Morning Briefing: Today's News Summaries Monday, Dec 22 2025 UPDATED 9:24 AM +++++++

Morning Briefing: Today's News Summaries Monday, Dec 22 2025 UPDATED 9:24 AM With ACA Prices Set To Soar, Trump Pushes Health Insurers To Lower Costs With ACA Prices Set To Soar, Trump Pushes Health Insurers To Lower Costs President Donald Trump said Friday that he would meet with insurance companies soon to pressure them to lower patients' prices, Bloomberg reported. Insurance companies “are making so much money, and they have to make less, a lot less,” Trump said. In other news, CMS has created an Office of Rural Health Transformation to oversee the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/with-aca-prices-set-to-soar-trump-pushes-health-insurers-to-lower-costs/ Nine Drugmakers Agree To Trump's 'Most-Favored-Nation' Pricing Deal Nine Drugmakers Agree To Trump’s ‘Most-Favored-Nation’ Pricing Deal The deal requires the pharmaceutical companies to match what they charge in other developed countries for newly launched medications, including in commercial and cash-pay markets, as well as Medicare and Medicaid. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/nine-drugmakers-agree-to-trumps-most-favored-nation-pricing-deal/ UnitedHealth Releases First External Review In Bid To Regain Public Trust UnitedHealth Releases First External Review In Bid To Regain Public Trust UnitedHealth has pledged to take close to two dozen specific actions across the areas in which the report found it lacking, including unresolved issues regarding patient care management, and prior authorizations. Plus, several Illinois hospitals with religious ties spurn medical aid-in-dying law. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/unitedhealth-releases-first-external-review-in-bid-to-regain-public-trust/ HPV Vaccines Prevent Much More Than Cervical Cancer, Study Finds HPV Vaccines Prevent Much More Than Cervical Cancer, Study Finds The research, published in JAMA Oncology, found that the rate of precancerous vulvar or vaginal lesions was 37% lower in those who'd gotten at least one dose of HPV vaccine. Also: proton beam radiation therapy, mpox, and more. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/hpv-vaccines-prevent-much-more-than-cervical-cancer-study-finds/ Seasonal Viruses On The Rise As Holiday Travel Increases Seasonal Viruses On The Rise As Holiday Travel Increases As one of the busiest travel weeks begins, cases of flu, norovirus, and covid are on the upswing nationwide. Also: The CDC has reported two new flu-related deaths in children and nearly 5 million cases of influenza across the U.S. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/seasonal-viruses-on-the-rise-as-holiday-travel-increases/ As Children Wait For Care, Lawsuit Delays Florida's KidCare Expansion As Children Wait For Care, Lawsuit Delays Florida’s KidCare Expansion Florida lawmakers unanimously passed the expansion two years ago, but an ongoing lawsuit Florida filed against CMS stands in its way. Other news from around the nation comes from Minnesota, Maryland, Colorado, California, and Louisiana. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/as-children-wait-for-care-lawsuit-delays-floridas-kidcare-expansion/ Viewpoints: Why Republicans Remain Divided On Health Care; Vaccines, Measles, And Future Of Public Health https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/viewpoints-why-republicans-remain-divided-on-health-care-vaccines-measles-and-future-of-public-health/