Daniel Payne
@danielpayne.bsky.social
Washington Correspondent @statnews.com
daniel.payne (at) statnews (dot) com
Signal: danielp.100
@politico.com / Ole Miss alum
daniel.payne (at) statnews (dot) com
Signal: danielp.100
@politico.com / Ole Miss alum
Trump announced a health plan that, if passed into law, would have implications for the entire sector.
But the plan is vague (no bill text), hasn't been scored for cost, doesn't address ACA subsidies, and has to be sold to a skeptical Congress.
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/t...
But the plan is vague (no bill text), hasn't been scored for cost, doesn't address ACA subsidies, and has to be sold to a skeptical Congress.
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/t...
Trump releases health care plan amid pressure over affordability
Trump's most consequential proposals would require action from Congress.
www.statnews.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Trump announced a health plan that, if passed into law, would have implications for the entire sector.
But the plan is vague (no bill text), hasn't been scored for cost, doesn't address ACA subsidies, and has to be sold to a skeptical Congress.
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/t...
But the plan is vague (no bill text), hasn't been scored for cost, doesn't address ACA subsidies, and has to be sold to a skeptical Congress.
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/t...
RFK Jr. said the new vaccine schedule was meant to restore trust in federal recommendations.
But major health systems don't appear to trust the new guidance — instead saying they plan to ignore it.
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/n...
But major health systems don't appear to trust the new guidance — instead saying they plan to ignore it.
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/n...
Hospitals and doctors are ignoring RFK Jr.’s new vaccine schedule and relying on pediatricians’ guidance instead
Their decisions underscore a growing divide between federal health authorities and major medical groups.
www.statnews.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:31 PM
RFK Jr. said the new vaccine schedule was meant to restore trust in federal recommendations.
But major health systems don't appear to trust the new guidance — instead saying they plan to ignore it.
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/n...
But major health systems don't appear to trust the new guidance — instead saying they plan to ignore it.
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/n...
HHS dismisses member of vaccine injury advisory panel, via @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/h...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/h...
HHS dismisses member of vaccine injury advisory panel
RFK Jr. is considering changes to the federal vaccine injury compensation program.
www.statnews.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:08 PM
HHS dismisses member of vaccine injury advisory panel, via @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/h...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/h...
New: RFK Jr. adds two OB-GYNs to vaccine advisory panel amid review of shots for pregnant women
w/ @lizzylawrence.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/n...
w/ @lizzylawrence.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/n...
Kennedy adds two OB-GYNs to vaccine advisory panel amid review of shots for pregnant women
ACIP is reviewing the shots recommended for pregnant women as RFK Jr. upends federal vaccine policy.
www.statnews.com
January 13, 2026 at 5:30 PM
New: RFK Jr. adds two OB-GYNs to vaccine advisory panel amid review of shots for pregnant women
w/ @lizzylawrence.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/n...
w/ @lizzylawrence.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/n...
Some vaccine critics hope changes to the vaccine schedule will strip makers of the shots of longstanding liability shields.
But legal experts — and industry insiders — aren't so sure.
w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/08/v...
But legal experts — and industry insiders — aren't so sure.
w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/08/v...
Slashing of U.S. vaccine schedule creates new uncertainty on manufacturers’ legal protections
RFK Jr.’s allies hope reducing the number of recommended pediatric vaccines opens the door to stripping vaccine makers of the liability shields.
www.statnews.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Some vaccine critics hope changes to the vaccine schedule will strip makers of the shots of longstanding liability shields.
But legal experts — and industry insiders — aren't so sure.
w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/08/v...
But legal experts — and industry insiders — aren't so sure.
w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/08/v...
Reposted by Daniel Payne
The industry connections of an advisory panel for the new dietary guidelines are notable, especially in light of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s criticism of corporate influence.
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/n...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/n...
Panel behind new dietary guidelines had financial ties to beef, dairy industries
The industry connections of an advisory panel for the new dietary guidelines are notable, especially in light of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s criticism of corporate influence.
www.statnews.com
January 7, 2026 at 8:06 PM
The industry connections of an advisory panel for the new dietary guidelines are notable, especially in light of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s criticism of corporate influence.
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/n...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/n...
A first look at where the $50 billion rural health fund will go — and the MAHA priorities that funding will support:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/29/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/29/t...
CMS divvies up first payments from $50B rural health fund, with an eye toward MAHA goals
The Trump administration on Monday announced the distribution of the first payments from a new $50 billion rural health fund — but not all states are getting equal payouts.
www.statnews.com
December 29, 2025 at 6:15 PM
A first look at where the $50 billion rural health fund will go — and the MAHA priorities that funding will support:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/29/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/29/t...
2026 is set to be a hugely consequential year for America’s vaccine policy.
What’s on the horizon:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/24/v...
What’s on the horizon:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/24/v...
