Tylenol Hard Line Eases As Oz, Vance, Thune Advise Taking Doctor’s Advice
September 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
The CMS administrator, vice president, and Senate Republican leader have broken with President Donald Trump on whether pregnant women should avoid taking acetaminophen to alleviate pain and fever. Former President Barack Obama also spoke out, saying the current administration’s claims undermine public health.
Oklahoma Hospital Loses Part Of Roof In Storm, Evacuates Some Patients
September 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
Damaging storms tore off a section of the roof at the Northeastern Health System hospital in Sallisaw and forced the evacuation of nine patients. Other states making news: Pennsylvania, North Carolina, California, Kansas, Illinois, Florida, Colorado, and elsewhere.
Trump Plans To Shift USAID Funds To Boost ‘America First’ Agenda
September 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
The effort to retool the United States’ foreign aid approach retreats from the longstanding practice of helping to treat and cure diseases, ending famines, and promoting democracy, The Washington Post reports. Plus, the U.N. outlines its health goals, Ben Carson returns to government, and more.
Admin Costs Outpace Health Spending In Ga.’s Medicaid Work Program: GAO
September 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
Georgia’s Pathways to Coverage is the nation’s only Medicaid work requirement program and has been touted by congressional Republicans as a model for the nation. As of April, the Georgia program has spent $54.2 million on administrative costs since 2021, compared to $26.1 million spent on health care costs.
Experimental Gene Therapy Curbs Progression Of Huntington’s Disease
September 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
The results of the small trial have not been published or peer reviewed, but the gene therapy company uniQure is looking to seek approval for the experimental treatment early next year. Plus, news on junk genes, anti-malaria baby wraps, the rollout of cheaper HIV drugs, and more.
First Edition: Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025
September 25, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
La inteligencia artificial pronto influirá en que te aprueben o te nieguen tratamientos en Medicare
By Lauren Sausser and Darius Tahir
September 25, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Siguiendo el ejemplo del sector privado de seguros, la administración Trump lanzará el próximo año un programa piloto.
Batalla para proteger a los pacientes de deudas médicas se traslada a los estados
By Noam N. Levey and Katheryn Houghton and Arielle Zionts
September 25, 2025
KFF Health News Original
A pesar de algunos avances este año, los recientes reveses en las legislaturas más conservadoras dejan claro lo difícil que es proteger a los pacientes.
Big Loopholes in Hospital Charity Care Programs Mean Patients Still Get Stuck With the Tab
By Michelle Andrews
September 25, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Even if people qualify for financial help with their hospital bills, the care they receive may not be covered.
AI Will Soon Have a Say in Approving or Denying Medicare Treatments
By Lauren Sausser and Darius Tahir
September 25, 2025
KFF Health News Original
A pilot program testing the use of artificial intelligence to expand prior authorization decisions in Medicare has providers, politicians, and researchers questioning Trump administration promises to curb an unpopular practice that has frustrated patients and their doctors.
As Trump Punts on Medical Debt, Battle Over Patient Protections Moves to States
By Noam N. Levey and Katheryn Houghton and Arielle Zionts
September 25, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Some states are enacting medical debt laws as the Trump administration pulls back federal protections. Elsewhere, industry opposition has derailed legislation.
Doctors Voice Concern Over Change To Cigna, Aetna Reimbursement Policies
September 24, 2025
Morning Briefing
Physicians say the changes, aimed at office visits billed at the highest reimbursement rates of level 4 and level 5, will exacerbate the already heavy administrative burdens on them. Other industry news is on gaps in hospital charity care, Eli Lilly’s plans in Houston, and more.
Filtered Cigarettes, Cigars Headed For Ban In Parts Of One California County
September 24, 2025
Morning Briefing
The ban will begin in 2027 in unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County and in the cities of Santa Cruz and Capitola in what officials say is the first ban of its kind in the nation. Other news from across the country comes from Connecticut, North Carolina, Colorado, Washington, and Minnesota.
Drug-Resistant ‘Nightmare Bacteria’ Cases Are Rising, CDC Says
September 24, 2025
Morning Briefing
Infection rates from the bacteria, which are treatment-resistant because of the NDM gene, increased nearly 70% between 2019 and 2023, according to CDC researchers. It is resistant to all but two antibiotics, and those are expensive and must be administered by IV.
Researchers Studying Cancer In Young People Look To Environmental Factors
September 24, 2025
Morning Briefing
According to The Washington Post, the increased rate of cancers in people ages 15-49 may be less linked to genetic factors and have more to do with “exposome” — the range of environmental exposures one experiences throughout their lives.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, September 24, 2025
September 24, 2025
Morning Briefing
We’d like to speak with personnel from the Department of Health and Human Services or its component agencies about what’s happening within the federal health bureaucracy. Please message us on Signal at (415) 519-8778 or get in touch here.
Medical Community Stands United: Consult With Docs, Don’t ‘Tough It Out’
September 24, 2025
Morning Briefing
Despite President Donald Trump and his health officials advising pregnant women to avoid acetaminophen, experts in the field maintain the over-the-counter medication is safe. Medical groups also pushed back on claims that leucovorin is a treatment option for children with autism.
Furloughed Federal Workers Reinstated Months After DOGE Cost-Cutting Blitz
September 24, 2025
Morning Briefing
The General Services Administration says hundreds of employees have until Friday to accept return-to-work offers. Separately, University of California schools should have more than $500 million in research grants restored, a U.S. District judge in San Francisco has ruled. Plus, ACA subsidy talks.
First Edition: Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025
September 24, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.