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The health care issues STAT reporters are watching in the midterms

2:31 PM ETConfirmed

Health Desk

In Short: STAT reporters are closely watching health care issues as the midterms approach, with a particular focus on UnitedHealth's practices.

According to a multi-part investigation by The Reynolds Center for Business Journalism, UnitedHealth has been acquiring other healthcare providers and taking advantage of the Medicare Advantage program to increase profits while potentially reducing the quality of care.

Before joining STAT, reporter Bannow observed UnitedHealth's expansion into physician practices and surgery centers, noting the need for more coverage of the company's activities.

Fox News also highlighted the importance of health care issues, noting that if early exits do not go in Republicans' favor, it could be a bad night for the party.

Fellas provided insights into what they will be watching ahead of the midterms, including media overhyping and ignoring certain issues.

In New Hampshire, Rep. Donald MacFarlane, R-Orange, celebrated the Supreme Court decision that allows HB 323 to strengthen voter identity verification and maintain public confidence in elections.

Meanwhile, President Trump has been actively campaigning for Republican candidates, staging rallies and making appearances to boost Republican turnout before the midterms.

Trump's efforts include pressuring Republican-led states to redraw congressional district lines to favor the GOP, though NPR reported that this strategy is not working out as expected.

The race in Ohio is shaping up as a high-stakes showdown, with both candidates focusing on health care and education to appeal to voters.

Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth and Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar clashed in their final debate over the $9 billion fraud scandal and health care costs in Minnesota.

STAT reporters are also considering the broader implications of health care policies and the impact on voters.

The midterms will likely see continued debate over health care policies and their implementation, with UnitedHealth's practices under scrutiny.

Background

What's confirmed

• According to a multi-part investigation by The Reynolds Center for Business Journalism, UnitedHealth has been acquiring other healthcare providers and taking advantage of the Medicare Advantage program to increase profits while potentially reducing the quality of care.
• Before joining STAT, reporter Bannow observed UnitedHealth's expansion into physician practices and surgery centers, noting the need for more coverage of the company's activities.
• Fox News also highlighted the importance of health care issues, noting that if early exits do not go in Republicans' favor, it could be a bad night for the party.
• Fellas provided insights into what they will be watching ahead of the midterms, including media overhyping and ignoring certain issues.
• In New Hampshire, Rep. Donald MacFarlane, R-Orange, celebrated the Supreme Court decision that allows HB 323 to strengthen voter identity verification and maintain public confidence in elections.
• Meanwhile, President Trump has been actively campaigning for Republican candidates, staging rallies and making appearances to boost Republican turnout before the midterms.
• Trump's efforts include pressuring Republican-led states to redraw congressional district lines to favor the GOP, though NPR reported that this strategy is not working out as expected.
• The race in Ohio is shaping up as a high-stakes showdown, with both candidates focusing on health care and education to appeal to voters.
• Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth and Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar clashed in their final debate over the $9 billion fraud scandal and health care costs in Minnesota.
• STAT reporters are also considering the broader implications of health care policies and the impact on voters.
• The midterms will likely see continued debate over health care policies and their implementation, with UnitedHealth's practices under scrutiny.

What's still developing

• The " Ruthless Podcast " Fellas have some of the best political insights in the game, and we asked them what they'll be looking at ahead of Tuesday's critical midterms.
• Test your knowledge with our new weekday mini crossword Alex Hogan is STAT’s senior multimedia producer and host of STATus Report, STAT’s weekly video series.
• You may opt out of receiving STAT communications at any time.
• Before joining STAT, Bannow had noticed UnitedHealth buying up physician practices and surgery centers, creating a behemoth health conglomerate with “a hand in everything.” “I felt like you could have one reporter covering UnitedHealth Group 24/7 and it wouldn’t be enough,” Bannow said.
• “The only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor. If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign,” Trump wrote in an August 31, 2026, post on Truth Social.
• “We’re told by the White House staff that we should lower our window shades,” says Gram Slattery, White House national security correspondent for Reuters.
• “I see those catering vehicles up against the side of Air Force One … I have never seen that before,” says the AP’s chief White House photographer, Alex Brandon, in the trailer.
• Albanese told reporters in New York that the activity occurred in June and involved an OpenAI agent accessing the public-facing Medicare Statistics Reporting Service portal, which is administered by Services Australia.
• "Nonetheless, this situation is obviously unacceptable," Albanese said.
• "We'll do business with Ukraine and with Russia after this war ends, I would think," Trump said.
• “Launch capability is right now the biggest bottleneck in the entire industry,” Isar co-founder and CEO Daniel Metzler told reporters.
• “Europe’s independent access to space just got a major boost,” EU Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius wrote on social media platform X.

Sources

• Fox Newslink
• STATlink
• The Reynolds Center for Business Journalismlink
• Newsweeklink
• Varietylink
• Fox Businesslink
• Englishlink
• Cyprus-Maillink
• Indepthnhlink
• Sahilink
• Al Jazeeralink
• Sundayguardianlivelink
• I24Newslink
• NPRlink
• Gqlink
• WarpBeat — background on Ohio Governor Race Heats Up Over Health Care and Education link
• ABC News — video link