Gone are the days of "I'll sleep when I'm dead." It's cool to prioritize bedtime now.
Why it matters: Sleep is trending at companies, atcolleges and in the media — and there's a growing sleep economy worth billions of dollars, as new gadgets, mattresses, trackers and alarm clocks flood the market.
A growing number of states are authorizing restrictions on gender-affirming care, stoking public confusion about what it entails and where it's permitted.
State of play: Individual states have started enacting bans on gender-affirming care for trans youth in 2023, and more than 100 anti-trans health care bills have been introduced in state legislatures so far, according to data from the American Civil Liberties Union.
Key indicators for respiratory illness declined for the first time in weeks after the holidays, signaling that the tripledemic of flu, COVID-19 and RSV may have peaked nationwide, according to updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics.
What they found: 37 jurisdictions experienced high or very high incidence of fever plus cough or sore throat for the week ending Jan. 6, compared to 39 jurisdictions the previous week. COVID test positivity held stable while the percentage of positive lab tests for flu decreased nationally to 14%.
Quaker Oats expanded its recent recall by adding dozens of additional granola and cereal products at risk for possible salmonella contamination.
Why it matters: The bacteria can "cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems," the company said in its revised recall notice.
CVS is shutting down select pharmacies inside Target stores with closures starting in February, the retailer confirmed to Axios.
Why it matters: The drugstore industry has been hit by mounting challenges from worker shortages and surging competition from mail-order pharmacies, big-box stores like Walmart and online threats like Amazon.
Congress should raise Medicare payments for doctors and hospitals and give additional pay increases to safety-net providers next year, independent advisers to Congress recommended Thursday.
Why it matters: The recommendations from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission come as doctors urge Congress to reverse a 3.4% cut to their 2024 Medicare rates, which they say will make it harder to practice medicine.
Obesity drugs, buzzy new technology — including AI — and San Francisco's larger social and political problems, especially its homeless population, were the unavoidable topics at JPMorgan Chase's massive health care conference this year.
Why it matters: The 8,000-plus attendees at the annual event are a who's who in the health care industry, and the buzz in the hallways is a good barometer for the rest of the year.
An oft-delayed ban on menthol cigarettes is in doubt, as President Biden's pledge to "follow the science" runs into election-year politics.
Why it matters: Inaction on a ban that is expected to prevent the deaths of thousands of Black Americans each year has already left some usual allies questioning if the Biden administration is putting politics over public health.
