Friday, October 30, 2026 🎃

From KFF Health News - Latest Stories:

KFF Health News Original Stories

Medicare Drug Plans Are Hiking Premiums While Trump Claims Victory on Medicine Prices

Millions of Medicare enrollees who buy stand-alone prescription drug plans will see their average monthly premiums rise by 50% in 2027, a new analysis finds. But enrollees can avoid the average increase by switching to lower-cost plans. ( Phil Galewitz , 10/30 )

Your Phone Knows You’re at the Doctor, and Data Brokers Do, Too — Then Profit From It

The Federal Trade Commission told a data company it could no longer sell data it collected from hundreds of millions of Americans’ mobile devices when people visited hospitals, dialysis clinics, or abortion clinics. But little is stopping other companies from doing so. In the absence of federal protections, some states are passing their own rules. ( Michael Scaturro and Oona Zenda , 10/30 )

For Californians Drowning in Healthcare Costs, Governor’s Race Offers Few Answers

In California, healthcare costs are rising faster than income and inflation, and 4 in 10 adults in the state say they’re paying down medical debt. With the governor’s race in full swing, it’s still not clear what the candidates would do to fix it. ( Christine Mai-Duc , 10/30 )

Frights, Fangs, and Healthcare Nightmares in Winning Halloween Haikus

This year’s winning Halloween haikus take on measles, the high cost of dental care, and AI-powered insurance denials. ( 10/30 )

What the Health? From KFF Health News: A New Era for the ACA

Open enrollment for 2027 Affordable Care Act plans kicks off in most states Nov. 1, and consumers can expect higher premiums and more bureaucracy. Meanwhile, Democrats are planning a major health agenda if they win majorities in Congress. Julie Appleby of KFF Health News, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Victoria Knight of Bloomberg Government join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also, Rovner announces the winners of the KFF Health News Halloween haiku contest. ( 10/29 )

Here's today's health policy haiku:

WHAT A TREAT YOU GAVE US

Healthcare is scary,
but your Halloween haikus
were charming. Thank you!

— KFF Health News Staff

If you have a health policy haiku to share, please Contact Us and let us know if we can include your name. Haikus follow the format of 5-7-5 syllables. We give extra brownie points if you link back to an original story.

Opinions expressed in haikus are solely the author's and do not reflect the opinions of KFF Health News or KFF.

Summaries Of The News:

Medicaid

Judge Blocks Medicaid Work Rule Requiring Sick People To Prove 'Medical Frailty'

U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns in Boston did not strike down the 80-hours-per-month work requirement, but his ruling will make it easier for some Medicaid recipients with qualifying medical conditions to obtain an exemption, AP reported.

AP: Medicaid Rule Forcing Sick Enrollees To Prove Frailty Blocked By Judge

Chronically ill people on Medicaid won’t be bound by new work requirement rules that the latest Trump administration guidance requires in order to qualify for “medically frail” exemptions, a federal judge ruled Thursday. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns in Boston gave a partial victory to a coalition of 25 states and the District of Columbia, which sued the Trump administration in June over the new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidance linked to the 2025 law known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” (Hussein, 10/29)

On Medicaid for people with disabilities —

NBC News: Ohio Legislators Slam GOP’s Medicaid Fraud Crackdown For Blocking Disabled People From Care

Democratic state legislators are calling on Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to lift his freeze on new Medicaid providers following an NBC News report revealing that the anti-fraud measure has prevented some disabled people from receiving vital caregiving services. DeWine, a Republican, imposed a six-month moratorium on new Medicaid home-care providers in May, weeks after President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring fraud “widespread” in public benefits programs. The goal, DeWine’s office said, was to free up state resources to go after alleged fraudsters while protecting Medicaid for the people who need it. (Hixenbaugh, 10/30)

New Hampshire Bulletin: Mixed Reactions Among Disabled Granite Staters On The CFI Lawsuit Settlement

New Hampshire’s Choices for Independence is a state-run Medicaid program that provides in-home care to people with disabilities and older adults. The goal of the program is to allow them to stay in their own home by hiring caregivers and other supports to avoid a nursing home, something that even the state acknowledges would cost roughly three times as much money. After years of severe underinvestment in the program, a coalition of nonprofits sued the state, arguing that by not properly funding the program the state was at risk of illegally institutionalizing people with disabilities. The case, which lasted almost six years and became a class action lawsuit, was set to go to trial next month before both sides came to an agreement to settle the case earlier this month. (Skipworth, 10/29)

