Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
First Edition: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026
KFF HEALTH NEWS ORIGINAL STORIES
KFF Health News: California’s Billionaire Tax Promises Healthcare Relief. The Fine Print Is Murkier
The pitch behind California’s billionaire tax proposal is simple: Tax the richest residents in the nation’s wealthiest state to offset steep federal cuts to healthcare, food assistance, and education. But if approved by voters in November, it’s unclear how much money the ballot initiative would raise, how quickly the funding would become available, and how lawmakers would spend it. (Fortiér, 10/14)
KFF Health News: Aging Life Care Managers Can Be A ‘Godsend’ For Families
Kristin Martinelli began her workday at 7:30 a.m. on a recent Monday, completing an online Medicaid recertification form for a client in a nursing home in Austin, Texas. Next, she drove to meet an 85-year-old and her daughter, who had come in from out of town. The older woman had “pretty advanced dementia” and was scheduled to move into the secure memory care unit of a senior living facility that day, said Martinelli, who works as an aging life care manager with Mir Care Consultants in Central Texas. The three of them had a 9 a.m. meeting with the primary care doctor who would complete the paperwork for the move. (Span, 10/14)
GLOBAL WATCH
AP: Pope Leo XIV Diagnosed With Lung Cancer After Surgery To Remove Part Of Right Lung
Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery Tuesday that confirmed he has lung cancer and doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung, the Vatican said. Tests confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin after the surgery. It said the diagnosis had been suspected by preoperative tests and was confirmed during surgery. (Winfield and Barry, 10/13)
The Washington Post: What To Know About Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that can affect various organs. It is the most common subtype of lung cancer. It is often found in smokers but can also occur in people who have never smoked. Other risk factors for lung cancer include exposure to radon gas, asbestos or second-hand smoke. (Wu, 10/14)
The New York Times: Leo XIV’S Lung Cancer Diagnosis Tests The Assumption Of A Long Papacy
When Leo XIV was elected pope less than 18 months ago, he seemed to have years ahead of him to shape the Roman Catholic church. At 69, he was young by recent papal standards, and the faithful marveled at his energy and apparently robust health. He was known to play tennis regularly and had no reported medical problems. He reintroduced summer vacations to make sure he remained fresh and rested. Leo, the first pope born in the United States, marked a break from his predecessor, Francis, who started his papacy at age 76 but had already had a lung condition at a young age. (Rich, 10/13)
CBS News: Pope Leo XIV's Brother Louis Prevost Also Battling Cancer, Wife Tells CBS News
Louis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV's older brother who lives in Florida, has multiple myeloma, his wife told CBS News on Tuesday. The news comes amid the Vatican's earlier announcement that the pope has been diagnosed with lung cancer after undergoing surgery to remove a nodular lesion from his right lung. Deborah Prevost did not share what stage Louis' cancer is in but said he's currently in a clinical trial at a local hospital where he's being treated. (Benavides, 10/13)
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
Stat: Patient, Consumer Reps On FDA Advisory Panels Tied To Pharma-Funded Groups
Nearly 40% of Food and Drug Administration advisory committee meetings held over a recent 20-year period included either a patient or consumer representative with active ties to an advocacy group funded by pharmaceutical companies, according to a new analysis. And for several committees, the number of such reps exceeded 50%. (Silverman, 10/13)
Modern Healthcare: CMS Gains Broader Power To Remove Medicare, Medicaid Participants
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has gained unprecedented authority to remove providers, insurers and suppliers from federal health programs over fraud concerns. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. published a notice Tuesday announcing he is officially delegating those powers, which had been solely held by the HHS Office of Inspector General, to CMS. (Early, 10/13)
Modern Healthcare: CMS Insurer Price Transparency Rule Targets Ghost Rates
A regulation designed to reduce health insurance companies’ administrative expenses may dampen their competitive edge. The Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury departments finalized a rule last week intended to clean up the pricing information insurance companies disclose. (Tepper, 10/13)
OUTBREAKS AND HEALTH THREATS
