Vitamins, Medicare, GLP-1s, Utah drunk driving: Morning Rounds

$360,000

The United States spent approximately $360,000 between January 2025 and March 2026 on storing contraceptives that were intended for international aid in low-income countries in Africa. However, due to budget cuts made by the Trump administration, the contraceptives were left in Belgium. The USAID Office of Inspector General recently issued an advisory stating that out of the $9.7 million worth of family planning supplies, only $1.7 million remain usable. The contraceptives have been stored in climate-controlled facilities, but with expiration dates starting in April 2028, there is a pressing need to address the crisis in family planning in Africa. CNN reported on the urgent situation in Africa regarding family planning supplies.

Pandora’s box of Medicare-funded weight loss

Starting next month, Medicare will be providing coverage for weight loss GLP-1 medications to adults aged 65 and older. This initiative, initially meant to be temporary, faced challenges as private Medicare insurers did not voluntarily cover the drugs as expected. The government has now extended the transitional coverage program until the end of next year, with taxpayers bearing the cost of the program. This decision has implications for seniors and taxpayers, as discussed in a report by STAT’s John Wilkerson.

Data on Utah’s lower drunk driving limit

In 2018, Utah became the first state to lower the legal blood alcohol concentration limit for driving from 0.08 to 0.05 g/dL. A recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine revealed a significant decrease in drunk driving-related deaths in Utah following the implementation of the law compared to surrounding states. The law had a strong deterrent effect on alcohol-related fatal crashes, particularly in cases where the driver’s BAC was between 0.01 and 0.05. Several other states in the U.S. are considering similar legislation based on the positive outcomes seen in Utah.

Conflict-of-interest questions after a decade of HCA

Within the International Human Cell Atlas Consortium, concerns have been raised about potential conflict of interest involving Alexandra-Chloé Villani, a pioneer in single-cell technologies. Villani’s husband is a senior executive at 10x Genomics, a company that plays a crucial role in the Consortium’s work. As the Consortium prepares for a major meeting in Boston, questions have been raised about the transparency of these relationships and the need for disclosure within the scientific community. STAT’s Megan Molteni delves into the complexities of academia-industry ties in cutting-edge biological research.

How supplement use changed over decades

A study published in JAMA Network Open highlighted the increasing prevalence of supplement use among American adults from 1999 to 2023. The research found a significant rise in supplement consumption, particularly among older adults, with a shift towards immune and anti-inflammatory products. The study also noted a decrease in multivitamin-multimineral use, indicating a preference for personalized medicine. The findings shed light on evolving trends in supplement usage and health behaviors over the past two decades.

How an Alzheimer’s expert missed it in her own father

Neurologist Elizabeth Bevins shared her personal experience of overlooking early signs of Alzheimer’s disease in her father, despite her expertise in the field. Bevins emphasized the importance of early risk identification and intervention in brain health, advocating for a proactive approach to addressing cognitive decline. Her story underscores the need for a paradigm shift in how brain health is monitored and treated, emphasizing the significance of early intervention and surveillance.

What we’re reading

• The kratom civil war is heating up, and MAHA has picked a side, Wired

• High inflation is forcing older women on fixed incomes to make hard choices, The 19th

• FDA approves Colorado’s plan to import cheaper drugs from Canada, STAT
• They’re uninsured after Obamacare became too costly. And they’re far from alone, KFF Health News
• Covid vaccination cut risk of adverse heart events, large study finds, STAT