AJMC Staff

Democratic House forerunners present legislation to expand drug cost lowering procedures; President Joe Biden presents an advanced cancer research push; a Senate panel advances a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform bill.

A class-action lawsuit was filed against Cigna for allegedly wrongfully rejecting thousands of claims using an algorithm; Black women still have a fetal mortality rate double the national average despite declining from that of recent years; the CDC is investigating the source of ground beef causing a multistate salmonella outbreak.

Political leanings appear to be associated with mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic; the Biden administration takes steps to ensure parity between mental and physical health benefits; extreme heat and air pollution amplify heart attack risk.

Major General Paul Friedrichs, MD, appointed to head the new Office of Pandemic Preparedness; CDC advises the public about the potential resurgence of respiratory viruses in the fall and winter; concerns grow over appeal of e-cigarettes to young adults.

A tornado wreaked widespread damage to a Pfizer plant in North Carolina; a new study finds that misdiagnoses lead to 800,000 deaths and serious disabilities yearly; the World Health Organization reports dengue risk is rising because of global warming.

Insurers supervising the health care of Medicaid patients repeatedly reject providers’ approval of care; individuals are more likely to develop dementia if they live in disadvantaged neighborhoods; a type of an immunity gene is found in people who test positive for COVID-19 but don’t develop symptoms.

Extreme heat prompts doctors to use body bags as cooling devices for heat stroke; a study of the effect of donanemab on the early stages of Alzheimer disease looks promising; UnitedHealth Group is seeing an influx of people seeking mental health care services, causing accessibility issues because of the provider shortage.

An Iowa abortion ban is temporarily blocked; Pfizer partners with Flagship Pioneering in drug development deal; South Dakota’s governor calls for action in addressing the national drug shortage.

Funding cuts threaten public health programs; emergency room doctors see a surge in heat-related illnesses; national crisis line shows promising results with increased text volumes and reduced wait times.

The Center on Health Equity and Access spotlights the latest health equity news, research, and initiatives to reduce health care disparities and improve access to care.

CMS releases its 2024 Physician Fee Schedule, including a conversion factor cut, and proposes behavioral health efforts; a World Health Organization (WHO) agency says that aspartame may cause cancer, but another one maintains that it remains generally safe; HHS calls for COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers to ensure reasonable pricing for their upcoming fall shots.

The FDA has approved the first over the counter (OTC) birth control pill Thursday; the US Chamber of Commerce has filed a motion for preliminary injunction on the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation program; individuals living in historically redlined areas are likely to have worse heart health.

Racist assumptions identified in medical education impact maternal outcomes; excessive drinking during the pandemic responsible for increased alcoholic liver disease deaths; Iowa ban will restrict abortions after about 6 weeks of pregnancy.

FDA to import cancer drugs from China; respite programs offer a safe environment for people who experience mental health crisis; White House officials call for more xylazine testing.

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer asks the FDA to investigate Prime energy drink; Washington state sees hefty fine for failing to provide mental health resources to incarcerated individuals; a new rule would require companies to disclose use of certain “forever” chemicals.

A new proposal from the Biden administration would place more restrictions on certain health insurance plans as part of an initiative to cut costs; Eli Lilly’s obesity treatment retatrutide appears to help lessen liver fat content; Earth’s hottest day on record calls into question what temperatures humans can safely tolerate.

Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are struggling to find psychiatrists; the CDC plans to cut state funding for child vaccination programs; almost 50% of American faucets could contain forever chemicals.

Lifesaving organ supply disruption avoided for now; approximately a quarter of the US population had not been exposed to COVID-19 by the end of 2022; Gavi will offer developing countries a new polio vaccine.

The Center on Health Equity and Access spotlights the latest health equity news, research, and initiatives to reduce health care disparities and improve access to care.

Medicare will negotiate drug prices directly with companies; medical leaders react to the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action; the European Commission (EC) announces deals with Pfizer and select European companies to reserve space to manufacture vaccines for future health emergencies.

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the health care and mainstream press.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) charged almost 80 people in $2.5B health care fraud ruse; nearly 50% of US adults would spend $100/month on Wegovy, other weight loss medications; Australia is the first country to offer 3,4-methyl​enedioxy​methamphetamine, commonly known as ecstasy or MDMA, for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Approximately 2 in 5 health care workers said they have thought of leaving their job in the past year, with half of those affected by shortages; thousands of unauthorized vapes are streaming into the US despite FDA clampdown; Eli Lilly is catching up in the weight loss market.

Four people in Florida and 1 person in Texas were exposed to malaria; late revisions could counter a pending lawsuit to end abortion restrictions; about 2000 nurses in Texas and Kansas plan to strike.

Black veterans continue to encounter benefits disparities; health workers feel capable of handling future surges after the pandemic; the COVAX initiative aims to redirect remaining vaccine spending

E-cigarette sales dropped in 2022 following a spike; President Joe Biden will sign an executive order designed to guard and expand contraception access; Ochsner Health and MD Anderson Cancer Center are partnering to serve patients in Louisiana with cancer.

PhRMA files a lawsuit against the Inflation Reduction Act; a CDC advisory panel recommends that older adults receive Pfizer and GSK RSV vaccines; a federal program to improve rural maternal care has missed Black women.