Selena Simmons-Duffin

Jessie Hitchens runs a clinic in Nebraska that receives Title X funds.

She's really concerned by the fact that the whole Title X federal staff was just fired.

Not knowing where we stand right now,

is really hard to plan for the future.

She says Title X has gotten results, like bringing down high rates of syphilis and gonorrhea in Nebraska.

If the whole Title X program goes away, she says, we are likely to see those diseases spike in our rural communities.

Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR News.

24 million people are enrolled in Affordable Care Act plans.

Many are small business owners, including farmers and ranchers.

During the pandemic, the federal government boosted subsidies to offset the cost of monthly premiums for almost everyone enrolled in these plans.

But that subsidy policy expires at the end of the year, and some people will have to pay hundreds or thousands more per month.

Democrats say they won't vote to reopen the government until there's a plan to extend those subsidies.

Republicans say any negotiations over the policy have to come after the shutdown ends.

And so far, there's no sign that either party is going to blink.

Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.

24 million

million people are enrolled in Affordable Care Act plans.

Many are small business owners, including farmers and ranchers.

During the pandemic, the federal government boosted subsidies to offset the cost of monthly premiums for almost everyone enrolled in these plans.

But that subsidy policy expires at the end of the year and some people will have to pay hundreds or thousands more per month.