NPR: The U.S. Has Hit 600,000 COVID Deaths, More Than Any Other Country
More than 15 months since the first confirmed death due to COVID-19 in the U.S., the coronavirus pandemic has claimed more than 600,000 lives across the country. But that trend has slowed from thousands to hundreds per day in recent weeks, thanks largely to the ready availability of vaccines. Over the winter, the nation was adding about 100,000 deaths each month. But as more and more people were vaccinated — particularly older Americans — the death rate fell precipitously. There are now about 375 deaths per day on average — down from more than 3,000 per day in January. (Neuman, 6/15)

AP: US COVID-19 Deaths Hit 600,000, Equal To Yearly Cancer Toll
The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 topped 600,000 on Tuesday, even as the vaccination drive has drastically brought down daily cases and fatalities and allowed the country to emerge from the gloom and look forward to summer. The number of lives lost, as recorded by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of Baltimore or Milwaukee. It is about equal to the number of Americans who died of cancer in 2019. Worldwide, the COVID-19 death toll stands at about 3.8 million. (Har and Kunzelman, 6/15)

Also —

PBS NewsHour: 5 Charts That Show Where We Are In The Pandemic
In many ways COVID-19 feels as if it is over, or is at least in the beginning of the end. In others, the fallout from the pandemic is still acute. Parts of the U.S. still report lagging and grossly uneven vaccination rates. Partisan politics and misinformation continue to sow divisions during this public health crisis. Many people remain jobless as their industries crawl back from the recession. And a vaccine has not yet been authorized for the nation’s youngest people, who remain at risk for infection and serious illness, along with people whose immune systems are already compromised. Here’s a look at five different series of data that offer a snapshot about how the nation is recovering and what work is left to be done. (Santhanam and McGrew, 6/15)

ABC News: Photos: How The 1918 Flu And COVID-19 Pandemics Compare 
There are strong parallels between the COVID-19 pandemic and the 1918 flu pandemic, considered to be the deadliest of the 20th century. The 1918 flu pandemic killed an estimated 50 million worldwide, including nearly 675,000 Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To date, more than 176 million people have been infected with COVID-19 worldwide. More than 3.8 million have died, including more than 600,000 Americans, according to real-time data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Chalasani, 6/15)

USA Today: Delta Variant Accounts For 10% Of US Cases As CDC Signals Concerns
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have now classified the delta variant of the coronavirus, first discovered in India, as a “variant of "concern" as it now accounts for 10% of cases in the U.S. The classification comes as the variant has increased transmissibility and potential reduction in post-vaccine immunity. The variant previously raged in India and is currently making its way through the U.K., prompting a delay in reopening. "It's doubling every two weeks," former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said on "Face the Nation" Tuesday.  "That doesn't mean that we're going to see a sharp uptick in infections, but it does mean that this is going to take over," he added. "And I think the risk is really to the fall that this could spike a new epidemic heading into the fall." (Aspegren, 6/16)

The New York Times: The C.D.C. Says The Delta Virus Variant Is Now A ‘Variant Of Concern.’
Federal health officials have classified the Delta variant of the coronavirus now circulating in the United States as a “variant of concern,” sounding the alarm because it spreads rapidly and may partially sidestep certain antibody treatments. Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday emphasized that the authorized vaccines are highly effective against the variant, however, and urged all Americans who have not yet been inoculated to get fully vaccinated as soon as possible. (Rabin, 6/16)

What else you need to know about the delta variant —

The Hill: Delta Variant Now In 74 Countries And Spreading Fast
The highly transmissible coronavirus variant first discovered in India has now reached 74 countries, contributing to outbreaks in the United States, United Kingdom and China. Experts warn the Delta variant could soon become the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the U.S., as the mutation accounts for roughly 10 percent of new cases. Former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gotlieb told CBS on Sunday that people who contract this form of the virus “have higher viral loads” for long periods of time and “shed more of the virus.” (Barnes, 6/15)

CNN: Cases Of Delta Variant Are 'Rapidly Increasing' In US, Expert Says 
As US states lift more coronavirus restrictions, experts are worried people who aren't fully vaccinated could contribute to further spread of the virus. The Delta variant, first reported in India, currently accounts for nearly 10% of coronavirus cases in the US, according to the CDC. With concerns it could become the dominant strain soon, medical experts are underscoring the importance of full vaccination. (Elamroussi, 6/16)

The Guardian: The Delta Variant Is Spreading. What Does It Mean For The US?
Scientists in the United States are anxiously watching the Delta variant of Covid-19, as it spreads through an unevenly vaccinated American public and an economy that is rapidly reopening. The Delta variant, first identified as B.1.617.2 in India, is believed to be more transmissible than both the original strain of Covid-19 and the Alpha strain, first identified in the United Kingdom. “We’ve moved [Delta] to the top of our list of variants to study,” said Andrew Pekosz, a professor in Johns Hopkins University’s molecular microbiology and immunology department, and an expert in how viruses interact with the respiratory system. (Glenza, 6/16)

The New York Times: ‘A Momentous Day’: New York and California Lift Most Virus Restrictions
The governors of New York and California, the states hit earliest and hardest by the pandemic, triumphantly announced on Tuesday that they had lifted virtually all coronavirus restrictions on businesses and social gatherings as both states hit milestones in vaccinating their residents. In New York, where 70 percent of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, the order from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo means that restaurants will no longer be forced to space tables six feet apart; movie theaters will be allowed to pack their auditoriums without spacing seats apart; and entering commercial buildings won’t require a temperature check. (Ferre-Sadurni and Hubler, 6/15)

In updates from California —

AP: California Marks Reopening With Jackpots, Hollywood Flair
Welcome back, California. San Francisco announced the return of its iconic cable cars. Disneyland threw open its doors to out-of-state tourists. And Gov. Gavin Newsom marked the day with Hollywood flair, visiting Universal Studios to celebrate the lifting of most COVID-19 restrictions and what he called the “full reopening” of the Golden State’s economy Tuesday. (Gecker and Dazio, 6/15)

AP: 10 California Residents Get $1.5M Richer Via Vaccine Jackpot
Gov. Gavin Newsom doled out $1.5 million each to 10 vaccinated winners at Universal Studios on Tuesday to mark the end of the state’s coronavirus restrictions. The $15 million total was the final part of Newsom’s $116.5 million so-called “Vax for the Win” program, an effort to encourage residents to get vaccinated and hasten California’s recovery in the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed 3.8 million globally and 600,000 nationwide. (Dazio, 6/15)

Bay Area News Group: How Are Health Experts Handling California's Reopening?
How safe is it for vaccinated Californians to go about mask-free indoors now that it’s no longer a state requirement? A good gauge might be to watch what top health experts are doing as California on Tuesday drops its pandemic restrictions on how many people can be inside stores, restaurants and most other indoor places, and the requirement that everyone wear a face mask indoors whether vaccinated or not. “My approach to this is to hurry slowly,” Dr. John Swartzberg, professor emeritus of infectious disease and vaccinology with the UC Berkeley-UCSF Joint Medical Program. Though fully vaccinated, he’s not comfortable with the idea of going without a mask when he doesn’t know if others around him are immunized. (Woolfolk, 6/15)

San Francisco Chronicle: Newsom Says Vaccine Verification Is Coming In California, But 'It's Not A Passport'
As California reopened this week, freeing people fully vaccinated for COVID-19 from most pandemic restrictions, Gov. Gavin Newsom signaled again that the state would soon introduce an electronic vaccination verification program. Such digital health certificates, also referred to as “vaccine passports,” have become a hotly debated issue. Opponents raise privacy and equity concerns, while supporters say the digital certificates will enhance public safety and speed economic recovery. (Hwang, 6/15)