More on the high cost of healthcare and prescription drugs —

Fortune, The Conversation: The U.S. Expected 17,000 Disputes A Year When It Passed This Medical Bills Law. It Gets Over 2 Million Instead

Imagine you get hit by a car. An ambulance brings you to the nearest hospital. Your private health insurance covers emergency care, but the hospital isn’t in your plan’s network. (Murtagh, 10/30)

Stat: Patients Report Hidden Billing Traps At Hybrid ER-Urgent Care Centers

It was a simple urinary tract infection. A textbook urgent care visit. Kristin Gills knew the drill. She peed in the cup, and the doctor confirmed her suspicion. He prescribed antibiotics. Before she left Methodist Legacy ER & Urgent Care in Allen, Texas, Gills paid her $211 bill and figured that was the end of it. (Bannow, 10/30)

FOX45 News: Maryland Retiree Drug Costs Lawsuit: Judge Denies Injunction

A federal judge has denied a request to make immediate changes to Maryland’s new prescription drug system for state retirees, but the legal battle is far from over. The decision comes as retirees argue the changes are costing them thousands of dollars and forcing some to dip into their savings to afford medications. (Pryor, 10/29)

Newsweek: Woman Went Hungry To Pay For Father’s Parkinson’s Drugs

A young woman went without food while helping her family pay for her father’s Parkinson’s disease medication, New York City’s health commissioner told the crowd assembled at Newsweek’s AI Health Summit. Dr. Alister Martin said the case showed how financial pressures can become health problems. The city’s health department is now exploring whether artificial intelligence could make it easier for people to apply for benefits such as food assistance. (Tanner, 10/29)

KFF Health News: Medicare Drug Plans Are Hiking Premiums While Trump Claims Victory On Medicine Prices

Millions of Medicare enrollees who buy stand-alone prescription drug plans will see their average monthly premiums rise by 50% in 2027, a new analysis finds. But enrollees can avoid the average increase — from $34 a month to $51 — by switching to lower-cost plans during the program’s open enrollment period, which runs through Dec. 7. (Galewitz, 10/30)

KFF Health News: KFF Health News’ ‘What The Health?’: A New Era For The ACA

Open enrollment for 2027 Affordable Care Act plans begins Nov. 1 in most states, with consumers facing higher out-of-pocket costs and more bureaucratic hurdles. Meanwhile, Democrats in Congress are laying out plans for an aggressive health policy agenda should they win majorities in the House and/or the Senate. With President Donald Trump in office, however, it’s unclear whether any of their legislative efforts could become law in the next two years. (Rovner, 10/29)

Elections

Trump Says He'll Deny Disaster Aid, Veterans' Benefits Unless Midterms Go His Way

The president has said in remarks and at rallies that he would continue to send hurricane relief money to North Carolina and to settle Camp Lejeune contamination claims only “if we win the House and the Senate.” He has made similar pledges in Ohio, Montana, Kansas, and Georgia, AP reported. Plus, state healthcare policies on the line in this year's midterm elections.

AP: Vote Republican, Or Else: How Trump Dangles Aid In The Midterms

President Donald Trump says Georgia GOP Senate candidate Mike Collins can call him whenever he wants to ask for help for his state. But if Georgia reelects Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, Trump says it could be another story. “There’s a big difference between that and Pee-wee Herman calling,” Trump said last week in Perry, Georgia, using his derisive nickname for Ossoff. The president acted out a hypothetical scenario at his rally where Ossoff called to ask for money for his state, with Trump responding, “I don’t give a damn what he wants.” (Min Kim, 10/30)

CalMatters: Fact Check: Trump Announces Rural Health Money Ahead Of Election

The Trump administration announced a $233.6 million investment in California rural health just five days before the midterm election that could determine control of Congress. But state officials say the money isn’t new. “Currently, California has not received additional funding from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,” said Andrew DiLuccia, a spokesperson for the Department of Health Care Access and Information. (Hwang, 10/29)

