The Week in Brief: Friday, Feb. 27, 2026
He Needs an Expensive Drug. A Copay Card Helped — Until It Didn’t.
Elisabeth Rosenthal
Diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, a California man was prescribed a drug that costs thousands of dollars a month. He said he was reassured that the drugmaker’s copay card would cover his share, but after two months, the card was empty.
To Avoid Care Disruptions, Know When the Clock Runs Out on Your Prior Authorization
Sarah Boden and Oona Zenda
A Massachusetts woman knew the medicine her doctor prescribed required preauthorization, but she didn’t realize the approval had an expiration date. It took nearly three weeks of phone calls and paperwork to get her prescription refilled.
What About the State of Health?
Health care got barely a mention in President Trump’s State of the Union address. Ahead of the midterms, the Trump administration has presented few concrete plans to address what Americans say is the biggest problem with health care: its skyrocketing costs. Meanwhile, Trump’s pick for surgeon general, Casey Means, got her long-delayed nomination hearing in the Senate, where she faced skeptical questions from Democrats and Republicans alike. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sheryl Gay Stolberg of The New York Times, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more.
Democrats Decry Meager Medical Care for Detainees in Funding Fight
Stephanie Armour
A growing body of evidence indicates that immigrants in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement face medical consequences because of serious gaps in basic health care services. It’s adding to the political backlash against the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation policies.
Hospitals Fighting Measles Confront a Challenge: Few Doctors Have Seen It Before
Andrew Jones
As the number of cases grows to about 1,000 in the Carolinas, health care workers who’ve never seen the vaccine-preventable disease can get caught by surprise.
State Lawmakers Seek Restraints on Wage Garnishment for Medical Debt
Rae Ellen Bichell
At least eight states are considering legislation to curtail wage garnishment over unpaid medical bills, as health care costs rise and more people become underinsured.
New Orleans Brings Back the House Call, Sending Nurses To Visit Newborns and Moms
Rosemary Westwood, WWNO
Louisiana is one of the worst-performing states when it comes to health outcomes of mothers and infants. New Orleans is trying to catch health issues early and get families off to an easier start by adding health visits during the crucial first months of life.
‘Kind of Morbid’: Health Premiums Threaten Their Nest Egg. A Terminal Diagnosis May Spare It.
Christine Mai-Duc
Chaz and Jean Franklin were facing a sevenfold increase in their health premium payments with the expiration of enhanced federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans at the end of 2025. Then Jean received a crushing diagnosis that will claim her life but save the couple money.
Journalists Explain Colorectal Cancer Risk and Federal Pullback on Georgia Disability Oversight
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.