Government shutdown, Medicaid, drug pricing: STAT Health News
The government shutdown has caused over 32,000 federal health workers to be furloughed, impacting CDC communications and patient admissions at the NIH clinical center. Senate Democrats refused to pass a temporary spending bill without extensions to Affordable Care Act subsidies and Medicaid funds. President Trump announced a ‘most-favored nation’ deal with Pfizer to lower drug prices for Medicaid and uninsured patients, but experts are skeptical about the details and implementation.
In other news, researchers at Oregon Health & Science University are attempting to create human embryos from lab-created eggs with DNA from adult skin cells. This could revolutionize human reproduction by treating infertility, preventing heritable diseases, and allowing same-sex couples to have genetically related children. However, the technology still requires refinement before moving into clinical testing.
A study published in the Lancet Infectious Disease found that children who experienced multiple Covid infections were almost twice as likely to develop long Covid compared to those with only one infection. This highlights the importance of vaccination for children to prevent initial infections and reinfections. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced an initiative to increase compliance from retailers selling illegal vape products, aiming to educate them on legal products and FDA resources.
On a concerning note, the FDA approved an injectable drug for cattle to prevent New World screwworm infections, which could potentially impact livestock near the U.S.-Mexico border. Lastly, climate activists are raising concerns about the protein craze and its impact on the environment, while a deadly listeria outbreak linked to pasta meals from Trader Joe’s and Walmart has been reported.
Overall, these developments highlight the ongoing challenges and advancements in health and medicine, from government shutdown impacts to groundbreaking research in human reproduction and Covid reinfections. Stay informed and stay tuned for more updates in the healthcare sector.
