RFK Jr. Ousts NIH Scientist Who Raised Alarm On Public Health Policies
October 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo had filed a whistleblower complaint against the administration for actions she said had jeopardized research subjects, defied court orders, and undermined vaccine research, The New York Times reports. She is one of three scientists who was recently fired.
EPA To Again Allow Use Of Refrigerants Known To Cause Climate Change
October 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
Biden-era rules were phasing out hydrofluorocarbons — a family of chemicals used in cooling — that the EPA says lead to increased costs for consumers. Also in the news: ambient trichloroethylene’s link to Parkinson’s; wildfire smoke’s effect on sperm quality; and more.
Nebraska GOP Trying To Weaken Law On Voter-Approved Medical Marijuana
October 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
Following in the footsteps of other red states, Nebraska Republicans are pushing back by postponing licensing of marijuana growers, despite overwhelming support at the ballot box. Other news is on firearm injury costs, midwifery clinics, whooping cough, and more.
First Edition: Friday, Oct. 3, 2025
October 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Centros de salud enfrentan riesgos por la caída de la financiación del gobierno
By Paula Andalo
October 3, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Algunos de estos centros de salud comunitarios podrían verse obligados a reducir personal médico y administrativo o servicios. Incluso podrían llegar a cerrar.
Health Centers Face Risks as Government Funding Lapses
By Paula Andalo
October 3, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Community health centers are key to delivering care in underserved communities around the country, but their services could be disrupted or scaled back after governments did not renew their funding.
Nuclear Missile Workers Are Contracting Cancer. They Blame the Bases.
By Patricia Kime
October 3, 2025
KFF Health News Original
People who maintained the nation’s land-based nuclear missile arsenal are coming down with similar cancers. The Air Force is wrapping up a large study of the health risks they may have faced.
What the Health? From KFF Health News: Democrats Make This Shutdown About the ACA
October 2, 2025
Podcast
The foreshadowed federal shutdown came after Congress failed to pass required spending bills, with Democrats demanding Republicans renew the expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies in exchange for their votes. While a shutdown does not affect Medicare and Medicaid, it could eventually hinder activities from every corner of the Department of Health and Human Services. Meanwhile, as Democrats and Republicans point fingers, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pursues policies and personnel that would undermine vaccines. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Bloomberg News join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss the news. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Cara Anthony, who wrote a recent “Bill of the Month” feature about an out-of-network eye surgery that left one kindergartner’s family with a big bill.
Many Minnesotans Are Losing Their Sober Housing Due To New State Law
October 2, 2025
Morning Briefing
An anti-kickback law went into effect in August, part of Minnesota’s attempt to address concerns over fraud in social service programs, but critics warn of a disastrous effect on addiction treatment in the state. Other health news from across the nation comes from Virginia, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, and Illinois.
White House Hedges Research Funds On Colleges’ Support For Trump Goals
October 2, 2025
Morning Briefing
Nine initial universities would enjoy “multiple positive benefits” if they agree to commit to strict definitions of gender, among other conditions. Plus, pharma tariffs have been delayed.
Summa Health Is First Health System Wholly Owned By Venture Capital Firm
October 2, 2025
Morning Briefing
General Catalyst’s Health Assurance Transformation Co. finalized the acquisition Wednesday and hopes to boost Summa’s efficiency by using AI to improve diagnoses and document patient visits. Also in the news: Johns Hopkins, CommonSpirit, Florida Blue, BayCare, and more.
HHS Declares Coalition For Health AI Won’t Squeeze Out The Startups
October 2, 2025
Morning Briefing
Health and tech giants involved in the group evaluate artificial intelligence tools and then advise physicians and hospitals on how they work. The administration claims CHAI could become a “cartel,” but CEO Brian Anderson says the coalition’s 3,000 members include startups and smaller providers.
Maine Family Planning Clinics End Primary Care Amid Medicaid Cuts
October 2, 2025
Morning Briefing
The clinics, with 18 locations and a mobile unit, provide birth control, sexually transmitted disease testing, cancer screenings, and routine OB-GYN visits, as well as primary care to nearly 1,000 patients. Also, a Texas judge transfers the abortion pill battle to Missouri; and more.
Genetic Analysis Finds Different Forms Of Autism, Study Shows
October 2, 2025
Morning Briefing
The study found that rather than being one single genetic condition, autism is instead a cluster of conditions with similar features. In other autism news: folate supplements vs. leucovorin; the dementia drug memantine may help a small subset of ASD youth with social functioning; and more.
Health Agencies Stymied As Congress Remains Deadlocked On Funding Deal
October 2, 2025
Morning Briefing
The Department of Health and Human Services — particularly the National Institutes of Health — is seeing significant staff reductions as lawmakers continue the shutdown showdown largely over whether ACA subsidies should be extended. Plus, hospitals already filled to the brim are receiving an influx of patients now that CMS reimbursements for hospital at home care have been halted.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, October 2, 2025
October 2, 2025
Morning Briefing
It’s that spooktacular time of year again: Send us your best scary health care haikus for our seventh annual Halloween contest! The deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on Oct. 19. The top winners will receive custom cartoons that appear in the Morning Briefing on Oct. 31. Click here for the rules and to enter! 👻
First Edition: Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025
October 2, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
‘Demon Copperhead’ Author Lays Foundation for Women in Appalachia To Beat Addiction
By Taylor Sisk
October 2, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Barbara Kingsolver won a Pulitzer Prize for her bestselling novel about Appalachia’s drug crisis. She invested some of the proceeds into a home for women trying to beat substance use disorders.
Workers’ Wages Siphoned To Pay Medical Bills, Despite Consumer Protections
By Rae Ellen Bichell
October 2, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Health care providers and debt collectors are biting from people’s paychecks to cover old medical bills. A KFF Health News investigation in Colorado shows that this aggressive collection practice is widespread even in a state considered to have strong consumer protections.
