David Hilzenrath

Visit to read David's bio.

You can reach David on Signal at his handle @DavidHilzenrath.01

dhilzenrath@kff.org

Inside the High-Stakes Corporate Fight Over Feeding Preterm Babies

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

Behind their warm-and-fuzzy marketing, infant formula industry giants Abbott, maker of Similac products, and Mead Johnson, maker of the Enfamil line, have turned neonatal intensive care units into arenas of brutal competition.

Medicare Advantage ‘Dark Money’ Group Attempts To Win Higher Payments for Insurance Companies

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

Medicare Advantage insurers say a proposal by the Trump administration to keep their payments nearly flat next year may lead to service cuts that harm seniors struggling to afford health care. A decision is due by early next month.

‘MAHA Report’ Calls for Fighting Chronic Disease, but Trump and Kennedy Have Yanked Funding

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

Scientists and public health advocates see disconnects between what the Trump administration says about health — notably, in its “MAHA Report†— and what it’s actually doing.

This News Might Ruin Your Appetite — And Summer

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

Fresh studies expose a gap in the FDA’s assessments of foods: Widely used additives could damage the mix of bacteria in your gut, causing health problems.

Watch: How the FDA Opens the Door to Risky Chemicals in America’s Food Supply

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

To a great extent, the FDA leaves it to food companies to determine whether their ingredients and additives are safe. Some chemicals and additives are tied to health risks while others are absent from product labels. Watch this video explainer to learn more.

Trump Administration Retreats From 100% Withholding on Social Security Clawbacks

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

The Social Security Administration will now withhold 50% of many recipients’ monthly benefits to claw back alleged overpayments — down from the 100% it announced in March, but way up from the 10% cap imposed under former President Joe Biden.

Under Trump, Social Security Resumes What It Once Called ‘Clawback Cruelty’

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

Last year, the government stopped cutting off people’s monthly Social Security benefits to claw back overpayments. Last week, under President Donald Trump, it reversed that change.

How the FDA Opens the Door to Risky Chemicals in America’s Food Supply

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

The FDA has relied on food companies for decades to determine whether their ingredients are safe. Some chemicals and additives are tied to health risks while others are absent from product labels.

Junk Food Turns Public Villain as Power Shifts in Washington

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

Some Trump insiders are ready to take on the food industry. It remains to be seen whether their entrée will result in any meaningful change in government oversight of “Big Food†— or in American health.

La comida chatarra es la nueva villana de Washington

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

Los candidatos a las principales agencias de salud están apuntando a los alimentos ultraprocesados, que representan aproximadamente el 70% del suministro de alimentos de Estados Unidos.

Social Security Tackles Overpayment ‘Injustices,’ but Problems Remain

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

With his term soon to expire, Social Security chief Martin O’Malley’s efforts to address the agency’s overpayments to beneficiaries remain incomplete.

Unpacking the FDA’s Non-Recall Recalls

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

When the Agriculture Department posted a recall of chicken nuggets that might be contaminated, it directed consumers to return them or throw the stuff away. When the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that poorly designed baby loungers could suffocate babies, it warned consumers to immediately stop using them. But when it comes to medical devices, […]

The FDA Calls Them ‘Recalls,’ Yet the Targeted Medical Devices Often Remain in Use

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

With medical devices, recalls are not always what they seem. In some recalls, including some of the most serious, the FDA and the manufacturers let doctors and hospitals continue to use the devices.

From Dr. Oz to Heart Valves: A Tiny Device Charted a Contentious Path Through the FDA

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

The story of MitraClip, a device Dr. Oz helped invent to treat faulty heart valves, is a cautionary tale about the science, business, and regulation of medical technology.

After Grilling an NIH Scientist Over Covid Emails, Congress Turns to Anthony Fauci

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

In a trove of emails brought to light through a congressional probe, a former close adviser to longtime National Institutes of Health official Anthony Fauci spoke of hiding messages from public disclosure.

FTC Chief Says Tech Advancements Risk Health Care Price Fixing

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

Technological advances including the widespread use of algorithms make it easier for companies to fix prices without explicitly coordinating, Lina Khan said at a KFF event.