Bloomberg: Omicron Vaccine Efficacy: Pfizer Shots Stop 70% Of Hospitalizations
A two-shot course of Pfizer Inc.’s vaccination may offer 70% protection against being hospitalized with the Covid-19 omicron variant, South Africa’s largest medical-insurance provider Discovery Ltd. said. The protection is maintained across age groups and in the face of a range of chronic illnesses, Ryan Noach, the chief executive officer of Discovery Health Ltd., said at a briefing Tuesday. Pfizer is 33% effective against infection by the omicron variant, he said. (Kew, 12/14)

But the variant is extremely contagious —

USA Today: COVID Omicron Variant Is 'Highly Transmissible': South Africa Study
The new omicron variant is substantially more contagious and reduces the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, but people who are fully vaccinated are still largely protected against severe disease, according to a study from South Africa released Tuesday. The variant, which is believed to have emerged this fall in southern Africa, looks poised to take over the world, as delta did before it. Omicron accounts for 90% of COVID-19 cases in South Africa and is a growing problem in Europe. It has been seen in at least 30 U.S. states, though the delta variant still dominates the American outbreak. (Weintraub and Weise, 12/14)

The Washington Post: Omicron Study Concludes Variant More Resistant To Vaccines, Causes Less Severe Covid 
Omicron appears to cause less severe illness than earlier variants of the coronavirus but is more resistant to the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine widely used in South Africa, according to the first major private study since omicron was first detected last month. The study by Discovery Health, South Africa’s largest health insurer, of 211,000 positive coronavirus cases showed that risk of hospital admissions among adults who contracted covid-19 was 29 percent lower than in the initial pandemic wave that emerged in March 2020. (Wroughton, 12/14)

Axios: Pfizer Omicron Study Points To Tidal Wave Of U.S. Cases 
New data from South Africa and Europe hint that Omicron cases are poised to explode in the U.S., where the vast majority of the population isn't well protected against infection. A new analysis by South Africa's largest private insurer paints a picture of Omicron's clinical risk: Two doses of Pfizer's vaccine appear to be significantly less effective against severe disease with Omicron than previous variants. But the variant is less likely to lead to hospitalization in adults than the original version. (Owens, 12/14)

Also —

CNN: Omicron Is Spreading Fast. That's Alarming Even If It's Mild 
The Omicron variant of coronavirus is spreading quickly in several countries where it has been discovered. Even if it causes only mild disease -- and that's far from certain -- that could still mean many people end up in the hospital and dying. It's killed at least one person in the UK and put 10 into the hospital -- most of them vaccinated, according to government authorities. "It is spreading faster than the Delta variant in South Africa where Delta circulation was low, but also appears to spread more quickly than the Delta variant in other countries where the incidence of Delta is high, such as in the United Kingdom," the World Health Organization said in a technical briefing last week. (Fox, 12/14)

Anchorage Daily News: Alaska’s First Detected Case Of Omicron Variant Comes As State’s COVID-19 Counts Are Declining
Alaska’s first reported case of the omicron variant on Monday comes as the state is seeing a steady decline in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. The state on Monday reported one virus-related death and 422 new cases over the weekend, a significant drop in cases compared to earlier in the fall when a surge overwhelmed much of the state’s health care capacity, sickening and killing hundreds. (Krakow, 12/13)

Bloomberg: South Africa’s Omicron Severity May Be Masked By Prior 72% Covid Infection Rate
A recent seroprevalence survey in Gauteng, the South African province where the omicron variant was first identified, showed that 72% of the population had a previous infection with the coronavirus, said Shabir Madhi, a vaccinologist at the University of the Witwatersrand. That compares with about 20% when the beta variant emerged a year ago, said Madhi, who led trials of both AstraZeneca Plc’s and Novavax Inc.’s shots in South Africa. “The evolution of the omicron variant is coming at a very different stage of the pandemic,” Madhi said in an interview with the Global Health Crisis Coordination Center. “That is important to keep at the back of our minds when we see what is unfolding in South Africa and what we might see in other settings, which might have a very different epidemiology.” (Sguazzin, 12/14)

CBS News: Surge In Americans Skipping Medical Care Due To Cost, Gallup Says
Nearly a third of Americans — triple the share since March— say they've skipped medical care for a health problem in the previous three months due to concerns about the cost, according to a new study from Gallup and West Health. High medical costs are even impacting higher-income Americans, with 1 in 5 households earning more than $120,000 annually saying they also have bypassed care, the research shows. That's an almost seven-fold increase for higher-income families since March. (Picchi, 12/14)

Modern Healthcare: Many More People Avoiding Care Due To Cost This Year, Survey Shows
Low-income families and people of color have been disproportionately burdened by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting unyielding health equity issues. High healthcare costs hit those who can least afford it the hardest. About 2 in 5 Medicaid beneficiaries and those without insurance have seen their health conditions—typically chronic—worsen over the past year after forgoing care. (Kacik, 12/14)

The Hill: Nearly One-Third Of Americans Skipped Care In Past Three Months Due To Cost: Poll
Twenty percent of those from households that earn more than $120,000 also reported they postponed health care due to financial reasons — an increase from 3 percent in March. Tim Lash, president of the West Health Policy Center, told The Hill that the data showing those earning “significantly higher” than the median income struggling “tells you that we have a real problem.” “It tells me that we're at a breaking point and that it's not just … those that are desperate are not just low-income individuals but even those that are more affluent,” he said. “And we’re gonna have to find a way out of that.” (Coleman, 12/14)

In related news —

Becker's Hospital Review: Most Americans With Medical Debt Owe More Than $2K
About three in four Americans with medical debt owe more than $2,000 and more than four in 10 said they aren't prepared to take on surprise medical expenses, a Dec. 8 survey by Discover Personal Loans found. The survey was conducted between Sept. 23 and 27 and included 1,515 Americans who are 18 and older. (Plescia, 12/9)

In other news about health care during the pandemic —

Fairfield Citizen: Going Shoeless During COVID? Yale Doc Says That’s A Problem
With many people working from home for the past 21 months, padding around the house barefoot or with just socks or slippers, doctors are finding a problem related to the COVID-19 pandemic: Injured and unhealthy feet. The problem has been exacerbated by people delaying health care in general, and thinking their feet don’t have a high priority. (Stannard, 12/13)

