Axios

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Monica Bertagnolli as National Institutes of Health director, filling a key federal research position that's been vacant for nearly two years.

Why it matters: A cancer doctor with a thin political resume, Bertagnolli takes the helm of the giant biomedical institution amid heated debates over the cost of drugs it helped develop and questions over how it oversees risky research and foreign collaborations.

Walmart stores nationwide will lower the lights, turn off the radio and change their TV walls to a static image for daily "sensory-friendly hours," the retailer announced Tuesday.

Why it matters: Walmart's hours, which start Friday, appear to be the biggest shopping program yet for people with sensory processing issues, which include autism, ADHD and PTSD.

The U.S. performs worse than the average developed nation on 77% of health status indicators like life expectancy, obesity and opioid mortality rate, according to an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development report.

Why it matters: U.S. health spending as a share of gross domestic product yet again far outpaces the other 37 OECD nations while the country continues to have poor outcomes, the OECD Health at a Glance 2023 report shows.

Young survivors of shootings face a litany of physical, psychiatric and substance abuse disorders that can combine to drive up their health costs almost 2,000%, according to new research.

The big picture: Guns have become the leading cause of death among kids, but many more survive being shot. Their needs offer a rare and detailed look at the cumulative consequences of gun violence and the burden it places on survivors, their families and the health system.

The Biden administration is aiming to close loopholes that it says allow Medicare Advantage insurers to encourage brokers to steer consumers toward certain plans.

Why it matters: Federal officials say their proposal, which comes as lawmakers have raised concerns about broker payments, would help ensure brokers are working in seniors' best interest.

AI could help people get pregnant.

Why it matters: As doctors deal with overwhelming demand for fertility services, machine learning tools are offering ways to help streamline the IVF process.

As the days get shorter, you could start feeling the winter blues — or worse.

Why it matters: Although feeling some sadness during the darker months is normal, the American Psychiatric Association says 5% of U.S. adults deal with something more serious: seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or seasonal depression.

What's happening: A reduction in light exposure can change the balance of brain chemicals like serotonin (which can affect mood) and melatonin (important for sleep), and disrupt the body's circadian rhythm.

The Biden administration on Monday urged the Supreme Court to reverse Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors, saying any delay in review would endanger youths who are or will be denied critical medical care.

The big picture: The Justice Department petition comes after lower courts allowed bans in Tennessee and two other states to move forward this summer.

Emergency room visits for firearm-related injuries among children doubled during the coronavirus pandemic, according to new data published on Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

Why it matters: The data reinforces prior research showing that firearms in 2020 surpassed motor vehicle accidents to become the leading cause of death for kids one and older in the U.S. and that gun deaths among kids hit a new record high in 2021.

California's first-in-the-nation minimum wage for health care workers now has a price tag three weeks after it became law: $4 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Why it matters: That makes the law, which guarantees medical employees at least $25 per hour, one of the most expensive in California in years, and it comes amid a $14 billion state budget deficit, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Hospital-acquired infection rates fell at health systems across the country last year after a marked increase during the pandemic, according to new data from the patient safety watchdog Leapfrog Group.

Why it matters: The pandemic-era data had raised alarm bells about a possible reversal in the hospital industry's yearslong progress against preventable and often dangerous infections acquired during the course of a patient's care.

Tuesday's elections will serve as a powerful litmus test of the staying power of abortion as a winning issue for Democrats — and whether Republicans have any room to go on offense.

Why it matters: Abortion groups have spent millions of dollars in state races as both parties watch closely for winning strategies to address one of the top issues concerning American voters ahead of 2024.