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Visit KFF Health News for the latest headlines | Morning Briefing | Behind on your reading? Catch up on this week's KFF Health News stories with The Week in Brief, delivered every Friday to your inbox. Sign up here! In This Edition: From KFF Health News: 1. As Lung Disease Threatens Workers, Lawmakers Seek Protections for Countertop Manufacturers Crystalline silica, which is released into the air when workers cut and polish engineered stone, can scar human lungs beyond repair. Kitchen countertops made with this stone have triggered an increased rate of this fatal illness, doctors say. (Céline Gounder, 3/12) 2. Republicans Fret Over RFK Jr.'s Anti-Vaccine Policies While MAHA Moms Stew A top GOP pollster has said anti-vaccine policies could create risks for the Trump administration in the midterm elections. But backing away from those policies — and other initiatives that have been high on the Make America Healthy Again to-do list — threatens to upset a key voting bloc. (Amanda Seitz and Stephanie Armour, 3/12) 3. Political Cartoon: 'Depression Denial?' KFF Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with "Political Cartoon: 'Depression Denial?'" by Tommy Siegel. Here's today's health policy haiku: If you have a health policy haiku to share, please Contact Us and let us know if we can include your name. Haikus follow the format of 5-7-5 syllables. We give extra brownie points if you link back to an original story. Opinions expressed in haikus and cartoons are solely the author's and do not reflect the opinions of KFF Health News or KFF. Summaries Of The News: 4. 1 In 3 Americans Has Cut Back Daily Spending To Pay For Health Care Two new Gallup polls also found that roughly half of middle-income households reported delaying a major life event in order to afford health care costs. Meanwhile, food stamp recipients are suing the Agriculture Department over sugary drink bans. The Washington Post: One-Third Of Americans Skip Meals Or Other Needs To Afford Health Care
Americans are driving less, skipping meals and putting off big life moves, like buying homes or having children, to keep up with health care costs, according to two Gallup polls released Thursday. Roughly one-third of Americans are cutting back on daily spending to cover medical costs, and about half of middle-income households said they have delayed a major life event because of the same expenses, the polls found, as premiums rise and the federal government cuts Medicaid spending. (Wu, 3/12) On SNAP benefits — The New York Times: Food Stamp Recipients Sue Over Bans On Sugary Drinks
Food stamp recipients sued the Agriculture Department on Wednesday over restrictions barring them from using their benefits to buy sugary drinks and candy, arguing that the limits are unlawful, create confusion and add to their difficulties in managing their health. Since May, the department has approved waivers in 22 states that allow them to bar participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from using their benefits to buy soda, energy drinks, candy or other prepared desserts. (Qiu, 3/11) On the high cost of prescription drugs — Modern Healthcare: PBMs Shift From Rebates To Fees To Make Up For Lost Revenue
Pharmacy benefit managers are moving away from imperiled contractual arrangements to sustain profit margins. PBMs, especially market leaders UnitedHealth Group's Optum Rx, CVS Health's CVS Caremark and Cigna's Express Scripts, withstood criticism for years over how they managed pharmaceutical rebates and engaged in spread pricing for medicines. Now that federal and state governments are writing laws and regulations to crack down on those practices, PBMs are predicted to make up for the lost revenue by imposing larger fees on employer-sponsored health plans and drugmakers when they draw up contracts with clients. (Tong, 3/11) The Washington Post: How GLP1s Are Changing The Ways Americans Buy Medicine
Ashley Elizabeth Harden logged on recently from her home in small-town Louisiana and searched for a weight-loss drug. She found plenty of options and settled on a cheaper, imitation version of the name-brand drugs for $177 a month that she could buy without going through insurance. "It's absolutely odd," she said of paying a cash price for medicine she sees as vital but whose cost rivals her monthly electric bill, "having to research, compare prices and make decisions online for something so important just to access it." (Rowland, 3/12) Becker's Hospital Review: Inflation Reduction Act Tied To Stronger Medication Adherence: Study