Stat: RFK Jr.'s Health Policy Midterms Pitch: MAHA, Vaccines, And Fraud

On Wednesday night in Clive, Iowa, a parade of Make America Healthy Again activists and Republican candidates decried Big Agriculture, stressed the rise in chronic disease in America, and called for the Covid-19 vaccine to be removed from the market. (Cirruzzo, 10/29)

On elections in Oregon, Kansas, Texas, California, and Illinois —

OPB: Oregon Is Hundreds Of Millions Short In Medicaid Funding. Neither Top Gubernatorial Candidate Has Shared A Plan

On healthcare, Oregon’s top candidates for governor offer classic partisan politics with relatively few surprises. Republican challenger Christine Drazan says burdensome taxes and state regulations are driving clinics out of business and forcing hospitals to cut their services. Incumbent Democrat Tina Kotek, meanwhile, blames out-of-state corporations who she says choose profits over the needs of communities in Oregon. The differences in their worldviews are clear. But across three debates, their websites and numerous ads and events, the two candidates have mostly avoided talking about how they will tackle one of the most important challenges facing the incoming governor: Medicaid cuts. (Templeton, 10/28)

The 19th: Roger Marshall Closes Campaign With Men Who Compare Abortion To Human Sacrifice, The Holocaust

Kansas’ embattled Republican Sen. Roger Marshall is embracing the support of anti-abortion activists in his closing reelection pitch to voters — including the leader of an organization that has promoted violence against abortion providers and conservative pastors who have compared abortion to human sacrifice. (Luthra, 10/29)

The Texas Tribune: Disappointed By Trump, Dubious Of Talarico: This Rio Grande Valley Health Official Mulls His Midterm Vote

Dr. Ivan Melendez was among the 110,000 voters in Hidalgo County who voted for Donald Trump in 2024 in a historic swing that amounted to the first time the predominantly Hispanic county has gone for a Republican presidential nominee in more than 50 years. In the Rio Grande Valley, Melendez serves as the county’s health authority, responsible for enacting health laws in an area with one of the highest uninsured rates in the country. (Garcia, 10/29)

KFF Health News: For Californians Drowning In Healthcare Costs, Governor’s Race Offers Few Answers

When Ashley Porter began slurring her speech one October day four years ago, doctors suspected a stroke. A spinal tap, an MRI, dozens of blood draws, another MRI, and a night spent at the hospital were followed, finally, by an answer: Porter had multiple sclerosis. Her shock turned to outrage, she said, when she received the roughly $180,000 hospital bill, even though insurance covered most of it. (Mai-Duc, 10/30)

Chicago Sun Times: Pope Leo Will Vote From The Vatican, By Mail, In Illinois' Midterm Election

He may be the leader of the Catholic Church, but Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV is still a registered voter in Illinois and requested a mail ballot for the midterm elections. That’s according to the Will County clerk’s office. “Robert Francis Prevost is on the list of individuals who requested a vote by mail ballot for the upcoming election,” said Kim Fladhammer, Will County clerk’s office chief of staff. (Sfondeles, 10/29)

Health Industry

Glitches During Board Exams Cause Some Physicians To Receive Failing Scores

A system glitch that caused a delay during the internal medicine board exam this year is being blamed for some test-takers receiving "indeterminate" results with failing scores and having to wait until next year to retake the exam, MedPage Today reported. Test-takers are wondering whether that glitch prevented their answers from being properly saved. A spokesperson has said that these results are the fairest approach for candidates, allowing them to retest under normal conditions without a failed attempt on their record.

MedPage Today: Physicians Question Board Exam Results After Glitch

Several physicians who experienced glitches while taking the internal medicine board exam on Aug. 13 are raising questions about their results. The key issue was being locked out of their computers following breaks, which the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) has acknowledged -- though it insists this did not cause any other technical problems. (Fiore, 10/29)

In other healthcare industry news —

WUSF: BayCare Plans Pilot Program For Robotic Blood-Draw Devices At Two Pinellas Labs

BayCare is planning a pilot program for Florida's first FDA-approved, image-guided robotic blood-draw device. The Aletta device uses real-time imaging to guide blood collection. According to the manufacturer, Vitestro, Aletta has achieved a 94.5% first-stick success rate. (Mayer, 10/29)

