Medicaid Work Rules Exempt the ‘Medically Frail.’ Deciding Who Qualifies Is Tricky.
By Samantha Liss Sam Whitehead
December 1, 2025
KFF Health News Original
People on Medicaid deemed “medically frail” won’t need to meet new federal requirements that enrollees work 80 hours a month or perform another approved activity. But state officials are grappling with how to interpret who qualifies under the vague federal definition, which could affect millions.
Watch: Trump Considers Extending Obamacare Subsidies
By Amanda Seitz
December 1, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Amanda Seitz, KFF Health News’ Washington health policy reporter, appeared on NewsNation’s “NewsNation Live With Connell McShane” on Nov. 24 to discuss President Donald Trump’s latest health proposal.
New Work Requirement Adds Red Tape to Missouri’s Snarled Food Aid System
By Samantha Liss
December 1, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Under Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act, states must shoulder more of the administrative and cost burdens of the food aid program SNAP, which helps feed 42 million Americans.
Kentucky Reports Third Infant Death From Pertussis Amid Nationwide Surge
November 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
Of the three infant fatalities, none of the babies or their mothers had been vaccinated against the highly contagious whooping cough. Kentucky has reported 566 confirmed cases of pertussis this year, which is the largest outbreak since 2012. Also: norovirus, measles, RSV, flu, and covid.
Trump Says He’d Extend ACA Subsidies Only To Make Time To Hash Out A Plan
November 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
“Some kind of an extension may be necessary to get something else done,” President Donald Trump said Tuesday. But he added: “Somebody said I wanna extend them for two years. I don’t want to extend them for two years. I’d rather not extend them at all.”
CMS Floats Overhaul Of Medicare Advantage Star Ratings System
November 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
CMS may nix a dozen Medicare Advantage and Part D measures that focus on operational performance or completion of administrative processes. Other health industry news is on Humana’s plan to appeal a court loss over the Medicare Advantage star ratings, Asheville’s Mission Hospital is removed from immediate jeopardy by CMS, and more.
Lawmaker Will Introduce Federal Bill To Safely Discharge Patients In Labor
November 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
The bill from Rep. Robin Kelly, a Democrat from Illinois, would require clinical justification for discharging patients presenting with signs or symptoms of labor, an assessment of travel distance, a confirmed back-up hospital or birthing facility, verification that patients have reliable transportation, and documentation of patient understanding, Becker’s Hospital Review reported.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, November 26, 2025
November 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
The Morning Briefing will not be published Thursday or Friday. Look for it again in your inbox on Monday, Dec. 1. Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving! 🦃
Doctor Who Called Covid Vaccines ‘Dangerous’ Is CDC’s New Deputy Chief
November 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s internal database lists Dr. Ralph Abraham, 71, as its principal deputy director, with a start date of Nov. 23, The New York Times reported. Abraham is also the former surgeon general of Louisiana and halted the state health department’s mass vaccination campaigns.
Medicare To Lower Prices On 15 More Prescription Drugs, Including Ozempic
November 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
Some prescription cancer drugs are also included in the negotiations. The announcement followed the second round of talks with pharmaceutical manufacturers under a new system implemented by the Biden administration as part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, The Washington Post reported.
First Edition: Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025
November 26, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations. Note to readers: The First Edition will not be published Thursday or Friday. Look for it again in your inbox on Monday, Dec. 1. Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving!
South Carolina’s Measles Outbreak Shows Chilling Effect of Vaccine Misinformation
By Lauren Sausser
November 26, 2025
KFF Health News Original
When a measles outbreak emerged in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in October, health officials announced that most cases were tied to one public charter school, where only 17% of the 605 students enrolled during the 2024-25 academic year provided documentation showing they had received their required vaccinations.
After Shutdown, Federal Employees Face New Uncertainty: Affording Health Insurance
By Phil Galewitz
November 26, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Average premium payments in the federal government’s insurance program for its employees are set to jump more than 12% next year, on top of a 13.5% hike in 2025. The two-year increase is higher than many private employers and their workers are experiencing.
What the Health? From KFF Health News: Trump Almost Unveils a Health Plan
November 25, 2025
Podcast
Just weeks before some tax credits for Affordable Care Act premiums expire, the Trump administration floated a plan to extend the enhanced aid — but it was met with immediate GOP pushback. Meanwhile, health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he ordered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to revise its website to suggest childhood vaccines might be linked to autism. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Joanne Kenen and Joshua Sharfstein about their new book, “Information Sick: How Journalism’s Decline and Misinformation’s Rise Are Harming Our Health — And What We Can Do About It.”
Consejos contradictorios sobre las vacunas contra covid podrían afectar las tasas de vacunación, que ya son bajas
By Phillip Reese
November 25, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Investigadores de salud pública temen que las tasas de vacunación caigan aún más, especialmente entre latinos, afroamericanos y personas menores de 30 años
For 2nd Year In A Row, Pertussis Cases Are Higher Than Pre-Pandemic Levels
November 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
Also in the news: the spread of measles, covid, flu, RSV, CWD, and more.
CMS’ Plan To Recoup Billions In Outpatient Payments Delayed Until ’27
November 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
The clawback originally was set to go into effect in 2026. However, Stat says, Medicare will move forward with surveys that will pinpoint how much drugs cost for hospitals — surveys that hospitals have managed to push off for 20 years.
Promising Injectable Alzheimer’s Drug From J&J Fails In Mid-Stage Trial
November 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
Separately, Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide did not slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease more than a placebo, even though some disease-related biomarkers did show some improvement. Also: GLP-1s are being marketed to the non-obese; pregnancy risks from GLP-1s; and more.
