Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Census Data: Rate Of Uninsured Kids Rises In West, Remains High In South
Axios: Uninsured Rate Rises For Kids In Western States, Stays High In South
The odds of a child or teen being uninsured can vary a lot depending on where they live and their ethnicity, according to new census data. The rate of uninsured children has been generally ticking upward since the end of the pandemic, and advocates and policy experts expect the trend to continue due to Medicaid policy changes from last year's congressional budget law. (Bettelheim, 9/16)
Modern Healthcare: Uninsured Rate Stagnates As Hospitals Brace For Uncompensated Care
There was no significant change in the number of people without health insurance in 2025, according to new census data. More than 26.7 million people, or 7.9% of the population, did not have health insurance in 2025, a report released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau shows. In comparison, 26.9 million people, or 8%, lacked coverage in 2024. A separate report in May from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put the uninsured rate at 8.3% of the population. (Kacik, 9/15)
Bloomberg: US Household Income Rose To Record In 2025 As Poverty Fell
US household incomes rose last year to an all-time high and the poverty rate fell to one of the lowest levels on record. The median household’s inflation-adjusted income increased 2.6% last year to $87,460, according to the Census Bureau’s annual report on income, poverty and health insurance coverage. That was the highest in data back to 1967. (Fanzeres and Niquette, 9/15)
KFF Health News: Outcome Of Suit Against Department Of Labor Could Boost Skimpy Employer Health Plans
A long-running lawsuit challenging what it means to be an employee and therefore have access to work-based health plans is being closely watched by health policy analysts. Its outcome could spur the availability of lower-cost but potentially skimpier health coverage that skirts some consumer protections. Court papers indicate a settlement in the case against the Department of Labor may be in the works, although the parameters of any such deal are unknown. (Appleby, 9/16)
On Medicare and Medicaid coverage —
Stat: Medicare To Expand Pilot That Pays For Technology To Manage Chronic Diseases
A Medicare experiment in paying for technology to help people manage chronic conditions has just barely gotten underway, and officials are already moving to expand it. (Aguilar, 9/15)
Modern Healthcare: Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program Rattles Insurers
A strong start to a Medicare initiative meant to ease access to cutting-edge weight-loss drugs may portend big expenses for Medicare Advantage insurers down the line. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program launched in July offering costly glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, or GLP-1s, for weight loss at $50 a month. More than half a million enrollees — 15% of the potential Medicare market — have taken advantage of the pilot program, which is slated to run through 2027, the White House reported in August. Beneficiaries have already saved a collective $216 million, according to the White House. (Tepper, 9/15)
Spotlight on Maryland: 5 Firms Received $820M In Medicaid Funds After Facing Termination In Fraud Probe
Five home health care companies in Washington, D.C., received $820.5 million in taxpayer-funded Medicaid payments years after local regulators moved to terminate them from the program over “credible allegations of fraud.” (Hauf, 9/16)
