Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Declining Vaccine Trust Endangers Measles Status; Health Insurance Tax Break Is Driving Up Costs
The Washington Post: A Measles Crisis Looms. Now Is Not The Time To Give Up On Vaccines.
Doctors are fighting a trust failure that evidence alone cannot fix. (Jonathan Slater, 4/28)
The Washington Post: This Policy Is At The Root Of Unaffordable Health Care
The current system incentivizes employer compensation through insurance rather than cash, driving up costs. (Elizabeth J. Fowler and Michael F. Cannon, 4/27)
Stat: Microplastics Have Become A Rare Source Of Bipartisan Agreement
This month, the Trump administration announced what may be the biggest win for the Make America Healthy Again movement on an environmental issue to date. The Environmental Protection Agency proposed a rule that would, for the first time, formally flag microplastics and pharmaceuticals in drinking water as threats that deserve federal attention — putting them on its list of contaminants that merit study, tracking, and possible future regulation. (Tim Ryan and Justin Zorn, 4/28)
Stat: Mental Health Must Be Central To The Brain-Health Movement
Governments, industry, and philanthropies are investing in neuroscience at an unprecedented scale, and the ambition behind this impetus is a noble one: to reduce the growing burden of brain diseases and extend healthy cognitive life. We fully support this movement’s push for “brain health” to mirror successful frameworks established for cancer and heart health that prioritize early screening and aggressive preventive treatments, making it possible to act before irreversible damage sets in. (Husseini K. Manji, Eric J. Nestler and Patrick J. Kennedy, 4/28)
The Washington Post: A Simple Solution For The Pesticide Wars
Congress adopted a clear preemption law for chemicals like glyphosate. (4/27)
