Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: How Health Systems Can Protect Patients From 'Deepfake' Docs; Writing Fat Emergency Checks For Ebola Is The Wrong Strategy
Stat: How To Get Rid Of Deepfake Doctors
Imagine a patient who arrives at her doctor’s clinic furious. She shows her doctor a video of him — white coat, plausible exam room, familiar cadence — endorsing an over-the-counter hormone supplement for menopausal symptoms, dismissing standard therapies as “pharma scams,” and offering a discount code. (Henry Bair, 7/14)
The CT Mirror: Distance From The Ebola Threat Is An Illusion
The distance between the dense forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the commuter hubs of Connecticut has never been shorter. In our hyperconnected global economy, health security is assuredly a matter of self-interest. (Sebaga Kombo and Howard P. Forman, 7/13)
The Hill: Federal Funding And Science Doubled Life Expectancy. We Can’t Do More With Less.
Today’s life expectancy is due in no small measure to sustained U.S. governmental support for critical vaccine research and humanitarian aid. These efforts have halted the spread of serious disease and saved millions of lives here at home and around the world. (Lyndon Haviland, 7/12)
Kansas City Star: Insulin Saves Lives. No American With Diabetes Should Have To Go Without It
Insulin, the lifesaving medication, must be made more affordable for all. That is why the INSULIN Act matters. It is bipartisan legislation that would help make the lifesaving medication more accessible and affordable for more Americans by limiting the out-of-pocket cost at $35 a month for people with private insurance. The bill would ensure people are not forced to ration their medication because they cannot afford it. (Don Feltham, 7/13)
The Washington Post: Low Testosterone Isn’t Always A Bad Thing
Testosterone levels do not reveal a man’s overall health, masculinity or social worth, as some have suggested. And no matter how much Cabinet secretaries boast about the president’s testosterone levels, or how many men use medically questionable testosterone replacement therapy or attend Silicon Valley testosterone parties, higher testosterone is not an unambiguous good. In fact, the most traditionally manly men — husbands, dads, hard workers, soldiers — often have low testosterone. This paradox can be explained by the hormone’s overarching biological function in men. (Adar B. Eisenbruch and James R. Roney, 7/13)
