HHS Broadens Catastrophic Coverage Eligibility On ACA Exchange
September 5, 2025
Morning Briefing
Starting Nov. 1, Affordable Care Act participants who don’t qualify for the advanced subsidies or cost-sharing reductions may apply for a hardship exemption. In other news: ACA insurers might need to revise 2026 prices; companies and their employees are looking at higher health care costs; and more.
First Edition: Friday, Sept. 5, 2025
September 5, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
He Built Michigan’s Medicaid Work Requirement System. Now He’s Warning Other States.
By Kate Wells, Michigan Public
September 5, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Michigan’s former top health official spent a year and $30 million building a system to implement work requirements for Medicaid recipients. The difficulties he encountered have him worried about 40 states and Washington, D.C., having to launch such systems by 2027.
Trump Administration Investigates Medicaid Spending on Immigrants in Blue States
By Angela Hart Devi Shastri, The Associated Press
September 5, 2025
KFF Health News Original
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is hunting for Medicaid waste, fraud, and abuse in at least six Democratic-led states that expanded coverage to low-income and disabled immigrants without legal status, according to records obtained by KFF Health News and The Associated Press.
La administración Trump investiga el gasto de estados demócratas en Medicaid para inmigrantes
By Angela Hart Devi Shastri, The Associated Press
September 5, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Estos estados brindan cobertura médica integral a inmigrantes pobres y con discapacidades que viven en el país sin estatus migratorio permanente.
RFK Jr. Faces Senate Finance Committee: A Live Discussion
September 4, 2025
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News’ Stephanie Armour, Julie Rovner, and Arthur Allen and KFF’s Josh Michaud discuss the biggest takeaways from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s hearing before the Senate Finance Committee.
House Panel Sets Sights On Extending Health Care Provisions
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
The committee aims to secure bipartisan support for extending telehealth flexibilities in Medicare coverage as well as for provisions in the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act. Also in the news: ACA subsidies; health AI; and more.
Texas Poised To Enact Stricter Bans On Abortion Pills, Transgender Rights
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
Lawmakers passed a bill that would allow private citizens to sue out-of-state medical providers who mail abortion medication to Texas patients. They also passed a bill that would ban trans people from using public bathrooms or locker rooms that align with their genders. Both bills await the signature of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.
Study: People 65 And Older Receive Substandard Care For Opioid Disorder
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
Drug overdose deaths for people in that age group rose 11.4% between 2022 and 2023, CDC data show. Also: Scientists have developed a powerful non-opioid painkiller; controversy brews over involuntary addiction treatment; and more.
FDA: Pharma Firm Used Contaminated IV Bags For Epidural Injectable Drug
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
Amneal Pharmaceuticals lowered its standards to be able to continue using the bags even after the problem had been identified, the FDA said in a warning letter sent last week. Other news is on a one-shot early syphilis treatment trial, GLP-1 drugs, and more.
Scientists Find New MS Subtype Characterized By Cognitive Impairment
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
The unrecognized subtype exhibits minimal motor impairment. The researchers have created an accessible and effective online tool to assess cognitive impairment, which they noted is not currently a standard part of clinical practice. Other news looks at avian flu, measles outbreaks, and more.
Viewpoints: We Are Losing Our Freedom To Choose Vaccination; The CDC Is Becoming Unrecognizable
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
Opinion writers tackle vaccines, the CDC, and the U.S. drug supply.
Several Covid Vax Skeptics Might Join ACIP; RFK Jr. Testifies At Senate Today
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
Politico reports that it has seen an internal list that included the names of at least three people who have questioned the safety of mRNA vaccines. It’s unclear whether new members could join the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices before its next meeting Sept. 18-19. Plus: The FDA questions the safety of getting covid and flu vaccines at the same time.
West Coast States Form Health Alliance In Response To Trump’s CDC
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
On Wednesday, the governors of California, Washington, and Oregon announced the creation of the West Coast Health Alliance, aimed at providing public health and vaccine guidance separate from the CDC. Other vaccine news comes from Colorado, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Florida.
Research Powerhouse Harvard Secures Win Over Trump’s $2B Funding Freeze
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston ruled the government violated the university’s free speech rights when it withheld grants, noting the administration “used antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this country’s premier universities, and did so in a way that runs afoul” of the law. A separate judge has blocked foreign aid cuts.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, September 4, 2025
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
Join us at 3 p.m. today for a live discussion: KFF Health News’ Stephanie Armour, Julie Rovner, and Arthur Allen, and KFF’s Josh Michaud discuss the biggest takeaways from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. Tune in here.
First Edition: Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025
September 4, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
As Insurers Struggle With GLP-1 Drug Costs, Some Seek To Wean Patients Off
By Jamie Ducharme
September 4, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Conventional wisdom says GLP-1 drugs must be taken indefinitely to maintain weight loss. But a growing number of researchers, payers, and providers are challenging that consensus and exploring whether — and how — to taper patients off expensive GLP-1 drugs.
Fighting a Health Insurance Denial? Here Are 7 Tips To Help
By Lauren Sausser
September 4, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Many people don’t know they can fight a health insurance denial, let alone how to do it. Here are practical tips for consumers who want to appeal a prior authorization decision.
Listen: Limiting Benefits and Adding Restrictions, ‘MAHA’ Reshapes Food Aid
By Renuka Rayasam
September 4, 2025
KFF Health News Original
The White House and congressional Republicans have made historic changes to the federal anti-hunger program SNAP. They say the changes will boost healthy eating for low-income Americans. Some nutrition experts aren’t so sure.
