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What We’re Reading: COVID-19 Misinformation on Twitter; Public Health Improvement Grant; Alzheimer Drug Shows Promise
As of November 23, Twitter is no longer enforcing its COVID-19 misinformation policy; CDC awards more than $3 billion to strengthen the public health infrastructure and workforce; lecanemab appears to slow the spread of Alzheimer disease but is linked to multiple adverse events, symptoms, and deaths.
Twitter Stops Enforcing COVID-19 Misinformation Policy
As of November 23, Twitter is no longer enforcing its COVID-19 misinformation policy, which has led to more than 11,000 account suspensions and nearly 100,000 pieces of content removed since 2020, Politico reported. Twitter's owner Elon Musk did not formally announce the change, although some users noticed a single sentence added to Twitter’s online rules, saying, “Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy.” This moderation policy update now allows users to spread false information on the virus and vaccines, and experts are worried about the harmful effects this will have on COVID-19 cases and deaths.
CDC Awards More Than $3 Billion to Improve Public Health Infrastructure
The CDC is awarding more than $3 billion to help strengthen the United States' public health infrastructure and workforce, Reuters reported. The funding includes $3 billion from the American Rescue Plan to cover state, local, and territorial health departments across the country. It also includes $140 million from a new appropriation to those jurisdictions and $65 million to 3 public health entities to provide training and technical assistance.
Alzheimer Drug Shows Modest Success, but Linked to AEs, Deaths
Experimental drug lecanemab appears to slow the spread of Alzheimer disease by removing amyloid from the brain, NPR reported. A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed the drug reduced the rate of cognitive decline by 27% in nearly 1800 participants in early stages of Alzheimer disease. In a scale ranging 0-18, participants who received lecanemab infusions scored about half a point better in mental functioning, reflecting a slight but statistically significant difference. However, about 1 in 5 participants who received the treatment experienced an adverse event, including swelling or bleeding in the brain. Some participants also reported headaches, visual disturbances, confusion, and other symptoms, and the drug was linked to 2 deaths.
Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Empowering Community Health Through Wellness and Faith
April 23rd 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. In the third episode, Camille Clarke-Smith, EdD, MS, CHES, CPT, discusses approaching community health holistically through spiritual and community engagement.
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Insurance Coverage Limits JAKi Therapy Access for Patients With AA, Especially Non-White Populations
April 25th 2024A survey study showed major barriers to Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) therapy for patients with alopecia areata, especially for non-White patients who face higher rates of being uninsured and struggle more to afford the treatment.
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