CNET: Biden Order Will Streamline Government Services Like Passports, Taxes And Health Care
President Joe Biden signed an executive order Monday to improve people's experience when seeking federal government services. It's designed to reduce the "tangled web of government websites, offices and phone numbers" when trying to access information or services from the government, the White House said. The executive order designates 35 "high-impact service providers" like the Social Security Administration, and the Departments of Health, Veterans Affairs, State, Homeland Security, Education, Housing and Transportation. These agencies have been directed to improve their performance for services they offer. Important cross-government agency services like retirement, applying for small business loans and having a baby will also be streamlined under the executive order, the White House said. (Reichert, 12/13)

MedPage Today: White House Aims To Improve Government's Healthcare 'Customer Service' 
The actions announced Monday -- which were released along with an executive order signed by President Biden -- included the following initiatives related to healthcare: Service members and veterans will be able to use Login.gov accounts to access VA.gov and its information about the healthcare and benefits they've earned, and outdated and duplicate VA.gov sign-in options will be removed across VA websites and mobile apps. Veterans, beneficiaries, and their caregivers will be able to access digital services through a single, integrated digital platform on VA.gov and a flagship VA mobile application so that VA's customers don't have to use separate portals, websites, or mobile applications when managing their healthcare and benefits online. (Frieden, 12/13)

Modern Healthcare: 5 Ways Biden's Service-Focused Executive Order Will Affect Healthcare
Patients' ability to use telehealth services will increase under the executive order. The administration says this will connect rural residents, those with disabilities and others who want remote options with their doctors, but the order doesn't offer details on how that will happen or what that means for provider reimbursement. A senior administration official said on a press call Monday that the administration wants to continue telehealth practices that have become commonplace during the COVID-19 public health emergency. (Goldman, 12/13)

USA Today: Biden Directs Agencies To Improve Services For Travelers, Taxpayers
It's not clear how quickly the measures will go into effect or how much of a difference the order will make in making government more responsive. “I would describe this as a starter pistol, not the end of the race,” said Max Stier, head of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan good-governance organization. He said the Biden administration has set out the right goals and metrics, and he hopes the public will help keep the White House accountable. (Groppe, 12/13)

The Washington Post: Biden Signs Executive Order To Improve ‘Customer’ Experience When Accessing Government Services 
Biden is also pledging to overhaul USA.gov, which the White House describes as a “digital Federal front door” to access government services. The signing of the executive order comes as Biden’s job approval number continue to sag and many Americans question his stewardship of the economy. (Wagner, 12/13)

AP: Justices Won't Block Vaccine Mandate For NY Health Workers 
The Supreme Court refused Monday to halt a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for health care workers in New York that does not offer an exemption for religious reasons. The court acted on emergency appeals filed by doctors, nurses and other medical workers who say they are being forced to choose between their jobs and religious beliefs. As is typical in such appeals, the court did not explain its order, although it has similarly refused to get in the way of vaccine mandates elsewhere. (12/13)

The Washington Post: Supreme Court Won’t Stop Vaccine Mandate For New York Health Care Workers
As it has done in past mandate cases, the court rejected a request from doctors, nurses and other medical workers who said they were being forced to choose between their livelihoods and their faith. They said they should receive a religious exemption because the state’s rule allows one for those who decline the vaccine for medical reasons. As is often the case in requests for emergency relief, the justices in the majority did not give a reason for declining the request to stop the order, which went into effect in November. Last month, the court also denied a similar request from health care workers in Maine. (Barnes, 12/13)

Politico: Supreme Court Rejects Move To Block New York Vaccine Mandate
The court announced its ruling Monday afternoon in a brief, unsigned order. Three of the court's six conservative justices — Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Neil M. Gorsuch — dissented, saying they would grant relief. Gov. Kathy Hochul lauded the court’s decision, saying the state’s “greatest responsibility is to protect our most vulnerable.” (Young, 12/13)

The Wall Street Journal: Some Hospitals Drop Covid-19 Vaccine Mandates To Ease Labor Shortages
Some of the largest U.S. hospital systems have dropped Covid-19 vaccine mandates for staff after a federal judge temporarily halted a Biden administration mandate that healthcare workers get the shots. Hospital operators including HCA Healthcare Inc. and Tenet Healthcare Corp. as well as nonprofits AdventHealth and the Cleveland Clinic are dropping the mandates. (Whelan and Evans, 12/13)

In other news about hospital mandates —

The CT Mirror: CT's Stricter Vaccine Mandate For Medical Staff Doesn't Apply To Prisons
More than 600 employees at the Department of Correction may opt to test weekly in lieu of being vaccinated against COVID-19, a CT Mirror analysis has found, because the state is not requiring prison medical staff to apply for medical or religious exemptions. That policy is inconsistent with rules for the majority of health care workers at the departments of Veteran’s Affairs, Children and Families, Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Developmental Services. About 3,700 workers at those agencies must have exemptions approved by the state if they want to test weekly instead of getting vaccinated, as per Gov. Ned Lamont’s executive order. The governor’s office confirmed that correctional employees are not bound by this rule. (Pananjady and Lyons, 12/14)

Billings Gazette: Billings Nurses Bring Controversial Speaker To Billings
Amaskless audience congregated at Montana State University Billings' Petro Theater Monday night for a controversial presentation by Bryan Ardis. Big Sky Liberty Alliance, a group of Billings nurses who originally organized to oppose vaccine mandates for health care workers, reached out to Ardis and asked him to speak in Billings. About 100 people attended the event. (Schabacker, 12/13)

Axios: Axios-Ipsos Poll: The Danger Of COVID Vaccine Mandates 
Half of Americans say it should be illegal for companies to deny service or employment to the unvaccinated, according to the latest installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index. This carries real political risk for Democrats as President Biden's mandates on federal workers and large employers meet legal challenges across the country and Republicans use try to use the implementation of mandates as a wedge issue. (Talev, 12/14)

In related news about health care workers —

The Hill: Minnesota Hospitals Warn They Are 'Overwhelmed' In Full-Page Ad
Minnesota hospital leaders are warning in a full-page newspaper ad that they are “overwhelmed” amid a COVID-19 surge and are urging the public to take action. “Our emergency departments are overfilled, and we have patients in every bed in our hospitals,” write the leaders of nine hospital systems in the state, including the Mayo Clinic and North Memorial Health. ... “Now, an ominous question looms: will you be able to get care from your local community hospital without delay? Today, that's uncertain,” they write in the ad, which is running in major newspapers across the state. (Sullivan, 12/13)

