For Many Patients Leaving the ICU, the Struggle Has Only Just Begun
By Paula Span
April 10, 2026
KFF Health News Original
A long stay in intensive care can bring physical, cognitive, and mental health challenges that can take months or longer to resolve.
What the Health? From KFF Health News: Abortion Pills, the Budget, and RFK Jr.
April 9, 2026
Podcast
This week, the Trump administration won a court battle to delay a ruling on access to the abortion pill mifepristone, angering its own anti-abortion allies. Meanwhile, the president’s budget arrived on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers are unlikely to agree to its proposed cuts to Health and Human Services programs. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Maya Goldman of Axios join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
April 9, 2026
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of health policy studies and briefs.
Most Of Trump’s Major Policy Changes Benefit Health Insurers, Experts Say
April 9, 2026
Morning Briefing
The most recent action — higher payments to Medicare Advantage plans — will put $13 billion more in insurers’ pockets, Stat reported. The policy also abandons reform that would have led to more accurate, and lower, insurance payments.
RFK Jr. Broadening Reach Of His MAHA Message With A Health Policy Podcast
April 9, 2026
Morning Briefing
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he intends to expose the “corruption” and “lies” that have harmed Americans. “We’re going to name the names of the forces that obstruct the paths to public health,” he said in a teaser video. Critics fear a podcast is just another way for him to spread misinformation.
US Fertility Rate Falls To Record Low As Teen Pregnancies Decrease
April 9, 2026
Morning Briefing
Plus: Two hair-growth products have been recalled because of a poisoning risk to children; how to reverse cognitive decline from social media use; and more.
Dealer Who Sold ‘Friends’ Star Fatal Ketamine Dose Sentenced To 15 Years
April 9, 2026
Morning Briefing
‘Ketamine Queen’ Jasveen Sangha is among the five people who pleaded guilty in the drug overdose death of actor Matthew Perry. She faced up to 65 years in prison. Plus, news about gabapentinoids, hormone replacement therapy, GLP-1 weight loss drugs, and more.
Feds Investigate Los Angeles Schools Over Gender Identity, Parents’ Rights
April 9, 2026
Morning Briefing
The investigation pertains to a policy enacted in 2019 by the Los Angeles Unified School District that protects transgender students who might not have support at home. Other states making news: Alaska, Texas, Delaware, and more.
From Gloves To Helium for MRIs, Iran War Is Rattling Medical Supply Chain
April 9, 2026
Morning Briefing
News outlets report on how the Middle East conflict is impacting medical supplies, drug prices, and even the amount of fluoride in some of Maryland’s drinking water. Plus: An update on NIH payments.
Morning Briefing for Thursday, April 9, 2026
April 9, 2026
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 !
First Edition: Thursday, April 9, 2026
April 9, 2026
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Farm Bureau Health Plans Beat the ACA on Prices With an Age-Old Tactic: Rejecting Sick People
By Michelle Andrews
April 9, 2026
KFF Health News Original
Fourteen states now allow health coverage through state farm bureaus. Though they generally share many features of Affordable Care Act marketplace plans, they aren’t insurance. Neither are they typically subject to federal or state health insurance requirements, and the benefits may be less generous or predictable than those of Obamacare plans.
States Face Another Challenge With Medicaid Work Rules: Staffing Shortages
By Sam Whitehead
April 9, 2026
KFF Health News Original
Some states already don’t have enough staff to quickly process Medicaid applications and answer enrollees’ phone calls. Researchers say they may not be prepared to handle new Medicaid work rules, predicting people will lose coverage as a result.
Psychiatric Help Ordered For Marine Veteran Charged In NC Mass Shooting
April 8, 2026
Morning Briefing
The suspect, who is charged in the deaths of three people at a waterfront bar in Southport on Sept. 27, was evaluated by three separate mental health experts. They concluded that Nigel Max Edge was not fit to stand trial but that he “may be restored to capacity through appropriate treatment, including medication and counseling,” at which point the legal case would resume.
For Now, Abortion Pill May Remain Available By Mail, Judge Rules
April 8, 2026
Morning Briefing
The state of Louisiana has argued that allowing the sale of mifepristone at the federal level prevents it from enforcing its strict ban on abortion. Federal Judge David Joseph, a Trump appointee, said that he would follow an FDA study of the drug that is in the works and asked the FDA for an update of its investigation within six months, AP reported.
After Pledging To Change, Insurers Have Cut Prior Authorizations By 11%
April 8, 2026
Morning Briefing
There’s also been a 15% reduction in prior authorizations for Medicare Advantage since June, when about 50 plans signed on to the reform pledge, Fierce Healthcare reported. In other industry news: Jefferson Health sues Aetna; most Americans still prefer getting medical advice from providers over AI; and more.
Many Cancer Patients Are Missing Out On The Most Advanced Treatments
April 8, 2026
Morning Briefing
A study in JAMA found that many patients are not receiving genetic sequencing, which can often greatly improve a person’s chances of survival. Patients with a low income, Medicare or Medicaid coverage, and those of Black or Hispanic ethnicity were less likely to receive sequencing. Also, advocates worry New York may be rolling back Medicaid coverage of biomarker precision testing.
