Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: RFK Jr.'s Flawed Case Against Antidepressants; The Hidden Cost Of Trump's Generic Drug Tariffs
The Washington Post: The Problem With RFK Jr.'s Crusade Against Antidepressants
Millions of Americans rely on these medications. This is the wrong way to change policy on them. (Aaron E. Carroll, 7/23)
The Washington Post: Trump’s Generic Drug Tariffs Will Drive Up Pharmaceutical Prices
President Donald Trump on Tuesday set a two-year deadline for manufacturers of generic drugs to move production plants to the United States, lest they face a 100 percent tariff. That would be a great way to jack up prices for lower-cost drugs that millions of Americans rely on — just ahead of the 2028 election. (7/22)
Stat: Eliminating Global Billing For Pregnancy May Raise Maternity Care Costs
The approach to paying obstetricians and midwives is changing. These changes will likely raise the cost of childbirth, with no guarantee of better maternity outcomes. (Jeff Levin-Scherz, 7/23)
Stat: Celebrating The End Of Global Maternity Care Billing
A change is coming to the codes OB-GYNs use to bill for maternity care services: Starting Jan. 1, 2027, we will shift from a bundled “global obstetric payment” to a fee-for-service model. This change impacts almost every U.S. family with a pregnancy. Under the current system, families receive a bill that does not distinguish the actual prenatal and postpartum costs from labor and delivery, which makes things incredibly confusing for patients. (Camille A. Clare and Lisa G. Hofler, 7/23)
Stat: Hospital Leaders Can Learn From Argentina’s World Cup Loss
Argentina taught me a lesson about hospitals this summer. Four years ago, Argentina won the World Cup with a solid team led by Lionel Messi. Messi provided extraordinary talent, but the championship was also built on cohesion, discipline, sacrifice, and players who seemed to understand exactly what they owed to one another. It was a truly well-oiled machine with a genius brain. (Basel Tarab, 7/22)
