Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
FDA OKs Leucovorin For Neurological Disorder, But Not As Autism Treatment
NBC News: FDA Approves New Use Of The Drug Leucovorin — But Not For Autism
The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday announced a new approved use for the drug leucovorin, a synthetic form of vitamin B9 that the Trump administration has touted as a treatment for autism symptoms. But the new approval is not for autism — it’s for cerebral folate deficiency, a rare neurological condition characterized by low levels of vitamin B9 in the brain. (Bendix, 3/10)
On autism and Medicaid —
The Wall Street Journal: The Boom In Autism Therapy Is Medicaid’s Fastest-Growing Jackpot
When Meghann Mitchell first launched her autism-therapy business in 2019, she took aim at an unlikely source of profit: Indiana’s taxpayer-funded Medicaid program, the public insurance system for the poor. The bet paid off. In 2023, the state paid Mitchell’s company, Piece by Piece Autism Centers, $29 million to provide therapy to just 84 patients—about $340,000 a child—according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of Medicaid billing records. (Weaver, McGinty and Wilde Mathews, 3/10)
More on the Trump administration —
MedPage Today: RFK Jr. Reportedly Had Rotator Cuff Surgery
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was having rotator cuff surgery Tuesday, a spokesperson told MedPage Today. Kennedy plans to return to the office March 16, the spokesperson said. That person did not provide details about the reason for the procedure or which shoulder was repaired, and did not provide an update on his condition. Since his tenure at HHS began, Kennedy has frequently engaged in various physical activities publicly to promote his "Make America Healthy Again" agenda, including doing pull-ups at an airport event. (McCreary, 3/10)
The Washington Post: Whistleblower Claims Ex-DOGE Member Says He Took Social Security Data To New Job
The Social Security Administration’s internal watchdog is investigating a complaint that alleges a former U.S. DOGE Service employee claimed he had access to two highly sensitive agency databases and planned to share the information with his private employer — a claim that, if true, would constitute an unprecedented breach of security protocols at an agency that serves more than 70 million Americans. (Kornfield, Dwoskin and Rein, 3/10)
The 19th: The Pediatrician Moms Standing Up For Children In Immigration Detention
Dr. Lara Jones still remembers her visceral reaction to the image of Liam Ramos. It wasn’t the most famous one, of the 5-year-old boy in a blue bunny winter hat and superhero backpack with ICE officers behind him. It was one from days later, of Liam slumped in his father’s arms while both were in custody in Texas. (Rodriguez, 3/10)
KFF Health News: Listen To The Latest 'KFF Health News Minute'
Zach Dyer reads the week’s news: The Trump administration is calling for sharp restrictions on direct-to-consumer drug ads, and for some people facing skyrocketing health insurance costs, becoming eligible for Medicare because of a new diagnosis is a terrible irony. (Cook, 3/10)
In related news on transgender health care —
The 19th: SAVE America Act: Trump Wants To Include Anti-Trans Language In The Bill
Though the SAVE America Act (formerly the SAVE Act) cleared the House in February, the Senate has avoided taking it up for a vote. Now, President Donald Trump has raised a series of demands that won’t make its passage any easier. Trump announced in a weekend social media post that he would “not sign other bills until this is passed, and not the watered down version — go for the gold,” a revision that could now put anti-trans measures in the bill. (Martinez and Rummler, 3/10)
The Texas Tribune: In El Paso, SB 14 Hindered Care For Kids Who Aren’t Transgender
Gabrielle Jones-Radtke has lived in El Paso for nearly her entire life. She loves El Paso — its community, its culture, its recent growth — but her favorite factor is its predictability. “If you’re young, you know, maybe that’s not the best thing,” Jones-Radtke said. “But once you get older and have a family, predictability is everything.” But a series of unpredictable circumstances is forcing her to move her family about 25 miles away to New Mexico. (Johnstone, 3/10)
