Brain injury, fluoride shortage, Medicare ACCESS: Morning Rounds

1 3 minutes read

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Good morning! The tax filing deadline is approaching tomorrow. Best of luck to those who will be scrambling to complete their taxes tonight or tomorrow with takeout in hand.

CMS advances with tech-focused chronic care experiment

Over 150 companies and providers have received provisional approval to participate in a Medicare program aimed at expanding access to technology-supported chronic care. CMS will provide participants, which include popular mental health apps, wearable device manufacturers, a life sciences company associated with Google, and others, with set rates to treat chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, musculoskeletal pain, anxiety, and depression.

Officials have stated that 70% of Medicare beneficiaries may be eligible for the program, explaining the high level of interest from companies. The long-term question surrounding this 10-year experiment is whether it can reduce Medicare costs while maintaining or improving the quality of care. Learn more about the details from STAT’s Mario Aguilar.

A fluoride shortage impacting some U.S. water systems

Despite promises during the 2024 presidential election to remove fluoride from drinking water, the U.S. is facing a different challenge affecting the ability of certain water utilities to fluoridate water at recommended levels: the war in Iran. Israel, a top exporter of fluorosilicic acid, is experiencing supply chain disruptions as workers are called for military service, impacting some U.S. water utilities that provide water to hundreds of thousands of people. Experts warn that if the violence persists, shortages are likely to continue.

Positive news on research funding

Exciting news arrived in the inboxes of numerous students on Sunday evening as the National Science Foundation announced the recipients of its Graduate Research Fellowship Program. This prestigious program offers students three years of funding to support their research during graduate studies. Last year, the program faced uncertainty as the administration initially planned to reduce the number of awards granted. However, this year, the NSF funded the largest cohort ever and increased the proportion of students conducting biology research. Read more about the program from our colleague Jonathan Wosen.

Major WHO official shares concerns

With the current WHO director-general’s final term ending next summer, discussions about his replacement have already begun. Hanan Balkhy, who leads the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean region, has emerged as a potential candidate. However, with her region encompassing countries involved in the Iran conflict, Balkhy is already preoccupied with concerns about a potential escalation into nuclear, biological, or chemical warfare. Read the conversation between Balkhy and STAT’s Helen Branswell to gain insight into her work amid international conflict.

Impact of family dynamics on brain recovery

A study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that when a child or teen experiences a traumatic brain injury, they are at a higher risk for physical and mental health issues. Adverse childhood experiences amplify these risks, while family resilience and child flourishing are linked to better outcomes. The study highlights the importance of integrating family resilience-enhancing approaches into pediatric TBI care to support holistic recovery and well-being.

The challenge of age-based approvals for rare disease drugs

For two decades, there has been only one FDA-approved treatment for Hunter syndrome, a rare disease. However, this spring, the FDA granted accelerated approval for another drug, limited to individuals up to age 16. This approval restriction poses a challenge for individuals like Nathan Grant, whose twin brother, at age 28, is excluded from accessing the new therapy. Grant shares his perspective in a poignant First Opinion essay, emphasizing the importance of inclusive treatment options for individuals with rare diseases.