The Week in Brief: Friday, Oct. 17, 2025
States Jostle Over $50B Rural Health Fund as Trump’s Medicaid Cuts Trigger Scramble
Sarah Jane Tribble
States are battling for their piece of $50 billion in federal rural health funding, but it’s not just hospitals vying for the money. Tech startups and policy demands are raising the stakes as Medicaid cuts loom.
California’s Health Insurance Marketplace Braces for Chaos as Shutdown Persists
Bernard J. Wolfson
Jessica Altman, the head of California’s Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace, warns letters will be sent out this week with sky-high premiums unless Washington extends covid-era enhanced tax credits by then. Even if Congress acts later and rates are lower than feared, she says, shoppers could be scared off.
Why Brittle Bones Aren’t Just a Woman’s Problem
Paula Span
More men are now living long enough to develop osteoporosis. But few are aware of the risk, and fewer still are screened and treated.
An Age-Old Fear Grows More Common: ‘I’m Going To Die Alone’
Judith Graham and Oona Zenda
As families fracture, people are living longer and are more likely to find themselves without close relatives or friends at the end of their lives.
Schrödinger’s Government Shutdown
Democrats and Republicans remain stalled over funding the federal government as Republicans launch a new attack on the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is taking advantage of the shutdown to lay off workers from programs supported mostly by Democrats. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews health insurance analyst Louise Norris about Medicare open enrollment.
After Chiding Democrats on Transgender Politics, Newsom Vetoes a Key Health Measure
Christine Mai-Duc
California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have expanded access to hormone therapy, a top priority for the trans community. Advocates say it would have ensured continuity in gender-affirming care amid Trump administration attacks. Analysts say it’s another sign of the Democrat’s move to the center.
In Mississippi, Medicaid Coverage of Weight Loss Drugs Fails To Catch On
Phil Galewitz
In Mississippi, a state with one of the highest obesity rates in the nation, Medicaid covers weight loss drugs, but few enrollees have signed up for the benefit.
Listen to the Latest ‘KFF Health News Minute’
The "KFF Health News Minute” brings original health care and health policy reporting from our newsroom to the airwaves each week.
Listen: Green Goodbyes: Choosing an Eco-Friendly Burial
Paula Span
Environmental and economic concerns prompt some people to explore obsequies options beyond metal caskets and cremation.
Journalists Dig Into Government Shutdown and Rural Doctor Drought
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.