Young People In Corn Belt Are Getting Significantly More Cancer Since 2015
October 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
An analysis by The Washington Post found that in the past decade, cancer rates in the six states with the highest corn production are rising more rapidly than in the country as a whole. People aged 15-49 living there have shown a 5% increase in overall cancer rates, with kidney and skin cancer soaring to 35%-65% higher than the national average.
Obamacare Premiums Will Climb 30% On Average Next Year
October 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
The news of premium spikes arrives during the prolonged federal government shutdown, which was prompted in part by a fight over the extension of Obamacare subsidies. Higher premiums and a loss of subsidies could mean skyrocketing health care costs for millions. More coverage is on SNAP, WIC, and other impacts of the shutdown.
Morning Briefing for Monday, October 27, 2025
October 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
No matter which app you’re into, KFF Health News has you covered: Follow along on Instagram , TikTok , Bluesky , X , Facebook , and LinkedIn as we break down health care headlines and policy.
NIH Installation Of Vance Pal To Lead Environmental Health Sciences Panned
October 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
Some fear the elevation of Kyle Walsh to a director’s role — a promotion that didn’t abide by standard procedures — will pave the way for future political appointments. Plus, President Trump issues an all-caps missive about Tylenol, touts his “perfect” MRI findings, and more.
California Ponies Up $140 Million To Preserve Planned Parenthood Clinics
October 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
The Golden State is tapping local funds to ensure the organization can maintain reproductive health services after the federal government cut funding. Plus, as Wyoming moves to prevent regulation of crisis pregnancy centers that counsel against abortion, some centers across the states expand medical services.
BJC Health Failed To Alert School District About Shooter, Lawsuit Claims
October 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
The family of Jean Kuczka, a teacher slain in the 2022 shooting at CVPA in St. Louis, has filed a wrongful death suit against BJC Health, alleging that it failed to make the school aware of the threat after the shooter told multiple BJC mental health providers that he planned to “shoot up my old high school” in the two months before the attack.
Texas Doctor Gives Up License After Being Sued For Providing Gender Care
October 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
Pediatrician May Lau has decided to move her practice from Dallas to Oregon after being sued last year by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and accused of prescribing testosterone to at least 21 patients, which she denies. More news is from Virginia, California, New Mexico, Maryland, Arizona, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Utah, and Florida.
Cuando un audífono no es suficiente
By Paula Span
October 27, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Desde 2022, Medicare amplió la cobertura de implantes cocleares para incluir a los adultos mayores con distintos rangos de deterioro auditivo.
First Edition: Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
October 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Doctors Muffled as Florida Moves To End Decades of Childhood Vaccination Mandates
By Arthur Allen
October 27, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Florida has announced plans to end mandatory vaccination. Now scientists are assessing which of several diseases deadly to children — whooping cough, measles, polio, rubella, mumps, diphtheria, and tetanus — are likely to make a resurgence and when.
As Sports Betting Explodes, States Try To Set Limits To Stop Gambling Addiction
By Karen Brown, New England Public Media
October 27, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Some advocates and lawmakers want to impose national regulations on the gambling industry but would settle for reining in excessive betting at the state level.
Reporters Cover the Shutdown and the Use of AI in Health Care
October 25, 2025
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national or local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
‘Cancer Doesn’t Care’: Volunteer Lobbyists Push Past Washington’s Ugly Politics
By Noam N. Levey
October 24, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Get our weekly newsletter, The Week in Brief, featuring a roundup of our original coverage, Fridays at 2 p.m. ET.
‘A Miracle’: Girl, 12, Who Was Gravely Hurt In Minn. Shooting Leaves Hospital
October 24, 2025
Morning Briefing
Sophia Forchas, who was shot in the head, was the most seriously wounded child among those who survived the Aug. 27 attack at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis, AP reported. Surgeons removed the left half of her skull. On Thursday, she was greeted with cheers after being taken around town in a limousine.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
October 24, 2025
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today’s selections are on nursing careers, baldness, pain management, PMDD, ivermectin, and a pioneering FDA medical officer.
NYC Wipes Out $135M In Medical Debt, Easing Burden For 75,000 Residents
October 24, 2025
Morning Briefing
Residents who qualify for this one-time debt relief program will be notified by Undue Medical Debt. Separately, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore decries FEMA’s decision to withhold disaster aid.
Morning Briefing for Friday, October 24, 2025
October 24, 2025
Morning Briefing
Behind on your reading? Catch up on this week's KFF Health News stories with The Week in Brief, delivered every Friday to your inbox. Sign up here !
Furloughed CMS Employees To Return Temporarily For Open Enrollment
October 24, 2025
Morning Briefing
Employees have been furloughed since the government shut down three weeks ago. Meanwhile, federal workers have begun missing paychecks, and Democrats blocked a bill that would have allowed some workers to be paid.