Los Angeles Times: Amid COVID Reopening, Many Californians Keeping Masks On
Despite Tuesday’s massive reopening of the California economy and the loosening of COVID-19 rules that have been in place for more than a year, many people continued to wear masks in public, saying they felt it was better to be safe than sorry. At Charlie’s Best Burgers in East Los Angeles, patrons and the staff treated California’s reopening day like any other. The burger and Mexican food chain still required customers to wear masks and maintain social distancing. The restaurant marked three of its seven booths unusable and capped capacity at 20 customers. (Campa, Vega and Seidman, 6/15)

AP: Fireworks Return To Disney Parks In Latest Lifting Of Rules
Disney plans to restart fireworks shows at its theme parks in Florida and California in the latest move by the company to ease up on pandemic restrictions implemented last year. The company said Tuesday that firework shows will resume at the beginning of July at Walt Disney World in Florida and on the Fourth of July at Disneyland in California. The fireworks shows had been put on hold to discourage people from gathering together after the parks reopened following virus-related closures last year. (6/15)

In updates from New York —

Fox News: New York Lifts Remaining COVID-19 Restrictions After Reaching Vaccination Goal
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that all remaining COVID-19 restrictions "would be relaxed as of today" after the state reached its goal of vaccinating 70% of the adult population, but mask-wearing would remain in effect for some. Effective immediately, businesses in the state will no longer have to follow social distancing rules or limit how many people are allowed inside, Cuomo said at his press conference from the World Trade Center in Manhattan. However, masks will still be required in schools, subways, large venues, homeless shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, jails and prisons. (Hein, 6/15)

AP: NY Lifts More COVID-19 Rules As It Hits Vaccination Mark
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that 70% of adults in New York have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, a threshold he said the state would celebrate by easing many of its remaining social distancing rules and shooting off fireworks. “What does 70% mean? It means that we can now return to life as we know it,” Cuomo told an invitation-only crowd at the World Trade Center in Manhattan. (Villeneuve, 6/16)

Roll Call: CDC Issues Guidance For Treating ‘Long COVID’ Patients 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released much-anticipated guidance for physicians treating patients struggling with lingering and complicated problems after COVID-19, often called “long COVID.” The guidance, which was posted online late Monday, offers initial recommendations for physicians treating patients who are experiencing illness at least four weeks after an acute infection of the virus that causes COVID-19. The interim guidance acknowledges much is unknown about post-COVID conditions, although the National Institutes of Health launched a research effort last week. (McIntire, 6/15)

The Hill: Large Study Says Nearly 25 Percent Of COVID-19 Patients Have Long-Lasting Symptoms 
A detailed new report suggests that nearly one quarter of patients who tested positive for COVID-19 continued to struggle with side effects at least one month after their initial diagnosis, adding to the burgeoning knowledge about the coronavirus that took over the world in 2020. Researchers looked at more than 1.9 million patients without serious comorbidities like cancer, kidney disease, and hepatitis. This makes it one of the largest comprehensive COVID-19 surveillance studies so far. (Kelley, 6/15)

The New York Times: Covid News: Study Finds Health Problems Can Persist Long After Infection, Even Among The Asymptomatic 
Hundreds of thousands of Americans have sought medical care for post-Covid health problems that they had not been diagnosed with before becoming infected with the coronavirus, according to the largest study to date of long-term symptoms in Covid-19 patients. The study, tracking the health insurance records of nearly 2 million people in the United States who contracted the coronavirus last year, found that one month or more after their infection, 23 percent of them sought medical treatment for new conditions. (Belluck, 6/16)

Modern Healthcare: One-Fifth Of Asymptomatic COVID Patients Developed Long-Haul Symptoms
Almost one-fifth of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients later developed conditions associated with long-haulers, according to a new white paper from FAIR Health. The healthcare transparency not-for-profit studied private insurance claims associated with 1.9 million patients who had a COVID-19 test, and then and looked at any health issues 30 days or more after their initial diagnosis. The analysis found 19% of asymptomatic individuals had at least one long-haul symptom, but the number is likely larger. (Gillespie, 6/15)

The New York Times: Distorted, Bizarre Food Smells Haunt Covid Survivors
Marcel Kuttab first sensed something was awry while brushing her teeth a year ago, several months after recovering from Covid-19.Her toothbrush tasted dirty, so she threw it out and got a new one. Then she realized the toothpaste was at fault. Onions and garlic and meat tasted putrid, and coffee smelled like gasoline — all symptoms of the once little-known condition called parosmia that distorts the senses of smell and taste. (Schoch, 6/15)

Stat: Regeneron Antibody Saves Lives In Some Hospitalized Covid Patients
A monoclonal antibody treatment for Covid-19 developed by Regeneron saved lives among hospitalized patients who had not mounted their own immune response, a finding that could dramatically change the way that doctors will use the therapy, researchers in the United Kingdom announced Wednesday. The new data mark the first time that a medicine that works by fighting the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been shown to reduce mortality. Other treatments, such as the steroid dexamethasone, have been shown to save lives by tamping down the immune system’s overactive response to the virus. (Herper, 6/16)

Bloomberg: Regeneron Drug Reduces Covid Patient Deaths In Large Study
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s antibody cocktail reduced the risk of death by 20% among hospitalized Covid-19 patients who don’t have a natural antibody response of their own, according to a large study by University of Oxford researchers. The results suggest there would be six fewer deaths over 28 days for every 100 patients given the company’s casirivimab and imdevimab combination of monoclonal antibodies. Patients who got the cocktail also spent four days fewer in the hospital on average, and had less of a need for a ventilator. (Gemmell, Langreth and Chen, 6/16)

In other news about the spread of the coronavirus —

CNN: Royal Caribbean Postpones Inaugural Sailing After 8 Crew Members Test Positive For Covid-19
Royal Caribbean postponed the inaugural sailing of its cruise ship Odyssey of the Seas after eight vaccinated crew members tested positive for Covid-19, the company's CEO said. The positive tests come as major cruises lines are finally starting to set sail for the first time since the pandemic halted their movements. The eight positive cases were identified during routine testing, Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley said in a statement posted on Facebook. (Elamroussi, 6/16)

CIDRAP: Deaths Rose 17% In US Assisted Living Residents During COVID-19
From January to August 2020, 17% more US assisted living residents died compared with the same months in 2019, and excess deaths hit 24% in the hardest-hit states, according to a JAMA Network Open research letter yesterday. (6/15)

Stat: Amazon Has Made Its Covid-19 Test Available Online 
Amazon has made its FDA-cleared Covid-19 test available to consumers online, alongside a consumer diagnostics website where people can view their results. The consumer diagnostics website, AmazonDx.com, was previously only available to Amazon employees. As of Tuesday, however, it appears any customer can sign into the site using the same login information they use to access the shopping portion of the tech giant’s website. (Brodwin, 6/15)

AP: Colorado Governor To Let Go Of Pandemic Executive Powers
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said he will begin phasing out the executive authority he has been granted during the coronavirus pandemic after creating, amending and extending about 400 orders since March 2020. The Democrat told The Denver Post that he’s now ready to let go of his unprecedented authority. (6/15)

The Baltimore Sun: Maryland Will Lift Its COVID State Of Emergency. What Does That Mean? 
Next month, Marylanders will no longer have to wear masks in any settings, including schools, camps and child care facilities, except where required by local rules, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Tuesday. Hogan said Maryland will lift its COVID-19 state of emergency, which the Republican governor had declared in March 2020 and extended throughout the pandemic. The move ends the rest of the state’s mask mandate and several other pandemic-related orders as of July 1. (Campbell, 6/16)