New Hampshire Public Radio: What It's Like Inside A N.H. Hospital During A COVID Spike 
New Hampshire is at its toughest moment of the coronavirus pandemic right now, though that may be hard to tell walking around supermarkets or visiting restaurants. But inside of hospitals, the spike in COVID-19 infected patients is at crisis levels, with the National Guard and FEMA being called in to assist. NHPR was allowed inside one facility, Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, where reporter Todd Bookman spoke with doctors and nurses about the strain of the moment. (Bookman, 12/13)

The Boston Globe: Brigham And Women’s Nurses Accuse Hospital Of Defying State Order To Delay Certain Surgeries
Nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital are accusing hospital leaders of flouting state rules to cancel certain surgeries and are asking Massachusetts officials to investigate. The Massachusetts Nurses Association, a union that represents 3,500 Brigham nurses, told the Department of Public Health in a letter on Monday that the hospital’s operating rooms remain as busy as ever, despite a state order to curtail scheduled surgeries to make space for other patients who urgently need care. The union wrote that nonessential surgeries such as tummy tucks were continuing unabated as patients who need urgent surgery for broken bones and brain injuries were sometimes waiting for operating rooms. (Dayal McCluskey, 12/13)

Los Angeles Times: California Orders Statewide Mask Requirement Starting Wednesday Amid Rising Coronavirus Cases
Faced with rising coronavirus cases and growing concerns about the Omicron variant, California is ordering a statewide mask mandate for indoor public spaces to go into effect on Wednesday. The move comes as coronavirus case rates in California have risen by almost 50% in the last 2½ weeks, and COVID-19 hospitalizations are up by nearly 15%. County health officials across the state say they suspect they may be seeing the start of a winter jump in coronavirus cases. (Lin II, 12/13)

San Francisco Chronicle: California To Reimpose Statewide Indoor Mask Mandate As Omicron Arrives
For many parts of the Bay Area — which lifted indoor mask mandates in certain settings recently after reaching high vaccination rates and low case rates — the state’s announcement will mean a return to indoor masking in offices, gyms and other places where vaccinated people had been able to go maskless. ... In addition to the tightening mask rules, California will require people attending mega-events of 1,000 people or more that don’t require vaccination to show proof of a negative test taken within one day for an antigen test, and within two days for a PCR test. The previous window was 72 hours. (Ho, 12/13)

And in Philadelphia, people must now show proof of vaccination indoors —

AP: Philadelphia To Require Vaccine Proof For Indoor Dining 
Philadelphia will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination to dine indoors at bars, restaurants, indoor sporting events and other food-related establishments starting Jan. 3, city and public health officials announced Monday. Public Health Director Cheryl Bettigole said Philadelphia has seen infection rates double in the last few weeks and hospitalizations increase by about 50%. (12/14)

Philadelphia Inquirer: Philadelphia Vaccine Mandate For Indoor Dining As COVID Cases Rises
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required to eat indoors, see a movie, attend a wedding, or go to a Sixers or Flyers game in Philadelphia starting in January, officials announced Monday, as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to surge in the city and state. Anyone entering an establishment where food is served indoors will need to show proof of vaccination at the door as of Jan. 3. “This winter looks like it could be very difficult,” said Philadelphia Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole. “We have to do something to slow the spread now before it’s too late.” (McCrystal and Wood, 12/13)

In related news from Pennsylvania —

Philadelphia Inquirer: Alison Beam Resigning As Pa. Health Secretary, Keara Klinepeter Replacing Her
Acting Pennsylvania Health Secretary Alison Beam will resign at the end of the month, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday, after a year of rapidly changing conditions marked by the coronavirus vaccine rollout, the state’s reopening, the emergence of the delta variant, the advent of booster and pediatric shots. Beam, 35, took over the role in January, when then-Secretary Rachel Levine departed to serve in the Biden administration. She is leaving to spend time with her family, said her deputy secretary, Keara Klinepeter. Klinepeter will become acting secretary in January, Wolf said. (McDaniel and McCarthy, 12/13)

CBS News: First Members Of Military Are Discharged For Refusing COVID Vaccine 
The Air Force has discharged 27 service members for refusing to receive a COVID vaccine, marking the first service members to be involuntarily discharged for balking the rule. A spokesperson for the Air Force said the 27 active duty members discharged received counseling about the vaccines, and when they still refused, commanders made the decision to discharge them for refusing to comply with the Pentagon's vaccine rule, a lawful order. All 27 have been in the Air Force for less than six years and may have had additional reasons for their discharge but refusal to get a COVID vaccine was one of the reasons for the discharge. (Watson, 12/13)

In other updates on the vaccine rollout —

AP: NFL Requiring Coaches, Team Staff To Get COVID-19 Boosters
The NFL is requiring coaches, front-office staff and team personnel to receive a COVID-19 booster by Dec. 27. In a memo sent to teams on Monday and obtained by The Associated Press, the league said: “Given the increased prevalence of the virus in our communities, our experts have recommended that we implement the CDC’s recommendation.” The league’s requirement extends to all Tier 1 and Tier 2 individuals who have previously received the vaccine. (Maaddi, 12/14)

Houston Chronicle: Houston, Texas Children's Aim To Vaccinate 5,000 People This Friday At Convention Center
The city and Texas Children’s Hospital are aiming to vaccinate 5,000 people ahead of the holidays at a one-day clinic at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Friday. The site will open from noon to 8 p.m. on the third floor of the convention center. Anyone over the age of 5 can get an initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and the clinic will offer booster shots to those who are eligible, as well. Appointments are available online and walk-ins will be welcome. Metro is offering free rides to those who need one, and parking will be free for those who drive. (McGuinness, 12/13)

Las Vegas Review-Journal: The ‘Real Miracle’: Nevada’s Roller-Coaster Rollout Of COVID-19 Vaccine
Over the past year, 1.6 million Nevadans — or about half of the state’s population — have been inoculated against COVID-19 in a roller-coaster rollout of the vaccine. The massive rollout, which began Dec. 14 last year, was first characterized by scarce supply and high demand, glitchy appointment systems and “line-jumping.” Within a few months, however, it had morphed into a well-oiled machine — one with abundant doses and too few takers. (Hynes, 12/13)