ABC News: As Measles Continues To Spread, Health Officials Are Seeing Vaccine Interest Rise
As measles continues to spread across the U.S., local health officials say it may be spurring some to get themselves or their children vaccinated. More than 4,000 cases have been confirmed in the U.S. as well as six deaths -- with the most recent fatality confirmed by Pennsylvania health officials on Monday. It's the most cases and deaths reported in the country in more than three decades. Doctors and public health department leaders told ABC News that awareness of the virus' dangers has led to higher interest in the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine in some areas. (Kekatos, 10/13)
CIDRAP: Using Fake Avian Flu Patients, Researchers Show Need For Faster Action, Better Compliance
Unannounced drills to assess healthcare facility readiness to manage infectious disease outbreaks in three areas of the United States revealed variable adherence to containment protocols, according to a new study published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. (Van Beusekom, 10/13)
CIDRAP: Washington State Confirms First H5N1 Avian Flu Detection In Dairy Cattle
Late last week the US Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the detection of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on two Yakima County dairy farms in Washington. “This marks the first known case of HPAI in cattle in Washington state,” state officials said. Since March 2024 dairy cattle herds in 19 states have documented H5N1 infections, including neighboring Idaho. (Soucheray, 10/13)
HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY
Modern Healthcare: Centene To Launch Gold Card Program For Prior Authorizations
Centene is launching a new program next month aimed at streamlining the prior authorization process for some providers. The health insurance company will allow more than 160,000 providers nationwide to use a simplified process for select outpatient services, the company announced in a news release Tuesday. Centene will assess providers’ eligibility based on their approval history, documentation quality, compliance with medical policy and adherence to regulatory requirements. The insurer will offer its “gold card” program across its commercial, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid business lines, a company spokesperson said. (Tepper, 10/13)
Modern Healthcare: UnitedHealth, Cigna, Aetna Unite On Shared Provider Data Standard
Health insurers are partnering to tackle common issues plaguing provider data quality. DataSpring, formerly known as the Council for Affordable Quality Care and owned by major health insurers, has established a standard framework to improve the accuracy of provider data, the organization announced Tuesday. Founding members of the Provider Data Collective include publicly traded insurers Centene, Cigna Group, CVS Health’s Aetna, Elevance Health, Humana and UnitedHealth Group. Other members are the American Medical Association and the National Committee for Quality Assurance. (Tong, 10/13)
Modern Healthcare: MultiCare, Samaritan Health Services Merger To Close Nov. 1
MultiCare Health System and Samaritan Health Services will merge on Nov. 1 after securing regulatory approval for the deal. Under the the terms of the deal, Tacoma, Washington-based MultiCare will invest $700 million over 10 years in Corvallis, Oregon-based Samaritan to increase access to care, recruit and retain providers, improve infrastructure, and upgrade technology, MultiCare announced in August. Samaritan will retain its name and local leadership, according to a news release the health system issued Monday. (Kacik, 10/13)
Stat: BlackRock Pays $2.8 Billion For Majority Stake In Humana's CenterWell
Humana is swapping out private equity sponsors for its CenterWell Senior Primary Care clinics. Good bye, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe. Hello, BlackRock. (Bannow, 10/13)
Bloomberg: Blackstone Sells ZO Skin Health To Galderma For $1.5 Billion
Galderma Group AG agreed to buy ZO Skin Health Inc. for an enterprise value of $1.5 billion in an all-cash deal that expands the Swiss dermatology company’s physician-dispensed skincare portfolio in the US. California-based ZO is being sold to Galderma by shareholders including Blackstone Inc. and the founding Obagi family, according to a statement Wednesday. Blackstone bought a majority stake in ZO in 2020 through its tactical opportunities fund for an undisclosed sum. (Catelli, 10/14)
Chicago Tribune: Nurses At Endeavor Health Edward Hospital Seek To Unionize
Nurses at Endeavor Health Edward Hospital have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to hold a union election – part of a broader effort by nurses across the health system to organize. (Stein and Schencker, 10/13)
Modern Healthcare: How AI Could Make It Harder For Hospitals To Switch EHR Vendors
