Medicare Advantage plans shift more costs onto seniors in 2027 The plans are trimming benefits and their networks of hospitals and doctors, too

https://www.statnews.com/2026/10/01/medicare-advantage-plans-have-higher-deductibles-fewer-benefits-in-2027/ By Bob HermanOct. 1, 2026 Bob Herman is the author of Health Care Inc., an award-winning weekly newsletter about the business of health and medicine.

The law has to catch up on orphan-designated drugs with multiple uses Crohn’s disease is not juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Why does 340B treat them like they’re the same?

The law has to catch up on orphan-designated drugs with multiple uses Crohn’s disease is not juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Why does 340B treat them like they’re the same? https://www.statnews.com/2026/10/02/340b-policy-orphan-designated-drugs-pharmacy-losses-hrsa-congress/ By John MildenbergerOct. 2, 2026 Mildenberge is the specialty pharmacy manager, senior clinical lead pharmacist, and community pharmacy compliance officer at Sidney Regional Medical Center in Sidney, Neb.

Trump announces $90 payments for seniors’ Medicare premium costs ahead of midterm elections More than 20 million Medicare Part B enrollees can expect to receive a one-time payment

Trump announces $90 payments for seniors’ Medicare premium costs ahead of midterm elections More than 20 million Medicare Part B enrollees can expect to receive a one-time payment https://www.statnews.com/2026/10/04/trump-announces-90-dollar-payments-for-medicare-premiums/ By Associated PressOct. 4, 2026

2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine awarded for brain research tool called optogenetics Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel found way to use light to turn neurons on and off with precision

2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine awarded for brain research tool called optogenetics Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel found way to use light to turn neurons on and off with precision By Annalisa MerelliOct. 5, 2026 Contributing Writer https://www.statnews.com/2026/10/05/nobel-prize-medicine-2026-winner-deisseroth-hegemann-nagel/

Hospital and pharmaceutical prices are smothering America’s businesses In the face of unrelenting prices increases, more employers are supporting government intervention

Hospital and pharmaceutical prices are smothering America’s businesses In the face of unrelenting prices increases, more employers are supporting government intervention https://www.statnews.com/2026/10/05/hospital-bills-drug-prices-insurance-premiums-spiral-part-5-out-of-pocket-series/ By Bob HermanOct. 5, 2026 Herman spoke with more than 20 health policy experts, industry executives, and benefits professionals, analyzed federal and industry data, and read more than a dozen research articles for this story, part of STAT’s Out of Pocket, Out of Reach series.

Viewpoints: With Flu Season Upon Us, Where Is The CDC?; Here's Why Many Psychiatric Diagnoses Overlap

https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/viewpoints-with-flu-season-upon-us-where-is-the-cdc-heres-why-many-psychiatric-diagnosis-overlap/

Failed Tennessee Execution Puts Spotlight On Supply Chain For Lethal Injection Drugs

Failed Tennessee Execution Puts Spotlight On Supply Chain For Lethal Injection Drugs Experts tell The Wall Street Journal that states have turned to unregulated sources for lethal injection drugs, a move that could explain why the medicines are less reliable. Meanwhile, Christa Pike remains in critical condition, The Washington Post reported. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/from-the-states-100526/