Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
First Edition: Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026
KFF HEALTH NEWS ORIGINAL STORIES
KFF Health News: California Eyes Prison Heat Protections That Fall Short Of Workplace Standards
As Californians have weathered relentless heat waves, state workplace safety regulators have repeatedly reminded employers to protect employees from heat illness by providing water, shade, cooldown areas, and additional rest breaks when temperatures climb. But there’s a notable exception in the state’s heat safety rules: Not covered are the nurses, guards, staff, and tens of thousands of incarcerated people who work in California’s aging correctional facilities, which are largely not air-conditioned. (Rode, 9/17)
KFF Health News: 3 Common Drugs Older Adults Might Be Overusing
The scenario often unfolds like this: Medical researchers investigate a frequently used drug and report that it’s less effective for older patients than previously thought, or that its risks outweigh its benefits in older adults. More studies follow, confirming those findings. After a few years, medical associations revise their guidelines, warning that the drug in question should be avoided or at least prescribed more selectively. It might be added to the Beers Criteria, an influential list of potentially inappropriate medications for older patients, published by the American Geriatrics Society. (Span, 9/17)
KFF Health News: Listen To The Latest ‘KFF Health News Minute’
Zach Dyer reads the week’s news: The high cost of fertility treatment is making some Americans look abroad for help getting pregnant. Plus, a nonprofit in Austin, Texas, is trying to keep its city’s music scenes going by helping artists pay for health insurance. (9/17)
CAPITOL WATCH
Stat: HHS Nominee Chris Klomp Faces Scrutiny At Senate Hearings
Over two days, senators on two key committees focused on the authority Chris Klomp already wields, and how he would use this power should he be confirmed as second-in-command to health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Cirruzzo, 9/16)
Roll Call: Surgeon General Nominee Won’t Renounce RFK Jr. Vaccine Decisions
Surgeon general nominee Nicole Saphier, seeking to be confirmed as the nation’s top health educator and spokesperson, on Wednesday declined to fully distance herself from the Trump administration’s changes to the childhood vaccine schedule when pressed by a prominent Republican. (Cohen, 9/16)
The Washington Post: Sen. Cassidy Says Measles Surge Will Be Administration’s ‘Terrible Legacy’
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) on Wednesday said the nation’s worst measles outbreak in the United States in 35 years is “going to be a terrible legacy for this administration,” citing recent deaths in Pennsylvania. “Misinformation and misguided policies are leaving children and adults unprotected against disease that we know how to prevent,” Cassidy, a physician and chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said at the outset of a hearing for three key administration nominees. (Roubein, 9/16)
Stat: GOP Aims To Change Medicare Adviser’s Math So It’s More Favorable To Health Insurers
Normally, discussions about how congressional advisers study Medicare spending are quite dry. Not so at the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday. In a party line vote, committee Republicans pushed forward a bill that seeks to change how the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission studies Medicare Advantage spending. In particular, this bill would direct the nonpartisan agency to study the topic of overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans in a manner that’s more favorable to insurers. (Wilkerson, 9/16)
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
Bloomberg: HHS Launches SPECTRA Initiative To Advance Autism Research With AI Tools
The US Department of Health and Human Services plans to launch a new research initiative related to autism, using AI and other technology to map how the condition develops and identify opportunities for early intervention. The initiative, called SPECTRA, will analyze available data and then fill in the gaps on “the missing biology needed to treat earlier and prevent avoidable illness,” according to a draft document reviewed by Bloomberg News. The program will operate under the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, a division of HHS that funds potential breakthroughs in biomedical research at an accelerated pace. (Cohrs Zhang and Ambaye, 9/16)
Stat: Researchers Sue NIH For Violating First Amendment Rights
A group of researchers are suing the National Institutes of Health for allegedly infringing on their freedom of speech by screening grants for certain words and phrases when making funding decisions. (Oza, 9/16)
Stat: FDA Rehiring Efforts After DOGE Are Delayed By Original DOGE Cuts
To hear Food and Drug Administration leaders tell it, everything is going swimmingly — a far cry from the dark days of April 2025, when Elon Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service took a chainsaw to the agency, slashing 3,500 workers and triggering a broader staff exodus. (Manto, 9/17)
MedPage Today: Health, Defense Secretaries Pave Way For Ketamine Drug
At first, the Federal Register notice set off alarm bells: The secretaries of health and defense were collaborating on emergency use of medical countermeasures for U.S. military forces -- but they didn't specify why. In July, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth determined there was a military emergency -- or significant potential for one -- involving a higher risk of a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attack on U.S. forces. (Fiore, 9/16)
