What We’re Reading: ChatGPT in Health Care; Menthol Ban Meeting; Health System Cyberattack Impact
November 30th 2023ChatGPT is changing health care while also raising questions about artificial intelligence's promises and limitations; 24 Biden officials met with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives to discuss the FDA’s proposal to ban menthol cigarettes; a recent hospital cyberattack shows how the vulnerability of health care systems can put patients at risk.
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Provisional CDC data show that US babies gained roughly a year in life expectancy in 2022; study findings indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly raised the risk of preterm birth for expectant California mothers; New York Attorney General Letitia James said about 4 million New Yorkers were affected by a data breach of the medical transcription company Perry Johnson & Associates.
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Allegations call out restrictions on medically necessary care; CDC data highlight surge in COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations; failure to include additional Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) aid raises concerns over food access.
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What We’re Reading: Rising Flu Cases; RSV Drug Shortage; Forever Chemical Restrictions
November 20th 2023Health officials said that at least 7 states reported high levels of illness, with cases also rising in other parts of the country; a group of Senate Democrats demanded answers about the shortage of nirsevimab, a new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) drug; Pentagon officials told Congress that eliminating per- and polyfluorinated substances would undermine military readiness.
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Governor Kathy Hochul proposed this week that New York become the first state to require health systems to implement cyber defenses; a new report from the World Health Organization and the CDC highlighted a staggering rise in measles cases and deaths in 2022; a study published this week claimed that more than a tenth of fecal immunochemical tests used for routine colorectal cancer screening could not be processed by labs.
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What We’re Reading: Updated Anthrax Guidelines; At-Home STI Test; Veteran Psychedelic Therapy
November 16th 2023The CDC has published updated recommendations for the postexposure prevention and treatment of Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) infection; the FDA has granted marketing approval to an at-home chlamydia and gonorrhea test; lawmakers and Veterans Affairs officials acknowledge the potential for psychedelic drugs to treat veterans’ mental health conditions and prevent suicide.
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What We’re Reading: UnitedHealth Lawsuit; Fentanyl Crackdown; Global Heat Deaths Increase
November 15th 2023A class action lawsuit was filed against UnitedHealth Group and a subsidiary for allegedly using an algorithm to deny rehabilitation coverage for seriously ill patients; US and China officials are finalizing an agreement to crack down on fentanyl; a study published Tuesday projected global heat deaths to increase by 370% if no action is taken against global warming.
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The weight loss drug semaglutide showed significant cardiovascular benefits; Texas and Florida are restricting the promotion of COVID-19 vaccines; some Ohio legislators are seeking to block courts from interpreting the state’s recently passed constitutional amendment that created a right to abortion.
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What We’re Reading: Weight Loss Drug Costs; Young Black Students With ADHD; AI in Health Care
November 10th 2023A senator opposes the Biden drug price negotiation plan and proposes a new model to help manage weight loss drug costs; Black children are underdiagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compared with their White peers; lawmakers and witnesses said that policy makers must balance innovation with potential harms when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI) in health care.
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What We’re Reading: New HPV Screenings; Lung Cancer Pills; Migraine Relief Device
November 9th 2023A study suggests that human papillomavirus (HPV) screenings should be updated due to effective HPV vaccines; a new study shows that osimertinib (Tagrisso, AstraZeneca) reduced both the 5-year risk of recurrent cancer and the risk of death in patients with stage 1B to 3A lung cancer; a new smartphone-controlled technology could help those who suffer from migraines.
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What We’re Reading: Free HIV Medication; MA Anticompetitive Regulations; Surge in Syphilis Cases
November 8th 2023Medicare may cover full cost of preexposure prophylaxis drugs; rules aim to prevent excessive compensation in Medicare Advantage (MA) market; health officials advocate for widespread syphilis testing and intervention.
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What We’re Reading: AI Heart Attack Detection; FDA Menthol Ban; Shooting Survivor Care Obstacles
November 7th 2023Artificial intelligence (AI) could help detect heart attack risk signs and prevent sudden cardiac death; Advocates demand the Biden administration finalize the proposed FDA ban on menthol cigarettes; Gun violence survivors and their families have many ongoing medical needs.
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Many sleep experts want to permanently stay in the standard time zone; Medicare will cover mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists beginning in January; a new Minnesota law requires hospitals to check if patients are eligible for financial assistance before referring medical debt for collections.
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The American Cancer Society expanded eligibility for lung cancer screening; experts advised patients to do their research before choosing a plan from the Affordable Care Act’s insurance marketplaces; Republican-led states partnering with rideshare companies for medical appointment rides.
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A panel of experts agreed that exa-cel, a sickle cell disease gene therapy, was safe enough for clinical use, setting the stage for a potential FDA approval; the United States saw an increase in infant mortality rates for the first time in more than 2 decades; the new antiburnout campaign from the CDC asks leaders to better support health care workers.
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What We’re Reading: Pharmacy Staff Walkout; Male Parental Leave; FDA Reviewing SCD Therapy
October 30th 2023Pharmacy workers embark on a multiday strike; Fathers are taking paid family leave to bond with their newborns; the FDA is set to evaluate a pioneering gene therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD).
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The number of suicides among US military members and their families slightly decreased in 2022; Democratic lawmakers proposed legislation that would require employers to provide paid time off following a pregnancy loss; Pfizer and BioNTech’s flu–COVID-19 vaccine generated a strong immune response against strains of the viruses in an early- to mid-stage trial.
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The Biden administration requested $1.55 billion from Congress to help address the nationwide fentanyl crisis; the US Department of Agriculture reported that millions more Americans were food insecure in 2022; the Biden administration released an updated cybersecurity toolkit to help defend the US health care infrastructure against hackers.
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