Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
It'll Soon Be More Difficult, Expensive For Americans To Buy Canadian Drugs
AP: Price Of Drugs From Canada Set To Soar For Millions Of Americans
Millions of Americans who buy cheap drugs from Canada could soon lose access when a customs rule goes into effect later this month, a change that has sparked opposition from Democrats and some Republicans with the cost of living a top issue for voters ahead of midterm elections. The rule applies to a swath of goods beyond drugs and is intended to collect tariffs and prevent illegal drugs from coming into the U.S. It comes as President Donald Trump has made lowering drug prices a top target in addressing soaring healthcare costs, and critics say the rule will hurt patients seeking affordable medicine. (Hussein, 10/8)
MedPage Today: Straight To The Top: Patients Email Insurance CEOs Over Care Denials
When insurance companies deny claims made through traditional channels, some patients have taken their cases directly to the CEO's inbox. Two patients recently had success with emailing insurance company CEOs, and their stories were highlighted by Wendell Potter, a former insurance company executive, in his Substack newsletter Health Care Un-Covered. (Robertson, 10/8)
Roll Call: Pallone Bill Would Drop Surprise Billing Law’s Arbitration Process
A 2020 law intended to protect patients from “surprise” medical bills would get an overhaul under a bill introduced Thursday by Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The New Jersey Democrat’s bill would replace the law’s arbitration process that insurers and providers use to reach a decision on payment for some out-of-network services, like emergency department visits. Instead, the fee would be calculated based on a median rate insurers pay for in-network services. (Hellmann, 10/8)
Roll Call: Warner Pitches Health Care Expansion As He Preps For Swan Song
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia is leaning into a major expansion of U.S. health insurance coverage as he prepares for what’s likely to be his final term in office, in contrast to his earlier years on Capitol Hill marked by a more centrist approach to health care. (Livingston and Cohn, 10/8)
KFF Health News: KFF Health News’ ‘What The Health?’: Midterm Madness
The midterm elections are less than a month away, and a new poll from KFF shows voters are very concerned about rising health costs and trust Democrats more than Republicans to address the issue. In an apparent attempt to close the gap, President Donald Trump is sending checks, some dubbed as “refunds,” to some Medicare and Affordable Care Act enrollees, but those checks are for far less than most patients’ costs have risen in 2026. (Rovner, 10/8)