Cost-related medication nonadherence declined among Medicare enrollees following implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act's prescription drug provisions in 2024, according to a study published March 9 in JAMA Internal Medicine. Enrollees' cost-related medication nonadherence fell by an estimated 4.9 percentage points relative to privately insured comparators after the provisions took effect. (Cerutti, 3/11) On Medicare costs — Modern Healthcare: Aetna To Pay $118M To Settle Medicare Advantage Upcoding Claims
Aetna will pay $117.7 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that it overbilled the Medicare program. The agreement settles claims related to past risk adjustment submissions dating back nearly a decade, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania said in a Tuesday news release. Part of the settlement relates to a sealed whistleblower lawsuit filed by former Aetna risk-adjustment coding auditor Mary Melette Thomas, the release said. (Tepper, 3/11) Modern Healthcare: CMS Ambulatory Specialty Model Sparks Pay Concerns From Providers
A pending Medicare payment model meant to improve care for chronic conditions has some providers worried it could have the opposite effect. The mandatory, five-year Ambulatory Specialty Model demonstration for fee-for-service Medicare starts in 2027 and aims to promote identification and management of heart failure and lower back pain. The two-sided risk model could impact reimbursements by as much as 9% in its first year, and it establishes a payment structure that assesses providers against regional peers. (Early, 3/11) MedPage Today: Oz Didn't Invent The Medicare Fraud Fight. Is He Changing It?
For decades, the federal government took a simple approach to Medicare and Medicaid fraud: Pay first, chase later. Now there is, apparently, a "war room." In a viral social media clip, a dozen staffers sit around a conference table, laptops open, TV screens behind them. "These open buildings that they claim are medical facilities," one analyst says on camera. "Nobody's there." CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, MBA, nods. They are, he says, "holding their feet to the fire." (McCreary, 3/11) 5. Trump Admin Aims To Move Hundreds Of Veterans Into Guardianship Under the new effort, the Justice Department would give Veterans Affairs officials authority to initiate guardianship proceedings in state courts for veterans who lack family and are "unable to make their own health care decisions," including some veterans who are homeless or "at risk of homelessness." The New York Times: V.A. Begins Drive To Put Some Homeless Veterans Into Guardianship
The Trump administration on Wednesday announced a new effort to initiate legal guardianships for hundreds of veterans, including some who are homeless or "at risk of homelessness," that could be used to force more of them into involuntary or institutional care. Under the new arrangement, the Justice Department would give officials at the Veterans Affairs Department authority they currently lack to initiate guardianship proceedings in state courts for veterans who have no family and are "unable to make their own health care decisions." (Barry and DeParle, 3/11) CNN: VA Watchdog Finds Nearly A Million Calls From Vets Seeking Care Had Key Tracking Data Missing
The wife of one veteran wanted her husband to be evaluated, fearing his cancer may have spread, and sought a radiology appointment last year with the Department of Veterans Affairs. She made "multiple phone calls that went to voicemail," last March and received "no follow-up within the promised 24 hours," according to the VA's chief watchdog. That incident is just one documented by investigators with the VA's inspector general's office who are trying to get to the bottom of a longstanding complaint from the nation's veterans: They can't get through to their health care providers on the phone. (Todd, 3/11) Stars and Stripes: VA Plans To Scan A Million Veterans Claims For Signs Of Fraud
The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to launch an automated fraud-detection tool to scan more than a million disability benefits questionnaires for evidence of fabrication or other problems that could force a new medical exam and impact compensation, according to a VA official. James W. Smith, a deputy executive director at the Veterans Benefits Administration, told lawmakers that the tool will have the capability to quickly review submitted questionnaires — known as DBQs — that document medical evidence to determine a disability rating and monthly compensation. (Hersey, 3/9) ProPublica: Veterans Who Depend on Mental Health Care Keep Losing Their Therapists Under Trump
