The Week in Brief: Friday, Sept. 25, 2026
Abortion Is on the Ballot Again as Post-Roe Policies Continue To Evolve
By Bram Sable-Smith and Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez
Four states will vote on abortion-related ballot measures in November, marking the fourth time in five years that millions of Americans will weigh in on their states’ abortion rules. The measures follow the Supreme Court’s “Dobbs” decision, which upended federal abortion protections.
Black Lung Disease Remains a Threat, but Federal Officials Delay Effort To Address It
By Taylor Sisk
The disease has long been a risk of coal mining, an industry the Trump administration is trying to reinvigorate.
Healthcare a Vague but Potent Issue for Election 2026
Healthcare in general, and health costs in particular, are a top issue for voters in 2026. But it remains unclear exactly how voters want lawmakers to fix the problem. Meanwhile, the Trump administration doubled down on its fraud-fighting efforts. Tami Luhby of CNN, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Sarah Jane Tribble of KFF Health News join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.
Nursing Home Beds Are Becoming More Scarce
By Paula Span
As the oldest baby boomers turn 80, researchers worry there won’t be enough room in nursing facilities for a rapidly graying nation.
A Cancer Survivor Lost Coverage. Medicaid Work Rules Prompt Fears of Similar Stories To Come.
By Katheryn Houghton
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Sticker Shock at the Doctor’s Office Could Motivate Midterm Voters
By Julie Rovner
Steep jumps in health insurance premiums and deductibles are top of mind for many voters heading into midterm elections. KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner explains how rising costs may shape competitive races. She also distills plans from candidates on both sides of the aisle to bring costs down.
Cost-Saving Medicaid Meal Deliveries Threatened by Cuts, Policy Uncertainty
By Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, WBUR
An experiment to provide meals to some Medicaid recipients shows food can be cost-effective medicine. But even as federal officials tout the power of nutrition, Medicaid budget cuts could lead states to think twice about covering healthy food for sick residents. One has already reconsidered.
The Drugs and Devices Have Been on the Market for Years. But FDA-Ordered Studies Still Aren’t Done.
By David Hilzenrath
To get drugs and devices out faster, the FDA lets companies conduct studies of safety or efficacy after the products are approved. In many cases, such “postmarket” studies are behind schedule or overdue, records show.
Insurance Coverage Lags as Cancer Science, Treatment Move Forward
By Arthur Allen
“Brain cancer” or “H4 G34-mutant”? As knowledge about genetics advances, some doctors say cancers should be defined by their mutations, not the tissues where they manifest.
It’s Hard To Predict Who Will Be Suicidal. It’s Easier To Ensure People Can’t Shoot Themselves.
By Aneri Pattani
Some mental health experts favor suicide prevention steps that are applied broadly, with protections that aren’t tied to an individual’s specific risk.
As Health Insurance Costs Soar, Healthcare Workers Also Feel the Pinch
By Hayat Norimine
Like many Americans, Joshua and Ashley Durham saw their health insurance premiums rise by hundreds of dollars a month this year. Despite being healthcare practitioners all too aware of the risks, they chose to go uninsured. Others, though, can’t afford to go without.
Economic Frustration Tests Trump’s Standing With Rural Voters, New KFF-AP Poll Finds
By Sarah Jane Tribble and Ali Swenson, The Associated Press and Linley Sanders, The Associated Press
Rural voters rank the cost of living and cost of healthcare as top issues they want to hear about from midterm candidates as they face a tightening pocketbook pinch.
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Health Journalists Visit Conservative Georgia District and Weigh AI Bioweapon Threat
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.