The percentage of kindergarteners whose parents opted them out of school-required vaccinations rose to the highest level yet during the 2022-2023 school year, according to new federal data released Thursday. The drop in coverage for routine vaccinations against diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella increase the chances of an outbreak, and underscore the continued fallout…
Author: Nathaniel Weixel
PBM, mental health legislation advances through Senate Finance Committee
Legislation addressing Medicare payments and mental health and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) advanced through the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday on a nearly unanimous vote. Other than Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) who did not vote, 26 members of the panel voted to advance the package, adding to the bipartisan pressure for Congress to act on reforms…
Haley on abortion: ‘We don’t need to divide America’
Former Gov. Nikki Haley called for civility in the abortion debate and refused to commit to any specific abortion ban, saying that she would only sign a bill that can get through Congress. “I would support anything that would pass. But you have to be honest with the American people,” Haley said during the third…
FDA approves blockbuster Eli Lilly drug for weight loss
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Eli Lilly’s blockbuster diabetes drug for weight loss management Wednesday, giving patients another tool and opening the door to potentially much wider use. Formal FDA approval means tirzepatide could be covered by most insurance plans, making it more affordable for millions of patients and likely adding to the…
Johnson embraces deficit fight, setting up battle over Medicare, Social Security
Democrats and progressive advocacy groups are homing in on Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) past support for steep cuts to entitlements, as the new speaker embraces a deficit commission that could spotlight the issue in the runup to the 2024 election. President Biden called out congressional Republicans during his State of the Union address for wanting…
Millions more adults should be screened for lung cancer under new American Cancer Society guidelines
Nearly 5 million additional Americans should be screened for lung cancer, according to an updated guideline released Wednesday by the American Cancer Society (ACS). The update marks the first change to screening recommendations in a decade. The group now recommends annual screening with low-dose computed tomography for men and women between the ages of 50 and…
Children’s hospitals prepare for surge in admissions amid shortage of RSV drug
A supply shortage means a drug that can prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants won’t have a major immediate impact, children’s hospitals said, and they are preparing for a surge in admissions this respiratory disease season. “Widespread access [to the new antibody drug] will take time across many sectors of the pediatric population and…
Social conservatives see promise in new House Speaker
Presented by Kidney Care Access Coalition — Social conservatives plan to press Johnson on bringing anti-abortion and anti-transgender policies up for a vote. {beacon} Health Care Health Care The Big Story Social conservatives see promise in new House Speaker The House GOP’s election of Rep. Mike Johnson (La.) as Speaker is likely to give an…
Biden administration looks to avoid vaccine hiccups as COVID-19 treatment coverage goes commercial
The Biden administration is looking to avoid hiccups in the rollout of new COVID-19 vaccines as it begins shifting coverage of coronavirus treatments to the private market. Private insurance companies will need to start covering treatments beginning Wednesday, but the federal government’s supply will remain available for providers to order and distribute from until it…
Conservatives see hope for anti-abortion, anti-trans push with Speaker Johnson
The House GOP’s election of Rep. Mike Johnson (La.) as Speaker is likely to give an opening to social conservatives, who plan to press him on bringing anti-abortion and anti-transgender policies up for a vote. But Republicans remain divided on those red-meat issues, and any such floor votes could endanger the swing-district members who voted…