Also —

Stat: Sewage Sleuths Helped An Arizona Town Beat Back Covid-19 
Valerie Molina anxiously searched the desert sky, scanning the horizon for any clouds dark with rain. But all was blue and bright. Today, the weather wasn’t going to be on her side. It was March 20, 2020, and Guadalupe, over which Molina presides as mayor, was preparing for what should have been the third of six Friday ceremonies in the run-up to Easter. (Molteni, 6/16)

KHN: Collecting FEMA Funeral Money Takes Some Tenacity — And Help
As a funeral director at Ingold Funeral and Cremation in Fontana, California, Jessica Rodriguez helps families say goodbye to their loved ones. “We serve predominantly Latino families, most of them second- and third-generation” residents, said Rodriguez. “We do have quite a few that are first-generation, that don’t speak any English.” Most are unaware of a federal program that offers up to $9,000, she said. And even when they know about the aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the process is daunting and the bureaucracy confusing. The lack of English skills hinders some families of people who died of covid from receiving reimbursement from FEMA for funeral expenses, so her office offers them help in Spanish. (de Marco, 6/16)

AP: More Evidence Suggests COVID-19 Was In US By Christmas 2019
A new analysis of blood samples from 24,000 Americans taken early last year is the latest and largest study to suggest that the new coronavirus popped up in the U.S. in December 2019 — weeks before cases were first recognized by health officials. The analysis is not definitive, and some experts remain skeptical, but federal health officials are increasingly accepting a timeline in which small numbers of COVID-19 infections may have occurred in the U.S. before the world ever became aware of a dangerous new virus erupting in China. (Stobbe, 6/15)

The Washington Post: NIH Study Suggests Coronavirus May Have Been In U.S. As Early As December 2019
A research study run by the National Institutes of Health has turned up evidence of possible coronavirus infections in the United States as early as December 2019, weeks before the first documented infection in this country. The new report, published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, bolsters earlier studies indicating that the virus entered the country under the radar and may have been spreading in the first two months of 2020, well in advance of warnings to that effect from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Achenbach, 6/15)

The New York Times: Scientists Report Earliest Known Coronavirus Cases In Five US States 
But the new study is flawed, some experts said: It did not adequately address the possibility that the antibodies were to coronaviruses that cause common colds, and the results could be a quirk of the tests used. In addition, the researchers also did not have travel information for any of the patients, which might have helped explain the test results. “This is an interesting paper because it raises the idea that everyone thinks is true, that there were infections that were going undiagnosed,” said Scott Hensley, an immunologist at the University of Pennsylvania. (Mandavilli, 6/15)

Politico: Top Trump Officials Pushed The Covid-19 Lab-Leak Theory. Investigators Had Doubts
Senior Trump administration officials decided in the spring of 2020 to strongly imply that Covid-19 came from a Chinese lab, even though intelligence officials investigating the pandemic’s origins did not have conclusive evidence supporting that hypothesis. The messaging campaign began as a concerted effort to push back against China, which was attempting to blame the United States for the spread of the virus. In documents and cables newly obtained by POLITICO, officials shared talking points emphasizing that even Beijing’s own communications acknowledged the outbreak began in China’s Wuhan Province. (Banco and Lippman, 6/15)

The Washington Post: The Government's Hunt For A Pandemic 'Lab Leak' Went Down Many Paths And Came Up With No Smoking Gun 
Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health, ducked out of his granddaughter’s swim meet into a dark recess of a Michigan high school, eager to hear from a team of scientists whether they thought a new coronavirus making a terrifying sweep across the globe could have been deliberately engineered. It was Feb. 1, 2020, and nearly a dozen top international experts on viral genome evolution had convened for a teleconference. They had been scrutinizing the virus’s genetic sequence, which had been uploaded to the Internet three weeks earlier. A few were alarmed by some of the virus’s attributes, particularly how it clawed its way into human cells. (Abutaleb and Harris, 6/15)

In related news —

Axios: Republicans Push To Sanction Chinese Officials Over Wuhan Lab Probe 
Two House Republicans — including Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) — are introducing a bill Tuesday to sanction top Chinese health officials until they allow an investigation into whether the coronavirus originated in a Wuhan lab, according to a copy of the bill text obtained by Axios. The lab-leak theory has regained prominence in both the scientific and political worlds, after the Wall Street Journal reported that three scientists who worked at the Wuhan Institute of Virology experienced COVID-19 symptoms in November 2019. (Treene and Owens, 6/15)

Des Moines Register: Joni Ernst Backs Bill To Enforce Disclosure From Groups Tied To Wuhan Lab
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst on Tuesday touted legislation that would block federal funding to organizations that refuse to disclose details about their programs — a move that targets companies associated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. "There's no reason Iowa taxpayers should continue to foot the bill for organizations that fail to follow federal laws, particularly one that could hold answers to the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic," Ernst said on a call with Iowa reporters. (Pfannenstiel, 6/15)

Fox News: Robert Redfield: Some Biolab Researchers Show 'Arrogance' That 'Nothing Can Go Wrong'
In an exclusive interview with Fox News' Dr. Marc Siegel, former CDC Director Robert R. Redfield Jr. warned scientists against expressing "arrogance" in their work that could lead to dangerous pitfalls due to their haste. During a larger discussion on the dangers of gain-of-function research, and the potential for lab-leak scenarios as posited by many Americans following the coronavirus pandemic, Redfield warned against too much self-confidence in the scientific community. Redfield said that some scientists and researchers tend to show "arrogance" toward the infallibility of their work, believing that nothing can or will go wrong. (Creitz, 6/15)

The Wall Street Journal: FDA Authorizes More Covid-19 Vaccine Doses From Troubled Baltimore Plant
The Food and Drug Administration cleared an additional batch of Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine doses Tuesday from a troubled production plant in Baltimore. The agency cleared 15 million doses, bringing the total doses authorized for export to 25 million, according to a senior U.S. official. The FDA on Friday cleared about 10 million doses for export. (Burton, 6/15)

Fox News: US Delivers 1.35M Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccines To Mexico
A White House official confirmed on Tuesday that 1.35 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine had arrived in Mexico. FedEx Express moved the vaccine shipment from Memphis, Tenn., to Toluca, Mexico, via FedEx International Freight in coordination with Direct Relief and the two countries' governments. Earlier this month, the Biden administration had announced that it had planned to share 80 million vaccine doses globally by the end of June, including 6 million earmarked for allies and partners which includes Mexico, Canada and about a dozen others as well as U.N. frontline workers. (Hein, 6/15)

In other news on the vaccine rollout —

AP: 'A Summer Of Freedom': Vaccine Gives New Meaning To July 4th
President Joe Biden wants to imbue Independence Day with new meaning this year by encouraging nationwide celebrations to mark the country’s effective return to normalcy after 16 months of coronavirus pandemic disruption and more than 600,000 lives lost. The White House is expressing growing certainty that July Fourth will serve as a breakthrough moment in the nation’s recovery, even though the U.S. is expected to fall short of its goal of having 70% of adults vaccinated by the holiday. Still, the pace of the nation’s healing will be a stark contrast with the rest of the world struggling to vanquish the virus. (Miller, 6/15)

Axios: How Prior Coronavirus Infections Factor Into Herd Immunity 
People who were previously infected with the coronavirus have some level of protection against reinfection, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't get vaccinated. If you're trying to calculate herd immunity, previous infections count for something. But protection from both vaccines and infections likely decreases over time, and getting at least one shot of a vaccine increases people with prior infections' level of protection against variants. (Owens, 6/16)