Providers are often reluctant to switch electronic health record vendors, and the advent of artificial intelligence may make it even harder for them to make a move. Over the years, many key EHR players have added AI tools to their platforms, including features for ambient listening, revenue cycle management, coding, chart review and more. As generative AI advances, many providers think it will drive up the costs of switching vendors, according to a survey published last month by Bain & Company and KLAS. (Famakinwa, 10/13)
PHARMA AND TECH
The Hill: CVS To Pay $315M To Settle DOJ Opioid Lawsuits
The Justice Department (DOJ) announced Tuesday that CVS Health has agreed to pay $315 million to settle lawsuits alleging the company illegally filled prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances. The settlement resolves a lawsuit first filed in 2019 by former CVS employee Hillary Estright in 2019 under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which allows private parties to sue on behalf of the U.S. It also settles the ensuing 2024 complaint that the federal government filed against CVS Health. (Choi, 10/13)
The Hill: FTC Says Martin Shkreli Violated Lifetime Industry Ban, Should Be Held In Contempt
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a coalition of seven states asked a federal court on Tuesday to punish Martin Shkreli for “flagrantly and repeatedly” violating a lifetime ban from being involved in the pharmaceutical industry. In a court filing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the FTC said Shkreli has traded in at least 60 pharmaceutical stocks since being released from prison in 2022. He’s also been broadcasting his opinions about the business and management of the companies through livestreaming and posting on numerous social media platforms. (Weixel, 10/13)
CIDRAP: Congressman Urges Medical, Dental Groups To Educate Clinicians About Antibiotic Stewardship
A California congressman cited a CIDRAP News investigation in a letter to dental and medical associations in which he urges them to educate their members about the risks of inappropriate antibiotics. Rep. J. Luis Correa, a Democrat from Orange County, asked for the medical and dental groups’ “urgent assistance” in curbing the overprescription of antibiotics, which promotes the growth of resistant bacteria and can cause life-threatening side effects. Correa singled out clindamycin, an antibiotic that has carried a black box warning for at least four decades but is still heavily used in dentistry, as a drug that should be prescribed only when absolutely necessary. (Szabo, 10/13)
Bloomberg: Walmart To Cover Some GLP-1s, Insulin At No Cost For Workers
Walmart Inc. plans to cover more than 250 prescription drugs without charge for its employees and add other health benefits to attract and retain workers at a time when many companies are raising healthcare costs. The list of covered medications includes many generics alongside some in-demand branded drugs such as Novo Nordisk A/S’ Ozempic and Eli Lilly & Co.’s Mounjaro. The retailer will offer those at no cost for people with Type 2 diabetes after prior approval. (Kang, 10/13)
Phys.org: A New Way To Replace Carbon With Nitrogen Atoms Could Lead To Better Medicines
When drugmakers want to improve on compounds they have already created, they can replace a carbon atom with a nitrogen atom. While effective, the techniques they use to perform this chemical swap, known as skeletal editing, have some downsides. For example, older approaches often require harsh chemicals or only work on specific types of molecules. That got researchers led by Mark D. Levin at the University of Chicago searching for a gentler and more versatile way to do it. Unlike older methods that fail when a specific chemical step goes wrong, their new technique turns that exact problem into a helpful tool. (Arnold, 10/13)
The Hill: FDA Recalls 113,000 Amazon-Sold Acetaminophen Bottles
Thousands of bottles of acetaminophen sold on Amazon have been recalled over reports of discolored tablets, according to a recall notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The recalls, voluntarily issued last month but only recently included in the FDA’s enforcement report, impact nearly 113,000 bottles of 500-milligram Extra Strength Acetaminophen caplets available through Amazon. (Bink, 10/13)
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Medical Xpress: Ovaries Remain Active Decades After Menopause, Study Reveals
Contrary to popular belief, the postmenopausal ovary is not defunct. In a new study of ovaries from 28 women, scientists at Northwestern University and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging found that in the decades well past menopause, the ovary remains biologically active and continues to remodel with age, showing increased inflammation and changes in tissue structure. The study also found a molecular link between ovarian aging and cancer. The study is published in Aging Cell. (10/14)