AP: One Year Of Vaccines: Many Lives Saved, Many Needlessly Lost
One year ago, the biggest vaccination drive in American history began with a flush of excitement in an otherwise gloomy December. Trucks loaded with freezer-packed vials of a COVID-19 vaccine that had proved wildly successful in clinical trials fanned out across the land, bringing shots that many hoped would spell the end of the crisis. That hasn’t happened. A year later, too many Americans remain unvaccinated and too many are dying. The nation’s COVID-19 death toll stands at around 800,000 as the anniversary of the U.S. vaccine rollout arrives. A year ago it stood at 300,000. An untold number of lives, perhaps tens of thousands, have been saved by vaccination. But what might have been a time to celebrate a scientific achievement is fraught with discord and mourning. (Johnson, 12/13)

The New York Times: More Than 50 Million Total Coronavirus Cases Have Been Found In The U.S.
The total number of known coronavirus cases in the United States surpassed 50 million on Monday, according to a New York Times database. Fifty million can be a difficult number to grasp. It is more than the combined populations of Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Ohio. More than the entire population of Spain. Nearly 18 times the number of dollars an American college graduate can expect to earn in a lifetime. (Astor, 12/14)

Axios: Colorado Governor Says COVID "Medical Emergency" Is Over 
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) said in an interview the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines spell "the end of the medical emergency" as it relates to the virus, and he will not implement a statewide mask mandate in response to the Omicron variant. Polis told Colorado Public Radio he prefers pushing vaccinations versus mask mandates, and that the latter should be left to localities. He added that public health officials "don’t get to tell people what to wear." (Reyes, 12/13)

The Hill: Pelosi, Schumer, McCarthy To Hold Moment Of Silence For 800K American COVID-19 Deaths
Congressional leaders plan to hold a moment of silence outside the Capitol on Tuesday to honor the more than 800,000 Americans who have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) will attend the moment of silence on the East Front Steps of the Capitol building, according to a statement from Pelosi’s office late Monday. (Schnell, 12/13)

In related news about the spread of covid —

The Boston Globe: Rise In COVID-19 Hospitalizations In Mass. Is Driven By Those Who Are Unvaccinated, Baker Says
Even as hospitalizations among vaccinated residents rise, recent increases in Massachusetts’s COVID hospitalization rates continue to be driven by those who are unvaccinated, Governor Charlie Baker said Monday, while urging those who haven’t yet been vaccinated to get the shots. During a news conference Monday, Baker was asked about state data that show the number of so-called “breakthrough” COVID-19 infections has been increasing, and he argued that more widespread vaccination would blunt the rising hospitalization rates. (Kaufman and Andersen, 12/13)

York Daily Record: PA Man With COVID Dies After Taking Ivermectin, Court Allowed Drug
Keith Smith, whose wife had gone to court to have his COVID-19 infection treated with ivermectin, died Sunday evening, a week after he received his first dose of the controversial drug. He was 52. Smith was in a hospital in Pennsylvania for nearly three weeks and had been in the hospital’s intensive care unit in a medically induced coma on a ventilator since Nov. 21. He had been diagnosed with the virus on Nov. 10. His wife of 24 years, Darla, had gone to court to compel the hospital, UPMC Memorial, to treat her husband with ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug that has not been approved for treatment of COVID-19. (Argento, 12/13)

The Baltimore Sun: COVID Surge Calls For More Testing, But Options Are Now More Difficult To Come By In Maryland 
When the COVID-19 pandemic swept into Maryland, health departments scrambled to set up testing centers where people could go to get swabbed for the viral infection. The sites often had long lines but were open most days. After vaccines for the coronavirus became available, many of those sites transitioned into inoculation centers that also offered testing, but many of those sites scaled back or closed as more and more Marylanders got vaccinated. The need for testing, considered critical to managing the pandemic by public health experts, didn’t go away. As Maryland experiences the first signs of another winter surge, COVID-19 tests are now more difficult to come by. (Miller and Cohn, 12/14)

CBS News: Is It Safe To Attend The Company Holiday Party This Year? 
It's peak company holiday party season, and there are more variables to consider this year compared to last, when most events were either cancelled outright or relegated to virtual schmoozing. Now, some employers are eager to reprise the annual tradition in person, emboldened by COVID-19 vaccine requirements and other safety protocols that can make smaller gatherings seem relatively low-risk. So with virus rates seeing a winter spike and the Omicron variant making an appearance, what will holiday parties circa 2021 look like, and is it safe to attend? Although holiday parties are back, they'll differ markedly from pre-pandemic celebrations. If not, they aren't safe, health experts told CBS MoneyWatch. (Cerullo, 12/13)

Also —

Burlington Free Press: Vermont Rural Medical Providers, Suppliers To Get COVID Relief Money
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is providing nearly $46 million to 143 rural medical providers and suppliers in Vermont to help them weather the financial and operational challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rural health care providers serving Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries, as well as the Children's Health Insurance Program have been struggling to keep up with demand. Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders and Congressman Peter Welch have been pushing for federal help since the beginning of the pandemic, and called the distribution of these funds a "major step forward." (D'Ambrosio, 12/14)

The New York Times: Joshua Bellamy, Ex-Jet, Is Sentenced To 3 Years In Covid-19 Aid Scheme 
A former wide receiver for the New York Jets who fraudulently obtained more than $1.2 million in Covid-19 relief money and spent tens of thousands of dollars of that on luxury items has been sentenced to more than three years in prison, federal prosecutors said. The former N.F.L. player, Joshua J. Bellamy, 32, of St. Petersburg, Fla., pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. (Patel, 12/13)

The New York Times: Merck’s Covid Pill Might Pose Risks For Pregnant Women
A new Covid-19 pill from Merck has raised hopes that it could transform the landscape of treatment options for Americans at high risk of severe disease at a time when the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is driving a surge of cases in highly vaccinated European countries. But two weeks after a Food and Drug Administration expert committee narrowly voted to recommend authorizing the drug, known as molnupiravir, the F.D.A. is still weighing Merck’s application. Among the biggest questions facing regulators is whether the drug, in the course of wreaking havoc on the virus’s genes, also has the potential to cause mutations in human DNA. Scientists are especially worried about pregnant women, they said, because the drug could affect a fetus’s dividing cells, theoretically causing birth defects. (Mueller, 12/13)