The 3 biggest issues to watch in vaccine policy in 2026
STAT examines how U.S. vaccine policy is set to change next year.
www.statnews.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:30 PM
2026 is set to be a hugely consequential year for America’s vaccine policy.
What’s on the horizon:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/24/v...
What’s on the horizon:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/24/v...
Reposted by Daniel Payne
Robert Kennedy has long disbelieved the science around the safety & benefits of vaccines. Since becoming HHS head, he's wasted no time in altering vaccine policy. And there's more to come in 2026, @statnews.com's @danielpayne.bsky.social reports. www.statnews.com/2025/12/24/v...
The 3 biggest issues to watch in vaccine policy in 2026
STAT examines how U.S. vaccine policy is set to change next year.
www.statnews.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Robert Kennedy has long disbelieved the science around the safety & benefits of vaccines. Since becoming HHS head, he's wasted no time in altering vaccine policy. And there's more to come in 2026, @statnews.com's @danielpayne.bsky.social reports. www.statnews.com/2025/12/24/v...
NEW: The Trump administration’s plan to shrink the vaccine schedule is sending the health sector scrambling
w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @helenbranswell.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/12/23/t...
w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @helenbranswell.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/12/23/t...
Trump administration’s plan to shrink vaccine schedule sends health sector scrambling
The health sector is working to navigate what could be the most significant changes to the U.S. vaccine program in decades.
www.statnews.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:38 PM
NEW: The Trump administration’s plan to shrink the vaccine schedule is sending the health sector scrambling
w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @helenbranswell.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/12/23/t...
w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @helenbranswell.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/12/23/t...
New drug pricing policies are here — with the potential for billions in savings.
www.statnews.com/2025/12/22/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/22/t...
Trump administration proposes Medicare pilots to lower drug prices on par with peer countries
The experiments would cut the prices of some drugs to bring them in line with what other countries pay, saving Medicare billions.
www.statnews.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:29 PM
New drug pricing policies are here — with the potential for billions in savings.
www.statnews.com/2025/12/22/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/22/t...
News: The CDC employee who has been advising RFK Jr. on vaccines is getting a new role at the agency: overseeing research on adverse childhood experiences — and aligning it with MAHA priorities.
www.statnews.com/2025/12/19/w...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/19/w...
Kennedy vaccine adviser to take a new role at CDC on children’s health research
A vaccine adviser at the CDC with ties to health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is being given a new portfolio overseeing research into adverse childhood experiences.
www.statnews.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:17 PM
News: The CDC employee who has been advising RFK Jr. on vaccines is getting a new role at the agency: overseeing research on adverse childhood experiences — and aligning it with MAHA priorities.
www.statnews.com/2025/12/19/w...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/19/w...
News: White House set to announce largest batch of drug pricing agreements yet
www.statnews.com/2025/12/19/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/19/t...
White House set to announce largest batch of drug pricing agreements yet
Nine drugmakers are set to unveil deals with the Trump administration to lower the prices of some of their drugs, marking the administration’s largest such deal to date.
www.statnews.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:22 PM
News: White House set to announce largest batch of drug pricing agreements yet
www.statnews.com/2025/12/19/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/19/t...
The Trump administration intends to make its most forceful attempt yet at restricting gender-affirming care for transgender youth in the U.S.
www.statnews.com/2025/12/18/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/18/t...
In major effort to end gender-affirming care, Trump administration takes aim at hospitals
The Trump administration intends to make its most forceful attempt yet at restricting gender-affirming care for transgender youth in the U.S.
www.statnews.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:49 PM
The Trump administration intends to make its most forceful attempt yet at restricting gender-affirming care for transgender youth in the U.S.
www.statnews.com/2025/12/18/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/18/t...
Reposted by Daniel Payne
Anyway check out the full new @statnews.com STATus Report video to learn all about the new CDC hepatitis B vaccine guidance! Feat @danielpayne.bsky.social youtu.be/43QtKjCnO5c
New CDC hepatitis B vaccine guidance, explained
YouTube video by STAT
youtu.be
December 17, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Anyway check out the full new @statnews.com STATus Report video to learn all about the new CDC hepatitis B vaccine guidance! Feat @danielpayne.bsky.social youtu.be/43QtKjCnO5c
As CDC approves the new vaccine recommendations, some pediatricians and health systems say they won't follow them
www.statnews.com/2025/12/16/h...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/16/h...
CDC approves new hepatitis B vaccine recommendation as some hospitals reject changes
Many states, hospitals, and doctors say they will continue to recommend hepatitis B shots at birth.
www.statnews.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:31 PM
As CDC approves the new vaccine recommendations, some pediatricians and health systems say they won't follow them
www.statnews.com/2025/12/16/h...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/16/h...
