Gerrymandering and access to care; telemarketers sentenced in CGx kickback scheme; pig kidneys – Morning Medical Update

Gerrymandering and access to care

A new analysis in the American Journal of Public Health links North Carolina’s long-disputed district maps to real losses in primary care access. Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst found ZIP codes carved up by partisan redistricting were significantly less likely to host federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and saw fewer patients served. Communities split between multiple senate districts faced roughly 30% longer travel times to the nearest clinic and up to a 29% drop in available FQHCs. More from UMass Amherst.

Telemarketers sentenced in CGx kickback scheme

Federal prosecutors secured prison terms for two operators of a multistate telemarketing outfit that pushed Medicare beneficiaries into non-covered cancer genetic (CGx) tests. The scheme generated $17.3 million in improper claims and $5.2 million in payouts, with an additional layer of fraud tied to a shell laboratory used to hide ownership and bill another $3 million. Sentences ranged from two to four years, along with more than $7 million in combined restitution and forfeiture.

Pig kidneys edge closer to clinical reality

Two new Nature studies from NYU Langone offer the strongest evidence yet that genetically engineered pig kidneys can function reliably in humans. Using a brain-dead donor who sustained a pig kidney for 61 days, researchers mapped immune responses with unprecedented resolution, identifying biomarkers and actionable rejection pathways. Episodes of rejection were reversed with standard immunosuppression, and the kidney maintained stable physiology throughout the study. The work marks a meaningful shift from experimental curiosity toward a scalable solution. CNN Health has more.