Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: People Who Donate Their Bodies To Science Deserve A Say In What Happens To Them; Amid The Rise Of AI, We Need More Live Scientific Demonstrations
Undark: Body Snatchers And The Murky Process Of Whole-Body Donation
Annually, an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 Americans donate their whole bodies to science. There’s no single federal law or regulatory body overseeing whole-body gifts. (Katherine O'Malley, 10/30)
Undark: The New Importance Of The Scientific Seminar
The rise of AI in science makes expertise more difficult to judge. But live talks can still demonstrate what’s real. (C. Brandon Ogbunu, 10/30)
CIDRAP: To Regain Trust In Public Health, Untangle It From Politics
Health agencies that communicate with an overtly political voice feed a future in which an individual’s trust in federal public health recommendations will depend on which party occupies the White House. (Kevin Griffis, 10/29)
Stat: Congress Must Save Expert Advisory Committees
In September, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired the two vice chairs of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. This move was both unsurprising and troubling. The task force is a critical advisory body to HHS, reviewing scientific evidence to provide recommendations on whether private health insurers should be required to cover services like cancer screenings at no cost to patients. Congress created the task force as part of the Affordable Care Act and require by law that it be staffed by people with “appropriate expertise,” and “to the extent practicable, not subject to political pressure.” (C. Joseph Ross Daval and Aaron S. Kesselheim, 10/30)
The Hill: Biosimilars Face Bureaucratic Hurdles Preventing Lower Drug Prices
One piece of red tape is keeping the prices of critical medications too high. These medicines treat autoimmune diseases, diabetes, cancer, and certain other chronic conditions. One easy thing Congress could accomplish now is to cut away the red tape and improve access to lower-cost treatments that meet patients’ needs. The controversy concerns a type of drug known as biologics, which are typically produced from living organisms rather than synthesized chemicals. Because of their complexity, biologics are more resource-intensive to manufacture, administer and store. (Jeremy Nighohossian, 10/29)
