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New legislation signed into law on July 7 seems to say that access to some oral health surgeries for Medicaid recipients will be halted on July 1, 2027. But Mark Casey, dental director for Medicaid at the state Department of Health and Human Services, said the provision does not eliminate the coverage, NC Health News reported.
Last month, multiple cities and groups filed a lawsuit against CMS for allegedly violating the Administrative Procedure Act of 1946 and the Affordable Care Act of 2010. Plaintiffs say the provisions in the rule would increase costs for enrollees and permit insurers to offer skimpier coverage, Modern Healthcare reported.
CMS has described the so-called WISeR program as a tool to cut down on waste and fraud, Modern Healthcare reported, but lawmakers from both parties say the policy is creating hurdles for Medicare beneficiaries. In other news from Capitol Hill, the House delayed a vote on the Take Care of America's Veterans Act, one of the largest legislative packages for veterans in years.
Health experts recommend wearing an N95 mask to help prevent against smoke inhalation. An N95 mask is designed to filter at least 95% of airborne particles, said Kai Chen of the Yale School of Public Health. Wildfire smoke is made up of fine solids, gases, and fine particles that can get trapped in the lungs, Chen said.
The CDC and FDA have traced the outbreak to a single Mexican supplier of iceberg lettuce used at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. The agencies have not named the supplier, The Washington Post reported. At least 34 states across the country have identified cases. The FDA is working with the supplier to determine if contaminated lettuce went to other places, officials told The Post.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
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Clinical trials of enlicitide, under the brand name Lipfendra, have shown that it can bring levels of LDL — the dangerous type of cholesterol — down to 50 or 60 or even lower, which is far below what can be achieved with statins. The American Heart Association's cholesterol guidelines say LDL levels should be below 70 for those with above-average risk of heart attacks or strokes, The New York Times reported.
The Trump administration has frozen Medicaid payments to the state while it investigates alleged fraud. Several business owners who perform services such as autism therapy told Politico that they have scrambled to get loans or are borrowing money from their own savings to stay afloat. One provider said, “[Minnesota] is a cautionary tale for how not to handle this. ... The money is gone, and the innocent are paying for it.”
The Indianapolis-based insurer is not attributing its downsizing to legislative policy changes, an executive explained to Healthcare Dive, noting the company can manage such changes.
Troops who are 30 and older will be required to have their levels checked each year to ensure they "have the right testosterone levels to operate at [their] absolute best,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said. Testosterone replacement therapy will be offered to those who are deficient.
People in the Midwest and Northeast are being advised to stay indoors, if possible, to protect themselves from the one-two punch of Canadian wildfire smoke and extreme heat. For those who must venture outside, experts suggest wearing an N95 mask. Plus, the latest about the cyclosporiasis outbreak.
Dr. Erica Schwartz, President Donald Trump's third CDC nominee, is a board-certified preventive medicine physician and served as HHS' deputy surgeon general during Trump's first term. During the hearing, Schwartz avoided answering directly the question about whether she would protect the CDC from political interference, but she affirmed her support for vaccines and medical evidence, Fierce Healthcare reported.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers delve into these public health topics.
A study of the so-called p-tau217 test showed that symptom-free older adults with very high levels of p-tau217 had a 38% risk of developing cognitive impairment over five years and 78% over 10 years, AP reported. Also in the news: new ways to tackle obesity; injuries in sports; and more.
Officials from New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said Tuesday that the Upper East Side is experiencing an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease that is believed to be tied to cooling towers, CNN reported. Of the 183 towers tested, 76 tested positive and will be drained, cleaned, and disinfected.
The 340B Drug Discount Program has seen a steady increase in spending since its inception more than 30 years ago. Just last year, sales increased 22.8% over the previous year, the Health Resources and Services Administration revealed. Plus, HHS does not intend to scrap its threat to punish hospitals that provide trans care for minors, reporting from Becker's Hospital Review indicated.
The rule proposed by CMS on Tuesday would also cut reimbursements for surgeries performed the same day, Modern Healthcare reported.
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