Health News Florida: COVID Vaccinations Still Lag In Rural Areas Across North Florida 
COVID-19 vaccination rates lag in vast swaths of rural Florida compared to the rest of the state --- a pattern that also has been seen in other areas of the country, a new report shows. The report, released Friday by the state Department of Health, said 55 percent of people in Florida ages 12 and older had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. (Saunders, 6/15)

The Baltimore Sun: COVID Vaccine Initiative ‘Joints For Jabs’ Alights At Greenhouse Wellness In Ellicott City 
At the women-owned cannabis dispensary, Greenhouse Wellness, in Ellicott City a new “joints for jabs” program allows Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission patients to purchase one pre-rolled joint for a penny with proof of COVID-19 vaccination. The “joints for jabs” program at Greenhouse Wellness starts June 15 and will continue until the end of July. (Green, 6/15)

CBS News: Arizona Governor Issues Executive Order Prohibiting Universities From Mandating COVID-19 Tests, Vaccines And Masks 
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey issued an executive order Tuesday that prohibits public universities and community colleges from mandating COVID-19 tests, vaccines and masks for students to participate in learning. The decision comes days after Ducey criticized a recent announcement from Arizona State University that outlined COVID-19 protocols for the upcoming school year. (Powell, 6/15)

AP: Wisconsin Bill Would Forbid Proof Of COVID-19 Vaccination
The Wisconsin Assembly planned to vote Wednesday on a Republican-backed bill that would prohibit businesses, colleges and universities, governments and anyone else in the state from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination. The measure must also pass the Senate and be signed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers before becoming law. Evers has signaled that he will veto the bill. (6/16)

Los Angeles Times: San Francisco To Require COVID-19 Vaccine For Some Workers
San Francisco will eventually require workers in hospitals, nursing homes and jails to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with limited exceptions. The order is notable as some companies have internally debated whether to impose vaccination requirements for workers. Many companies have generally avoided requiring workers to be vaccinated. But the University of California and California State University systems have announced they will eventually require COVID-19 vaccinations for all students, faculty and staff on campus properties. (Lin II, 6/15)

Houston Chronicle: Unvaccinated Houston Methodist Employees Appeal Judge's Ruling On COVID Vaccine Mandate
A group of Houston Methodist employees who sued the hospital system over its COVID-19 vaccine requirement have appealed a ruling dismissing the case. Over the weekend, U.S. District Judge Lynn N. Hughes tossed the lawsuit, calling it “reprehensible” to compare the vaccine requirement to Nazi Germany’s medical experiments. “Equating the injection requirement to medical experimentation in concentration camps is reprehensible,” Hughes said. “Nazi doctors conducted medical experiments on victims that caused pain, mutilation, permanent disability, and in many cases, death.” (Wu and Banks, 6/15)

And in news about mask-wearing —

NBC News: Iowa Man Convicted Of Assault Over Mask Fight Sentenced To 10 Years
An Iowa man convicted of assaulting a man who told him to pull his mask up last year was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison, according to a court representative. Shane Michael, 42, was convicted last month to willful injury causing serious injury — a Class C forcible felony, according to court records — which has a mandatory 10-year prison term. (Fieldstadt, 6/15)

CBS News: Vaccinated Visitors Can Take Off Masks At Disney World 
Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, is making it easier to see smiles again, but guests still can't hug the characters. Starting Tuesday, face masks will be optional for visitors to the theme park resort who are vaccinated, though Disney workers won't require proof of vaccination, the company said on its website. Visitors who aren't fully vaccinated still will need to wear face masks indoors and on all rides and attractions. Because vaccines aren't yet available for children under age 12, they too will have to mask up still. (6/14)

The Washington Post: Senate Bill Would Ban Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Makeup, Which New Study Found Are Often Unlabeled
Cosmetics distributed in the United States and Canada are rife with a class of chemicals that have been associated with a number of diseases, including cancer, and frequently aren’t labeled accurately, according to a new study. Over the last three years, researchers tested 231 cosmetics products in North America for fluorine, an indicator of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. The study found fluorine in 56 percent of foundations and eye products, 48 percent of lip products and 47 percent of mascaras. (Root, 6/15)

AP: Study: Half Of US Cosmetics Contain Toxic Chemicals
More than half the cosmetics sold in the United States and Canada are awash with a toxic industrial compound associated with serious health conditions, including cancer and reduced birth weight, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of Notre Dame tested more than 230 commonly used cosmetics and found that 56% of foundations and eye products, 48% of lip products and 47% of mascaras contained fluorine — an indicator of PFAS, so-called “forever chemicals” that are used in nonstick frying pans, rugs and countless other consumer products. (Daly, 6/15)

In other news from Capitol Hill —

Modern Healthcare: Senators Advocate For Pay Models That Integrate Primary, Mental Healthcare
Promising results from a federal demonstration has spurred a bipartisan group of senators to push for new pay models that support integrating primary care and behavioral health. It comes at a time when demand for mental health servcies have spiked due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted—and exacerbated—the mental and behavioral health challenges we continue to confront," Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho said during a Senate Finance Committee hearing Tuesday. "Loss of loved ones, increased isolation and delayed treatment prompted a spike in anxiety, depression and other debilitating conditions. While many are returning to their pre-pandemic lives, we should not be content to allow our mental health care delivery system to revert to its pre-pandemic ways." (Gellman, 6/15)

Healthcare IT News: Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill Aimed At Safeguarding Rural Telehealth Access
U.S. senators this past week introduced another bill aimed at making telehealth flexibilities permanent under Medicare – including audio-only telehealth appointments. The Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act is geared toward ensuring underserved community health providers are able to continue accessing virtual care beyond the end of the public health emergency. (Jercich, 6/15)

The Hill: Democrat Says He Won't Introduce Resolution To Censure Greene After Her Apology 
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) said Tuesday that he is scrapping plans to introduce a resolution to censure Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) after she apologized for comparing mask and vaccine rules during the COVID-19 pandemic to the Holocaust. Schneider, who is Jewish, said that he was "pleasantly surprised" to see Greene visit the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington on Monday and make a public apology. (Marcos, 6/15)

Stat: Biden Admin Moves To Axe Trump 340B Rule Targeting Community Clinics
The Biden administration on Tuesday moved to axe a Trump-era policy that would have targeted federal drug discounts for clinics serving low-income people. While several other controversial Trump drug pricing policies on importation, international reference pricing, and drug rebates remain in limbo, this is the second time that HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra has sided with providers at the expense of drug makers on contentious policy related to the federal 340B drug discount program. (Cohrs, 6/15)

Modern Healthcare: Trump Rule On Community Health Center Insulin, Epi-Pen Discounts May End
The Biden administration wants to eliminate a rule targeting community health clinics in the 340B program. The rule, which was issued by the Trump administration but never took effect, would have required community health centers pass the 340B discounts they get for insulin and Epi-Pens to patients. The Biden administration argued Tuesday the rule would put "undue administrative costs and burdens" on health centers. (Hellmann, 6/15)

Also —

Axios: MedPAC Says Higher Prices Drove Up Medicare Drug Spending 
The amount Medicare spent on drugs that are dispensed at pharmacies increased 26% from 2013 through 2018, members of the Medicare Advisory Payment Commission wrote in their new annual report. MedPAC members put the spotlight on pharmaceutical companies, attributing "nearly all of the growth ... to higher prices rather than an increase in the number of prescriptions filled by beneficiaries." (Herman, 6/16)