As Jason Beaman recounts his long slog searching for mental health therapy last year, he sounds defeated. The first therapist assigned to him by the Department of Veterans Affairs told him at their initial meeting that she was leaving the agency. A few months later, his second therapist told him she was also leaving. An appointment with a third counselor was canceled with no explanation. (Coleman, Sanders, Jacobs and Umansky, 3/12) ABC News: Many Military Members May Get Care At Hospitals At Risk Of Financial Distress -- Partly Due To Trump Cuts
As many as 724,000 service members, their families and veterans may rely on health care at hospitals that face financial vulnerability, partly due to cuts in President Donald Trump's megabill, according to a new analysis. The bill, known as HR.1, was signed into law in last summer and included sweeping changes to health care including Medicaid. Strict work requirements, reduced federal funding and tightening provider tax rules impacts hospitals that are dependent on Medicaid, increasing their risk of uncompensated care and reducing revenue. (Kekatos, 3/11) 6. Eye Doctor Tapped As EPA Adviser, Despite No Air Pollution Expertise For 50 years, the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee that counsels the EPA's leadership on scientific evidence about pollutants has filled the obligatory physician's seat with pulmonologists or cardiologists. Now the role will be filled by an ophthalmologist and political commentator. The New York Times: Eye Doctor Named to Air Pollution Advisory Board Draws Pushback
The Trump administration has tapped an eye doctor with no background in air pollution science to advise the Environmental Protection Agency on what levels of air pollutants are safe to breathe. The E.P.A. named Brian Joondeph, a Colorado-based ophthalmologist and political commentator, on Monday to the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, an influential panel that advises the agency's leadership on the latest scientific evidence on soot, smog and other hazardous pollutants. (Joselow, 3/12) News from ARPA-H and the FDA — Healthcare Dive: ARPA-H Launches Program To Develop Biosensors That Can Track Multiple Signals
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, or ARPA-H, launched a new program on Tuesday to support development of biosensors that can track multiple signals such as inflammation markers, hormones or drug levels within the body. The program, called Delphi, will focus on using electronic "chiplets," with the goal of being able to "mix and match" features across wearables and ingestible sensors. (3/10) MedPage Today: Goodbye FAERS? FDA Launches New Combined Adverse Event Database
The FDA has launched a new adverse event reporting system that will consolidate several systems it has for reporting different types of adverse events, the agency announced Wednesday. The new system, known as the FDA Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS) -- "represents a major achievement in the agency's mission to modernize and provide radical transparency into the safety of regulated products," the agency said in a press release. (Frieden, 3/11) Stat: FDA Telehealth Crackdown Highlights Role Of National Doctor Networks
The Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on telehealth companies' marketing of compounded versions of weight loss drugs. In recent months, the agency has warned them against implying that their products are FDA approved, or that they themselves manufacture the products. But those companies may not be the only ones under the microscope. (Palmer, 3/12) In reproductive health news — The Hill: Sen. Josh Hawley Introduces Bill To Remove FDA Approval For Mifepristone
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) on Wednesday unveiled legislation to remove Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the use of mifepristone to end pregnancies, a bill that has quickly gained the support of major anti-abortion groups. The legislation is an ambitious undertaking given the drug's widespread use in the United States, where an estimated 7.5 million women have used it to terminate pregnancies since the FDA approved its use in 2000. It accounted for 63 percent of all abortions in the U.S. in 2023. (Bolton, 3/11) Politico: 'Damaging And Punishing': Birth Control Clinics Serving Millions Face Federal Funding Cliff
Clinics that provide free and subsidized birth control and other reproductive health services to millions of low-income people nationwide are warning that access could soon be cut off if the federal government continues to delay the funding process. The Department of Health and Human Service's Office of Population Affairs has not yet released the guidance dozens of health care organizations around the country need to apply for a funding cycle that begins on April 1. They had been scheduled to receive that guidance by the end of last year. (Ollstein, 3/11) On the immigration crisis — The Texas Tribune: Family At Dilley ICE Center Details Moldy Food, Medical Neglect
