Former NFL player convicted in $197M Medicare fraud; FDA seeks public input on testosterone therapy; dangerous drug combinations common in youth – Morning Medical Update

Former NFL player convicted in $197M Medicare fraud scheme

A former NFL player and college football star was convicted at trial for his role in a yearslong scheme to defraud Medicare and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) — a federal veterans health program — out of nearly $200 million, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Prosecutors say Joel Rufus French, 47, of Amory, Mississippi, orchestrated a nationwide operation that sold patient data and sham doctors’ orders for medically unnecessary orthotic braces, billing federal health programs for patients who were deceased, amputees or suffering from cognitive impairment. He did this through eight durable medical equipment companies that he owned and managed.

French — now convicted of conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to offer, pay, solicit and receive health care kickbacks and conspiracy to defraud the United States — was a standout tight end for the Ole Miss Rebels in the late 1990s. He earned unanimous All-American honors in 1998 and first-team All-SEC selections in both 1997 and 1998, followed by brief stints with the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad in the NFL.

FDA seeks public input on testosterone therapy for men

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has opened a public comment period ahead of an expert panel reviewing testosterone replacement therapy for men, seeking input on its risks, benefits and appropriate use. The agency says feedback will help inform future regulatory decisions around indications, safety concerns such as cardiovascular and fertility risks and potential updates to labeling. Comments are due by February 9, 2026.

Dangerous drug combinations common in young people on psych meds

About one in four children and young adults taking psychotropic medications are prescribed drug combinations that carry a risk of serious interactions, according to a new University of Pennsylvania study analyzing national survey data. Published this week in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the research found rising use of mental health medications over two decades, especially among younger children and young adults, with combinations involving antidepressants and antipsychotics posing risks such as abnormal heart rhythms, excessive sedation and serotonin toxicity.