Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Making Menopause More Manageable; The Reason Behind Increased Autism Diagnoses
Bloomberg: Menopause: Over-The-Counter HRT Is Women's Health Revolution Like Birth Control
When the BBC reflected on the 50 things that made the modern economy a few years back, of course it included the pill. Oral contraception ushered in a revolution some 60 years ago that freed women to plan their lives. It meant many could enroll in graduate programs and pursue professional careers, raising long-term income levels and spurring far-reaching economic change. There is no obvious equivalent today. And yet a new move in Britain to address inequalities in health care could prove almost as revolutionary for women — and for a country that, like many others, is experiencing slowing long-term growth trends and an aging population that is living longer. (Therese Raphael, 2/10)
Stat: There's No Autism Epidemic. It's An Autism Diagnosis Epidemic
Is there an autism epidemic? No. The increase in the autism rate recently reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention represent an autism diagnosis epidemic. Writing in the weekly journal MMWR, CDC researchers reported that autism rates in the United States increased from 1 in 150 children in 2000 to 1 in 54 in 2016, and the rate now stands at 1 in 44 children. Some argue that autism’s prevalence is rising because of environmental causes like vaccines. There is no evidence, though, for that explanation. Others argue that the rate is increasing because of the rising age of parents, especially fathers. This doesn’t explain the whole story, however, as increased paternal age accounts for only about 3% of the increase. I believe that the rise in the autism rate is social, not biological. It’s not that more children are developing symptoms of autism, but multifaceted sociological and political factors are increasing the diagnoses and documentation of this condition. (Rachel Burr Gerrard, 2/10)
The Boston Globe: My Miscarriage Was Crushing. Overturning Roe Could Make The Ordeal Even Worse
We recently celebrated the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling protecting women’s reproductive rights. Not a radical idea, but like any issue tied to women’s equality, autonomy, and economic power, it has been under attack since the beginning. So now, the question is, will Roe make it to 50? Abortion is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to access for millions of Americans, especially low-income people and people of color. In Texas, abortion is all but outlawed, and there is a bounty for citizens who successfully sue anyone who has helped a woman get an abortion. (Katherine Clark, 2/10)
Stat: The U.S. Needs To Use A Better Measure Of Health To Set Wise Policy
When decisions are driven by data, it matters what the data are and, more importantly, what they measure. The metric can become an organization’s mission, influence a policy’s objectives and goals, and steer a government’s programs or projects. A correct measure is incredibly powerful. Measuring what matters is supposedly what built Google and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A poor measure can be catastrophic, such as use of the “body count” to track the progress of the Vietnam War, which many have argued gave a false impression of what was happening on the ground, misled leaders, and prolonged the fighting. (Eric Coles and K. "Vish" Viswanath, 2/10)
Columbus Dispatch: What Can Be Done To Help First Responders Care For Dementia Patients
Six in 10 people with dementia will wander. When it happens, a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia may not remember his or her name or address — and they can become disoriented, even in familiar places. They could be driving a car. They could be walking down the street. They could be in a shopping center, confused about where they are trying to go and how to get there. (Trey Addison, 2/5)
Stat: Achieving 'Distant Presence' During Virtual Visits
Oxymorons can elicit laughs: think jumbo shrimp or working vacation. But as a physician who works to advance virtual care, I’ve been thinking about a serious one that applies to virtual visits: distant presence. Early in the pandemic, I am leading a Zoom meeting, but no one is participating. Ironically, we are discussing — or, perhaps more accurately, I am discussing — how to optimize the doctor video visits we’d quickly rolled out. I feel tired of hearing my voice and fed up with web conferences. One silver lining: no one can see the comfortable gym shorts I’m wearing with my Zoom shirt. (Spencer Dorn, 2/9)
Modern Healthcare: Saving Lives One Kidney At A Time: A Reflection On Six Decades Of Transplantation
When I started my medical career in nephrology in the late 1960s, the best treatment we offered patients with end-stage kidney disease was dialysis. Kidney transplantation once required special approval by hospital administration, but is now a standard of care. In 2020 alone, my colleagues and I at AdventHealth Orlando collectively performed 180 kidney transplants. (Dr. Robert Metzger, 2/9)
Bloomberg: Biden's War On Cancer Needs To Focus On Containment, Not Victory
President Joe Biden did not use the word “war” to describe his plans for a “cancer moonshot” that aims to “end cancer as we know it.” But his announcement last week quickly drew comparisons to the program launched by President Richard Nixon a little over 50 years ago — known universally as the “war on cancer.” The new initiative also promises to bring the power of the federal government to bear on the deadly disease. Not to be outdone, the British also announced their own “national war on cancer” this past week. (Stephen Mihm, 2/9)