Modern Healthcare: MedPAC Wants To End Skilled Nursing Facility Incentive Program
A panel advising Congress on Medicare policy recommended Tuesday eliminating and replacing the skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing program, arguing it is fundamentally flawed. Congress passed the VBP program in 2014 to improve quality in skilled nursing facilities, but the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission says the program's single measure of performance — hospital readmissions — doesn't fully capture healthcare quality or address variations between facilities in patient populations. Under the program, MedPAC found that SNFs treating higher shares of dual-eligible beneficiaries or facilities with more medically complex patients were more likely to be penalized under the program. (Hellmann, 6/15)

Health News Florida: Florida Asks For More Time On Potential Medicaid Boost 
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is asking the federal government for additional time “to consider the potential impacts” of drawing down hundreds of millions of dollars in additional federal Medicaid money for home- and community-based services. In an email to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Karen Williams of the state Medicaid office said Florida wants a 30-day extension, which would give the state until July 12 to submit a plan to the federal government. (Sexton, 6/15)

The Washington Post: A Groundbreaking Connecticut Law Would Give A $3,200 Bond To Every Child Born Into Poverty
Connecticut is set to become the first state in the nation to grant children of low-income parents “baby bonds” — individual trusts paid for by the state, which children can access once they turn 18. Under the law, any infant born to parents who rely on Medicaid insurance will receive $3,200 in a special savings account. By the time they are able to access the fund, it will be worth nearly $11,000, according to the Hartford Courant. (Branigin, 6/15)

Modern Healthcare: AMA Opposes 'Excited Delirium' As A Diagnosis
The American Medical Association on Tuesday said it oppose the use of "excited delirium syndrome" as a clinical diagnosis, contending the term too often inappropriately justifies excessive police force and the forced sedation of individuals for no legitimate medical reason during encounters with law enforcement. The new policy adopted this week during the AMA's special meeting of its house of delegates opposes using "excited delirium" as the sole basis behind the use of excessive force by police officers. A controversial concept among many in healthcare, excited delirium is often described as being in a state of extreme agitation, with symptoms that include extreme physical strength, aggressive behavioral, usually caused by use of a drug stimulant. (Ross Johnson, 6/15)

In other health care industry news —

Modern Healthcare: Aetna Lumbar Surgery Lawsuit Reaches Class Action Status
A California federal judge last week granted class status certification to a lawsuit filed against Aetna that claims the insurer broke federal law by denying coverage for lumbar artificial disc replacement surgery. The class action suit alleges that Aetna classifies the spinal surgery as "experimental" and "investigational" and in many cases would not pay for beneficiaries' procedures. According to the lawsuit, more than 200 patients have been denied coverage for the procedure on the same grounds. (Devereaux, 6/15)

The Wall Street Journal: Apple Struggles In Push To Make Healthcare Its Greatest Legacy
Apple has envisioned an audacious plan for healthcare, offering its own primary-care medical service with Apple-employed doctors at its own clinics, according to people familiar with the plan and documents. To test that and other bold healthcare ideas, it took over clinics that catered to its employees and built a team with scores of clinicians, engineers, product designers and others. Today those ambitions, which aren’t widely known, have largely stalled as Apple has shifted the focus of its health unit to something it knows well: Selling devices, specifically the Apple Watch, according to people familiar with its strategy. (Winkler, 6/16)

The Boston Globe: Life Sciences Is Poised To Be Boston’s Dominant Industry. Has The Area Become The Silicon Valley Of Biotech?
The Boston area has long been famous for its elite universities, top tier hospitals, passionate sports fans, and deep history. But over the past year, the biggest buzz has been about biotechnology, from Moderna receiving emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine in December to Biogen winning approval for its Alzheimer’s drug last week. There has also been a massive amount of investment, acquisitions, public offerings, and laboratory construction during a time when many businesses struggled to keep the lights on. The biotech sector seems poised to emerge from the pandemic as the city’s dominant and most visible industry. Might it finally be time to say that the Boston area has become the Silicon Valley of biotech? (Kirsner, 6/15)

Stat: Former FDA Chief Hahn Defends His Jump To Flagship Pioneering
When biotech investor Flagship Pioneering announced that it had hired former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn, more than a few eyebrows rose. “It would not be a good look for our industry if the person who approved the vaccine went to work for an affiliated company,” tweeted Brad Loncar, a respected investor. “That would be a TERRIBLE look for both him and Flagship,” one biotech editor tweeted. (Sheridan, 6/15)

The Wall Street Journal: Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes’s 100 Questions For Jurors Are Scrapped
A federal judge blocked Theranos Inc. founder Elizabeth Holmes’s proposal to ask potential jurors more than 100 questions before her criminal-fraud trial, saying she could get a fair hearing without making inquiries that prosecutors called deeply intrusive. U.S. District Judge Edward Davila countered Tuesday with a slimmed-down questionnaire to send to jurors ahead of the late-August trial, which will determine whether Ms. Holmes defrauded investors, patients and doctors about her now-defunct blood-testing company. (Randazzo, 6/15)

Also —

The Boston Globe: ‘We Will Not Be Broken:’ Nurses Strike In Worcester Reaches 100 Days
Five mornings a week, Denise Scotia can be found in front of Saint Vincent Hospital flying the bright blue Massachusetts Nurses Union flag with a sign draped around her neck proudly stating, “I’ve been a nurse for 26 years.” On Tuesday, the 100th day of an unrelenting nurses’ strike at the hospital, the scene was no different. Scotia is one of about 750 nurses who began striking on March 8 after failed attempts to negotiate an increase in nursing staff. After 32 negotiation sessions, the Massachusetts Nurses Association and Tenet Healthcare, a Dallas-based for-profit that owns and operates the Worcester hospital, remain at a standstill. (Lusignan, 6/15)

AP: Judge OKs $15M Settlement Over Rape Of Incapacitated Woman
A judge has approved a $15 million settlement against a doctor in a lawsuit by the parents of an incapacitated woman who was sexually assaulted and later gave birth at a Phoenix long-term care center, marking the last of several deals to resolve legal claims over the rape. The settlement made on behalf of Dr. Phillip Gear, who cared for the woman for 26 years while she lived at Hacienda Healthcare, was deemed reasonable last week by a judge. But the insurer for Gear, who died late last year, said in court papers it has no obligation to pay the amount, arguing the doctor’s policy didn’t cover claims arising from a sexual act. (Billeaud, 6/16)

USA Today: STD Rates Reach All-Time High In US. Which States Have The Most Cases?
In 2019 alone, there were more than 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This marks the sixth consecutive year of record-breaking cases of sexually transmitted diseases in the U.S. The CDC's data looked at states with the highest cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and congenital syphilis. The following numbers were collected from cases in 2019, the most recent data on file, and show a large increase from the reported 1.4 million cases in 2014. (Miranda, 6/15)

In other public health news —

CNN: Children Who Eat More Ultra-Processed Food Gain Weight More Quickly, Study Suggests 
Children who eat more ultra-processed food are more likely to be overweight or obese as adults, a new 17-year study of more than 9,000 British children born in the 1990s suggests. The researchers also found that ultra-processed foods -- including frozen pizzas, fizzy drinks, mass-produced bread and some ready-to-eat meals -- accounted for a very high proportion of children's diets -- more than 60% of calories on average. (Hunt, 6/15)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Study Finds American Blood Sugar Control Has Dropped Significantly
A major diabetes study has found that in the last 10 years, control of blood sugar among U.S. adults has drastically declined. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health conducted a national study. Their findings appear in the New England Journal of Medicine. Using data from the annual National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, researchers evaluated blood sugar control trends. They also reviewed how adults with diabetes controlled blood pressure and cholesterol. The study sample included 6,653 participants in the surveys from 1999 to 2018. Participants were at least 20 years old and not pregnant. They reported a doctor diagnosing them with diabetes outside of pregnancy. (Willis, 6/15)

