Morning Briefing for Monday, November 3, 2025
November 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
Are you in a Golden State of mind? Check out our new newsletter, California Weekly Roundup. Each Wednesday, we’ll feature original reporting from our California Bureau , as well as a roundup of the latest health headlines from across the state. From Crescent City to Imperial Beach, we’ve got you covered. Sign up here!
Help With Heating Bills, Head Start, AIDS Funding At Peril Amid Shutdown
November 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
As millions of Americans await SNAP benefits, states are now warning low-income Americans that the money for energy assistance isn’t available. Plus, it’s ACA enrollment season.
FDA Drug Official Steps Down, Is Sued By Drugmaker Over ‘Personal Vendetta’
November 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
George Tidmarsh left his post after a former business partner filed a complaint alleging Tidmarsh’s personal animosity, through his actions and public comments, was hurting his company. Tidmarsh denies any wrongdoing. Also: Kimberly-Clark is buying embattled Tylenol maker Kenvu.
Most Doctors Get A Medicare Pay Raise, But Some Specialists Will Get A Pay Cut
November 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
As Modern Healthcare reported, most primary care physicians who treat Medicare beneficiaries will receive a 2.5% raise next year under a new regulation issued Friday. However, there will be a 2.5% cut next year to payments for services like radiology and gastroenterology that are based on more than time spent delivering the service, Axios reported.
First Edition: Monday, Nov. 3, 2025
November 3, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Sock Hops and Concerts: How Some Places Spent Opioid Settlement Cash
By Aneri Pattani
November 3, 2025
KFF Health News Original
States, counties, and cities are receiving millions in opioid settlement money to address the addiction crisis. The ways they spent the dollars in 2024 sometimes drew criticism from advocates and at least one state official, who alleged misuse.
Trump’s HHS Orders State Medicaid Programs To Help Find Undocumented Immigrants
By Phil Galewitz
Updated November 3, 2025
Originally Published November 3, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Federal health authorities have taken the “unprecedented” step of instructing states to investigate certain individuals on Medicaid to determine whether they are ineligible because of their immigration status, with five states reporting they’ve received more than 170,000 names collectively.
From Narcan to Gun Silencers, Opioid Settlement Cash Pays Law Enforcement Tabs
By Aneri Pattani
November 3, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Local governments have received hundreds of millions of dollars from the opioid settlements to support addiction treatment, recovery, and prevention efforts. Their spending decisions in 2024 were sometimes surprising and even controversial. Our new database offers more than 10,500 examples.
Journalists Help Make Sense of Government Shutdown and Obamacare Open Enrollment
November 1, 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.
Download the Data: Opioid Settlement Expenditures 2024
October 31, 2025
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We encourage any news organization to use the data and localize it for your own reporting. Please keep in mind these key points: The 2024 expenditures database should not be compared with the 2022-23 expenditures database. Some states budget money on a biennial basis or report by fiscal year (instead of calendar year), which can […]
The Nation’s Largest Food Aid Program Is About To See Cuts. Here’s What You Should Know.
By Katheryn Houghton and Samantha Liss and Renuka Rayasam
October 31, 2025
KFF Health News Original
The federal government is making sweeping changes to SNAP, the program that helped feed about 42 million people in the U.S. last year. Here’s a breakdown of the changes to come and potential impacts.
Deal or No Deal? States Prepare for Congress To Act at the Last Minute on Obamacare
By Amanda Seitz
October 31, 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.
Insurers Blame Hospitals’ Use Of AI, ‘Aggressive’ Coding For Price Spikes
October 31, 2025
Morning Briefing
Health insurers are ready to fight fire with fire, as they cite the overzealous uses of AI in billing and coding for the surge in claims that are cutting into their profits. Other news looks at a class-action lawsuit by nurses and doctors in Montana, racial disparities in maternal care, and more.
Telltale Signs Of Bird Flu Infection Aren’t Always Evident, Review Finds
October 31, 2025
Morning Briefing
Researchers delve deeper into the perception that human H5N1 infections are apparent and severe. They also examine the likelihood of transmission among people. Also: A listeria outbreak tied to pasta salads claims two more lives; an ill Utah resident refuses a measles test; and more.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
October 31, 2025
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to read. Today’s selections are on Napoleon’s army, cancer immunotherapy, memory manipulation, and more.
Many States — But Not All — Step Up To Help SNAP Beneficiaries Amid Deadline
October 31, 2025
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, a federal judge in Boston appeared skeptical of the Trump administration’s decision to suspend food aid until the government spending stalemate is resolved.
Kennedy Softens Warning On Tylenol; Study Ties Covid In Pregnancy, Autism
October 31, 2025
Morning Briefing
Health and Human Services chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Wednesday there is not “sufficient” evidence that Tylenol causes autism. Earlier this month, Kennedy had said, “We’re doing the studies to make the proof.” In related news, a study of more than 18,100 births found that children born to mothers infected with covid during pregnancy faced a higher risk of autism.
HHS Drafts Plan To Effectively End Trans Care For Youths Nationwide
October 31, 2025
Morning Briefing
The proposal, obtained by NPR, says the Trump administration would halt all Medicaid and Medicare funding for any services at hospitals that provide pediatric gender-affirming care. Other news is on reproductive health care in Maine, homelessness in Utah, asbestos in D.C., and more.