Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

HHS Family Planning Office Staffers Axed During Ongoing Shutdown

Morning Briefing

Almost everyone who worked for the Office of Population Affairs was emailed a reduction-in-force notice — after they had logged off for the weekend. The Title X program, in place for more than 50 years, had already been targeted for elimination under the administration’s 2026 budget proposal.

Trump’s Request To Remove Aluminum From Vaccines Is Risky, Experts Warn

Morning Briefing

An effort to remove the trace of metal from childhood inoculations would compromise the nation’s shot supplies, leaving Americans vulnerable to infectious diseases, health officials say. The president acknowledged the case against aluminum is limited.

After Second Loss In Court, Humana’s Contested MA Star Rating Will Stick

Morning Briefing

Humana had disputed its 2025 Medicare Advantage rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which gave it a 3.5 out of five. A federal court ruled Tuesday that CMS doesn’t have to recalculate it.

Colorado School Shooting Victim Leaves Hospital After Critical Injuries

Morning Briefing

Michael Silverstone, an Evergreen High student, was shot in the head and chest on Sept. 10, and has been released after five weeks in the hospital. The other student critically injured in the shooting has been released and is recovering. Also in the news: Minnesota, California, New York, and more.

FDA Cracks Down On Unapproved Weight Loss Drug Popular Online

Morning Briefing

The compounded retatrutide, developed by Eli Lilly but still in the testing phase, has become popular among fitness influencers on social media. The FDA has sent warning letters to six online companies. Also: funding for specialty drugs; the effectiveness of the recombinant shingles vaccine; and more.

Thousands Of Kaiser Permanente Health Workers Walk Off Jobs

Morning Briefing

In Los Angeles, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, and more marched in a downpour for better pay and staffing. The five-day strike affects workers in several states.

Coal Miners Plead For Trump To Make Good On Black Lung Protections

Morning Briefing

A Biden-era rule would have lessened exposure limits for miners to airborne silica, but the Trump administration has frozen the rule, now citing the federal government shutdown as a reason. Plus, the confusion over whom to believe about autism, the global food aid crisis, and more.

Senate GOP Reportedly Working On Legislation To Fund FDA, VA, More

Morning Briefing

Meanwhile, Republicans are mulling proposals that address the ACA subsidies that Democrats want, though they still say negotiations won’t happen unless the government reopens.

Meta Says It Will Use PG-13 Standard To Limit Teen Content On Instagram

Morning Briefing

The policy will roll out by the end of the year, The New York Times reported. Plus: A study in JAMA suggests a link between preteen use of social media and poorer cognition.

North Carolina Initiative Eliminates $6.5B In Medical Debt For Residents

Morning Briefing

In a first-of-its-kind effort, North Carolina officials have helped to erase medical debt for more than 2.5 million residents through a program that offered hospitals more Medicaid funds in exchange for financial relief for low- and middle-income patients.

AstraZeneca Agrees To Lower Drug Prices For Three-Year Tariff Reprieve

Morning Briefing

AstraZeneca will sell its drugs to Medicaid at prices comparable to what some European countries pay. But in many cases, experts say, those prices are already similar, The New York Times reports. Plus, Novo Nordisk’s new manufacturing plant in Indiana fails to meet FDA standards.

Kaiser Criticizes 5-Day Strike As Money Grab. Unions Say It’s Not That Simple.

Morning Briefing

The historic walkout, which begins today, will include tens of thousands of health care workers and nurses. Kaiser’s latest proposal on the table would lift wages 21.5% over four years but remains shy of the 25% the unions are seeking. Union leaders say wages are only part of the story, citing unsafe staffing, scheduling pressures, and burnout.

Some Pregnant Women Slam ‘Fearmongering’ Over Tylenol

Morning Briefing

Several expectant moms who spoke to The Wall Street Journal said they are confident that using Tylenol is safe during pregnancy. However, the Trump administration’s push against it has now left some with “that little question mark.”

Trump Fires Health Workers, Brings Back Some, As Shutdown Grows Longer

Morning Briefing

Although the CDC’s “disease detectives” have been reinstated, those who work on mental illness and addiction, and in biodefense, have been let go. Plus, House Speaker Mike Johnson, who refuses to negotiate unless Democrats capitulate, said, “We’re barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history.”