Also —

CIDRAP: 10% Of Chinese COVID Patients May Have Had Incubations Of 14+ Days
A modeling study of COVID-19 patients in China in 2020 published late last week in BMC Public Health estimates that 10% had incubation periods longer than 14 days. The incubation period is the time between infection and symptom onset or diagnosis. A team led by researchers at Fudan University in Shanghai determined that, of 11,425 patients who tested positive from COVID-19 from January to August 2020, 268 (10.2%) had incubation periods longer than 14 days. (12/13)

NBC News: Doctors Expected MIS-C Cases To Surge After The Delta Wave. They Didn't.
Rates of a rare inflammatory condition tied to Covid-19 in children appear to have dropped in some parts of the country — an unexpected development for many doctors who had been bracing for a rise in cases following the late summer delta wave. "We held our breath for that four to eight weeks after the surge, saying, 'OK, get ready, here comes MIS-C,'" said Dr. Buddy Creech, a pediatric infectious disease expert at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. "It just never materialized." (Edwards, 12/13)

And in updates about covid data —

Fox News: FDA Faces Legal Challenge Over COVID-19 Approval Data, Report Says
A nonprofit group will get its day in court Tuesday when it argues that the Food and Drug Administration should release all documents tied to the approval of the Pfizer/BioNtech's COVID-19 vaccine, which the plaintiffs claim could take decades to produce, a report said. Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency sued the FDA under a Freedom of Information Act and seeks more than 400,000 additional pages about the approval process, Reuters reported. The FDA has offered to release 12,000 pages by the end of January, and "a minimum" of 500 pages a month going forward, which the group said could mean that it may be 2097 before all documents are made public, the report said. (DeMarche, 12/14)

The Gainesville Sun: University Of Florida Investigating Attempts To Destroy COVID Research
The University of Florida is investigating possible violations of its research integrity policy following a 274-page faculty committee report that included claims of pressure to destroy and barriers to publish COVID-19 data. It is the latest development of the university's academic freedom saga, which began in late October when it became public that multiple professors were restricted from participating in lawsuits against the state. The issue has developed into a nationwide debate over academics, freedom of speech, politics, prestige and money that has reached as far as UF's accreditor and U.S. Congress. (Ivanov, 12/13)

The Baltimore Sun: Maryland Health Department COVID Data Still Unavailable In Wake Of Cyberattack 
Several COVID-19 data points remain missing from the Maryland Department of Health website after a cyberattack earlier this month forced the agency to temporarily take its website offline. The daily COVID-19 hospitalization tally has returned and shows a dramatic increase in volume since the website stopped reporting other disease surveillance numbers such as the daily case count, daily death toll, testing volume and testing positivity rate. Since Dec. 3, hospital bed occupancy has spiked nearly 45%, according to state data. (Miller, 12/13)

Modern Healthcare: Senate Removes DSH Cuts From Build Back Better Act After Hospital Pushback
After fierce pushback from hospitals, the Senate's version of President Joe Biden's $1.7 trillion social spending package excludes the House's cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments. The House-passed Build Back Better Act would cut Medicaid DSH payments by 12.5% to hospitals operating in the 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the the Affordable Care Act. House Democrats justified these cuts because the bill also would provide subsidized private health insurance from the exchanges to those who would qualify for Medicaid had their home states broadened program eligibility, thereby reducing the need for DSH funding to cover uncompensated care costs. (Hellmann, 12/13)

Stat: Hospitals Notched A Win In A Major Democratic Bill. Can They Nab Another?
Hospitals and their lobbyists in Washington just wriggled their way out of a major, looming cut to Medicaid payments to facilities in a handful of states. Now, they’ll have to try to pull out a second victory — deflecting an even bigger cut to Medicaid payments targeted at hospitals in even fewer states. The messy politics that underpinned the first fight are similar. Both sets of cuts target red states that haven’t yet expanded their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act, since those states will get the expansion paid for in President Biden’s major domestic spending legislation. (Cohrs, 12/14)

In related news —

AP: Medicare Urged To Flex Its Power And Slash Back Premium Hike
The head of a Senate panel that oversees Medicare says the Biden administration should use its legal authority to cut back a hefty premium increase soon hitting millions of enrollees, as a growing number of Democratic lawmakers call for action amid worries over rising inflation. Last month, Medicare announced one of the largest increases ever in its “Part B” monthly premium for outpatient care, nearly $22, from $148.50 currently to $170.10 starting in January. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 12/13)

Also —

Politico: Manchin Keeps Dems Guessing On Their Megabill
Joe Manchin remains at the negotiating table, despite deep concerns about President Joe Biden’s climate and social spending bill. After speaking with Biden on Monday afternoon, Manchin said he was still "engaged" in discussions. And as he left the Capitol, the key Democratic senator made clear he wasn't ready to commit to voting for or against a bill that is still coming together behind closed doors. (Everett and Levine, 12/13)

The New York Times: Manchin Casts Doubt On Quick Vote On Biden’s Social Policy Bill 
Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, the most prominent Democratic holdout on President Biden’s $2.2 trillion social safety net, climate and tax bill, cast fresh doubt on Monday on his party’s plans to speed the measure through the Senate before Christmas, saying he still had grave concerns about how it would affect the economy. Mr. Manchin outlined his skepticism before speaking by telephone about the bill with Mr. Biden, a discussion that aides to both later characterized as positive. After the call, Mr. Manchin, who represents West Virginia, did not rule out the possibility of supporting the measure this month. (Cochrane, 12/13)

The Washington Post: Former FDA Commissioners Endorse Califf As Head Of Agency, Citing Urgency Of Addressing Omicron
Six former Food and Drug Administration commissioners on Monday endorsed Robert M. Califf to lead the agency, saying the emergence of the omicron coronavirus variant is another reminder of “just how critical it is to have a confirmed commissioner” right now. Califf, a well-known cardiologist and researcher who served as FDA commissioner during the last year of the Obama administration, was nominated for a second stint last month by President Biden. (McGinley, 12/13)

In related news about regulation of the pharmaceutical industry —

Stat: Coalition Of Pharma Regulators Look To Complement On-Site Inspections
Nearly two years after the Covid-19 pandemic prompted remote inspections of pharmaceutical production plants, an international coalition of regulators is recommending the approach be used to complement on-site visits for the foreseeable future. Although remote inspections posed various limitations on medicines regulators in recent months, the strategy also yielded some productive insights, such as the use of digital technology to gather electronic clinical trial data and additional intelligence about manufacturing sites, according to a new “reflection paper” from the International Coalition of Medicine Regulatory Authorities. (Silverman, 12/13)