Axios: Top Trump Adviser Susie Wiles Says She's Cancer Free
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles announced Wednesday she is cancer free. Wiles, President Trump's most trusted adviser, announced in March that she had early stage breast cancer, but planned to stay on the job as she sought treatment. (Scribner, 9/16)
HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY
Bloomberg: Walmart And Insurer Scan Health To Sell Medicare Advantage Plan
Walmart Inc. and nonprofit insurer Scan Health Plan are partnering to sell Medicare Advantage plans to seniors, betting that they can use the big-box retailer’s data to push down the cost of healthcare. Prices for medical care have risen steeply in recent years, making it more difficult for health insurers to profit by selling Medicare Advantage plans, which are a private version of Medicare. Insurers have been pulling back and closing some plans, forcing millions of people to find other coverage. Scan hopes their plan may help fill some of that gap. (Swetlitz, 9/16)
Modern Healthcare: Dartmouth Health Layoffs: 124 Workers, 303 Open Jobs Cut
Dartmouth Health cut several programs, laid off 124 employees and eliminated 303 open positions, the nonprofit health system announced Tuesday. The nine-hospital organization needed to address its expenses in the face of rising labor, supply and drug costs and lower reimbursement rates, Dartmouth Health said in a news release. The workforce changes include consolidating and restructuring executive roles and administrative leadership positions, according to the release. (Kacik, 9/16)
MedPage Today: Aging Doctors Face A Patchwork Of Cognitive Screening Policies, Study Shows
Policies addressing cognitive decline in aging physicians were uncommon in the U.S. and similar countries, a comparative policy analysis showed. Unlike safety-critical fields in other industries, healthcare has historically relied on self-regulation and peer review rather than proactive cognitive screening, though some hospital systems screen physicians independently, reported Nathan Stall, MD, PhD, of the University of Toronto, and co-authors. (George, 9/16)
The Baltimore Sun: Nurse Who Diverted Pain Meds From Child Patient Sentenced
A former University of Maryland Medical Center nurse was sentenced to 30 days in jail for diverting morphine intended for a 10-year-old patient, the Maryland attorney general’s office said Wednesday. (Byrne, 9/16)
Medical Xpress: Caregivers Worldwide Often Sacrifice Their Own Well-Being, 20 Years Of Research Further Confirms
Caregivers of people with cancer, heart problems and other long-term illnesses report needing more psychological support but often stop short of accessing it. While that statement may not be surprising to people who have been in the position of caring for a loved one, it is a stark conclusion that follows a comprehensive review of 20 years of research involving more than 80,000 people. The findings are published today by experts at the Australian institutions the University of Sydney and the University of Queensland in the journal Psychology & Health. (9/16)
Modern Healthcare: Medtech Mergers And Acquisitions Rose 36% In Q2 2026: PMCF
Medtech mergers and acquisitions are on the rise. Deals rose 36% in the second quarter from the previous quarter, as buyers gained confidence amid improving financing conditions, according to a recent report by investment bank PMCF. The uptick reflects continued interest in medtech companies and contract development and manufacturing organizations, and pent-up demand for deals that were held back in 2025, said Mike Brooks, a director at PMCF. (Dubinsky, 9/16)
Modern Healthcare: How Hospitals Are Leaning On Philanthropy As Pressures Mount
Hospitals and health systems are doubling down on seeking philanthropy partners as they navigate growing financial challenges. A worsening payer mix, a rise in uncompensated care and higher labor and supply costs are threatening margins and requiring hospitals to look to their foundations to help fund clinical operations. The successful organizations are investing in their philanthropy teams and looking to clinical leaders to more effectively sell their story to potential donors. (DeSilva, 9/16)
PHARMACEUTICALS
CIDRAP: Meant To Cut US Prescription Drug Prices, Proposed Medicare Policies May Do The Opposite—With Global Implications
The Trump administration’s proposed Medicare “Most-Favored Nation” pricing policies could drive up prescription drug prices and slow drug launches around the world, a modeling study published this week in The Lancet concludes. The policies are aimed at lowering the prices of drugs in the United States, which are an estimated three to five times higher than in European countries. But manufacturers’ ability to strike confidential deals with the Trump administration and challenges in implementing the policies could cancel out any savings, the study authors say. (Van Beusekom, 9/16)
Healthcare Dive: Express Scripts Targeted By Arkansas Pharmacies In First-Of-Its-Kind Lawsuit
A group of independent pharmacies in Arkansas are suing Express Scripts, one of the largest pharmaceutical middlemen in the U.S., for allegedly underpaying for tens of thousands of prescriptions. The lawsuit filed Tuesday, which seeks hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, is the first filed under a state law passed last year giving Arkansas pharmacies the ability to go after PBMs for reimbursing them below the acquisition cost of drugs, according to lawyers for the plaintiffs. (Parduhn, 9/16)
MedPage Today: Contaminated Glutathione Injections Sicken Dozens In U.S.
