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Public Health

Health Policy 101 is a comprehensive guide covering fundamental aspects of U.S. health policy and programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, employer-sponsored insurance, the uninsured population, health care costs and affordability, women's health issues, and health care politics. The Public Health chapter examines how public health is governed and delivered in the United States. It includes explanations of key public health frameworks, services, capabilities and characteristics, how the public health system works in state, local and territorial governments, and public health funding, workforce, and communication challenges in an era of declining trust.

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  • An image of text is an excerpt from Hagere Yilma's quick take which reads, "The skepticism surrounding the FDA's retraction of a positive test tying Taylor Farms lettuce to the cyclosporiasis outbreak comes at a time of broader public distrust in the agency. KFF's April 2026 Health Tracking Poll found that just over a third (36%) of adults are confident in the FDA to act independently without interference from outside interests, including similarly low shares across partisans."

    The FDA’s Retraction of a Positive Test in the Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Raises Questions About Corrections and Trust

    Quick Insights

    The skepticism surrounding the FDA’s retraction of a positive test tying Taylor Farms lettuce to the cyclosporiasis outbreak comes at a time of broader public distrust in the agency. KFF’s April 2026 Health Tracking Poll found that just over a third (36%) of adults are confident in the FDA to act independently without interference from outside interests, including similarly low shares across partisans.

  • Americans May Be Smarter About Vaccines Than You Think

    From Drew Altman

    In a new column that analyzes recent KFF polling, Founding President and CEO Dr. Drew Altman concludes that only a sliver of the public hold definitive anti-science, anti-vaccine views, and are greatly outnumbered by the people who believe established science, with even more Americans stuck in a “muddled middle.” He writes, “when you see reports of social media engagement spiking about a health myth, don’t overreact. It’s more likely than not that it's a relatively…

  • KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Update on Common Vaccine Myths

    Poll Finding

    This poll looks at exposure to and belief in several vaccine myths and finds that people without a trusted health care provider, and those who regularly use social media or AI for health information, are generally more likely than others to belief the false claims. It also analyzes belief across vaccine myths, showing the share of the public that are consistent myth believers, consistent myth deniers, and those who land in the "mixed middle."

  • KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Use of Social Media and AI For Health Information and Advice

    Poll Finding

    This poll finds that about 3 in 10 adults turn to social media for health information and advice at least monthly. Community connection and the need for immediate answers are the top reasons why people are turning to these tools. Slim majorities of those who use social media for health are confident they can tell what is true, and relatively few take steps to check the information they receive.

  • A Look at New or Expanded Medicaid and Public Health Partnerships from 2025: Findings from A Survey of State Medicaid Programs

    A Look at New or Expanded Medicaid and Public Health Partnerships from 2025: Findings from A Survey of State Medicaid Programs

    Issue Brief

    State Medicaid and public health agencies both work to advance the health of their communities, often pursuing similar priorities and serving similar populations. This brief examines findings from KFF's 25th annual Medicaid budget survey, which asked state Medicaid directors about new or enhanced initiatives involving public health in FY 2025 or planned for FY 2026.