Modern Healthcare: BayCare, Hartford Revamp Care For Higher-Acuity Patients

Patients are getting sicker, requiring health systems to revamp how they provide care or risk losing market share. Health systems are working to increase capacity, deploy cutting-edge technology, reduce operating costs and standardize care as they treat more complex patients. They are trying to keep pace with competitors while managing rising costs and declining payment revenue. Operational improvements and expansion efforts have shown promising early results, executives said. (Kacik, 10/29)

Fierce Healthcare: BCBSMA, Medzown Team Up To Match Members With Clinical Trials

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is teaming up with precision medicine company Medzown to make it easier for members with complex conditions to participate in clinical trials. In the partnership, Medzown's tech stack will identify the members that are most likely to benefit from a novel therapy for their condition, and then match them with potential clinical trials. The company will then deploy a team of scientists, clinical trial experts and care navigators to work alongside the patient and their care team through the process. (Minemyer, 10/29)

Bloomberg: Americans Reject Use Of AI For Medical And Coverage Decisions

Most Americans don’t want artificial intelligence making decisions about their medical care and insurance, according to a new Pew Research Center report. While Americans are generally open to AI use in healthcare for tasks like translating, 60% of the 3,488 US adults Pew surveyed in June said they were uncomfortable with AI helping their doctor make a diagnosis or treatment plans. (Silva, 10/29)

Stat: Feds Scramble To Avoid Regulatory Logjam As States Look To Test AI In Clinic

Health officials hoping to boost adoption of artificial intelligence in health care have been moving behind the scenes to address brewing conflict between states and the federal government over the technology. (Aguilar, 10/30)

KFF Health News: Your Phone Knows You’re At The Doctor, And Data Brokers Do, Too — Then Profit From It

Chris McQueen finished treatment for leukemia a year and a half ago, but the ads for fake cures never stopped. Juice cleanses to cure cancer, “natural” cancer treatments, clinics in Mexico promising full recovery with little chemotherapy — all appeared on McQueen’s mobile phone during routine oncologist visits and monthly bloodwork. McQueen and others have taken to social media to vent about companies known as data brokers tracking their whereabouts via their smartphones’ location data, connecting it with other data gathered about them, and then drawing inferences about their health struggles to sell to companies hawking unproven treatments. (Scaturro, 10/30)

KFF Health News: Frights, Fangs, And Healthcare Nightmares In Winning Halloween Haikus

What’s scarier than ghosts and goblins? How about measles, unaffordable dental care, and an insurance claim denied by artificial intelligence? Nearly 80 healthcare-themed haikus crept into our inbox this Halloween season. Meet the winners of KFF Health News’ eighth annual Halloween haiku contest below. (10/30)

Administration News

Contraception Funding Will Be Diverted To Defray US Energy Costs Instead

Congress had earmarked nearly $49 million for birth control for women in low-income countries, but those funds — plus over $75 million more — will be set aside to pay for skyrocketing energy costs. Also, the Food and Drug Administration is planning to update infant formula standards.

The New York Times: State Dept. To Shift Millions In Contraception Funding To Cover Energy Costs

The State Department intends to shift up to $125 million in foreign aid to defray soaring energy costs, including nearly $49 million that Congress had appropriated to supply contraception to women in low-income countries, according to a memo sent to lawmakers last month. The memo, obtained by The New York Times, invoked a provision of the Foreign Assistance Act that allows the president to divert certain aid funds to address “unanticipated contingencies.” (Diaz and Nolen, 10/29)

More news from the Trump administration —

The Hill: Airline Groups Urge CDC To Rethink Ebola Travel Rules

Interest groups representing major American and foreign airlines asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reassess its new rules for foreign travelers over a record-breaking Ebola outbreak in Congo. The CDC issued a mandate last week requiring that all travelers to the U.S. certify they have not been in Congo within 21 days before departure. To do so, all airline passengers and crew members on U.S.-bound flights — including American citizens — must file attestations before travel. (Chakraborty, 10/29)

AP: US Lawmakers Warn Against Colombia's Spraying Of Coca, Citing Health Risks

A group of U.S. lawmakers on Thursday urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio not to support Colombia’s plans to restart aerial spraying of coca, the plant used to make cocaine, warning that the practice could threaten human health and fragile ecosystems in the Amazon rainforest. In a letter led by U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., and signed by 18 other lawmakers, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Jim McGovern, D-Mass., the group expressed concern over reports that President Donald Trump’s administration had encouraged Colombia to revive the program, which involves spraying herbicides from aircraft to kill coca plants. (Grattan, 10/29)

The New York Times: A Sailor Jumped From The U.S.S. Lincoln. The Navy Punished Him.

