Texas pharmacists sentenced in opioid pill mill scheme; Medicaid covers majority of firearm hospital costs; TikTok ‘eco-influencers’ spread misinformation – Morning Medical Update

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Texas pharmacists sentenced in opioid pill mill scheme

A Texas pharmacy owner and three pharmacists have been sentenced for their roles in a scheme that funneled more than half a million hydrocodone and oxycodone pills into the black market. Prosecutors said Arthur Billings, 61, ran Health Fit Pharmacy in Missouri City as a cash-only pill mill, dispensing opioids in exchange for hundreds of dollars per prescription, often using stolen physician identities. Billings received a 12-year prison sentence and a $2.6 million forfeiture order, while three co-conspirators received sentences ranging from 20 months to six years. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Justice Department described the operation as a “brazen” abuse of trust that fueled opioid addiction and death. The case highlights continued federal focus on prosecuting health care providers who divert controlled substances.

Medicaid covers majority of hospital costs from gun injuries

The initial hospital care of firearm injuries cost U.S. hospitals $7.7 billion between 2016 and 2021, with Medicaid billed for 52% of expenses, according to a Northwestern Medicine study in JAMA Health Forum. Annual costs were steady at $1.2 billion until 2019, then rose 33% to $1.6 billion in 2021 amid a pandemic-era surge in gun injuries. Researchers noted Medicaid reimbursement often falls short of actual treatment costs, straining trauma centers that serve vulnerable, low-income populations. Pediatric firearm injury costs rose 54% over the same period. The authors warn that recent Medicaid funding cuts could destabilize safety-net hospitals and emphasize the need for prevention programs and sustained support for trauma care.

TikTok ‘eco-influencers’ spread pediatric health misinformation

More than 60% of top TikTok videos promoting “natural” or “holistic” parenting contained content that contradicted established pediatric guidelines, according to research presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference. The study, led by Maria Canas-Galvis, M.D., analyzed 120 videos with hashtags like #naturalparenting and #antivaccine, finding common themes of vaccine hesitancy, unproven natural remedies and myths around infant nutrition. Notably, videos with misinformation drew 2.7 times more views than evidence-based content. With most posts created by parents and influencers rather than health professionals, researchers warn that social media continues to amplify harmful narratives, underscoring the need for pediatricians to engage families directly and help them navigate online health claims.