And more pharmaceutical industry news —

Stat: New Global Blood Sickle-Cell Drug Improves Hemoglobin Response
Global Blood Therapeutics said Monday that an experimental treatment for sickle cell disease nearly doubled the production of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin compared to its currently approved medicine — a result that is preliminary but could lead to better outcomes for patients with the inherited blood disorder. In a small, pilot study of six patients, the Global Blood drug called GBT-601 improved hemoglobin levels by an average of 2.3 grams per deciliter compared to baseline. The best responses were seen in two patients with hemoglobin increases of 3.1 grams per deciliter. Hemoglobin in the worst-performing patient rose 1.1 grams per deciliter. (Feuerstein, 12/13)

Stat: Bellus Health Chronic-Cough Treatment Shows Positive Results 
Results released Monday from a Phase 2 study of a chronic cough treatment being developed by Bellus Health exceeded the expectations of financial analysts and boost the company’s chances of eventual approval after an earlier trial of the drug had failed. Bellus said in a press release it expects to meet with the Food and Drug Administration in the second quarter of 2022 and to begin a Phase 3 study of the treatment in the second half of 2022. Roberto Bellini, Bellus’ CEO, said the company is “extremely pleased” with the “compelling” results. (Herper, 12/13)

Stat: As A Logic Song Took Off, Helpline Saw More Calls And Fewer Suicides  
During the time that a song whose title is the number of a national suicide prevention helpline topped charts, calls to the helpline increased and suicides decreased, a new study shows. The song, “1-800-273-8255,” depicts a fictitious exchange between someone expressing suicidal thinking and an operator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline who counsels a person and ultimately changes that person’s mind. Leaders of the Lifeline and researchers who study suicide and media co-authored the study, which was published on Monday in the British Medical Journal. They found that three major events — the song’s release, the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards, and the 2018 Grammy Awards — were correlated with increases in calls to the helpline and, overall, a significant reduction in suicides. (Bender, 12/13)

In other mental health news —

AP: Minneapolis Starts Mental Health Responders Pilot Program
Minneapolis began a pilot program on Monday that would send unarmed mental health professionals to residents who call 911 about behavioral or mental-health related crises. The behavioral crisis response teams — which aim to provide counseling, crisis intervention and connection to support services — will be staffed by professionals from Canopy Mental Health & Consulting. The company was awarded a two-year, $6 million contract by the city’s Office of Performance and Innovation in July, the Star Tribune reported. (12/13)

Cincinnati Enquirer: Anderson Grads Plead For More Mental Health Resources At Board Meeting
Nagel Middle School's orchestra kicked off Monday evening's school board meeting with Santa hats and Christmas tunes, but the tone quickly shifted as board members, parents and recent Anderson High School alumni addressed the loss of two students last week. "Both building students and staff are reeling from a successful student suicide death from last Thursday and the unexpected death of another student this past Friday while sleeping. Both tragic and both significant," Forest Hills Superintendent Scot Prebles said during the meeting. (Mitchell, 12/14)

Axios: Herschel Walker Confronts His Mental Health, Domestic Violence Allegations
Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker told Axios on Monday that he’s “accountable” for past violent behavior toward his ex-wife and people shouldn’t feel “ashamed” about confronting mental health issues. The former college and pro football star is confronting his history of mental illness head-on during his campaign for the Republican Party's nomination, after the airing of some concerns among GOP leadership and voters. Walker said he's "better now than 99% of the people in America. ... Just like I broke my leg; I put the cast on. It healed." (Hurt, 12/13)

AP: Coroner To Issue Brain Test Results Of NFL Player Who Shot 6
A coroner is set to release test results Tuesday for a degenerative brain disease in the former NFL player suspected of fatally shooting six people in South Carolina before killing himself in April. The family of ex-football pro Phillip Adams agreed shortly after his death to have his brain tested for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, the degenerative disease linked to head trauma and concussions that has been shown to cause a range of symptoms including violent mood swings and memory loss. (12/14)

AP: Vehicle Emission Declines Decreased Deaths, Study Finds
Researchers say that thousands of lives and hundreds of billions of dollars have been saved in the United States by recent reductions in emissions from vehicles. Harvard University researchers who study the environment and public health examined the impact of declines in emissions from vehicles over a decade. They found deaths dropped from 27,700 in 2008 to 19,800 in 2017 and that the economic benefits of the reduction in emissions totaled $270 billion. (Costley, 12/13)

And a ham and pepperoni recall is expanded —

CBS News: Listeria Recall For Ham And Pepperoni Balloons To 2.3 Million Pounds 
A recall of fully cooked ham and pepperoni products shipped to retail stores nationwide has ballooned to more than 2.3 million pounds that may be contaminated with listeria — 10 times more than first announced. (Gibson, 12/14)

CIDRAP: FDA Unveils Plan To Improve Foodborne Outbreak Response
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week released its Foodborne Outbreak Response Improvement Plan, which is designed to boost the speed, effectiveness, coordination, and communication of events for both the FDA and its investigation partners. (12/13)

In other public health news —

Fox News: Older Adults With Moderate Alcohol Consumption May Have Decreased Risk Of Heart Disease, Study Suggests
Older adults who drink moderate amounts of alcohol may have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and a lower risk of mortality from all causes, compared to those who do not drink, according to a study published last month in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. The study looked at more than 18,000 individuals over the age of 70 from the United States and Australia. (McGorry, 12/13)

Bloomberg: Bayer Bid To End Roundup Suits Draws US Supreme Court Inquiry
The U.S. Supreme Court signaled interest in Bayer AG’s bid to stop thousands of claims that its top-selling Roundup weedkiller causes cancer, asking the Biden administration for advice on whether to hear the company’s appeal in potentially a multibillion-dollar case. Bayer is challenging a $25 million award to Edwin Hardeman, a California man who says decades of exposure to Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Bayer argues that federal approval of Roundup’s label meant Hardeman’s suit -- and others like it -- couldn’t go forward. (Stohr, 12/13)