WMFE: Health Alerts For Blue-Green Algae Toxin Issued In Lake, Seminole Counties 
Local health departments are alerting people to harmful toxins from blue-green algae blooms on Seminole County’s Lake Howell and Lake County’s Dead River south of U.S. 441. The Dead River is a canal between Lake Harris and Lake Eustis. People are advised not to swallow the water or swim, wade or go boating in areas with algae. The water isn’t safe for pets, either. (Byrnes, 6/15)

New Orleans Times-Picayune: Ozone Health Warnings Issued For New Orleans, Baton Rouge On Wednesday
Expected high levels of ground level ozone on Wednesday in New Orleans and Baton Rouge have prompted the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to alert individuals most sensitive to the air pollutant in both cities. The agency blamed a ridge of upper atmosphere high pressure that will reduce atmospheric mixing and is producing extremely hot temperatures under sunny skies - the perfect conditions for ozone formation. Lingering smoke from western wildfires is adding to the conditions ripe for ozone formation, as are light winds during most of Tuesday. (Schleifstein, 6/15)

Salt Lake Tribune: Heat Wave Breaks Salt Lake City’s Record June High At 107 Degrees, Causes Health Concerns
It isn’t even summer yet, but Salt Lake City hit 107 degrees on Tuesday, tying the record temperature for the city and breaking the record for June. The National Weather Service tweeted that it was 107 degrees at Salt Lake City International Airport at 5:43 p.m. The previous recorded hottest temperature for Salt Lake City was 107 degrees in July in 2002 and 1960. The previous record for June was 105 degrees in 2013. “We just [officially] hit a temperature NEVER before seen in the month of June at Salt Lake City [in] all 147 years of records,” said the NWS earlier in the day, when the temperature hit 106. (Tabin, 6/16)

WUSF 89.7: AAA Adds New Sanitization Standard To Hotel Inspections 
AAA regularly evaluates hotels on their comfort, service and cleanliness. Part of that evaluation will now include the sanitation levels of high-touch surfaces. The move was inspired by the wave of hotels adjusting their operations, including cleaning procedures, during the COVID-19 pandemic in an attempt to make people comfortable. (Manna-Rea, 6/15)

KHN: For Toddlers, Pandemic Shapes Development During Formative Years
Lucretia Wilks, who runs a small day care out of her home in north St. Louis County, is used to watching young children embrace, hold hands and play together in close quarters. But the covid-19 pandemic made such normal toddler behavior potentially unsafe. “It’s weird that they now live in a time where they’re expected to not hug and touch,” said Wilks, founder of Their Future’s Bright Child Development Center, which cares for about a dozen children ranging from infants to 7 years old. “They’re making bonds, friendships, and that’s how they show affection.” (Gullet, 6/16)

In updates on the drug epidemic and the opioid trial in West Virginia —

Charleston Gazette-Mail: Expert Notes Red Flags In Top 1% Of Cabell Prescribers With Data Distributors Could Have Accessed
There were 24 doctors who were among the top 1% of opioid prescribers in Cabell County over two decades, but it is the outliers of those outliers who set a dreadful foundation that led to the current opioid crisis, experts say. From 1997 to 2017, Cabell County had about 1,100 prescribers. Three of those doctors — Delano Webb, Philip Fisher and Gregory Chaney — were in the top 0.02%, 0.03% and .5% of the highest opioid prescribers in the country. While those three doctors eventually had their licenses revoked by their regulator, the impact they made on Cabell County has left and will leave lasting negative effects within the county for years, plaintiffs argue. (Hessler, 6/15)

The Marshall Project: Biden Could Have Taken The War On Drugs Down A Notch. He Didn’t. 
Last month, President Biden quietly extended a policy that critics call a betrayal of his campaign promise to end mandatory minimum sentences. The new law concerns “class-wide scheduling of fentanyl analogues.” It may sound like a wonky snooze-fest, but the measure could land more low-level drug dealers in prison for longer and with less proof than is usually required — while kingpins and chemists who manufacture and distribute these new drugs don’t tend to get caught. (Schwartzapfel, 6/16)

The Baltimore Sun: Some Maryland Health Insurers Seek Rate Hikes For 2022
Maryland’s dominant health insurer, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, plans to raise rates for certain plans by about 8% for people buying their own coverage next year, a potential effect of the coronavirus pandemic. Other consumers may see price breaks, as some insurers have said they could continue cutting premiums as they have largely been doing for the past three years. (Cohn, 6/15)

AP: ACLU Asks Judge To Block Arkansas Trans Youth Treatment Ban
The American Civil Liberties Union on Tuesday asked a federal judge to prevent Arkansas from enforcing its ban on gender confirming treatments for transgender youth while a lawsuit challenging the prohibition proceeds. The ACLU requested a preliminary injunction against the new law, which is set to take effect on July 28. It will prohibit doctors from providing gender confirming hormone treatment, puberty blockers or surgery to anyone under 18 years old, or from referring them to other providers for the treatment. (DeMillo, 6/15)

NBC News: Ohio Senate Budget Includes Provision To Restrict Abortions
Ohio medical professionals would be allowed to refuse to perform abortions if it’s against their religious beliefs, according to a subtle, last-minute amendment tucked away in the $75 billion budget adopted by the state Senate. The measure, which was tacked onto the spending bill, is being hailed by anti-abortion rights groups that say it would allow doctors to abide by their moral standards. (Hampton, 6/15)

Also —

Detroit Free Press: Michigan Wants To Regulate 'Diet Weed' Along With Marijuana
A new alternative to marijuana spreading across the United States remains unregulated in Michigan, but one state representative wants to change that. State Rep. Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor, has introduced a bill that would bring this new kind of weed into the fold of the state's definition of marijuana, making it a hot new commodity that'll be sold only in reputable dispensaries near you to those 18 or older. “We did a lot of work on this bill with various sectors of the cannabis community, along with the cannabis vendor community, and even alongside the hemp community," Rabhi said. "We got much approval from those entities." (Fogel, 6/16)

Philadelphia Inquirer: With The Pandemic Easing, Philadelphia Employers Are Boosting Mental Health Resources As They Bring Workers Back To The Office
During the pandemic, Mark Switaj has been mindful of how he talks about mental health with his employees. Switaj, the CEO of a medical transportation and technology company called Roundtrip, openly shared about times he struggled to sleep or “wasn’t in the right mindset” during companywide meetings. He knew that as a leader, destigmatizing discussions about mental health in the workplace started at the top. Roundtrip, with offices in Philadelphia and Richmond, Va., provides staff with mental health resources through Fringe, a system where workers can spend points on lifestyle benefits such as babysitting or streaming subscriptions. After Switaj noticed no one took time off during the pandemic, he implemented half-day Fridays every other week. And the company is slowly bringing its roughly 45 employees back to offices, with plenty of feedback from teams. (Ao and Hetrick, 6/15)

North Carolina Health News: Proposed Law Could Improve Life For NC's Foster Parents 
In 2016, Brooks Rainey Pearson and her husband decided that they wanted to become foster parents. They didn’t have any children of their own, but they wanted to provide a welcoming home for children whose home lives were unstable. The couple took the classes required by Durham County and completed the training hours necessary to become foster parents. (Dougani, 6/16)