The family's accounts provide what lawyers and child advocates call new and disturbing details into the conditions at the detention center in Dilley, about 70 miles southwest of San Antonio. The family, including the mother Hayam El Gamal and her five children ranging in ages from 5 to 18, detail what they describe as abhorrent medical care, inedible food and a disregard for their religious freedom as Muslims. (Kriel, 3/11) The Washington Post: ICE Plans To Keep Fort Bliss Detention Camp Open Under A New Contractor
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement replaced the contractor overseeing Camp East Montana and said it is planning to keep the El Paso detention center open, a week after The Washington Post reported on an internal document that appeared to indicate ICE was taking steps to close the facility. (MacMillan, 3/11) Los Angeles Times: California DACA Recipient Sues Trump Administration Over Her Deportation
Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez, 42, was detained Feb. 18 during a scheduled interview for her green card application. She was deported to Mexico the next day, despite having active deportation protection through the Obama-era program Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. (Castillo, 3/11) 7. Vaccine Panel To Weigh Which Strains Should Comprise This Fall's Flu Shots The gathering of the pared-down Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee — whose members all have expertise in infectious diseases, immunology, or global health and genetics — is seen as a good sign, public health advocates say. CIDRAP: FDA Vaccine Advisers To Meet To Recommend Strains For Fall Flu Shots
For the first since the Biden administration, independent vaccine advisers will meet Thursday to recommend which strains of influenza virus to include in flu vaccines this fall. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) canceled last year's meeting of the Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC). Instead, the FDA chose influenza strains after a closed-door meeting with federal officials, with no participation from patient advocates, medical groups, manufacturers, or scientists with expertise in vaccines. (Szabo, 3/11) KFF Health News: Republicans Fret Over RFK Jr.'s Anti-Vaccine Policies While MAHA Moms Stew
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is fielding pressure from the White House to relax his controversial approach to vaccine policies as the midterms near, but his most steadfast supporters are pressing for more aggressive action — like restricting covid-19 vaccines and pesticide use — to carry out the Make America Healthy Again agenda. The tensions risk fraying Kennedy's dynamic MAHA coalition, potentially driving away critical supporters who helped fuel President Donald Trump's 2024 election win. (Seitz and Armour, 3/12) In related news — The CT Mirror: Vaccine Expansion Proposal HB 5044 Draws Lengthy Debate In CT
Even in the state with among the highest childhood vaccine uptake in the country, a pair of bills aiming to expand Connecticut's authority over immunizations drew a swell of opposition at the state Capitol. (Golvala, 3/11) CIDRAP: Measles Outbreaks Slow In South Carolina, Arizona, But Utah Sees Cases Skyrocket Past 400
Both Arizona and South Carolina, two states that recorded hundreds of measles cases in recent months, are reporting significant slowdowns in new cases reported this week. Utah, however, has now tracked more than 400 cases in an outbreak that began last year in the southwest corner of the state and has now spread to Salt Lake City and other areas. (Soucheray, 3/11) More public health news — Verite News: Cancer Alley Factory To Stop Producing Toxic Herbicide
Multinational agriculture technology company Syngenta announced last Tuesday (March 3) that it will cease global production of the herbicide paraquat by the end of June, including at its facility in Iberville Parish. Banned in more than 70 countries, paraquat is repackaged and distributed in the United States from Syngenta's manufacturing site in St. Gabriel, a small city that sits along a heavily-industrialized stretch of the Mississippi River. Nicknamed "Cancer Alley" residents in St. Gabriel face a higher risk of cancer from industrial air pollution than most of the country. (Yehiya, 3/11) The Examination and The Independent: Child Poisoning Cases Rise As Nicotine Pouches Flood Stores