CNN: Why Anti-Abortion States Have Many Of The Worst Outcomes For Kids 
Almost all of the states that produce the most unfavorable economic and health care outcomes for children are among those poised to ban or severely restrict access to abortion if the Supreme Court overturns the nearly 50-year-old Roe v. Wade decision. That pattern underscores the paradox that the states most committed to requiring women to carry pregnancies to term tend to invest the least in the health and economic security of expectant mothers and children after they are born. (Brownstein, 12/14)

KHN: ‘An Arm And A Leg’: She Fights Health Insurers For Fun — And Wins
Health insurance is like some medieval horror, law professor Jackie Fox says. But, funny thing: She also says insurance fights are easy. For her. She’s been helping people win them for 30 years. For Fox, it started when an insurance provider wanted to cancel lifesaving cancer surgery for her mom. Fox, then a young associate at a big firm, called the company right away and said, “I am out the door to sue you over this.” (Weissmann, 12/14)

In news about drug addiction —

Albuquerque Journal: Fentanyl Use Exploding on Albuquerque Streets
Esperanza Cordova isn’t afraid of the blues. Then again, the 43-year-old isn’t afraid of much. She’s been using heroin since she was 15 and – once fentanyl showed up – overdosed “plenty of times” on a mix of the two. In the past year, she’s seen more than a dozen people overdose and die. Not strangers, people she cared about. Too many to count. (Reisen, 12/11)

KHN: With Overdose Deaths Surging, Advocates On The Ground Push For Over-The-Counter Naloxone
Louise Vincent figures her group, the North Carolina Survivors Union, saves at least 1,690 lives a year. The harm-reduction and syringe service program distributes the opioid overdose reversal medication naloxone to people who use drugs. Research suggests this approach is effective, since people who use drugs are most likely to witness an overdose and administer naloxone. (Pattani, 12/14)

Stat: Oregon Wants To Get Out Of Covering Drugs Like Aduhelm In Medicaid
Oregon is gearing up to ask the Biden administration if its Medicaid program can avoid paying for drugs approved through a fast-track approval pathway — like Biogen’s pricey, controversial new Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm. Oregon announced this month it is planning to formally submit a request to the administration to let its state out of a law that requires Medicaid programs to cover nearly all Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs. (Florko, 12/14)

In other updates from across the U.S. —

Mississippi Clarion Ledger: First Pediatric Flu Death Reported In Miss. In The 2021-2022 Season
The Mississippi State Department of Health reported the state's first pediatric influenza death in 2021-2022 flu season, according to a Monday news release. Since flu deaths became reportable during the 2008-2009 season, 23 pediatric flu deaths have been recorded in Mississippi. (Haselhorst, 12/13)

AP: Alaska Tribal Group Offers Free Sex Transmitted Disease Tests
An Alaska Native health entity is providing free, at-home test kits to detect sexually transmitted infections in an effort to provide more access to the tests and reduce stigma for people who want to be tested. The point of the effort is to make it easier and more discreet for people to detect and treat the infections, Hanna Warren, an infection prevention manager with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, told KYUK Public Media. (12/13)

WMFE: The Orlando VA Healthcare System Is Building A New Outpatient Clinic In Daytona Beach
The Orlando VA Healthcare System is building a 130,000-square-foot outpatient center in Daytona Beach that is scheduled to open in 2024. The Daytona Beach VA Multi-Specialty Clinic will replace two existing clinics that have a combined total of 74,000 square feet. The clinic will serve veterans with primary care, mental health services, radiology and labs on-site. Construction is expected to wrap up in the fall of 2023. Florida is home to more than 1.5 million veterans, the third largest veteran population behind California and Texas. (Prieur, 12/13)

Cincinnati Enquirer: New Mason City Council Votes to Repeal Abortion Ban
Mason's abortion ban is no longer in place. Mason, the largest city in Warren County, was the second city in Ohio to pass an ordinance criminalizing abortions. The ban passed by a 4-3 vote on Oct. 25. Nearby Lebanon passed a similar ordinance in May. (Glynn, 12/13) 

Billings Gazette: County Health Officer Seeks Clarity In Law That Strips His Position Of Authority
Keeping one boss happy is hard enough. Trying to do it with two dozen bosses could be impossible. It's a challenge that Yellowstone County's public health officer John Felton spends time contemplating. The county's public health office exists through an interlocal agreement between the county and its three commissioners, the 11-member Billings City Council, the nine-member Laurel City Council and the city of Broadview. (Rogers, 12/13)

And from Kentucky —

AP: Thousands Without Heat, Water After Tornadoes Kill Dozens
Residents of a Kentucky town devastated by a tornado could be without heat, water and electricity in chilly temperatures for a long time, the mayor warned Monday, as officials struggled to restore services after a swarm of twisters leveled neighborhoods and killed dozens of people in five states. (12/13)

AP: British Line Up For Shots In Nation's Bid To Head Off Omicron
Long lines formed Monday at vaccination centers across England as people heeded the government's call for all adults to get booster shots to protect themselves against the omicron variant and as the U.K. recorded its first death of a patient infected with omicron. (12/14)

Bloomberg: U.K.’s ‘Warp Speed’ Booster Rollout Is Already Struggling
Boris Johnson’s strategy for tackling a U.K. surge in omicron infections is already facing setbacks, as medics warn of bottlenecks and staffing shortages in the vaccine booster program. The British prime minister promised to ramp up delivery of boosters to “warp speed” to achieve its target of reaching all adults by the end of December, and late Monday announced that hundreds of new vaccine sites would open across the country, including at soccer stadiums and racecourses. (Biggs and Mayes, 12/13)

In other news about vaccines —

Reuters: Moderna To Produce Millions Of MRNA Vaccines In Australia
U.S. drugmaker Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) will produce millions of mRNA vaccines a year in Australia after agreeing to set up one of its largest manufacturing facilities outside the United States and Europe. The deal, a second such commitment in Asia Pacific by a western mRNA vaccine developer, underscores efforts by governments around the world to build up local production and prepare for future pandemic threats after limited early access to shots led to slow COVID-19 vaccine rollouts. (Jose and MIshra, 12/13)

