health-policy5.655 min read
RSV vaccines prove effective as US tightens access restrictions
12 hours ago•Source: The Guardian
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4.335 min•24 days ago
US Officials and Politicians Push to Restrict Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced proposed regulations to ban hospitals from performing sex-rejecting procedures on minors under Medicaid and Medicare, citing concerns over irreversible harm and lack of evidence for safety and efficacy, while also taking steps to restrict federal recognition of gender dysphoria as a disability and addressing illegal marketing of related products to children.
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Idaho Bans Vaccine Mandates, Activists Aim to Set National Example
ProPublica•2 months ago
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Trump Signs Executive Order to Regulate Pharmaceutical Advertising
Originally Published 4 months ago — by Politico
President Trump announced plans to crack down on pharmaceutical advertising, aiming to address concerns over overmedicalization of children and the influence of direct-to-consumer drug ads, which have increased prescriptions and raised health risks. The move seeks to strengthen FDA oversight, especially on social media, to ensure more balanced and responsible drug marketing.
Florida to End All School Vaccine Mandates
Originally Published 4 months ago — by The Washington Post
Florida is moving to end all school vaccine mandates, becoming the first state in the nation to do so, with Florida Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo criticizing the mandates and comparing them to slavery.
Trump's Policy Changes May Reduce Mental Health Access for Americans
Originally Published 4 months ago — by ProPublica
The Trump administration has paused and rolled back mental health coverage protections enacted during the Biden era, including new rules to enforce parity between mental and physical health care, amid legal challenges and funding cuts to enforcement agencies, raising concerns about increased insurance denials and untreated mental health issues.
The Grim Reaper Effect: How It Hinders Government Life-Saving Efforts
Originally Published 5 months ago — by vox.com
A report highlights that effective hepatitis C treatments, despite their high cost, ultimately reduce overall federal healthcare spending by curing the disease and preventing costly complications, illustrating a 'grim reaper effect' where government hesitance to fund life-saving treatments is counterproductive.
Supreme Court Undermines Medicaid and Civil Rights Protections
Originally Published 6 months ago — by Axios
The Supreme Court limited Medicaid patients' rights to choose their providers, particularly affecting reproductive health services and Planned Parenthood, with potential implications for access to care and state policies across the U.S.
GOP Health Bill Risks Access and Wealth in the US
Originally Published 7 months ago — by NPR
The article discusses how President Trump's proposed 'One Big Beautiful Bill' and related policies could significantly reduce access to Obamacare by ending automatic re-enrollment, delaying coverage for life changes, shortening open enrollment periods, and ending pandemic-era premium subsidies, potentially leaving millions more uninsured and increasing premiums for many.
AMA Urges Senate Probe into RFK Jr. and Vaccine Controversies
Originally Published 7 months ago — by MedPage Today
The American Medical Association (AMA) has called for a Senate investigation into HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to fire all CDC vaccine advisors, urging him to reverse the move and advocating for the preservation of the current vaccine advisory structure.
Trump Reverses Biden-Era Emergency Abortion Protections
Originally Published 7 months ago — by The New York Times
The Trump administration revoked a Biden-era policy requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortions, creating confusion and potential risks for pregnant women in states with restrictive abortion laws, amid ongoing legal and political debates over emergency medical treatment and reproductive rights.
Anthem Reverses Controversial Anesthesia Payment Policy
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Axios
In response to a controversial, now-reversed policy by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield that would have limited anesthesia coverage, Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) has introduced the "Anesthesia For All Act" to prevent such caps in the future. This legislative move comes amid heightened scrutiny of health insurance practices following the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, which sparked social media debates over healthcare costs. The bill aims to prohibit insurers from imposing arbitrary time limits on anesthesia reimbursement and mandates audits to ensure compliance.
Biden's Medicare Plan Sparks Debate Over Weight-Loss Drug Coverage
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Axios
The Biden administration is pushing to expand Medicare coverage for anti-obesity drugs, a move that could benefit millions of seniors but faces potential opposition from the incoming Trump administration due to high costs. The proposal aims to address obesity as a chronic condition, potentially impacting broader access to these drugs. However, the financial implications and political dynamics, including possible legal challenges, make the future of this initiative uncertain.