More than 25 people across four states became sick after getting glutathione injections, and at least three were hospitalized, according to the CDC. All three had received intravenous glutathione, and one had to be admitted to the intensive care unit to be treated for shock and abnormal blood clotting. The main problem appears to be that all of the injections were made by compounding pharmacies that used glutathione ingredients that were intended for use only in dietary supplements. (Fiore, 9/16)
MedPage Today: FDA Warns Of Serious Risks Tied To Misuse Of Double-Chin Fat Dissolver
Unapproved use of deoxycholic acid injection (Kybella) outside of the submental fat region may carry a risk of neuromuscular and other potentially serious adverse events, according to an FDA labeling update. A review of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) revealed 129 cases of adverse events associated with use of deoxycholic acid in unapproved areas since the product was approved in 2015, the agency stated in a safety communication. The reports included some serious adverse events, such as blurred or reduced vision with periorbital use of deoxycholic acid injection and muscle or nerve injury, including facial paresis and paresthesia. (Bankhead, 9/16)
MedShadow Foundation: What Americans Really Want From Drug Ads
Results from a new national poll show broad support for fewer prescription drug ads, and tighter rules governing how they’re regulated. (Jaycox, 9/15)
San Francisco Chronicle: Psychedelic Research Has A Problem: Everyone Knows Who Got High
Psychedelic research has blown up in medicine over the past decade, with scientists exploring magic mushrooms, acid and other mind-altering drugs to treat a host of conditions, from depression and anxiety to intractable post-traumatic stress disorder. But as the first potential therapies hurtle toward U.S. federal approval, some scientists say the field is skipping a critical step in studying these drugs: double-blinding. (Allday, 9/16)
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
The New York Times: OpenAI Discloses Six New Incidents Of ‘Concerning' A.I. Behavior
OpenAI on Wednesday disclosed six new instances in which artificial intelligence systems hid mistakes, made up data and moved files onto the open internet without permission, amid an ongoing industrywide debate about A.I. safety. The San Francisco company revealed what it said was the “unexpected or concerning” behavior of its A.I. models as part of a new framework for reporting “misalignment,” which is when the goals or actions of A.I. systems diverge from human intentions and values. (Martin, 9/16)
Axios: AI Is Not Yet Driving Drug Development
Curing disease is one of AI's most tantalizing use cases, fetching billions of VC dollars, but thus far it's generated more excitement than evidence. That's the thrust of a peer-reviewed paper published in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, which calls the clinical impact of AI "disappointingly limited." (Primack and Rychlewski, 9/16)
Bloomberg: Headspace Meditation App Being Acquired By AI Startup Sword For $300 Million
Headspace, a popular meditation and mental health support app, is being acquired by Sword Health, an artificial intelligence startup focused on healthcare. The Headspace acquisition, announced Wednesday, is expected to close by the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2026, the companies said in an interview. The all-cash deal is valued near $300 million, according to a person with knowledge of the matter, who declined to be identified discussing private details of the transaction. (Kelly, 9/16)
The CT Mirror: CT Announces AI Regulations For State Employee Health Plans
Amid a surge in the national debate about the dangers of artificial intelligence, Comptroller Sean Scanlon on Wednesday announced regulations governing the use of AI technology by health insurance companies that administer benefits for the state employee health plan — rules he wants lawmakers to extend more broadly in 2027. (Golvala, 9/16)
STATE WATCH
The New York Times: Family of Woman Who Died While Pregnant Sues Texas Over Abortion Ban
Other lawsuits by women who say they were denied abortions despite grave risks to their lives or their fetuses have been dismissed or blocked by state courts. This lawsuit claims that state officials created a climate of fear that kept doctors from ending Tierra Walker’s pregnancy before she died. (Sandoval, 9/16)
The CT Mirror: Four Rural CT Hospitals Receive $46 Million In Federal Health Grants
Four rural Connecticut hospitals are getting millions in federal grant dollars that will be used to expand and upgrade imaging, telehealth and transport services, among other initiatives. (Allen, 9/16)
Spotlight on Maryland: Maryland Fails To Process Hundreds Of Disability Appeals, Violating Federal Rules
