Blind People Decry Changes To Iowa’s Independent-Living Program
September 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
A state training initiative ended a requirement that people in the program use sleep shades, or eye masks that block out all light. Former participants say the shades are critical to understanding how much a vision-impaired person can achieve in daily life, especially if the person is newly impaired.
Eli Lilly Study Shows Mounjaro As New Way To Fight Childhood Diabetes
September 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
The positive results show that the shot reduced blood sugar levels by an average of about 2% in kids as young as 10, as well as a 10% reduction in body weight after a year of treatment. Plus: how GLP-1 drugs could help patients on antipsychotics live longer; the link between medical imaging and blood cancer in kids; and more.
Study: Vitamin B3 Linked To A Reduction In Skin Cancer Risk
September 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
Researchers found the biggest reduction in risk among people who began taking B3 after their first skin cancer diagnosis. Other public health coverage is on the benefits of blueberries on infants’ immune systems, mental health, and more.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, September 18, 2025
September 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
We’d like to speak with personnel from the Department of Health and Human Services or its component agencies about what’s happening within the federal health bureaucracy. Please message us on Signal at (415) 519-8778 or get in touch here.
Fired CDC Director Says RFK Jr. Wanted Her To Preapprove Vaccine Changes
September 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
In her Wednesday testimony before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Dr. Susan Monarez outlined how she was expected to preemptively approve changes to the childhood vaccine schedule without evidence or data and fire other scientists without cause.
Health Insurers Will Cover All Vaccines Through 2026 With No Cost-Sharing
September 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
Insurance company trade group AHIP says it will maintain coverage for all immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that were in place on Sept. 1. The announcement comes as ACIP meets today and Friday to discuss various vaccinations.
As Shutdown Risk Rises, Democrats Demand Health Care Policy Changes
September 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
Democrats are eyeing a repeal of the Medicaid cuts passed in July and a long-term extension of expiring Obamacare tax subsidies. Meanwhile, Politico reports that President Donald Trump’s health care cuts may be felt sooner rather than later.
NIH Alters System To Monitor Research Funds Sent To Foreign Scientists
September 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
An agency official says the current system, called FACTS, is wrought with discrepancies in figures. Others at the agency dispute that characterization, with one noting, “They needlessly broke a functioning system that only needed a few improvements.”
First Edition: Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025
September 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Health Care Cuts Threaten Homegrown Solutions to Rural Doctor Shortages
By Bernard J. Wolfson
September 18, 2025
KFF Health News Original
In a rural, largely Republican region of California, homegrown efforts to bolster the medical workforce face an uphill battle, in part because of federal health care cuts approved by the GOP Congress and signed by President Donald Trump in July, as well as a state budget deficit.
Ticks Are Migrating, Raising Disease Risks if They Can’t Be Tracked Quickly Enough
By Aaron Bolton, MTPR
September 18, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Doctors need to know when to screen for tick-borne diseases in their communities. But it’s getting harder for local health departments to get funding for tick surveys as federal public health grants from agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dry up.
Las garrapatas migran y aumentan los riesgos de enfermedades si no se las rastrea con rapidez
By Aaron Bolton, MTPR
September 18, 2025
KFF Health News Original
El cambio climático provocado por los humanos ha acortado los inviernos, lo que hace que las garrapatas pasen menos tiempo en hibernación y tengan más meses de actividad para engancharse a animales y personas.
Watch: Fired CDC Chief Says RFK Jr. Demanded She Roll Back Vaccine Policies Without Evidence
By Arthur Allen Hannah Norman
September 17, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Susan Monarez and former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief medical officer Debra Houry described turmoil in an agency dominated by anti-vaccine political officials nominated by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
8.5% Of Florida Youths Had No Health Coverage In 2024, Up 20% From 2022
September 17, 2025
Morning Briefing
The Tampa Bay Times reports that the new data have spurred calls for Florida to resolve a two-year dispute that stopped the expansion of KidCare, a subsidized children’s health insurance program. News from around the nation also comes from West Virginia, California, and North Carolina.
Detainees’ Mental Health Declining Rapidly Inside ICE Centers, Lawyers Say
September 17, 2025
Morning Briefing
The New York Times reports that overcrowding, a lack of proper food, withheld medications, and no mental health treatment are all contributing factors. Since Jan. 1, at least 12 detainees have reportedly died, with at least two of those by suicide.
House Spending Bill Offers Band-Aid But Doesn’t Extend ACA Subsidies
September 17, 2025
Morning Briefing
The GOP measure that was put forward funds key government health programs through Nov. 21. Republicans say the temporary fix allows them to shore up appropriations bills. Democrats, however, say the GOP is angling for a government shutdown if it won’t consider their health care concerns.
Judge Dismisses State Terrorism Charges Against Luigi Mangione
September 17, 2025
Morning Briefing
He is accused of the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year in New York City. Other news related to gun violence is on gun restrictions in the wake of the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting in Minnesota, a return to classes at Utah Valley University following Charlie Kirk’s killing, and more.
CDC Revokes Work-From-Home For Employees With Disabilities — For Now
September 17, 2025
Morning Briefing
HHS’ updated telework policy does not include long-term telework as an option for federal employees with disabilities. The CDC has paused all telework approvals while it awaits clarification from HHS. Also: How companies selling AI tools for patient management are pivoting; NIH funds a center to prevent drug-resistant infections; and more.
