Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: ASPIRE Would Streamline High-Risk Youth Care; How To Ease ER Visits For Dementia Patients
Stat: Why CMS Is Launching A Pilot Program To Help Parents Coordinate Care
Our public health programs are failing the children who need them most. Together, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) cover half of all children who have complex medical and behavioral needs or are at risk of developing them, but the current fee-for-service model doesn’t treat them holistically. (CMS administrator Mehmet Oz and Abe Sutton, 3/24)
Stat: How To Make ERs Less Problematic For Patients With Dementia
I recently spent a long afternoon hiding from the nurse in the emergency room of a prestigious hospital. My sister and I were there with my mother, who has dementia, and the staff reminded us several times that only one caregiver at a time is allowed. But that wouldn’t have worked for my mother. The sights and sounds in the hallway overwhelmed her limited cognitive capacity, and she repeatedly got up to leave. (Gabriela Khazanov, 3/25)
Stat: U.S. Strikes In Iran Could Lead To Release Of A Bioweapon
The war with Iran has focused the world’s attention on nuclear weapons and oil. Those risks are real. But there is a third category of danger that the conflict has brought into sharp relief — one that the United States is far less prepared to handle than most people realize. Iran likely has a biological weapons capability. This has been the view of the U.S. government for several years now, predating the second Trump administration. (Ashish K. Jha, 3/25)
San Francisco Chronicle: Drinking Red Wine Increases Your Risk Of Getting Cancer. Warning Labels Should Say So
Unlike hard liquor and beer, which are associated with excess, red wine has enjoyed a special status in America in recent decades. A glass of wine with a meal is viewed in the same category as olive oil, simple cuisine and daily walks: part of a vaguely European prescription for vitality and longevity. (Cecily Mak, 3/23)
The Washington Post: New Cholesterol Guidelines Show How To Fight Heart Disease
Here are the key takeaways for patients and clinicians to improve cardiovascular health. (Leana S. Wen, 3/24)
