Kindergarten Routine Vaccination Rates Continue to Decline

As measles cases rise across the U.S., children’s routine vaccination rates continue to decline while exemptions from school vaccination requirements, particularly non-medical exemptions, have increased. In a new analysis, KFF finds that about 280,000 kindergarteners were unvaccinated against measles in the 2025–2026 school year, and for the sixth year in a row, MMR vaccinations fell below the 95% level needed to prevent community transmission.

prior authorization

Prior Authorization Metrics Provide New Insights into Insurer Practices, but Gaps Remain

This analysis of available 2025 prior authorization data finds insurers denied at least 1 in 8 standard requests for prior authorization across three insurance markets: Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care, and the federally facilitated ACA Marketplaces. Denial rates varied wide segments by insurer. The analysis highlights limitations of the data and challenges for consumers interpreting it.

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Affordable Care Act

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