Austin Littrell is assistant editor of Medical Economics.
The Affordable Care Act under the Trump administration
Sheila P. Burke, chair, Government Relations and Public Policy Group, Baker Donelson Law Firm, discusses how she expects the Trump administration to approach the Affordable Care Act.
The first U.S. death from avian flu; HHS awards $306 million in avian flu monitoring and preparedness; children exposed to higher levels of fluoride have lower IQs – Morning Medical Update
The top news stories in medicine today.
What health care policies might the Trump administration prioritize the most?
Sheila P. Burke, chair of Government Relations and Public Policy Group at Baker Donelson Law Firm, provides a forecast of the Trump administration's top health care priorities.
Patients are confused and overwhelmed by medical test results
Most people struggle to pull basic information out of standard pathology reports—like whether or not they have cancer.
Flu cases surge ahead of holidays; most Americans overlook their health needs during the holidays; new migraine prevention drug may work right away – Morning Medical Update
Drinking coffee to prevent head and neck cancer; propranolol reduces tremors from Parkinson’s disease; HHS launches campaign to counter childhood vaccine misinformation – Morning Medical Update
Emergency department admission rates vary widely among physicians, study finds
Patients hospitalized by physicians with higher admission rates are likelier to be discharged within 24 hours but no less likely to die.
The first clinical practice guideline for Alzheimer’s diagnosis in primary care settings
Guidelines developed by an expert workgroup are the first of their kind in more than two decades, and the first ever applicable to primary care settings.
Letter calls on FDA to ban Red Dye 3; women less likely than men to adhere to post-stroke prescription medications; poor vascular health accelerates brain aging – Morning Medical Update
U.S. life expectancy jumped last year; FDA approves first mesenchymal stromal cell therapy to treat SR-aGVHD in pediatric patients; popular vitamins won’t prevent falls or fractures in older adults – Morning Medical Update
FDA clarifies compounder policies amid stabilizing GLP-1 supply
New statement aims to ensure access to tirzepatide as other GLP-1 drug shortages persist.
Cases of whooping cough up 600%; AHRQ announces interest in menopause research; 1,000 more steps per day could counter depression symptoms – Morning Medical Update
Unemployment: A side effect of long COVID
New research demonstrates the impact that long COVID has on patients' physical, emotional and financial well-being.
Ozempic more than doubles vision loss in patients with type 2 diabetes; permanent telehealth services for sleep medicine; bat feces used to fertilize cannabis leaves 2 dead from rare fungal infection – Morning Medical Update
The clinical impact of biased language in handoffs
Clinicians are less likely to accurately recall clinical information after hearing a patient described with negative or blame-based biased language.
Comparing primary care communication interventions to improve patient engagement
Coaching is no more effective than exam room posters in patient satisfaction with clinician communication, study says.
Hospital will pay $10.25 million to resolve false claims allegations; USPSTF draft recommendation on cervical cancer screening; a guide for healthy eating in major U.S. airports – Morning Medical Update
AHA statement calls for broader use of palliative care for stroke survivors
Despite its potential to improve quality of life, palliative care remains underused in stroke recovery, especially among Black, Hispanic and Asian populations.
Putting the brakes on prostate cancer; McKinsey to pay $650 million to resolve criminal and civil investigations; BMI and obesity decreased in the U.S. – Morning Medical Update
Key health care trends from 2024: What patients want
Zocdoc’s 2024 “What Patients Want” report highlights year-over-year trends in patient preferences, behaviors and sentiments.
Less children are getting the flu shot; people will stop taking weight-loss drugs over the holidays; major food companies sued for being addictive to children – Morning Medical Update
Cost prevents 1 in 6 U.S. adults with asthma from following prescription, study finds
Respondents citing financial hardship as a reason for non-adherence to asthma medications had nearly double the odds of an asthma attack and more than 60% heightened risk of requiring ED care.
ACP urges support for prior authorization reform by the end of 2024
The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2024 would enhance elements of a final rule mandating that Medicare Advantage plans expedite the prior authorization process.
New course on youth mental health for primary care clinicians; cosmetic surgeries to tighten skin on the rise; how “bad” cholesterol works in the body – Morning Medical Update
Could direct primary care practices be contributing to the shortage of primary care physicians?
A report in The Annals of Family Medicine looked to uncover whether direct primary care practices are represented in health professional shortage areas.
Inflation increased in November in the final significant report ahead of Fed meeting
CPI increased 0.3% in November, good for a 2.7% year-over-year increase.
Insurer halts controversial anesthesia policy; Americans don’t associate HPV with throat cancer; AI for primary care curriculum – Morning Medical Update
How different sectors of the health care industry can overcome challenges in 2025
McKinsey & Company analyzed recent trends to explain how the health care industry can weather ongoing challenges, and capitalize on emerging opportunities, in a new report.
$67 million telemarketing Medicare fraud scheme; new ASD screening model for toddlers; single H5N1 mutation could enable transmission among humans – Morning Medical Update
Current uses and future expectations for AI in health care
A new Medscape and HIMSS report found that AI in health care settings is primarily used for administrative tasks, with clinical applications still in the early stages of adoption.