The colorful packaging and fruity flavors that make nicotine pouches appealing to adults also make them tempting — and dangerous — for kids. (Liang, 3/10) KFF Health News: As Lung Disease Threatens Workers, Lawmakers Seek Protections For Countertop Manufacturers
César Manuel González, 37, used to work with stone that was engineered to endure: dense, polished slabs designed to outlast the kitchens in which they were installed. Engineered quartz countertops have surged in popularity in the home renovation market, with industry analysts estimating the global engineered stone market at around $30 billion. It's continuing to expand as quartz surfaces replace natural stone in kitchens in the United States and worldwide. When González was working, the dust that rose from his saw didn't look extraordinary. (Gounder, 3/12) CIDRAP: WHO Warns War In Iran Will Lead To Regional Instability, Public Health Crises
The World Health Organization (WHO) is warning that the war in Iran is worsening public health conditions across the Middle East region. After 10 days of bombings and conflict in Iran, national health authorities in Iran report more than 1,300 deaths and 9,000 injuries, and Lebanon reports at least 570 deaths and more than 1,400 injuries. In Israel, authorities have documented 15 deaths and 2,142 injuries. The WHO said eight health care workers have died in Iran. (Soucheray, 3/11) 8. Michigan MedTech Maker Falls Victim To Suspected Iran-Linked Hackers Wednesday morning's cyberattack targeted Stryker's Microsoft programs across the globe. The company said it thinks the attack has been contained. Plus, news outlets look at how artificial intelligence is being used in the health sector. AP: US Medical Equipment Company Stryker Says Cyberattack Disrupted Its Global Networks
Stryker, a major U.S. medical equipment company, said a cyberattack disrupted its global networks Wednesday. "We have no indication of ransomware or malware and believe the incident is contained. Our teams are working rapidly to understand the impact of the attack on our systems," Stryker said in a statement on its website. The logo of Handala, a hacking group linked to Iran, has appeared on company login pages, The Wall Street Journal reported. (3/12) More health care industry developments — Modern Healthcare: Medtronic To Buy Scientia Vascular For $550M
Medtronic has signed a definitive agreement to acquire neurovascular medtech company Scientia Vascular for $550 million. The deal is expected to close in the first half of Medtronic's fiscal 2027, which starts in April. It is subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions. (Dubinsky, 3/11) Minnesota Public Radio: Sudden Closure Of U Of M Dental Clinic Leaves Patients, Staff Scrambling
The sudden closure of a University of Minnesota dental clinic has left some patients scrambling for care and left staff unsure if they'll be able to keep their jobs. (Timar-Wilcox, 3/11) NBC News: Diabetics Who Rely On Abbott Glucose Monitors Are Alarmed By Recall Linked To 7 Deaths
Michael Ford was not in good health, but his Type 2 diabetes was manageable. His son, Davonte Ford, was his full-time caregiver — bathing Michael, administering his medications and dutifully responding to the dips and peaks in Michael's blood sugar. When father and son woke one November morning in their Oakland, California, home to a low blood sugar alert from Michael's FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor, part of a top-tier glucose monitoring system from medical manufacturer Abbott, Davonte did not question the reading. Instead, he did what doctors had instructed: He gave his dad fast-acting carbohydrates. (Chuck, 3/11) Modern Healthcare: How Masimo, Philips Wearable Monitors Aim To Reshape Patient Care
Health systems are rethinking how the majority of patients are monitored during their hospital stays, and research suggests recently developed tools could generate significant savings for hospitals. Patients on general floors are typically monitored every four to eight hours. To address the gap, companies have developed wearable monitors that continuously track vital signs. Health systems increasingly are investing in them as a way to keep better tabs on patients while addressing workforce shortages. (Dubinsky, 3/11) On the use of AI in health care — NPR: ChatGPT Is Not Always Reliable On Medical Advice, New Research Suggests