Reposted by Daniel Payne
We've received a wonderfully large number of requests for gift subscriptions to @statnews.com this holiday season. We don't have the ability (yet) to send a nice "Amanda bought this for you!" note, but reach out to subscribers[at]statnews[dot]com and we'd love to help! 🧪 📰
December 16, 2025 at 4:44 PM
We've received a wonderfully large number of requests for gift subscriptions to @statnews.com this holiday season. We don't have the ability (yet) to send a nice "Amanda bought this for you!" note, but reach out to subscribers[at]statnews[dot]com and we'd love to help! 🧪 📰
A(nother) must-read from @lizzylawrence.bsky.social on one of the most important storylines in health care today:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/t...
FDA staff fear Tracy Beth Høeg will bring bias and instability to embattled drug center
Høeg is set to become the fifth head of the FDA's drug center in a year.
www.statnews.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:07 PM
A(nother) must-read from @lizzylawrence.bsky.social on one of the most important storylines in health care today:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/t...
ACA premium spike looms as Senate votes fail, House bill faces long odds
www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/a...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/a...
ACA premium spike looms as Senate votes fail, House bill faces long odds
Democratic and Republican proposals on health insurance voted down as year-end expiration of subsidies draws closer.
www.statnews.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:33 PM
ACA premium spike looms as Senate votes fail, House bill faces long odds
www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/a...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/a...
Reposted by Daniel Payne
This year, we @statnews.com have brought you the stories of who-knows-how-many scientists, federal workers, policy experts, and patients
For the next part of American Science, Shattered we revisit the stories of some of those people and how the year panned out
www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/a...
For the next part of American Science, Shattered we revisit the stories of some of those people and how the year panned out
www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/a...
Postscripts from the frontlines of Trump's attacks on science: no simple happy endings
Stories from the frontlines of Trump's attack on science: Follow-ups from a year of struggles in Part 7 of our series "American Science, Shattered."
www.statnews.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:40 PM
This year, we @statnews.com have brought you the stories of who-knows-how-many scientists, federal workers, policy experts, and patients
For the next part of American Science, Shattered we revisit the stories of some of those people and how the year panned out
www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/a...
For the next part of American Science, Shattered we revisit the stories of some of those people and how the year panned out
www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/a...
The federal vaccine advisers laid the groundwork this week to reexamine the childhood vaccine schedule broadly.
Then, late Friday, Trump himself directed HHS to do exactly that.
w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c...
Then, late Friday, Trump himself directed HHS to do exactly that.
w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c...
RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel is laying the groundwork for more scrutiny of childhood shots
RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel is laying the groundwork for more scrutiny of childhood shots.
www.statnews.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The federal vaccine advisers laid the groundwork this week to reexamine the childhood vaccine schedule broadly.
Then, late Friday, Trump himself directed HHS to do exactly that.
w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c...
Then, late Friday, Trump himself directed HHS to do exactly that.
w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c...
Reposted by Daniel Payne
RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel is laying the groundwork for more scrutiny of childhood shots www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c... via @statnews.com @danielpayne.bsky.social @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social
RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel is laying the groundwork for more scrutiny of childhood shots
RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel is laying the groundwork for more scrutiny of childhood shots.
www.statnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 11:52 PM
RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel is laying the groundwork for more scrutiny of childhood shots www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c... via @statnews.com @danielpayne.bsky.social @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social
Next up: ACIP is set to review the childhood vaccine schedule broadly.
Aaron Siri, a leading voice in the anti-vaccine movement with ties to RFK Jr., will brief them.
More on Siri’s presentation:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/a...
Aaron Siri, a leading voice in the anti-vaccine movement with ties to RFK Jr., will brief them.
More on Siri’s presentation:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/a...
In sweeping presentation, vaccine critic set to urge government advisers to rethink childhood shots
WASHINGTON — The future of children’s vaccines is on the agenda at today’s meeting of federal vaccine advisers, who are reviewing the childhood schedule.
www.statnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Next up: ACIP is set to review the childhood vaccine schedule broadly.
Aaron Siri, a leading voice in the anti-vaccine movement with ties to RFK Jr., will brief them.
More on Siri’s presentation:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/a...
Aaron Siri, a leading voice in the anti-vaccine movement with ties to RFK Jr., will brief them.
More on Siri’s presentation:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/a...
Reposted by Daniel Payne
A panel that advises #CDC on vaccine policy votes to do away with the recommendation all babies should be vaccinated against #hepatitisB at birth. "We are doing harm," said panel member Cody Meissner, who voted against this #ACIP recommendation. www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c...
CDC panel recommends delaying birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine
The CDC's ACIP panel voted to recommend delaying the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, ending a policy that has reined in the virus.
www.statnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:34 PM
A panel that advises #CDC on vaccine policy votes to do away with the recommendation all babies should be vaccinated against #hepatitisB at birth. "We are doing harm," said panel member Cody Meissner, who voted against this #ACIP recommendation. www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c...