The case offers a rare look at the military’s handling of mental health issues during extended deployments. (Ransom, 10/29)

From the FDA —

ABC News: FDA Proposes Rule Updating Nutrient Requirements For Infant Formula

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday it is proposing a new rule that will update the nutrient requirements for infant formula. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees the FDA, said in a press release that it would be the first major update to infant formula standards in nearly 30 years. (Kekatos, 10/29)

Chicago Tribune: FDA Issues Alert About Beds Sold By Medline After Deaths

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an alert Thursday about safety issues related to beds sold by Northfield-based medical supply company Medline, saying two people have died and 16 have been seriously injured. (Schencker, 10/29)

Undark: In A Long-Awaited Move, FDA Enforces Trial Result Transparency

Once a clinical trial is completed, the clock is supposed to start ticking. For certain trials, researchers have one year to upload the results of their study to a public database maintained by the National Library of Medicine. If they fail to do so, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may send out warnings, letters, and, if researchers and companies are still noncompliant, impose a fine. (López Lloreda, 10/30)

On the immigration crisis —

ProPublica: Federal Agents Have Detained More Than 500 American Citizens In Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

Experts have long warned that immigration dragnets will inevitably result not only in the erosion of rights for immigrants but also for citizens. Since the start of this Trump administration, we've watched those warnings come true. So we have once again done what the government won’t: We have tallied and cataloged every case we can find of an immigration agent reportedly detaining a citizen during the current administration — more than 500 cases from Inauguration Day through Oct. 21, 2026. (Foy, Talbot, Yar, Michelena, Fortis, Elba and Wray, 10/29)

AP: Detainees Face Inhumane Conditions At Indiana ICE Facility, Lawsuit Says

Three people detained at an Indiana immigration facility known as the “Speedway Slammer” say detainees languish in solitary confinement for weeks, are denied essential medical treatment and are subjected to abuse and racial slurs by facility officials. The detainees alleged in a lawsuit filed Thursday that conditions at the Miami Detention Center in Bunker Hill, Indiana, are inhumane, and officials’ neglect has created a “dangerous medical crisis,” according to a copy obtained by The Associated Press. (Mayes-Osterman, 10/29)

State Watch

Groups Demand Info About Potential Radioactive Hazards After Fire At Federal Lab In South Carolina

Wednesday's blaze prompted what's known as a site area emergency, which restricts movement around the area. “What were they so concerned about that they would close the airspace over the plant?” asked Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists. “It is mysterious, and I think the public deserves to know.” The emergency declaration was lifted about five hours later, AP reported.

AP: Nuclear Watchdogs Raise Alarms About Fire At South Carolina Lab

Nuclear watchdog groups on Thursday demanded a thorough accounting of a fire at a national lab in South Carolina, noting the surrounding site contains nuclear material and U.S. officials are ramping up efforts to build a core nuclear weapon component there. The U.S. Department of Energy said the fire at the Savannah River National Laboratory on Wednesday did not release any radiological material or expose employees to radiological contamination. There is no risk to the public or the environment, the agency added in a brief email statement on Thursday. (Thanawala, 10/29)

More health news from across the U.S. —

MedPage Today: Alabama's Frozen Embryo Ruling Didn't Change Disposal Choices, For The Most Part

Following the 2024 Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos could be considered children in the state, most patients at a clinic in neighboring Georgia didn't make different disposition choices about their frozen embryos than before the ruling, with the exception of one group. (Robertson, 10/29)

The New York Times: 8 Accused Of Stealing Millions In Food Stamp Benefits From New Yorkers

Eight people were indicted in Manhattan on Thursday, accused of stealing more than $7 million in food stamp benefits from thousands of low-income New Yorkers and spending the money on luxury vehicles, while also sending tens of thousands of dollars abroad, including to Yemen. (Freeman and Meko, 10/29)

Bloomberg Law: Domestic Violence Victims Called 911. They Were Sent To Jail.