Hundreds of Marylanders have filed appeals amid budget cuts and denials of disability services over the past two years. In more than two hundred cases, the state has failed to process those appeals, violating federal rules. (Conrad, 9/17)
ABC News: NC Teen Who Died From Brain-Eating Amoeba Likely Infected From Community Center Water Feature: Officials
The North Carolina teenager who died after contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba called Naegleria fowleri was likely infected from a water feature at a community center, according to state and local officials. Naegleria fowleri, also known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis or PAM, has been found in warm freshwater, including ponds, lakes and rivers, and it grows best in hotter water, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. (Arancio and Shapiro, 9/16)
PUBLIC HEALTH
The New York Times: Covid Vaccines Delayed For Half Of U.S. Children
Nearly three weeks after the Food and Drug Administration approved updated Covid vaccines, about half of American children still cannot receive them, because the federal government has not made the doses available through the Vaccines for Children program. (Astor, 9/16)
CIDRAP: Few People With The Flu Isolate For The Recommended Period
A few days after contracting the flu, muscle aches fade, exhaustion lifts, and the couch starts to lose its appeal. A return to ordinary life feels overdue. But according to a study published last week in the American Journal of Epidemiology, some people diagnosed as having flu might shed the most virus RNA just as their symptoms start to improve. It’s also when roughly four-fifths of study participants stopped isolating and started interacting with the broader community. (Bergeson, 9/16)
The 19th: Violence Against Women And Trans People Is Worse Than Previously Thought, New Research Finds
Violence against women and trans people is worse than previously thought, according to new research released Wednesday from Tulane University and University of California, San Diego. (Mithani and Padilla, 9/16)
MedPage Today: Air Pollution May Influence Suicide Risk, Meta-Analysis Suggests
Exposure to air pollution showed positive associations with risks for death by suicide, attempted suicide, and suicidal ideation, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis. (Monaco, 9/16)
SCIENCE AND INNOVATIONS
Newsweek: Scientists Uncover A Hidden Alzheimer’s Clue Deep Inside Brain Cells
Scientists have discovered that the three-dimensional shape of DNA inside brain cells is disrupted in Alzheimer's disease, uncovering a previously hidden layer of the illness that could point researchers toward new treatments. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Washington found that the way the genome folds differs in certain brain cells from people with Alzheimer's, changing which genes are switched on and off. (Fleur Afshar, 9/17)
The Hill: Study Finds That Kids' Risk Of Anxiety, Behavioral Issues Rises When There's A Cat In The House
Got a cat and a toddler in the house? One study suggests that could lead to a purrrfect storm when it comes to your child’s emotional development. Researchers tracking nearly 1,900 families found kids who had a cat at home, specifically kids aged 4-5, were more likely to show signs of anxiety, withdrawal or emotional struggles by the time they turned 7 or 8. They were also somewhat more likely to act out, break rules or have other behavioral issues. The study also looked at dogs, birds, rodents, fish and reptiles, but none showed the same pattern. (Fischels, 9/15)
GLOBAL WATCH
The New York Times: Fiji Declares A National Emergency As H.I.V. Cases Skyrocket
Fiji has declared a national crisis amid an extraordinary rise of H.I.V. cases, with health officials raising the alarm about an epidemic that has emerged alongside an increase in injectable drug use. ... UNAIDS, a United Nations program, said in a statement on Wednesday that it was “one of the sharpest increases in new H.I.V. infections globally.” Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of UNAIDS, added that Fiji’s epidemic was “a stark reminder to the world that AIDS is not over.” (Irwin, 9/16)
Bloomberg: A Life-Extending Breast Cancer Drug Finally Comes To England
Women with an aggressive form of breast cancer in England will finally get access to a drug from AstraZeneca Plc and Daiichi Sankyo Co. on the National Health Service, after an agreement was reached with the regulator. About 1,000 women a year will be eligible for Enhertu, which is approved to be used on patients whose cancer cells have lower levels of a protein called HER2. Many patients have died since the medicine was first rejected by the drug price regulator in 2024, according to campaign group Breast Cancer Now. (Furlong, 9/17)