As tech companies roll out platforms specifically designed for health care consultation, AI is rapidly becoming a key player in many people's medical decisions. According to OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, more than 40 million people consult the platform every day for health information. But new research suggests AI may mislead users in certain medical scenarios. (Riddle, 3/11) Healthcare Dive: Amazon Expands Access To Health-Focused AI Assistant
Amazon is expanding access to its health-focused artificial intelligence chatbot, the technology giant said Tuesday. The Health AI assistant first launched for members of Amazon's primary care chain One Medical in January. The tool allows users to connect their health information and ask questions about their health, symptoms and potential treatments. (Olsen, 3/11) Modern Healthcare: Microsoft's Copilot AI Users Ask About Symptoms, Treatments
When it comes to health-related questions, users are turning to artificial intelligence for help with symptoms, conditions and treatments. Microsoft released a report Tuesday examining more than 500,000 health-focused conversations that took place on its Copilot AI-powered assistant platform in January. The report builds on Microsoft's previous findings that health is consistently the most popular topic for Copilot mobile users. (Famakinwa, 3/11) Stat: Nonprofit Launches With $500M To Modernize Scientific Process For AI Era
There is no shortage of artificial intelligence ventures in the life sciences these days, many of them aimed at using technology to, say, design proteins or optimize clinical trials. But scientist Seemay Chou believes the scientific process itself needs to modernize to adapt to the AI era — and she has at least $500 million in funding to help make it happen. (DeAngelis and Trang, 3/11) 9. For First Time In A Decade, LA County Sees Drop In Homeless Mortality Rate The county saw a 10% decrease in the rate of homeless deaths from all causes in 2024, driven by a sharp decrease in overdose deaths. Public health officials credit the wide availability of naloxone but worry that a decrease in funding over the past year may reverse the positive trends. Los Angeles Times: Homeless Mortality Is Down In L.A. County For The First Time In A Decade.
Health and homeless service officials hope the trend can continue as homeless programs face significant funding cuts. (Smith, 3/10) More health news from across the U.S. — AP: New Iowa Law Prohibits Local Gender Identity Protections
A new Iowa law bans local nondiscrimination protections on the basis of gender identity after the state became the first in the U.S. to rollback its civil rights code last year. The preemption law took effect Tuesday, as soon as Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed it. It prevents cities and counties from having civil rights protections that go beyond the categories identified in state code. (Fingerhut, 3/11) Central Florida Public Media: Florida Legislature Approves Two Alzheimer's Disease-Related Bills
Two bills designed to protect and support many of the estimated 580,000 Florida seniors with Alzheimer's disease made it all the way through the Legislature this week. Both bills were approved without opposition in the House and Senate and now need the governor's signature. (Byrnes, 3/11) WFSU: Tallahassee City Commission Gives Final Approval To Transfer Hospital Assets To FSU
The Tallahassee City Commission gave final approval to transfer Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare's assets to Florida State University on Wednesday. The agreement includes an FSU investment of $1.7 billion in the hospital. Under the deal, Tallahassee Memorial will lease the facility from FSU Health and run it as an academic hospital. Both will continue collaborating on education, research and clinical care. (Wood, 3/11) AP: Man Shot By Police In Bridgeport Dies After Ambulance Delay
A man who was shot by police and later died had to wait 10 extra minutes for an ambulance after an officer having a "mild anxiety attack" took the first one that arrived at the scene, according to a newly released state investigation. Dyshan Best, 39, was shot in the back last year as he fled from officers in Bridgeport, Connecticut. A report released Tuesday by the state's inspector general found that the shooting was justified because Best had a gun in his hand and the officer pursuing him had reasons to fear for his own safety. (Collins, 3/11) The Washington Post: High Bacteria Levels Found In Nearby Stream After Potomac Sewage Spill
An environmental group is raising concerns about high levels of bacteria recently found in a Montgomery County stream nearly two months after a major wastewater pipeline collapse caused more than 200 million gallons of raw human sewage to spew into the Potomac River. (Hedgpeth, 3/11) 10. Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of health policy studies and briefs. MedPage Today: GLP-1 Drugs May Benefit Cancer Patients With Brain Lesions
