Morning Briefing: Today's News Summaries Tuesday, Jan 13 2026 UPDATED 9:09 AM +++ +++ +

Morning Briefing: Today's News Summaries Tuesday, Jan 13 2026 UPDATED 9:09 AM American Academy Of Pediatrics Wins Back $12 Million In Grants — For Now The Department of Health and Human Services' decision to cut off funding to the group was likely retaliatory in nature, a federal judge ruled. The grants will be restored while the academy's lawsuit plays out in court. Also, the Trevor Project receives a $45 million lifeline. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/american-academy-of-pediatrics-wins-back-12-million-in-grants-for-now/ AbbVie Secures Tariff Exemption With Deal To Lower Drug Costs, Invest In US AbbVie has pledged to put $100 billion toward research, development, and capital investments. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is the only one of 17 drugmakers that hasn't reached a deal with the government to avoid tariffs. Other news looks at FDA vouchers, ACA enrollment, and more. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/abbvie-secures-tariff-exemption-with-deal-to-lower-drug-costs-invest-in-us/ More Than 230 Groups Demand That Congress Investigate Vaccine Overhaul The letter from medical groups and public health organizations urged lawmakers to prove "why the schedule was changed, why credible scientific evidence was ignored, and why the committee charged with advising the HHS secretary on immunizations did not discuss the schedule changes as a part of their public meeting process." https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/more-than-230-groups-demand-that-congress-investigate-vaccine-overhaul/ UnitedHealth's Extreme Tactics Upped Medicare Payouts, Senate Inquiry Finds The Senate report does not accuse UnitedHealth of wrongdoing, but it describes in detail how the company used artificial intelligence and other data-mining techniques to scan patient medical records for new diagnoses and “appears to use all of these mechanisms to the utmost degree." A UnitedHealth spokesman said the company disagreed with the Senate report’s characterizations. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/unitedhealths-extreme-tactics-upped-medicare-payouts-senate-inquiry-finds/ Science, Not Politics, Guided FDA's Decisions On Abortion Pill: Analysis One noted exception to the finding that agency leaders largely adhered to the evidence-based recommendations of scientists happened during the first Trump term, while covid restrictions were in place, when agency brass declined to lift a required in-person visit to acquire mifepristone. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/science-not-politics-guided-fdas-decisions-on-abortion-pill-study-finds/ New Way To Fight Alzheimer's Uses Protein Found In Garlic Johns Hopkins is exploring an Alzheimer's treatment that focuses on increasing hydrogen sulfide production at the cellular level. Meanwhile, researchers at Brown University have discovered a noninvasive way to predict the likelihood of people with mild cognitive impairment developing Alzheimer’s disease. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/new-way-to-fight-alzheimers-uses-protein-found-in-garlic-research-finds/ Viewpoints: Denmark’s Vaccine Success Can’t Be Copied In The US; New Dietary Guidelines Don’t Make Sense https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/viewpoints-denmarks-vaccine-success-cant-be-copied-in-the-us-new-dietary-guidelines-dont-make-sense/