The Week in Brief: Friday, March 27, 2026
CDC’s Acting Chief Promises a Return to Stability in a Tumultuous Moment
Céline Gounder and Eric Harkleroad
Jay Bhattacharya, head of the National Institutes of Health and interim leader of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told the CDC staff, “I know that it has been such a difficult year.”
A Headless CDC
The Trump administration faces the challenge of naming a new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who can both satisfy the Make America Healthy Again movement and get confirmed by the Senate. Meanwhile, a new Senate bill to rescind the approval of the abortion pill mifepristone is again elevating the abortion debate, which some Republicans would prefer to stay on the back burner until after the midterms. Shefali Luthra of The 19th, Lizzy Lawrence of Stat, and Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Bloomberg News join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss the news. Also this week, Rovner interviews Georgetown University Law Center’s Katie Keith about the state of the Affordable Care Act on its 16th anniversary.
Demoralized CDC Workforce Reels From Year of Firings, Funding Cuts, and a Shooting
Jess Mador, WABE
Thousands of employees are gone and last summer’s shooting resonates still at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters and among the large public health community in Atlanta.
Taking a GLP-1? Doctors Say Not To Forget About Movement and Mental Health
Emily Siner, Nashville Public Radio and Cara Anthony and Blake Farmer, Nashville Public Radio
So you’ve decided to go on a GLP-1 to lose weight. These medicines might seem like an easy way to drop unwanted pounds, but you’ll likely need to do a few other things to be successful long-term.
Even With Dental Insurance, You Still Could Face a Large Bill
Blake Farmer, Nashville Public Radio and Cara Anthony and Katherine Ruppelt, Nashville Public Radio
Costs keep many Americans, even those with insurance, from getting dental care. Understanding how dental insurance works and leaning into preventive care can help keep dental problems — and bills — manageable.
Rising Health Costs Push Some Middle-Aged Adults To Skip the Doc Until Medicare
Sam Whitehead
Adults ages 50 through 64 faced some of the steepest increases in out-of-pocket costs for Obamacare plans after a set of federal subsidies expired at the end of December. Some say they are putting off care or considering dropping health insurance coverage until Medicare picks up the bill.
Steep Health Care Costs Steer Americans to Tough Decisions
Dan Weissmann
Two Americans explain how the skyrocketing cost of health insurance influenced their decision to buy — or skip — health insurance in 2026.
Give and Take: Federal Rural Health Funding Could Trigger Service Cuts
Aaron Bolton, MTPR and Arielle Zionts
States are rolling out plans for their share of a $50 billion fund meant to improve rural health care. In some states, the money may provoke rural hospitals to cut services.
Trump Team Claims Successes Against ACA Fraud While Pushing for More Controls
Julie Appleby
A sweeping set of regulations issued in February includes Trump administration proposals to curb what Obamacare critics contend are fraud incentives.
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Journalists Shine Light on Out-of-Reach Insurance Prices, AI’s Role in Claims Disputes, and Susie Wiles
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.