Morning Briefing for Friday, January 16, 2026
January 16, 2026
Morning Briefing
The Morning Briefing will not be published Monday in observance of MLK Day. Look for it again in your inbox Tuesday.
Trump’s ‘Great Healthcare Plan’ Skirts Issue Of Skyrocketing Obamacare Costs
January 16, 2026
Morning Briefing
The president’s initiative, which would need a nod from Congress, does not include estimates of what the plan would cost or save the federal government. Experts noted the plan does not help people facing higher ACA premiums or help people with preexisting conditions.
ACA Enrollment Ends In Most States; Dems Push To Keep No-Premium Plans
January 16, 2026
Morning Briefing
Republicans argue that zero-dollar premiums invite fraud, while Democrats warn that higher premiums will lead lower-income enrollees to drop coverage.
Democrats Threaten Federal Shutdown Over ICE Raids, Minnesota Shooting
January 16, 2026
Morning Briefing
The Hill reported that Democratic lawmakers in both houses of Congress are vowing to oppose funding for the Department of Homeland Security unless the legislation includes tougher rules governing the conduct of ICE officers. The deadline for the next shutdown is Jan. 30.
HHS Studying Cellphone Effects On Health — After Deleting Data On Safety
January 16, 2026
Morning Briefing
“The FDA removed webpages with old conclusions about cellphone radiation while HHS undertakes a study on electromagnetic radiation and health research,†HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said. Plus, the updated dietary guidelines are drawing scrutiny.
First Edition: Friday, Jan. 16, 2026
January 16, 2026
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations. Note to readers: The First Edition will not be published Monday in observance of MLK Day. Look for it again in your inbox Tuesday.
How Is Your County Spending Opioid Settlement Cash? Our New Tool Follows the Money.
By Aneri Pattani
January 16, 2026
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original
Lifesaving or wasteful? Opinion is divided on the ways local communities are using opioid settlement funds. Survivors of the overdose crisis and families who’ve lost loved ones to it are raising alarms about what some perceive as wasteful spending.
As Insurance Prices Rise, Families Puzzle Over Options
By Lynn Arditi
January 16, 2026
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original
Millions of middle-class Americans who have Affordable Care Act marketplace plans are facing soaring premium payments in 2026. Some people are contemplating big life changes to deal with new rates that kicked in on Jan. 1.
What the Health? From Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News: Culture Wars Take Center Stage
January 15, 2026
Podcast
With lawmakers still mired over renewing enhanced tax credits for Affordable Care Act plans, much of Washington has turned to culture war issues. Meanwhile, “confusion†remains the watchword at HHS as personnel and funding decisions continue to be made and unmade with little notice. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News’ Elisabeth Rosenthal, who wrote the latest “Bill of the Month†report.
Kaiser Permanente To Pay $556 Million in Record Medicare Advantage Fraud Settlement
By Fred Schulte
January 15, 2026
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original
Kaiser Permanente agrees to pay $556 million to settle allegations of billing the government for conditions patients didn’t have.
Recortes federales pondrán en riesgo la inscripción en Medicaid, advierte directora ejecutiva del plan público de salud más grande
By Bernard J. Wolfson
January 15, 2026
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original
Martha Santana-Chin, hija de inmigrantes mexicanos, creció con Medi-Cal, la versión californiana de Medicaid, el programa de atención médica administrado por el gobierno para personas con bajos ingresos y discapacidades.
School Cafeterias Now Allowed To Offer Whole Milk, 2%, And Nondairy Options
January 15, 2026
Morning Briefing
The newly signed bill reverses an Obama-era provision aimed at reducing children’s consumption of saturated fats to slow obesity and boost health. The change could take effect as soon as this fall. Other news looks at HHS’ reversal of its funding cuts for mental health and addiction.
GOP Senators Seek FDA Review Over Telehealth Dispensing Of Mifepristone
January 15, 2026
Morning Briefing
The Senate health committee convened Wednesday to discuss the safety of telehealth prescribing of the abortion pill. Also: Senate negotiations on expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies might get derailed over abortion disagreements.
Kaiser Permanente Settles Lawsuits Over Fraud, Data-Sharing Allegations
January 15, 2026
Morning Briefing
Affiliates of the California-based health care provider have agreed to pay $556 million to settle claims that KP bilked Medicare by bumping up diagnoses to reap more reimbursements. Plus: The United States spent $5.28 trillion on health care in 2024, a CMS report shows.
States, Congress, Industry Are Split On What To Do About Silica Dust Deaths
January 15, 2026
Morning Briefing
In a push to prevent countertop cutters’ deaths, California is discussing whether to ban the cutting of so-called engineered stone, quartz, which emits the lung-damaging dust when cut. But at least one manufacturer says there is a way that quartz “can be fabricated safely.” Meanwhile, Republicans in Washington are discussing a bill that would ban workers from suing the makers of the slabs.
Organ Donations Fall For First Time In Years As Health Care Mistrust Grows
January 15, 2026
Morning Briefing
The vast majority of people on transplant waiting lists need a kidney, AP reported. An analysis of federal data found that 116 fewer kidney transplants were performed in 2025 than the year before. The decrease would have been even larger, experts said, were it not for an increase last year in the number of transplants from healthy, living donors.
US Sees Roughly 21% Decline In Drug Overdose Deaths, CDC Data Reveal
January 15, 2026
Morning Briefing
All but five states — Arizona, New Mexico, Hawaii, Kansas, and North Dakota — reported fewer fatal outcomes tied to drug overdoses from August 2024 to August 2025, data indicate. Other lifestyle and wellness news looks at social media use among children, text-to-therapy tech, recalls, and more.
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
January 15, 2026
Morning Briefing
Each week, Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News compiles a selection of health policy studies and briefs.