Bloomberg: Myanmar Reports First Detection Of New Covid Variants: Ministry
Myanmar announced on Tuesday the first detection of three new variants of Covid-19 in five cities across the nation, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports. Laboratory tests conducted by the Defence Service Medical Research Center under the Ministry of Defence reported 11 cases of new Covid variants including one in commercial capital Yangon, four in its second biggest city Mandalay, three in southern Myeik, two in northwestern Tamu and one in Kalay near the Myanmar-India border. (Lin Kyaw, 6/15)

CBS News: Millions Of Pakistanis Threatened With Cell Phone Cut-Off If They Don't Get A COVID Vaccine 
Pakistan's most populous province, Punjab, has decided to combat residents' COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy by threatening to block cell phone service to anyone who refuses inoculation. The decision to issue the threat came out of a meeting last week, led by provincial Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid, as officials scrambled for ways to boost the province's dismal vaccination rate. (Usman, 6/14)

AP: India's Taj Mahal Reopens As New Infections Slow
India is reopening its famed marvel of love, the Taj Mahal, and several other monuments as the number of new coronavirus infections continues to decline. District Magistrate Prabhu Narain Singh said 650 tourists with online bookings will be allowed a day to visit the white marble Taj Mahal from Wednesday. Temperatures will be checked at the gates, face masks must be worn and social distancing norms must be observed. The monument was closed in April amid a surge of new infections in India. (6/16)

Axios: How All 24 Euro 2020 Countries Have Fared With COVID-19 And Vaccines 
Euro 2020 is among the first major global sporting events to take place in the waning days of the pandemic, providing a chance to explore how 24 different countries have responded to COVID-19. Though 11 countries share hosting duties, the tournament offers a preview of next month's Olympics, when athletes from over 200 countries will descend on Tokyo. (Tracy, 6/15)

Reuters: Japan To Decide Soon On Domestic Spectators At Olympics 
Japan will decide this month on whether to allow domestic spectators at the Tokyo Olympics, the government's chief spokesman said on Wednesday, after experts signed off on a plan to allow crowds of up to 10,000 people at events. The final call on attendance at the Games will be made taking into account coronavirus infection conditions and the prevalence of variants, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told reporters. (Swift and Park, 6/16)

In other global developments —

NPR: Gay And Bisexual Men Are Now Allowed To Donate Blood In Most Of The U.K.
Gay and bisexual men in England, Scotland, and Wales can now donate blood, plasma and platelets under certain circumstances, the National Health Service announced this week in a momentous shift in policy for most of the U.K. Beginning Monday, gay men in sexually active, monogamous relationships for at least three months can donate for the first time. The move reverses a policy that limited donor eligibility on perceived risks of contracting HIV/AIDs and other sexually transmitted infections. The new rules come as the U.K. and other countries around the world report urgent, pandemic-induced blood supply issues. (Diaz, 6/16)

The Washington Post: North Korea's Kim Calls Food Situation Tense As Reports Of Shortages Mount 
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called the country's food situation "tense," state media reported on Wednesday, amid mounting reports of shortages. Opening a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s central committee, Kim claimed the economy had improved this year, with industrial production up 25 percent on a year earlier, and generally struck a more upbeat tone than in February, when he had admitted the country’s economic plan had “failed tremendously.” (Denyer, 6/16)

AP: N Korea's Kim Looks Much Thinner, Causing Health Speculation
In recent state media images, including those published on Wednesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appeared to have lost a large amount of weight. The strap on his fancy watch is tighter, and his face thinner. Some observers say Kim — who is about 170 centimeters (5 feet, 8 inches) tall and has previously weighed 140 kilograms (308 pounds) — may have lost about 10-20 kilograms (22-44 pounds). Kim’s apparent weight loss is more likely an attempt to improve his health, rather than a sign of illness, according to Hong Min, a senior analyst at Seoul’s Korea Institute for National Unification. (Kim and Tong-Hyung, 6/16)

Stat: Advocacy Group Urges HHS To Boot FDA Officials Over Biogen Approval
Reacting to the controversial approval of the Biogen (BIIB) Alzheimer’s drug, a leading advocacy group is urging the Biden administration to request resignations from or remove three top Food and Drug Administration officials, including acting agency commissioner Janet Woodcock. The approval “showed a stunning disregard for science, eviscerated the agency’s standards for approving new drugs, and ranks as one of the most irresponsible and egregious decisions in the history of the agency,” Public Citizen wrote in a June 16 letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. (Silverman, 6/16)

FiercePharma: Despite Controversy, Biogen's Aduhelm Is Already Generating Enthusiasm Among Doctors: Survey
Biogen’s Aduhelm may have stirred up controversy after its landmark FDA approval, but some Alzheimer’s disease doctors are tabling the many unanswered questions as they appear ready to prescribe the drug. Doctors have shown strong interest in prescribing Aduhelm for about 35% of early-stage Alzheimer’s patients with mild cognitive impairment, Jefferies analysts found after surveying 50 U.S. neurologists or psychiatrists who currently treat about 12,000 Alzheimer’s patients. (Liu, 6/15)

Stat: Q&A: The CEO Of The Alzheimer’s Association On The Approval Of Aduhelm
Harry Johns is ready to stop talking about whether or not the Food and Drug Administration should have approved Aduhelm, the divisive new Alzheimer’s treatment that got the green light last week. “Dwelling on the approval at this point is not productive for those who can benefit from the treatment,” said Johns, the CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association. The “negative voices” focused on criticizing the decision, he said, are “not pro-patient.” (Joseph, 6/16)

Philadelphia Inquirer: New Alzheimer’s Treatment Aduhelm May Be Too Costly For Many Seniors, Deepening Inequities
The price tag of $56,000 per year for Biogen’s new Alzheimer’s treatment could come with a bitter pill for some Medicare beneficiaries: out-of-pocket costs of up to $11,500. That financial hit is troubling to consumer advocates, because it raises the prospect of an even more divided health system: Many seniors will be unable to afford this drug. “The current price would make the drug out of reach for many that could potentially benefit. This would also further deepen the issues of inequity in healthcare that already exist,” said Kristina Fransel, executive director, Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter. (Brubaker, 6/16)

Politico: A Pricey New Drug That May Not Work? Why Drug Pricing Critics Are Staying Quiet
The FDA’s approval of an expensive new Alzheimer’s therapy would seem like the perfect candidate for inflaming Washington’s long-running debate over sky-high prescription drug prices. The drug was broadly approved for Alzheimer’s patients, despite scant evidence that it works and over widespread objections from FDA’s outside advisers. The $56,000 annual price tag, announced after the drug received FDA clearance Monday, was far higher than many Wall Street analysts had expected. And the drug is likely to drive up health insurance costs for 56 million older adults on Medicare while also socking taxpayers. (Luthi and Roubein, 6/12)

The Wall Street Journal: Biotech Rally Sparked By Alzheimer’s Drug Has Staying Power 
Wall Street is rightfully celebrating the first approval of an Alzheimer’s disease treatment in nearly two decades. A familiar threat is likely to re-emerge, but investors won’t likely be caught off guard. Dust-up or not, stock prices are moving higher. Biogen shares rocketed 38% higher that day, and the rest of the sector has come along for the ride. Eli Lilly, which has a similar Alzheimer’s drug under development, rallied 10% on Monday. The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index rose 6% for the week. (Grant, 6/13)