On a perfect June day, Rebecca Varney wore a flowy dress to Colorado’s Garden of the Gods to marry a man who’d charmed her fast. The intimate ceremony among the park’s towering red rocks made her feel small and safe. Three months later, in their home, her new husband shook her face in his hands and said, “I could f—ing kill you” after an argument that started when he couldn’t find his shoes, according to claims she made in a 2020 police report. (Mays, 10/29)

MPR News: Fatal Meth And Cocaine Overdoses Up In Minnesota. Opioid Overdoses Drop

Opioid overdose deaths declined in Minnesota for the third consecutive year in 2025, according to new data from the Minnesota Department of Health. However, overall drug overdose deaths increased, largely due to a rise in fatalities associated with stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine. (Zurek, 10/29)

The New York Times: The New DNA Technology That Linked Ted Bundy To A 52-Year-Old Cold Case

Recent advances in forensic science, including a powerful computer program able to reconstruct degraded DNA, allowed law enforcement officials in Utah this week to close a 52-year-old cold case and attribute the 1974 murder of a teenage girl to Ted Bundy, the serial killer. Scientists at the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services linked Mr. Bundy, one of the nation’s most prolific and notorious spree killers, to the 1974 murder of Melissa Ann Smith. It was the second decades-old murder in the state attributed to Mr. Bundy this year. In April, investigators in Utah County determined that he had also murdered Laura Ann Aime. Both were 17. (Nazaryan, 10/29)

On the spread of flu and screwworm —

NBC News: 6 People Have Died From Flu In Connecticut In 1 Month As Cases Rise Nationwide

The state of Connecticut has already recorded its first flu-related deaths in a flu season that’s hit earlier than is typical. Six people have died since the week ending in Sept. 26, according to new data from the Connecticut Department of Public Health. (Jacoby, 10/29)

CIDRAP: New World Screwworm Spreads To Arizona And Is Found In A Cat In New Mexico

Arizona has reported its first detection of New World screwworm (NWS). The detection is one of five new NWS cases confirmed in the past few days by the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), all in pets. Four of the NWS infestations are in dogs in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, and the other is in a domestic cat in New Mexico—the first case detected in a cat. (Dall, 10/29)

Lifestyle and Health

Over 40% Of 13- to 17-Year-Olds In US Have Gambled In The Past Year: Survey

According to a survey conducted by Rutgers University’s Center for Gambling Studies, 52.5% of Americans between 13 and 27 and 43% of those 17 and younger said they had gambled. Also, 10% of those surveyed fell into the “high-risk problem gamblers" category, NBC News reported.

NBC News: Nearly Half Of U.S. Teens 13 To 17 Say They Gambled In The Last Year, Survey Finds

More than 40% of American teens ages 13 to 17 say they’ve gambled in the past year, according to a survey published Wednesday, raising red flags about the popularity of betting among minors. Researchers from Rutgers University’s Center for Gambling Studies surveyed nearly 1,700 Americans between 13 and 27, and found that 52.5% of the respondents said they had gambled. Among those 17 and under — for whom gambling is illegal — the share was nearly 43%. (Li, 10/29)

More health and wellness news —

The Washington Post: A New Test Could Make It Easier To Detect One Of The Most Common Cancers In Women

This vaginal swab test, developed by the molecular diagnostics company PinkDx, uses a clinician-collected swab as a first step to detect endometrial cancer. It’s intended for women who already have symptoms, including postmenopausal bleeding. (Hetherman, 10/29)

The New York Times: These Patients Struggle With Runaway Bones. Finally There’s Hope.

F.O.P., a rare genetic condition, causes uncontrolled explosions of bone. A new drug may slow or halt the process. (Chu, 10/29)

Undark: After Cancer, A Complex Aftermath For Survivors

At first, Samantha Siegel ascribed her fatigue to being a physician and a mother to three young children during the pandemic. The persistent cough? Likely the smoke from nearby wildfires. But then, around late March of 2021, she noticed a painless, rock-hard, fast-growing lump near her collarbone. “It was undeniable that something serious was happening,” recalled Siegel. (Madhusoodanan, 10/30)

NBC News: Nearly 6 Million French Press Coffee Makers Recalled For Burn Risk

One of the most popular brands of French press coffee makers is recalling nearly 6 million units of its products due to risk of “serious burn injury,” according to a notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Bodum is voluntarily recalling eight models of its French press coffee makers with replaceable glass carafes after the company identified 70 reports of the carafes breaking and almost 50 reports of people being burned while using them, the CPSC notice says. (Jacoby, 10/29)

In obituaries —

NBC News: Patrick Stewart Died After Battling Alzheimer’s And Lewy Body Dementia. What To Know

Legendary actor Patrick Stewart passed away at age 86 this week. His death came after a “brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia,” according to a statement posted on Stewart’s official Instagram page. (Jacoby, 10/29)

Weekend Reading

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 mental healthcare, artificial flavoring, clinical trials, and more.

