Morning Briefing for Thursday, November 20, 2025
November 20, 2025
Morning Briefing
Help us investigate medical care for gunshot wounds: KFF Health News and The Trace are talking to people who’ve been wounded or families of those killed by gun violence to better understand how insurance affects such medical care. Click here to reach our reporting team.
On Official Website, CDC Now Suggests Vaccines May Cause Autism
November 20, 2025
Morning Briefing
The change of language came Wednesday and includes a pledge to dig deeper into the causes of autism, going so far as to say, “Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities.”
Senators Squabble Over ‘Health Cost Freight Train’ Racing Toward Patients
November 20, 2025
Morning Briefing
The Senate Finance Committee met Wednesday to discuss possible alternatives for Affordable Care Act subsidies, which expire at the end of the year. Republicans are calling for an overhaul of the system, but Democrats say they waited too long to initiate such reforms.
First Edition: Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025
November 20, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Waning Immunity and Falling Vaccination Rates Fuel Pertussis Outbreaks
By Céline Gounder
November 20, 2025
KFF Health News Original
New details from health officials suggest the whooping-cough surge may be part of a national pattern driven by slipping vaccine coverage and waning immunity, with infants bearing the brunt of the consequences.
Complaints About Gaps in Medicare Advantage Networks Are Common. Federal Enforcement Is Rare.
By Susan Jaffe
November 20, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Health systems drop out of Medicare Advantage plans all the time. Yet government documents obtained by KFF Health News show that federal regulators rarely warn plans that their networks of health providers are so skimpy they violate legal requirements.
Help Us Investigate Medical Care for Gunshot Wounds
November 19, 2025
KFF Health News Original
We’d like to talk to people who’ve been wounded or families of those killed by gun violence to better understand how insurance affects such medical care.
Researchers Develop New Lyme Disease Test For Faster, More Reliable Results
November 19, 2025
Morning Briefing
The molecular test can distinguish between past infections and current ongoing ones, which is important as Lyme disease grows more prevalent in the U.S. Other news follows how Novo Nordisk is using GLP-1s to possibly treat Alzheimer’s.
Strict Abortion Bill Fails To Advance Out Of South Carolina Subcommittee
November 19, 2025
Morning Briefing
Four Republicans abstained from voting, ensuring Democrats would block the measure that called for jailing people who get an abortion. Separately, ProPublica examines cases in which women died after they were unable to access standard reproductive care. Also, one woman’s harrowing delivery.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, November 19, 2025
November 19, 2025
Morning Briefing
Want more California health news? Check out our new newsletter, California Weekly Roundup, sent to your email inbox each Wednesday. Sign up here!
In ACA Subsidy Fight, Trump Demands Payments Go ‘Directly … To The People’
November 19, 2025
Morning Briefing
On his Truth Social site Tuesday, President Donald Trump criticized health insurance companies and said he would not approve any other type of legislation.
US Withholds Crucial Antiretroviral Drug From HIV-Plagued South Africa
November 19, 2025
Morning Briefing
An administration official noted that South Africa and other countries “have significant means of their own” to pay for lenacapavir. Critics say the plan appears politically motivated. Other administration news is about special education, SNAP, VA transparency, and more.
RFK Jr. Suggests Kids’ Peanut Allergies Might Be From Aluminum In Vaccines
November 19, 2025
Morning Briefing
“Those studies have never been done. We’re going to do them now,” the Health and Human Services secretary said at an event Monday. However, as USA Today notes, youth peanut allergy rates have fallen since guidelines were put into effect in 2017 that recommended introducing peanuts earlier.
Former FDA Chief Gottlieb Joins Board Of Embattled UnitedHealth Group
November 19, 2025
Morning Briefing
It’s seen as the latest effort by CEO Stephen Hemsley — who was appointed in May — to turn around the insurance giant, which has struggled since the December 2024 slaying of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
First Edition: Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025
November 19, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A Small Texas Think Tank Cultivated Covid Dissidents. Now They’re Running US Health Policy.
By Rachana Pradhan
November 19, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Fueled by covid backlash, a libertarian author created the Brownstone Institute in 2021. In recent months, people with ties to the group have catapulted to the highest levels of U.S. government, exercising significant authority over access to vaccines and scientific research.
A Hidden Health Crisis Following Natural Disasters: Mold Growth in Homes
By Jonathan R.M. Charles
November 19, 2025
KFF Health News Original
As extreme weather wreaks havoc, the risk of dangerous mold looms. An estimated 47% of homes already have mold or dampness, leaving their residents exposed to mold spores and associated allergens that can cause respiratory problems.
Dysfunctional Mitochondria May Cause Onset Of Parkinson’s, Research Shows
November 18, 2025
Morning Briefing
Other news looks at a form of dementia housing that avoids locked doors; a heart disease calculator that may help predict the future risk for young adults; a test to detect fungal pathogens; and more.
