NEWS & VIEWS

March 26, 2026

Judge Rules on ACIP Membership and Actions

Beginning in July 2025, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other ‌medical groups sued Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., (RFK, Jr.) in his official capacity, challenging the unilateral changes to vaccine recommendations and the composition of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). A notable amendment was made in January of 2026, adding a challenge to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)'s updated vaccine recommendations, in which six common childhood vaccines were moved from "recommended" to "shared decision making".

Last week, a U.S. District judge decided in favor of the AAP and other medical groups. The judge concluded:

"Plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary relief is GRANTED in part. (i) The Court STAYS the January 2026 Memo revising the CDC’s childhood immunization schedule pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 705. (ii) The Court STAYS the appointments of the thirteen ACIP members appointed on June 11, 2025, September 11, 2025, and January 13, 2026. (iii) The Court further STAYS all votes taken by the now-stayed ACIP."

The Trump Administration is likely to appeal. Read more here.

ISHN Conference

The theme of ISHN 2026 is Champions in Action: Empowering Healthier Hoosier Kids. This conference offers a winning opportunity for school health professionals and youth-serving adults to share expertise and foster collaboration while earning free continuing education credits. 

Consistent, caring relationships are the foundation of youth well-being, learning, and long-term success. Attendees will learn practical tactics and inspiring strategies to guide and support kids on their journey to becoming confident champions of their health and future. 

Date: June 15-17, 2026

Location: Plainfield, IN Embassy Suites Hotel

Cost: FREE

Survey of Marketplace Enrollees

This week, KFF published Cost Concerns and Coverage Changes: A Follow-up Survey of ACA Marketplace Enrollees. Findings include:

• 80% of those who re-enrolled in Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace coverage say their health care costs are “higher” or “a lot higher” this year.
• ACA Marketplace enrollees are worried about affording monthly premiums as well as out of pocket costs. For those with lower incomes and those with chronic health conditions, the worries are even greater.
• Health care costs are straining household budgets with a majority of returning Marketplace enrollees saying they are or will be cutting back on food or basic household items in order to afford the costs of coverage and care.
• 28% of 2025 Marketplace enrollees switched to a different Marketplace plan for 2026, stating cost as the main reason.
• 9% of all 2025 Marketplace enrollees are now uninsured. For 2025 Marketplace enrollees between 18-29 years old, 14% are now uninsured. When younger, usually healthier, adults leave the Marketplace, costs increase for those remaining. Note: In Indiana, 15% of the uninsured are 9-25 years old and 20% of the uninsured are 26-34 years old. 

Junk Plans

A recent blog post from Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms, The Peddling of “Junk Plans” To Consumers Facing Higher Insurance Premiums, explains the risks and harms of these products. “Junk plans” is a term used to describe a range of insurance products that do not have to comply with ACA protections such as benefits requirements and non-discrimination provisions. Many use medical underwriting, which bases the availability of plans and cost on an individual’s health status.

These products can be harmful in three ways:

• They often have major coverage limitations such as skimpy benefits and exclusions since they are not subject to most state and federal health insurance standards.
• The marketing of the plans can be misleading, leading consumers to believe the plans offer major medical insurance, which they do not.
• The non-ACA products are often marketed to younger and healthier individuals, raising the cost of Marketplace plans.

Not all non-ACA compliant plans are inherently harmful to consumers. Problems often arise when non-ACA regulated products are marketed as alternatives to major medical insurance, putting consumers at financial and coverage risk they may not understand until it is too late. Misleading or inflated marketing messages seem to have become more frequent recently as Marketplace plan premiums have spiked.

Here are some examples of offers characterized as “junk plans”:

2026 Indiana KIDS COUNT Data Book Presentations

Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) is offering a series of in person meetings to review county specific information from the 2026 Indiana KIS COUNT Data Book. To learn when an IYI 2026 State of the Child presentation is coming to your county, click here.

Newborn Preventive Care

Refusals of routine preventive care for newborns are increasing, with vitamin K shot refusals nearly doubling from 2.9% to 5.2% between 2017 and 2024. The trend suggests growing medical mistrust is extending beyond vaccines to other standard, evidence-based infant care practices.

CDC AI Strategy

The CDC has released its first agency-wide AI strategy, emphasizing the use of “agentic” AI tools that can autonomously synthesize information and support public health decision-making. It also clarifies when these tools are appropriate—like rapid evidence reviews—and when they should be limited, such as with sensitive data or tasks requiring expert judgment.

April 6 is Voter Registration Deadline

for Indiana’s Primary Election

• Check that you're registered to vote on Indiana's website. If you’re not registered: Register online by April 6. 
• Your by mail registration form must be postmarked by April 6. 
• Absentee ballot requests must be received by April 23 and returned ballots must be received by May 5. 
• Early voting (in-person absentee voting) takes place April 7 through May 4, with in-person voting taking place on May 5. 

Tuesday, April 14 at 2 pm ET

Justice in Aging is hosting a webinar, Navigating the Social Security Administration: Options for Advocates. The webinar will outline the current state of customer service at the Social Security Administration (SSA) and discuss practical strategies for navigating SSA.

Wednesday, April 15 at 3 pm ET



Join Deb Robarge, BSN, RN, past Director of Nursing at the Indiana School for the Deaf and member of the CKF-IN Board of Directors, along with disease survivors as they share their stories in a webinar titled Grandparents for Vaccines. Register to learn about their efforts with a nationwide advocacy group aimed at convincing younger generations of the importance of vaccines.

Thursday, April 23 at 1:30 pm ET



The Urban Institute is hosting a webinar, Juvenile Justice and Health Equity: The Role of Trauma-Informed Courts for Youth with Disabilities. The webinar will discuss actionable, trauma-informed strategies to protect and promote the health and well-being of youth with disabilities. 

Wednesday, April 29 at noon ET



Indiana Rural Health Association is offering a series of Lunch and Learn Webinars including Medicaid Coverage for Pregnant Women: Timing Matters. The full lineup and registration can be found here.

Things to Know About Quitting Nicotine

During Times of Stress

The Truth Initiative explains that quitting nicotine during times of stress can be especially challenging, but it is both possible and beneficial with the right support. They emphasize that while many people turn to nicotine as a way to cope with stress, it can actually worsen anxiety and mental health symptoms over time, and quitting can ultimately improve overall well-being.

The article highlights that withdrawal symptoms, such as irritability, restlessness and difficulty concentrating, are temporary and often mistaken for increased stress, which can discourage quit attempts. Finally, it underscores the importance of using evidence-based resources like counseling, social support, and structured programs to successfully quit, noting that having a plan and support system significantly increases the likelihood of long-term success.

Thank You!

Thank you to those who supported the inaugural webinar - Nicotine Dependence: Screening to Support - sponsored by the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation (TPC) Program at Covering Kids & Families of Indiana. 

The CKF-IN staff and leadership sincerely appreciate the speakers for sharing their expertise, insights, and experiences on the importance of including nicotine in conversations about substance use treatment. Their contributions were inspirational and invaluable.

Click the picture below for the recording!

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