treat type 2 diabetes, obesity, or excess weight and weight-related health issues: on.kff.org/3ANAVDu

#ICYMI: KFF’s Larry Levitt, Alex Wayne, Céline Gounder, MD, ScM, FIDSA 🇺🇦 and more experts and journalists are on stage today at the Texas Tribune Festival! #TribFest24

Disparities in health and health care between groups are longstanding and stem from broader social and economic inequalities. KFF explains what they are, why it is important to address them, and recent federal actions to mitigate disparities. on.kff.org/4dnEHlk

Our latest brief examines Vice President Harris’ and former President Trump’s records and recent policy proposals from outside groups across key Medicaid topic areas — like the ACA Medicaid expansion, financing, prescription drugs and more. on.kff.org/3My9UXk

As the potential uses of #GLP1 drugs grow, such as their new use to reduce heart attacks and strokes, the high costs of and increased demand for these drugs may increase health spending. Learn more in our latest analysis: on.kff.org/3ANAVDu

While not a key election issue, Medicaid is the single largest source of federal funding for states and covers 81M Americans. See how Medicaid waivers, which allow states to test new approaches, have been used under Trump and Biden-Harris administrations: on.kff.org/4cXqXwE