GLP-1 receptor agonist use was associated with a lower risk of death in cancer patients with brain metastases and type 2 diabetes, a retrospective cohort study found. (Monaco, 3/11) MedPage Today: Some Cancers May Be Slightly Elevated In Women Who've Had Fertility Treatment
While overall cancer incidence among women who used medically assisted reproduction wasn't elevated, certain cancers were more common in this population, an Australian population-based cohort study showed. (Robertson, 3/10) MedPage Today: Sentinel Node Biopsy Improves Survival In Melanoma, Meta-Analysis Shows
Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) significantly reduced the risk of death from melanoma, results from a systematic review and meta-analysis indicated. (Bassett, 3/9) Bloomberg: Roche Breast-Cancer Drug Combination Misses Target In Study
A Roche Holding AG study of its experimental breast-cancer drug in combination with another treatment failed to meet the main goal, a blow to the company's effort to develop a next-generation hormone therapy that sent its shares lower. Patients treated with Roche's giredestrant and an older drug developed by Pfizer Inc. were no more likely to live without their cancer worsening than those given standard therapy, the Swiss drugmaker said Monday. (Kinzelmann, 3/9) MedPage Today: Incidence Of Bowel Disease In Kids Nearly Quadrupled Over 40 Years
Incidence of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in one region of Denmark nearly quadrupled over four decades, according to a new population-based cohort study. (McCreary, 3/5) 11. Viewpoints: Parents Must — Gasp! — Parent Their Kids About Social Media; One Scientist's Fight For Integrity Opinion writers delve into these public health issues and others. The Washington Post: There's A Limit To Social Media Bans. Parents Have To Do The Rest.
Parents have the primary responsibility for protecting kids from threats — online and offline — to their physical safety, mental health and moral development. Discharging that duty requires that they be able to say no to their children — even when all their friends' parents have said yes and even when they beg. Parents have the power today, all on their own, to tell their kids to stay off social media, delay buying them phones or buy ones that can't download apps. (Ramesh Ponnuru, 3/12) Stat: Scientists Must Fight Not Only For Funding But For Integrity
As of 2023, only 4% of Americans believed the political system was working well. Americans' trust that the government will "do what's right" at least "most of the time" dropped by half between 2000 and 2008, continuing to decline to an all-time low of 17% in 2025. As a scientist, I'm deeply concerned. Scientists are often encouraged to avoid politics. But this advice is outdated, if it was ever correct in the first place. Science relies on public support. (Jenna Norton, 3/12) Stat: How To Preserve America's Lead In Biotech
America will celebrate not just one, but two momentous anniversaries this year. Two hundred and fifty years ago, the Founding Fathers declared independence from Great Britain to protect Americans' right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And 50 years ago, a handful of American scientists and entrepreneurs founded the world's first biotech company, Genentech. (John F. Crowley, 3/12) Undark: Why Environmental Tipping Points Don't Have To Spell Doom
Imagine a Jenga tower, teetering on the edge of collapse as the final, consequential block is pulled. Or a single book standing on an old shelf, finally toppling over after a slight jostle. Or perhaps, as Malcolm Gladwell described in his best-selling book, "The Tipping Point," a virus, laying low for years until the right set of circumstances convenes, enabling infections to suddenly explode and an epidemic to begin. (Bela Starinchak, 3/12) The Guardian: Children Killed, A School Turned Into A Graveyard: Even In Wartime, We Can't Accept This
While schools are, like hospitals (until recent violations), accepted to be protected places, in practice they are treated more as part of civilian infrastructure. This has undermined what should be a simple principle: that schools exist for learning, and must never become theatres of war or staging grounds for military operations. No child should die for trying to learn, and those who attack innocent girls and boys should be subject to the same degree of judicial accountability as those who commit other crimes against humanity. (Gordon Brown, 3/12) | | | | | |
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