Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
GLP-1 Use Slashed Mortality Rate For Certain Colon Cancer Patients: Study
The analysis showed a five-year mortality rate of 15.5% for those with a history of GLP-1 use compared with 37.1% for non-users, MedPage Today reported. However, the benefits extended only to patients with a BMI over 35, researchers said. Plus: People are using GLP-1s to help their alcohol and drug addictions.
UnitedHealth To End Some Coverage For Remote Patient Monitoring Devices
Contrary to the positive reimbursement trends coming out of CMS, UnitedHealth announced that from Jan. 1, only members with heart failure or pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders will be covered for the devices. Conditions like diabetes and COPD will no longer qualify.
Opinion writers tackle these public health topics.
Duke Health: Vaccine Breakthrough Could Eliminate Cancer Cells For Good
The clinical trial carried out by Duke Health researchers has followed a small group of women with advanced breast cancer for over 20 years. Other news is on nasal vaccines for HPV and bird flu, an American Medical Association proposal to start its own vaccine advisory committee, and more.
South Carolina Weighing Strictest Abortion Measure In The Nation
The proposal being considered by a state Senate subcommittee would outlaw all abortions unless a mother’s life is at risk. It goes further by banning contraceptive IUDs and even calls for prison time for people who get an abortion and anyone who helps them.
Judge To OK Purdue Pharma $7 Billion Bankruptcy Plan
The company will dissolve and the Sackler family will pay up to $7 billion over 15 years to states, communities, tribes, and other plaintiffs in the opioid crisis. Other news from across the nation comes from Texas, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Iowa, Oklahoma, Illinois, Maryland, California, and Pennsylvania.
Medicare Part B Premiums Set To Rise About $18 Per Month In 2026
The 10% increase is due in part to the higher costs associated with running Medicare Advantage, which is handled by private health insurers, Stat reports. The costlier premiums could strain enrollees who live on fixed incomes. Plus, what’s ahead in the effort to extend ACA subsidies.
First Edition: Monday, Nov. 17, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers discuss these public health topics.
Parents Win Pause On NC Medicaid Cuts For Intensive Autism Therapy
A lawsuit claimed North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services discriminated against children with disabilities by cutting Medicaid reimbursement rates for some behavioral health providers. More news comes from Oklahoma, Oregon, and Illinois.
FDA Had Documented Multiple Safety Violations At ByHeart Factory In Pa.
The baby formula that is suspected to have caused several cases of infant botulism was not manufactured at the Pennsylvania plant, where inspectors found mold and thousands of dead insects, The New York Times reported. The findings prompted worry about ByHeart’s overall safety.
Researchers Cheer Key Breakthroughs In Pig Kidney Transplant Surgery
A team at NYU Langone Health has discovered immune reactions that may explain why these organs get rejected, ABC News reported. The team also discovered a way to anticipate a potential rejection up to five days sooner. “I do believe that we will be in a position in the next few years where gene-edited pig organs will be an alternative to human organs,” said Dr. Robert Montgomery, director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today’s selections are on vaccines, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, PTSD, and more.
Ultraprocessed Food Could Be To Blame For Colon Cancer Rise In Young Women
A study published Thursday in JAMA suggested that eating more UPFs is linked to an increased risk of precancerous colorectal growths in women under 50. Other news covers the first documented death from alpha-gal syndrome, a human bird flu case in Washington state, the Purdue Pharma lawsuit settlement, and more.
As Grocery Angst Surges, Trump Mulls Pullback Of Tariffs On Food Imports
The administration is said to be considering tariff exemptions on beef, citrus, and “things we don’t grow here,” such as coffee, bananas, and other fruits. Plus: SNAP recipients are still struggling; a USDA employee who warned about the effects of missed SNAP payments is being fired; and more.
Medicare Cuts Resulting From One Big Beautiful Bill Are Spared — For Now
The stopgap spending measure enacted Wednesday allows the Trump administration to sidestep budget rules that would have required the White House to offset the tax law’s $3.4 trillion in deficit spending over 10 years, Modern Healthcare reports. Also: What’s going on with ACA subsidies?
First Edition: Friday, Nov. 14, 2025
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Expiring ACA Tax Credits Will Devastate Livelihoods; GLP-1s Don’t Cure Every Ailment
Opinion writers tackle these public health topics.
New Flu Strain H3N2 Causes Alarm As Some Nations Are Swamped With Cases
The strain emerged in June after the makeup of this year’s flu shots had already been determined. Cases in the U.K. are already triple from the same time last year, and cases in Japan have surged to nearly six times from last year. In the U.S., experts warn of uncertainty because the CDC has not released a national flu report since Sept. 26 due to the government shutdown.
