Axios

President Trump's second "routine yearly checkup" on Friday determined that he is in "exceptional health."

The big picture: Trump has downplayed concerns about his age and health since returning to the White House. He was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency in July after experiencing mild swelling in his lower legs.

For years, patients have had to navigate a maze of conflicting mammogram advice. Now, artificial intelligence could help cut through the noise — by tailoring breast cancer screening schedules to individual risk.

Why it matters: AI is beginning to bridge the gap between one-size-fits-all screening guidelines and personalized medicine. By analyzing thousands of mammograms and patient outcomes, new tools can help doctors better identify who's at highest risk — and when they should be screened.

President Trump and pharma giant AstraZeneca on Friday announced a deal to lower drug prices that largely tracks with a pact the White House struck with Pfizer last week.

Why it matters: It's a continuation of drug industry efforts to avoid tariffs or onerous new regulations without taking a big hit to profits.

AARP received $9 billion in royalties from UnitedHealthcare last year as part of an agreement to continue selling AARP-branded Medicare products, according to updated financial statements recently posted on the advocacy group's website.

Why it matters: The disclosure sheds more light on a partnership dating to the 1990s between the nation's biggest health insurer and the largest seniors' group, which has nearly 38 million members age 50 and older.

The Trump administration is laying off additional federal health care workers during the government shutdown, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to Axios.

Why it matters: The cuts come after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has already pushed out thousands of scientists and health workers earlier this year.

• President Trump and Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, previously threatened mass federal worker layoffs during the shutdown.

What they're saying: "HHS employees across multiple divisions have received reduction-in-force notices as a direct consequence of the Democrat-led government shutdown," a spokesperson confirmed to Axios.

• HHS did not immediately confirm how many staffers have received layoff notices or which offices were affected.

Zoom in: A contingency plan released last month said nearly 32,500 HHS employees, or more than 40% of the workforce, would be considered non-essential and would be furloughed in the event of a government shutdown.

• "All HHS employees receiving reduction-in-force notices were designated non-essential by their respective divisions. HHS continues to close wasteful and duplicative entities, including those that are at odds with the Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again agenda," HHS said in a statement Friday.

The Consumer Price Index for September will publish Oct. 24 despite the government shutdown, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced Friday.

Why it matters: Resuming the release demonstrates the political power of Social Security — the CPI is crucial to determining Social Security's annual cost of living adjustment, known as COLA.

The Senate late Thursday voted to cut off taxpayer funding to certain Chinese biotech companies deemed to pose national security risks.

Why it matters: The push for the Biosecure Act shows how national security concerns are making their way into the health care sector as Congress focuses on competition with China.

The CDC's vaccine advisory committee this week announced the creation of a working group to review the childhood vaccination schedule, including the timing and order of different vaccines and the safety of certain ingredients.

• An example topic for discussion, per the document, would be whether "either of the two different aluminum adjuvants increase the risk of asthma?"

The big picture: Vaccine skeptics, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have long questioned the scientific consensus that the small amount of aluminum used in vaccines is safe. Now, the federal government is poised to reopen the safety debate and potentially add guardrails.

Fifteen years ago, tattoo artist Amy Black got an unusual request: Could she ink a realistic-looking nipple?

Why it matters: That question came from a breast cancer survivor who'd undergone reconstruction. The answer was yes, and the results were life-changing — both for the client who loved the tattoo and also for Black.

• Black, whose studio is in Richmond, built a new specialty in mastectomy tattoos.
• The niche is perfect for her unique background: She studied fine art oil painting with a focus on anatomy.

The big picture: Black's mastectomy ink "used to be 90% nipple tattoos," but now she sees an increasing number of survivor requests for decorative art, often on flat chests.

• Designs often include florals, nature elements and mythical creatures, she says.
• Birds are especially popular. Black has tattooed phoenixes, peacocks, herons and hummingbirds.
• Some clients opt for tattoos along scar lines; others get ink from the shoulder to the opposite hip, Black says.

What we're hearing: Planning a tattoo post-surgery felt like "getting the last word on the way my body looks," breast cancer survivor Kim Bowles tells Axios.

• Bowles chose pothos vines and gladiolus flowers — symbols of resilience, strength and honor — to adorn her chest.