The Washington Post: São Paulo Says It Has Fully Vaccinated 100 Percent Of Its Adults. Will It Be Enough To Stop Omicron? 
In a world struggling to convince people to take the coronavirus vaccine, the news was striking. São Paulo, the largest city in the Western Hemisphere, announced late last month that it had succeeded where others had failed. One hundred percent of its adult population had been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus — a remarkable rate in an era characterized by an intransigent and growing global anti-vaccine movement that has hobbled vaccination efforts from Europe to the United States. (Sa Pessoa and McCoy, 12/13)

In other covid news from around the globe —

The Wall Street Journal: China Reports First Omicron Covid-19 Case In The Mainland 
Chinese authorities in the northern port city of Tianjin said they had detected the mainland’s first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant, putting what China has called its “zero tolerance” Covid-19 strategy to a further test. (Qi, 12/13)

AP: Canadian City Kingston Limits Gatherings To 5 Over Variant
A city in Canada’s most populous province is limiting gatherings to a maximum of five people in response to the spread of the omicron variant and the variant prompted several regions in Ontario to announce new public health measures on Monday. (12/14)

The New York Times: Across The World, Covid Anxiety And Depression Take Hold
A recent cartoon in the French daily Le Monde featured a bedraggled man arriving at a doctor’s office for a Covid-19 vaccine. “I am here for the fifth shot because of the third wave,” he says. “Or vice versa.” His bewilderment as France suffers its fifth wave of the pandemic, with cases of the Delta variant rising sharply along with Omicron anxiety, captured a mood of exhaustion and simmering anger across the world two years after the deadly virus began to spread in China. (Cohen, 12/13)

Bloomberg: Omicron Variant: Maybe Covid-19 Will Be A Common Cold Someday
Just before the start of the 20th century, about a million people, out of a global population of just 1.5 billion, died in a pandemic that lasted from 1889 to about 1895. The first couple of years were the worst, but it kept flaring up for a few more years before it finally petered out. Sounds painfully familiar. (Mark Gongloff, 12/13)

The Washington Post: What’s Behind Global Covid Inequalities? Vaccine Corporatism. 
During the earliest months of the pandemic, it was customary for world leaders to invoke the spirit of wartime solidarity. The sentiment was, in principle, the right one — not only because a global crisis demands coordination on a massive scale but also because of the direct precedent found in how governments approached public health during the bleakest days of the 1940s. (Luke Savage, 12/13)

USA Today: Front-Line Nurse: I Received The First US Covid Vaccine. A Lot Has Changed In A Year. 
When I rolled up my sleeve to get the country’s first COVID-19 vaccine, little did I know that Day One of the country’s climb back from our pandemic hell would also be my plunge into life as a public figure. I view that moment on Dec. 14, 2020, now with overwhelming gratitude, as this year’s holiday season started so differently. The weekend with my grandson and Thanksgiving meal with my mother are a beautiful, stark contrast from this time last year. (Sandra Lindsay, 12/13)

Los Angeles Times: Los Angeles Led The Nation On Measles Vaccination Mandates. Can It Do That For COVID? 
On March 31, 1977, as a measles epidemic swept through Los Angeles, the L.A. County Public Health Department issued an ultimatum to the parents of the county’s 1.6 million schoolchildren: Get your kids vaccinated within a month or keep them home. The “no shots, no school” warning was a novel threat at the time. Since the 1920s, when deadly smallpox was still around, no major city in the United States had locked the unvaccinated out of school. (Arthur Allen, 12/11)

Dallas Morning News: In Texas, The Cadavers Of The Poor Are Used To Advance Medical Science, Without Their Consent
Every spring in Fort Worth, the University of North Texas Health Science Center holds a Legacy of Life Ceremony honoring those who have donated their bodies to medical education and research. Faculty, staff and students gather to meet the families of the deceased and express their appreciation for their loved ones’ help in training the next generation of doctors. In a former age, American anatomy classrooms often procured bodies for their students through less than savory means, even resorting to outright grave-robbing when supply fell short of demand. (Eli Shupe, 12/14)

The New York Times: The Anti-Abortion Movement Could Reduce Abortions If It Wanted To 
Often an abortion happens because a woman is pregnant when she didn’t intend to be. It is true that some women terminate wanted but doomed pregnancies and others face serious health complications. But if abortion opponents are serious about decreasing the need for abortion instead of simply punishing women and doctors, they should be rallying around contraception access. Instead, they’re largely standing in the way. As of 2019, researchers found that 45 percent of all pregnancies in the United States were unintended and roughly 40 percent of unintended pregnancies were terminated. This makes for very simple math: Decrease unintended pregnancies and you decrease abortions. (Jill Filipovic, 12/14)

Stat: FDA's Outdated Birth Control Guide Blocks Access To Contraception 
Every day, women in the United States are routinely denied access to the latest birth control methods approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The reason for this may seem unfathomable in a nation so deeply reliant on instant access to the latest information: Health insurers deny covering new contraceptive methods because a single page on the FDA’s website — its Birth Control Guide — fails to include the new and innovative products the agency has spent time and energy reviewing and approving. (Kathleen "Cook" Uhl, 12/14)

The Baltimore Sun: Treatment Before Tragedy; Reform Maryland Involuntary Commitment Law 
Involuntary psychiatric hospital treatment can help prevent homelessness and incarceration and is a potential lifesaver for those in the midst of a psychiatric crisis and people around them — people like Sara Alacote, Ismael Quintanilla and Sagar Ghimire, who were killed in Baltimore County in May by a neighbor with severe, untreated paranoid delusions. It is a safety net for those whose mental illness makes them unable to recognize their need for hospital treatment and can lead to successful community living. (Evelyn Burton, 12/13)

NBC News: The Health Of Asian Americans Depends On Not Grouping Communities Under The Catch-All Term
What do a Hmong service member, an Indian student and a Korean Midwesterner all have in common? From a public health perspective, they are all the same: Asian American. Health data have historically lumped all Asian American people together, obscuring distinct health disparities and leaving vulnerable communities neglected by researchers and policymakers. Asian American communities are essentially averaged-out into invisibility: Good health for some masks poor health for others. (Douglas Yeung and Lu Dong, 12/13)

The Washington Post: Trump Had A Scheme To Privatize Medicare. The Biden Administration Isn’t Stopping It. 
Donald Trump claimed to be a staunch supporter of Medicare. Yet he repeatedly attempted to slash the program’s budget while promoting an increased role in Medicare for insurers and other private businesses. But President Biden isn’t turning out to be the champion of Medicare activists had hoped. (Helaine Olen, 12/13)