Ali Swenson

National politics and health policy reporter @AP

[Adrianna McIntyre (@adrianna.bsky.social) @onceuponA]

"States are going to be asked to make a determination using information that doesn’t exist in their systems"

Still lots of confusion over whether/how frailty determinations for work requirements can be automated

And states don't have the luxury of time for CMS to figure it out

[Ali Swenson @AliSwenson]

How do you prove you're too sick to work 80 hours a month?

The question is worrying patients like cancer survivor DeAnna Brandon, whose Medicaid coverage could ultimately depend on her ability to do just that.

New from me: https://t.co/prxHnjsm4T

[Amanda Seitz @AmandaSeitz]

New w/ @dariustahir

RFK Jr. and his allies are pursuing access to Americans' medical records for autism, vaccine research through little-known state systems that collect patient information from many hospitals & health systems across the U.S.

https://t.co/nExCP78rDf

[Ali Swenson @AliSwenson]

Zach Lahn's upset in the Iowa GOP primary for governor revealed cracks in Trump’s coalition in the deep-red state. It also marked a potential breakthrough moment for the MAHA movement.

More here with @hrfingerhut:
https://t.co/oXLUL9ffC6

[Aaron Rupar @atrupar]

Q: If the president is in such perfect health, why does he keep going back in for checkups?

DR OZ: I think he likes the results. He does really well. He aces the test every single day.

[Ali Swenson @AliSwenson]

Hundreds of youths in Kenya are protesting the establishment of an Ebola quarantine center in the country where the U.S. plans to fly American citizens who are exposed to the virus abroad.
By @EvelyneMusambi https://t.co/a26wXCanlI

[Ali Swenson @AliSwenson]

Earlier this week I called snake experts about this 2024 clip. They said this method could lead to bites & harm the snake.

"The amount of force needed to control the head so the snake can’t bite is likely to cause the snake a lot of pain, and potentially break bones," one said.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr @RobertKennedyJr]

In response to the many comments about venomous snakes, this video shows how Cheryl and I handled a recent rattlesnake rescue.

[Ali Swenson @AliSwenson]

The Minneapolis immigration crackdown ended months ago. For these little kids, trauma remains
https://t.co/MF6FXt9Nry

[dart @dartunorro]

ICE detainees are dying by suicide at an 'alarming' rate, an AP investigation finds https://t.co/TdeiAnDPEZ

[The Associated Press @AP]

There is one handwashing station and one infrared thermometer to fight the Ebola epidemic in this camp for 10,000 displaced people in Bunia, a city at the heart of the outbreak in eastern Congo. https://t.co/rGyx6F8yQ0

[Meg Kinnard @MegKinnardAP]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tulsi Gabbard resigns as Trump’s national intelligence director, citing husband's health, in 4th Cabinet departure.

[Matthew Perrone @AP_FDAwriter]

SCOOP: Senior FDA tobacco officials tasked with enforcing vaping regulations were not consulted on the new guidelines and only learned of them the night before they were published: https://t.co/3EmUpMHNhL

[Ali Swenson @AliSwenson]

HHS is now using AI to police how states and other recipients of federal health dollars are auditing their programs.

The official in charge says he's been in touch with other federal agencies in hopes they follow his lead.
https://t.co/bkVfDaDB1Y

[Kenneth P. Vogel @kenvogel]

NEW: The tobacco company Reynolds American donated $5M to the Trump-backed super PAC MAGA Inc. on 4/30/2026.

8 days later, the Trump administration rolled out a new policy that could be lucrative for Reynolds by allowing it to begin selling flavored vapes https://t.co/tAivofBoaG

[The Associated Press @AP]

BREAKING: Barney Frank, a longtime Democratic congressman who crafted financial reforms and brought visibility to gay rights, dies. https://t.co/gIm368EIIm

[Ali Swenson @AliSwenson]

Dr. Oz and his deputy administrator Stephanie Carlton are currently sharing their strategic plan for CMS in a @BPC_Bipartisan forum.

Among other things, it cements how the agency is embracing artificial intelligence: "AI first for ourselves and our customers."

[Ali Swenson @AliSwenson]

Tillis... Cassidy... Massie. More. The YOLO caucus is in session. By @stevenpsloan and @Cappelletti7 https://t.co/psBU9RL1xM

[Ali Swenson @AliSwenson]

ICYMI: Nationwide enrollment in the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace could plummet by nearly 5 million people this year, according to a new KFF analysis. https://t.co/3m3MGz5O8D

[Ali Swenson @AliSwenson]

President Donald Trump on Monday announced more than 600 generic medications are being added to the government’s discounted-drug website TrumpRx:
https://t.co/hsTOltDNTM

[The Associated Press @AP]

Bill Cassidy tried to satisfy Trump and his supporters, but they didn't forgive him after he voted to convict at the president's impeachment trial over the Jan. 6 riot. The senator finished third in Saturday's Republican primary in Louisiana. https://t.co/LlXwyPAWbx