Piscataquis Observer: Mainers Need Relief From Rising Drug Prices
There is no question that, over the years, pharmaceutical companies have made significant contributions to the people of Maine and to our nation. But somewhere along the way, the benefits scale tilted heavily in favor of Big Pharma. The United States has the highest total drug spending in the world and, as drug prices soar, we also have the highest per capita pharmaceutical spending among developed countries. As the pharmaceutical industry’s profits increase, everyday Americans are not getting a fair deal. Costly medications are driving people into medical debt and putting lives at risk. Here in Piscataquis County, I have seen the high cost of pharmaceuticals cause people to ration life-saving medicine. (Democratic Rep. Richard Evans, MD, 6/14)

Maine Beacon: Bills To Address Rising Health Care, Drug Costs Advance Despite Attacks From Big Pharma
Fourteen year old Leo from Waterville recently testified on a bill making its way through Maine’s legislature that would provide emergency access to insulin for Mainer’s who would otherwise go without. Leo, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age two, doesn’t remember life without diabetes.  He talked about the fact that, because his pancreas doesn’t make insulin, he has to take insulin daily or will die.  Sometimes he can’t eat when he wants to because his blood sugar is too high, and other times he isn’t able to play with his friends because his blood sugar is too low. He spoke about his friends sharing a meal and how he has had to wait and consult with his mother to count the carbs and how he constantly is reminded he is different. He ended his testimony talking about his future –when he gets older, he wants to be able to think about the Celtics and saving money for a car, rather than worrying about saving money for insulin. (Ann Woloson, 6/11)

Also —

GoErie.com: When It Comes To Prescription Drugs, PBMs Have The Power
PBM is an acronym for Pharmacy Benefit Manager. They administer your prescription program and sets the rules and regulations. When you go to your pharmacy to get a prescription filled, which was written by your physician, you probably have a prescription card from your employer or insurance company that lists the name of the PBM they have contracted with. About 90% of the time, the PBM is either Express Scripts (ESI), CVS/Caremark or Optum. (Mel Brodsky, 6/12 )

Komando.com: Money-Saving Tip: How To Get 80% Off Your Prescription Medication
Americans spend more on prescription drugs than any other country in the world, racking up more than $358 billion in costs in 2020 alone. That’s driven, in large part, by high prices on medications used by millions. Georgetown research shows about 66% of Americans take at least one prescription drug. If you do, you know just how pricy a little bottle of pills and other medications can be. (Kim Komando, 6/6)

The New York Times: Stop Saying ‘Post-Pandemic’ 
The coronavirus may be receding in New York and Toronto and Tel Aviv, but for much of the world it is a more fearsome threat than ever: Fueled by the spread of more-contagious variants and abetted by a profoundly unequal vaccination drive — 85 percent of all doses have been administered in high- and upper-middle-income countries — the pandemic has already killed more people in 2021 than it did in all of 2020. “Trickle-down vaccination is not an effective strategy for fighting a deadly respiratory virus,” the director general of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said last month. “Covid-19 has already cost more than 3.3 million lives and we’re on track for the second year of this pandemic to be far more deadly than the first.” (Spencer Bokat-Lindell, 6/15)

The Washington Post: Why We Need To Vaccinate Young Children, Too 
Imagine there is a new contagious illness spreading among children. More than 400 kids in the United States have died from it. Tens of thousands have been hospitalized. Some who only had mild initial symptoms are afflicted with lasting effects such as headaches, heart palpitations, persistent fatigue and inability to concentrate. Many of the affected children were previously healthy, and it’s impossible to predict who will fall ill and who will be spared. We don’t have to imagine any of this, of course. The effects of covid-19 on children have been overshadowed by the much greater impacts on adults. But just because older people are more likely to suffer severe consequences doesn’t mean that the coronavirus isn’t a danger to kids. (Leana S. Wen, 6/15)

Chicago Tribune: Mask Debate Regarding Kids Is A Distraction 
As TV news shows debate masks for unvaccinated children and people on social media bang the drum about children being freed from the so-called tyranny of masks in classrooms this fall, we run the risk of overlooking much more important matters for our kids. Let’s be clear: These ludicrous mask arguments are more about the people making them than they are about our children’s well-being. (Kelly Fradin and Hina Talib, 6/15)

East Bay Times: How California’s Unmasking Could Transform Society
Masks. Before March of 2020, most of us had never given them a second thought. Almost no one wore them — what was there to think about? Over the last year and a half, however, they’ve become omnipresent and unavoidable. In California, as everyone’s painfully aware, they’ve been mandated in virtually all public settings for the last 15 months, and across the country they’ve ironically become simultaneous symbols of tyranny (as half the country sees it) and compassion (as seen by the other half). (Tyler Johnson, 6/15)

San Diego Union-Tribune: I'm A Chaplain Who Provides Support When Needed. Here's How We've Been Helping COVID-19 Patients. 
Many COVID-19 “long haulers” are experiencing immense spiritual struggle. The daily statistics about infections and deaths from COVID-19 do not tell the story of the thousands of individuals and families who are working hard to heal. And while scientists and medical providers are beginning to understand more about long and post-acute COVID-19, they are also seeing the limits of their interventions for some people who are struggling to return to work, reconnect with expectations of family and friends, or just feel like themselves. Spiritual struggle takes the form of isolation, loss of self-worth, estrangement and loss of direction or purpose. (Allison Kestenbaum, 6/14)

Newsweek: We've Cleaned Up Our Makeup. It's Time To Clean Up Our Medicine 
Americans today are savvier than ever when it comes to the products we buy. Organic food, non-toxic cleaning products, clean beauty and sustainable fashion have become de rigueur. In addition to the health and environmental benefits for consumers, it has meant big business for the brands involved. In fact, according to the 2020 Organic Industry Survey, U.S. organic food sales passed $50 billion, up more than 4 percent from the previous year. Research and Markets reported that the global household green cleaning products market is expected to grow from $17.90 billion in 2017 to $27.83 billion by the end of 2024; and the clean beauty industry was recently valued at $1 billion. Almost no sector has been left untouched—that is except for Big Pharma. (Amy Shah, 6/15)

The Atlantic: The U.S. Is Fighting Extremism All Wrong 
To fight this amorphous kind of radicalization, the federal government needs to see the problem as a whole-of-society, public-health issue. It needs to, for example, beef up security at the U.S. Capitol, but also put the same kind of effort and money into preventing radicalization years before anyone would ever think to mobilize in Washington, D.C. (Cynthia Miller-Idriss, 6/15)

Stat: 6 Ways The FDA's Approval Of Aduhelm Does More Harm Than Good
Like many people, I was shocked when the Food and Drug Administration ignored the advice of its neurological drugs advisory panel and broadly approved Biogen’s new drug, Aduhelm, even for populations never included in the clinical trials to assess the drug. I am not a casual bystander to this controversial decision. I am a physician who has been treating people with Alzheimer’s since 1982; an early researcher into the biology of amyloid, the brain protein that Aduhelm targets; someone with a strong personal family history of dementia — I have shared the responsibility of caring for seven relatives who died from Alzheimer’s disease over the past 40 years; and have personally undergone biomarker assessment for an amyloid-lowering drug trial. (Sam Gandy, 6/15)

FiercePharma: Biogen's Hefty Aduhelm Cost Sparks Even More Talk Of A Drug Pricing Crackdown. But Will It Happen? 
A $56,000 annual price tag for a drug with questionable credentials? Let the feeding frenzy begin for politicians who have long supported drug price reform and now have a poster child for their cause—Biogen’s Alzheimer’s disease treatment Aduhelm, which secured a controversial FDA approval on Monday despite mixed trial results. Reaction from Washington, D.C. was immediate. In a tweet, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) called the price “unconscionable” and said that Medicare should have the right to negotiate prices directly with drugmakers. (Dunleavy, 6/10)