Journalists Dig Into Government Shutdown and Rural Doctor Drought

October 11, 2025

KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner appeared on CNN’s “Quest Means Business” to discuss the Affordable Care Act subsidies at the core of the government shutdown on Oct. 2. Rovner also appeared on NPR’s “Morning Edition” to discuss the subsidies on Oct. 7.

Click here to watch Rovner on “Quest Means Business.”
Click here to hear Rovner on “Morning Edition.”

KFF Health News South Carolina correspondent Lauren Sausser discussed a Trump administration pilot program to have AI approve and deny care for Medicare patients on Apple News’ “Apple News Today” on Oct. 7.

Click here to hear Sausser on “Apple News Today.”
Read Sausser and Darius Tahir’s “AI Will Soon Have a Say in Approving or Denying Medicare Treatments.”

KFF Health News Midwest correspondent Bram Sable-Smith appeared on NPR’s “Weekend Edition Sunday” on Oct. 5 to discuss states’ cutting of Medicaid provider payments to close budget gaps.

Click here to hear Sable-Smith on “Weekend Edition Sunday.”
Read Sable-Smith and Sarah Jane Tribble’s “States Are Cutting Medicaid Provider Payments Long Before Trump Cuts Hit.”

KFF Health News senior correspondent Bernard J. Wolfson appeared on The Daily Yonder’s “The Yonder Report” newscast on Oct. 8 to discuss local solutions to rural doctor shortages in California.

Click here to hear Wolfson on “The Yonder Report.”
Read Wolfson’s “Health Care Cuts Threaten Homegrown Solutions to Rural Doctor Shortages.”

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Journalists Dig Into Government Shutdown and Rural Doctor Drought

October 11, 2025

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<h1>Journalists Dig Into Government Shutdown and Rural Doctor Drought</h1>

<p>KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner appeared on CNN’s “Quest Means Business” to discuss the Affordable Care Act subsidies at the core of the government shutdown on Oct. 2. Rovner also appeared on NPR’s “Morning Edition” to discuss the subsidies on Oct. 7.</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41gPEiFR-PI">Click here to watch Rovner on “Quest Means Business.”</a></li>

<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/10/07/nx-s1-5563931/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-healthcare-subsidies-at-the-heart-of-the-shutdown">Click here to hear Rovner on “Morning Edition.”</a></li>
</ul>

<p>KFF Health News South Carolina correspondent Lauren Sausser discussed a Trump administration pilot program to have AI approve and deny care for Medicare patients on Apple News’ “Apple News Today” on Oct. 7.</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-the-gaza-ceasefire-talks-feel-different-this-time/id1473872585?i=1000730599524">Click here to hear Sausser on “Apple News Today.”</a></li>

<li>Read Sausser and Darius Tahir’s “<a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/ai-medicare-prior-authorization-trump-pilot-program-wiser/">AI Will Soon Have a Say in Approving or Denying Medicare Treatments</a>.”</li>
</ul>

<p>KFF Health News Midwest correspondent Bram Sable-Smith appeared on NPR’s “Weekend Edition Sunday” on Oct. 5 to discuss states’ cutting of Medicaid provider payments to close budget gaps.</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/10/05/nx-s1-5558321/states-are-cutting-medicaid-provider-payments-long-before-trump-cuts-hit">Click here to hear Sable-Smith on “Weekend Edition Sunday.”</a></li>

<li>Read Sable-Smith and Sarah Jane Tribble’s “<a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/state-medicaid-cuts-reimbursement-big-bill-north-carolina-idaho-budgets/">States Are Cutting Medicaid Provider Payments Long Before Trump Cuts Hit</a>.”</li>
</ul>

<p>KFF Health News senior correspondent Bernard J. Wolfson appeared on The Daily Yonder’s “The Yonder Report” newscast on Oct. 8 to discuss local solutions to rural doctor shortages in California.</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/2POeqai8FAgTGtz57LJC8F">Click here to hear Wolfson on “The Yonder Report.”</a></li>

<li>Read Wolfson’s “<a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/rural-northern-california-health-care-shortages-residency-program-funding-cuts/">Health Care Cuts Threaten Homegrown Solutions to Rural Doctor Shortages</a>.”</li>
</ul>

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