Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: US Needs Stricter Rules To Prevent The Spread Of Ebola; It's Too Easy To Get Drunk Or High In America
The Washington Post: America’s Ebola Policy Can Be Brutal — And Backed By Data
Covid, mpox, bird flu, hantavirus — and now Ebola again. The threats just keep jabbing at America’s borders. The United States needs to rethink its quarantine policies, and it may not be able to avoid being brutal. Brutal should be the new norm, because it often works. But it should stop being guided by xenophobia, racism and foolishness and instead follow data and experience. (Donald G. McNeil Jr., 6/1)
The New York Times: It Shouldn’t Be This Easy to Get High
Evidence suggests that people would drink and use illegal drugs less if the prices were higher. (German Lopez, 6/1)
The Hill: Doctors Demand Accountability For Insurance Denials
Mark Cuban, whose new deal with the Trump administration is already lowering prescription drug costs and expanding access for patients, recently asked why health insurers aren’t liable for malpractice when their denials harm patients. As a physician, I have been asking that question for more than 30 years. The answer is the same now as it was then: No one is holding them accountable. It is time to change that. (Brad Wenstrup, 6/1)
Stat: The Virtual End Of The Doctor’s Office Waiting Room
There are, of course, good reasons for medicine’s queues: scarcity of clinicians and resources, unpredictable surges of illness, and the need to prioritize the sickest patients. But the tools available to us are changing. Telemedicine, asynchronous messaging, remote monitoring, and emerging AI tools raise a new question: If we can redesign how patients enter the system, what kind of system should we build? (Iyesatta Massaquoi Emeli, 6/2)
The New York Times: The Return Of Blaming And Shaming In Public Health
For years, medicine has tried to eliminate stigma. Now, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is bringing back the language personal responsibility. (Simar Bajaj, 6/1)