MedPage Today: Assisted Reproductive Technology Effective In Women With IBD
Nearly three-quarters of women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who underwent assisted reproductive technology (ART) were able to achieve pregnancy, according to prospective data from a cohort study. Among 52 women who underwent fertility treatment with either intrauterine insemination (IUI) and/or embryo transfer, 73% became pregnant, reported Eugenia Shmidt, MD, of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. (Bassett, 10/13)
The Texas Tribune: Texas Woman Sues Anti-Abortion Group For Ordering Abortion Pill
A Texas woman is using a state law banning the transport of abortion pills to sue members of the anti-abortion organization Students for Life of America. (Draeger-Mazer, 10/13)
Connecticut Public: High Costs Limit Access To Abortion In CT, Research Finds
Nonprofit funds bridge access gaps for low-income people seeking abortions in Connecticut, according to recent research by students at Trinity College. The findings show that more than 80% of the 969 respondents to an anonymous survey reported they delayed abortions due to costs. (Srinivasan, 10/13)
The 19th: Idaho Abortion Law: Moms Are Taking The Fight For Rights To Their Neighbors’ Doors
Lisa Wirsching knocked on strangers’ doors. She collected petition signatures at the farmers’ market. She approached her neighbors, asking them if she could talk to them about Idaho’s abortion laws, if they’d heard about Proposition 1 or if they knew how they planned to vote. (Luthra, 10/13)
STATE WATCH
Los Angeles Times: L.A. Makes It A Crime For Cannabis And Tobacco Retailers To Sell Nitrous Oxide
L.A. is banning the sale of nitrous oxide at stores selling cannabis and tobacco products, and setting criminal penalties for violations. (Gomez, 10/13)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Children Suffered Burns And Beatings. Georgia Calls It Quality Daycare.
Laura Scott’s mind raced as she studied the bright red rash and blisters on her daughter’s arms. Daycare workers suggested that her 1-year-old could be having an allergic reaction to pineapple. But Scott knew that wasn’t true. (Hogan, Landergan and Price, 10/13)
Axios: AI's Extreme Heat Challenge Is Moving From Prediction To Protection
Cities and researchers are using AI to map and predict extreme heat risk, but new research suggests it's used far more to identify where people are in danger than to help officials respond. (Falconer, 10/14)
SOCIAL MEDIA AND MENTAL HEALTH
The New York Times: States Now Have To Decide How To Spend Meta’s Settlement Billions
After Meta agreed to pay as much as $17 billion to settle claims that it had built Instagram and Facebook to hook children, attorneys general in several states outlined how the money should be spent. The funding should “repair the harms of unhealthy social media use,” expand youth crisis intervention and restore the mental health and safety of children, they declared in news releases. But the settlement with Meta in August cements little in required allocations toward those goals. (Alcorn, 10/13)
ABC News: 1 In 6 Teens Report Anxiety Symptoms And Many Go Without Help. What Parents Need To Know
An estimated one in six teenagers in the United States have moderate to severe anxiety symptoms, according to a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics on Monday. Nearly two-thirds of adolescents who reported severe anxiety symptoms also met criteria for severe depression, nearly half reported suicidal thoughts, and nearly one-third reported substance abuse, the study found. (Deshmukh, 10/13)
PUBLIC HEALTH
Newsweek: Scientists Find Unusual Pattern In Children Later Diagnosed With Cancer
Researchers may have found a previously unknown cause behind the development of pediatric cancer, which they say could enable earlier detection of the disease in young children. A team of scientists at the University of Bergen in Norway, found that children with pediatric cancer were more likely to produce autoantibodies that target several proteins needed for normal DNA repair. They also found that children with pediatric cancer had more of these antibodies even years before their diagnoses. (Laws, 10/14)
ABC News: Mini Organs Launching To Space May Help Future Astronauts And Humans On Earth Stay Healthy
Miniature organs being sent into space for the very first time may soon help scientists understand how spaceflight impacts certain organs and may accelerate aging. In a joint effort by researchers from Mount Sinai, NASA and aerospace company Space Tango, these mini organs will be exposed to the increased radiation and microgravity astronauts face in space, especially on long-duration missions. (Chang, 10/13)
