VA Promises To Cover Experimental Alzheimer’s Drug Leqembi
March 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
In what Stat describes as an “unexpected move,” the Veterans Health Administration has decided to “widely” cover the experimental Alzheimer’s treatment Leqembi, a drug that CMS has so far declined to cover. Separately, there’s a focus on how diet can impact cognitive health.
Lead Water Crisis In Jackson, Miss., Impacting Pregnancies, Parents, Kids
March 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
The 19th reminds us that Jackson’s water treatment facility failed in late August, with 150,000 people left without water and subsequent failures and water flow restoration has left certain people unable to rely on the water due to lead contamination. Other public health news is from Connecticut, Texas, and elsewhere.
Plan To Lower Sugar, Sodium In School Meals Causes Pushback
March 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Department of Agriculture’s plan to make school meals healthier is unsettling parents, cooks, and kids, Stat reports, with some feeling “the feds” are “targeting” kids by planning to limit chocolate milk and other food items.
Pfizer Buys Targeted Cancer Drugmaker Seagen For $43 Billion
March 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
News outlets cover the purchase, arguing the move helps Pfizer find potential new revenue sources now that covid treatment sales are declining. Separately, analysts try to identify which key drugs will be impacted by U.S. drug price negotiation rules in 2026.
Sleep Well Before Getting Vaccines — It May Alter The Shot’s Effectiveness
March 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
A study found startling implications concerning vaccine effectiveness, whether for covid or the flu: Sleeping less than six hours was found to limit the body’s response to the shot, reducing protection. Also: How little we still know about the coronavirus.
‘Havana Syndrome’ Experiments: Pentagon’s Use Of Animals Protested
March 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Department of Defense is performing radiation experiments on ferrets and monkeys even though the intelligence community recently rejected that theory behind the illness, Politico reports. Also in the news: Mitch McConnell, Patricia Schroeder, and Marilyn Goldwater.
Justice Department Sues Rite Aid For Dispensing Opioids Despite ‘Red Flags’
March 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
Pharmacy giant Rite Aid is charged with filling thousands of unlawful prescriptions of drugs like oxycodone and fentanyl, as well as “trinities” — a combination of an opioid, benzodiazepine, and muscle relaxant — while ignoring or deleting data on suspicious prescribers.
Biden To Sign Executive Order On Gun Control During California Trip Today
March 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
AP reports that the order will aim to increase the number of background checks to buy guns, promote better and more secure firearms storage, and ensure U.S. law enforcement agencies are getting the most out of a gun control law enacted last summer. President Joe Biden will speak from Monterey Park, California, where a gunman killed 11 people at a dance studio in January.
Morning Briefing for Tuesday, March 14, 2023
March 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
Abortion pill hearing, an executive order on guns, Alzheimer’s drug coverage, opioids, sleep before vaccination, and more are in the news.
GOP Bill In South Carolina Would Make Abortions Punishable By Death
March 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
So far, 21 Republicans have co-sponsored the legislation, which would redefine “person” under state law to include a fertilized egg, giving it equal protection under the state’s homicide laws. Meanwhile in Ohio, abortion rights supporters are collecting voter signatures ahead of a November ballot push.
Abortion Pill Hearing Is Wednesday; Providers Brace For Disruptions
March 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee from Texas, had initially tried to keep the proceedings secret until the last minute because of security fears. If Kacsmaryk rules that the FDA must rescind its approval of mifepristone, patients seeking to end a pregnancy would still would be able to use misoprostol alone.
First Edition: March 14, 2023
March 14, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Pandemic Stress, Gangs, and Utter Fear Fueled a Rise in Teen Shootings
By Liz Szabo
March 14, 2023
KFF Health News Original
With their brains still developing and poor impulse control, teens who carry firearms might never plan to use them. But some do.
Black Lung Resurgence Drives Push to Protect Coal Miners Against Silica Dust
By Taylor Sisk
March 14, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Since 2005, central Appalachia has recorded a tenfold increase in cases of severe black lung disease among long-term coal miners. Now, federal regulators are expected to propose a new rule to protect against silica dust, which causes the most severe form of black lung, progressive massive fibrosis.
Telehealth Company Cerebral Shared Information On 3.1 Million Patients
March 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
Cerebral, a startup, said it shared data of more than 3.1 million patients with advertisers, Facebook, Google, and TikTok. In other news, UnitedHealth beneficiaries revive a case about the company denying mental health claims as not medically necessary based on internal coverage guidelines aimed at keeping down costs, rather than on generally accepted standards of care.
West Virginia Bill Banning Health Care For Trans Minors Heads To Governor
March 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
The bill would prohibit those younger than 18 from being prescribed hormone therapy and also includes a ban on gender-affirming surgery for minors, AP reported. It’s unclear whether Republican Gov. Jim Justice will sign the legislation.
FDA Approves Migraine Nasal Spray Zavzpret
March 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
The FDA also approved the first treatment for Rett syndrome. Also, shorter doctor visits lead to inappropriate antibiotic prescribing.
Bank Failure Impacts Health-Tech Startups
March 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
The failure of Silicon Valley Bank sent many health care technology startups scrambling. It did business with about half of the nation’s tech and biotech companies, says Stat.
Fourth Year Of The Global Covid Pandemic Begins
March 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
How has life changed? Media outlets take a look at our past and possible future. Also, other news on covid vaccines, long covid, and continued threats to public health officials.