The Washington Post: Your Therapist Will See You Now. You Can Pay With Veggies And Head Scratches.

Hermie is not your typical therapist. For one, he’s a guinea pig. Nor is he your standard household pet. Since 2022, he has been a registered therapy guinea pig who regularly visits high-stress or mentally taxing places in the Boston area, such as universities, financial institutions and the Massachusetts State Court of Appeals. (Sachs, 10/29)

WUSF: Are Waymo’s Driverless Cars The Next Step In Accessibility?

These robo-taxis are everywhere in Tampa, but it's more than an innovation in technology — Waymo's might be the best transportation option for accessibility. (Brisk, 10/28)

The Washington Post: Naturally Vs. Artificially Dyed Candies: Can You Taste The Difference?

In a taste test, our panel detected differences, but they didn’t agree on what they were. (Heil, 10/28)

The New York Times: The Science Behind Your Reaction To Art

A new show at the Honolulu Museum of Art, “Vital Connections: Art & the Brain,” welcomes viewers with a pair of simulated brain scans made of colorful beads. One bears signs of PTSD, the other of Alzheimer’s disease. (Janofsky, 10/26)

NBC News: As More Young People Suffer Strokes, 29-Year-Old Recalls Early Signs: ‘A Bomb Went Off In My Head’

Patrick Mascoli was healthy and active when he suddenly collapsed at the gym and had to crawl to find help. Doctors eventually discovered that he had suffered a stroke. (Rizzo, 10/26)

CBS News: He Thought It Was Gout. Doctors Said He Needed Hospice. A Clinical Trial Saved His Life.

A father of three thought his knee pain had a benign cause. Doctors found advanced, treatment-resistant cancer. (Breen, 10/24)

Editorials And Opinions

Viewpoints: People Who Donate Their Bodies To Science Deserve A Say In What Happens To Them; Amid The Rise Of AI, We Need More Live Scientific Demonstrations

Opinion writers discuss these topics and others.

Undark: Body Snatchers And The Murky Process Of Whole-Body Donation

Annually, an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 Americans donate their whole bodies to science. There’s no single federal law or regulatory body overseeing whole-body gifts. (Katherine O'Malley, 10/30)

Undark: The New Importance Of The Scientific Seminar

The rise of AI in science makes expertise more difficult to judge. But live talks can still demonstrate what’s real. (C. Brandon Ogbunu, 10/30)

CIDRAP: To Regain Trust In Public Health, Untangle It From Politics

Health agencies that communicate with an overtly political voice feed a future in which an individual’s trust in federal public health recommendations will depend on which party occupies the White House. (Kevin Griffis, 10/29)

Stat: Congress Must Save Expert Advisory Committees

In September, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired the two vice chairs of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. This move was both unsurprising and troubling. The task force is a critical advisory body to HHS, reviewing scientific evidence to provide recommendations on whether private health insurers should be required to cover services like cancer screenings at no cost to patients. Congress created the task force as part of the Affordable Care Act and require by law that it be staffed by people with “appropriate expertise,” and “to the extent practicable, not subject to political pressure.” (C. Joseph Ross Daval and Aaron S. Kesselheim, 10/30)

The Hill: Biosimilars Face Bureaucratic Hurdles Preventing Lower Drug Prices

One piece of red tape is keeping the prices of critical medications too high. These medicines treat autoimmune diseases, diabetes, cancer, and certain other chronic conditions. One easy thing Congress could accomplish now is to cut away the red tape and improve access to lower-cost treatments that meet patients’ needs. The controversy concerns a type of drug known as biologics, which are typically produced from living organisms rather than synthesized chemicals. Because of their complexity, biologics are more resource-intensive to manufacture, administer and store. (Jeremy Nighohossian, 10/29)