Axios

The Trump administration is closing in on a deal to allow Medicare coverage of weight loss drugs by Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk in some cases, according to multiple reports.

Why it matters: A deal could significantly expand seniors' access to popular weight loss drugs while drastically decreasing the estimated cost of that coverage.

Pfizer and Novo Nordisk on Tuesday both sweetened their bids for weight-loss drugmaker Metsera, to a maximum of $8.1 billion and $10 billion, respectively.

Why it matters: This reflects how biotech is seeking to corner the next generation of anti-obesity medicines, following the blockbuster success of Novo's Wegovy and Ozempic.

President Trump said food benefits will only get paid once the shutdown ends, in a post on Truth Social Tuesday morning.

Why it matters: The post appears to defy two federal courts that ruled last week the White House must pay at least partial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits even in a shutdown.

Walgreens is unveiling an expanded tracker of flu and COVID-19 to monitor where they're spreading across the country this winter, the company shared first with Axios.

Why it matters: Commercial and academic tools are becoming more important for identifying respiratory virus hotspots this year as federal data becomes less available.

The weekend's chaos at the Food and Drug Administration is prompting questions around how much more the agency can take before its functionality is seriously impaired.

Why it matters: An agency is only as good as its workforce, and after months of high-profile departures and open hostility from top health officials, some argue the FDA's performance is already deteriorating.

President Trump on Sunday faced questions about his norm-shattering second term in a "60 Minutes" interview with CBS News' Norah O'Donnell.

Why it matters: The interview was Trump's first with the network since he sued CBS and its parent company over a "60 Minutes" interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 campaign.

The Trump administration announced it plans to partially fund SNAP benefits on Monday, after two federal judges ruled on Friday that the funds must be released.

Why it matters: Up to 42 million Americans didn't receive their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits on the first of the month, but the administration's new plan aims to make sure some amount of money hits recipients' pocketbooks.

Picture this: a student squinting at the board, a driver missing a stop sign due to blurry vision, or a grandparent struggling to read because of an outdated prescription.

Kimberly-Clark said Monday it would acquire Kenvue for more than $40 billion in cash and stock, creating a consumer powerhouse uniting brands like Huggies and Kleenex with names like Band-Aid and Tylenol.

Why it matters: It's a major gamble for Kimberly-Clark, given that Kenvue's Tylenol is currently under a Trump administration microscope over alleged links to autism, which the company fervently denies.

The Trump administration on Friday finalized a controversial plan to reevaluate how Medicare calculates doctor payments that will result in lower rates for specialty services.

Why it matters: Medicare will implement a 2.5% cut next year to payments for services like radiology and gastroenterology that are based on more than time spent delivering the service.

There's about to be a lot of competition for the $50 billion rural health fund that was created to minimize the impact of the GOP budget law — and rural providers worry they're going to get squeezed out.

Why it matters: The money could provide a lifeline as rural providers across the country struggle to keep facilities open under the nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts anticipated from the budget bill.

AI can give people instant answers to their health questions. Doctors' offices can make them wait on hold.

• Guess which one's winning.

Why it matters: Fifteen minutes at a well visit often isn't enough time for doctors to address complex concerns like menopause — leaving patients eager for more complete answers.