Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Should You Get A Preventative MRI?; AI Is Missing The Small Data When Used In Health Care
Bloomberg: Is Prenuvo's Full-Body MRI Scan Worth It? Trust Your Doctor, Not A Kardashian
Prenuvo, a San Francisco-based startup launched in 2018, is one of several companies that have begun offering head-to-toe scans to anyone willing to pay out of pocket for them. Designed to detect diseases before they cause symptoms, they are pitched to consumers as the ultimate in preventive care. (Lisa Jarvis, 9/13)
Scientific American: Without Small Data, AI In Health Care Contributes To Disparities
Several years ago, I attended an international health care conference, eagerly awaiting the keynote speaker’s talk about a diabetes intervention that targeted people in lower socioeconomic groups of the U.S. He noted how an AI tool enabled researchers and physicians to use pattern recognition to better plan treatments for people with diabetes. (Faye Cobb Payton, 9/12)
The CT Mirror: Childhood Obesity Is Scary, Not The New Guidelines For Treating It
As a practicing pediatrician, new guidelines for the treatment of childhood obesity released by the American Academy of Pediatrics do not scare me – childhood obesity scares and saddens me. Yet, since their release, these guidelines have faced sharp criticism and have even been referred to as “terrifying” and “scary” in the media. The time to intervene to reduce childhood obesity is now, as this chronic condition is all too pervasive. (Susan Washburn MD, 9/13)
Roll Call: Addressing America’s PFAS Issue Cannot Wait Forever
This fall, Congress has an opportunity to address an issue that impacts the health and safety of many of our constituents. PFAS — commonly called “forever chemicals” since they do not degrade in the environment — have been found nationwide. We shouldn’t hesitate to deliver solutions that clean up and reduce risks posed by PFAS in a scientific, bipartisan, and responsible manner. (Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, 9/12)
Also —
The New York Times: The C.D.C. Director On Why You Should Get The Latest Covid Booster
We have come a long way since the early days of 2020. Back then, I was the head of North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services and working alongside Gov. Roy Cooper to navigate the uncertainty, the challenges and the fear around Covid-19. My extended family was in New York, the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak. I didn’t realize then that it would be over a year until I saw them in person again. All I wanted was for them to be safe. (Mandy K. Cohen, 9/13)
Kansas City Star: COVID-19 Is Back. Politicians, Don’t Use Anti-Vaccine Fears
COVID-19 cases are rising once again, both in the Kansas City region and nationally. That’s no reason to panic. Even at somewhat elevated levels, the number of severe cases and hospitalizations don’t begin to approach the often-devastating highs created by previous iterations of the virus since the pandemic began in 2020. Unfortunately, some of our regional Republican officeholders seem intent on stoking fear for political gain. (9/13)
