Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Different Takes: New Moms Need More Than A Pill; Where Are All The Primary Care Physicians?
The Washington Post: Postpartum Depression Pill Isn’t Enough To Prevent Suicide Among Moms
Moms in America need our help. More women die of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States than in any other high-income country, and mental health challenges are a leading cause of those lost lives. Now, the Food and Drug Administration has approved a fast-acting pill for postpartum depression that could be a game changer for many patients. That’s great news, but it can’t be the end of the story. (Kate Woodsome, 9/6)
The Washington Post: The Lack Of Primary-Care Physicians Is Reaching A Tipping Point
I’ve been receiving an escalating stream of panicked emails from people telling me their longtime physician was retiring, was no longer taking their insurance or had gone concierge and would no longer see them unless they ponied up a hefty annual fee. They said they couldn’t find another primary-care doctor who could take them on or who offered a new-patient appointment sooner than months away. (Elisabeth Rosenthal, 9/5)
The Hill: Superbugs Threaten Us All — It’s Time For Congress To Act
Antibacterial-resistant infections contributed to nearly 5 million deaths worldwide in 2019. In the United States, superbugs were the third leading cause of death from disease in 2019, behind heart disease and cancer, linked to nearly 173,000 deaths. The global death toll from this public health crisis is set to top 10 million annually by 2050 — exceeding the number of people who die from cancer. (Lavarne A. Burton, 9/5)
Modern Healthcare: How AI, Electronic Health Records Can Enhance Patient Data
The healthcare industry is facing a wide variety of challenges—and solutions aren’t always straightforward. Each month, Modern Healthcare asks leaders in the field to weigh in on their approaches to the sector’s thorny issues. (Dr. Jefferey Hoffman and Dr. Michael Oppenheim, 9/5)
Also —
The New York Times: America’s Seniors And The Challenges Of Old Age
Aging societies have different needs from young ones, and while America is far from the only country facing this shift, it has been slow to address it. The strains are showing in everything from health care and housing to employment and transportation. With an average of 10,000 boomers turning 65 each day, these pressures are steadily intensifying and will continue to do so, especially if current immigration policies hold. The recent decline in Americans’ life expectancy over the past few years is especially alarming. (9/6)
USA Today: What Biden gets Wrong About Nursing Homes: President Is Trying To Lump Us All Together
To break through to the American public, the Biden administration is using forceful and unapologetic language on long-term care. They want constituents and voters to know that they are working to fix the broken federal system. We get it. The public needs someone to condemn, someone to push back against. In the narrative the administration is selling, nursing homes have been uniformly cast in the role of villain. (Katie Smith Sloan, 9/6)
The New York Times: Caring For America’s Aging Seniors At Home
Most people don’t like to think about growing old. But when asked, most Americans 55 or older say they want to do so at home. The appeal is understandable. Aging in place, surrounded by familiar places, faces and memories, can provide a sense of comfort and independence. It may seem a modest ambition, but the logistical and economic realities are daunting. Even healthy older people may struggle with basic tasks of daily life, so most of them will, at some point, require help from a caregiver, paid or unpaid, to remain at home. (Michelle Cottle, 9/6)
