First Edition: Monday, Nov. 10, 2025
November 10, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
As Health Companies Get Bigger, So Do the Bills. It’s Unclear if Trump’s Team Will Intervene.
By Elisabeth Rosenthal
November 10, 2025
KFF Health News Original
As health systems, doctor groups, and insurers merge into ever-bigger giants, patient care gets more expensive. Yet the Trump administration has sent mixed signals about its willingness to intervene — and shown some disdain for Biden officials’ more aggressive approach.
Shutdown Has Highlighted Washington’s Retreat From Big Ideas on Health Care
By Stephanie Armour
November 10, 2025
KFF Health News Original
As voters feel financial pressure from runaway health care costs and crave innovations that would provide relief, the standoff in Congress has been firmly rooted in the status quo — keeping an existing provision of the Affordable Care Act alive.
Journalists Shed Light on Opioid Settlement Cash, New Medicaid Work Requirements
November 8, 2025
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Narcan, Drones, and Concerts: How Governments Spent Opioid Settlement Windfalls
By Aneri Pattani
November 7, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Get our weekly newsletter, The Week in Brief, featuring a roundup of our original coverage, Fridays at 2 p.m. ET.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
November 7, 2025
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today’s selections are on peanut allergies, nutrition, SAD, ELISA testing, and more.
Texas Seeks Restraining Order Against Tylenol For Alleged False Advertising
November 7, 2025
Morning Briefing
In the Thursday filing, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accused the makers of Tylenol of false advertising because the painkiller is promoted as safe to use during pregnancy.
Judge Rules Social Media Giants Must Face Trial Over Youth Addiction Claim
November 7, 2025
Morning Briefing
Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat’s parent companies will be forced to face trial in the claim that they designed social media platforms to addict youths. Trials are set to start in January, after Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kuhl ruled against the companies this week in their last chance to avoid trial.
Applications For $50B Rural Health Fund Are In From All 50 States
November 7, 2025
Morning Briefing
Half of the money will be divided equally among all states with approved applications, while the other $25 billion will be awarded at the discretion of CMS chief Mehmet Oz and will be based on criteria such as whether the states have adopted MAHA policies. Also: AI-powered prior authorization programs; a nurse staffing agency challenges the $100K visa fee; and more.
LGBTQ+ Advocates Decry Ruling That Blocks Gender Changes On Passports
November 7, 2025
Morning Briefing
The Supreme Court let stand a Trump administration policy that bars people from updating their gender markers. One ACLU director quickly denounced the decision, calling it an “attempt to dehumanize, humiliate, and endanger transgender, nonbinary, and intersex Americans.”
Morning Briefing for Friday, November 7, 2025
November 7, 2025
Morning Briefing
Behind on your reading? Catch up on this week's KFF Health News stories with The Week in Brief, delivered every Friday to your inbox. Sign up here !
Full SNAP Payments Must Be Sent To States Now, Judge Tells Trump Admin
November 7, 2025
Morning Briefing
After weeks of back-and-forth over how much money should be paid out and when, a U.S. district judge set today as the deadline for the government to disburse funds. The administration plans to appeal. Plus, House Speaker Mike Johnson won’t ensure a vote on expiring ACA subsidies.
CMS Announces Rx Deal For Medicaid; Trump Touts Plan To Discount GLP-1s
November 7, 2025
Morning Briefing
Medicaid’s new “GENEROUS” plan would allow participating states to buy certain drugs at prices that align with what is paid in other countries, Fierce Healthcare reported. In separate news, President Donald Trump’s weight loss drug announcement was interrupted when an attendee collapsed.
First Edition: Friday, Nov. 7, 2025
November 7, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Wielding Obscure Budget Tools, Trump’s ‘Reaper’ Vought Sows Turmoil in Public Health
By Amy Maxmen
Illustration by Oona Zenda
November 7, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Through shrouded bureaucratic maneuvers, White House budget director Russell Vought and DOGE have quietly upended outbreak response, HIV treatment, and dementia care in communities across America.
Concerns Over Fairness, Access Rise as States Compete for Slice of $50B Rural Health Fund
By Sarah Jane Tribble Arielle Zionts
November 7, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Amid public forums and local cries for help, states are also talking with large health systems, technology companies, and others amid intensifying competition for shares of a $50 billion fund to improve rural health.
A inmigrantes con problemas de salud se les podría negar la visa para entrar al país, por nueva directiva del gobierno de Trump
By Amanda Seitz
November 6, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Los extranjeros que solicitan visas para vivir en Estados Unidos podrían ser rechazados si tienen ciertas afecciones médicas, como obesidad o diabetes, según una directiva emitida el jueves 6 de noviembre por la administración Trump.
Immigrants With Health Conditions May Be Denied Visas Under New Trump Administration Guidance
By Amanda Seitz
November 6, 2025
KFF Health News Original
The Trump administration has directed visa officers to consider common health ailments, including obesity and diabetes, when would-be immigrants seek visas to enter the U.S.
What the Health? From KFF Health News: The State of the Affordable Care Act
November 6, 2025
Podcast
Nov. 1 marked the start of open enrollment for 2026 health plans bought from Affordable Care Act marketplaces in most states. But this sign-up season is like no other in the health law’s 15-year history. It remains unclear, even at this late date, whether expanded tax credits launched during the pandemic in 2021 will be continued or allowed to expire, exposing millions of Americans to much higher out-of-pocket costs. In this special episode of “What the Health?” from KFF Health News and WAMU, host Julie Rovner interviews KFF vice president Cynthia Cox about the past, present, and possible future of the health law and how those who purchase ACA coverage should proceed during this time of uncertainty.
