Axios

Americans won't be able to order free COVID tests from the U.S. government again after Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services told Axios Monday.

The big picture: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently eased isolation guidance for the virus and urged older adults to receive a second shot of the updated COVID-19 vaccine.

Families considering starting IVF treatments in Alabama still face a host of unknown legal risks despite new protections Gov. Kay Ivey plans to sign into law, experts warn.

Why it matters: Courts could ultimately consider new legislation, designed to help protect clinics from civil lawsuits and prosecution, contradictory to the state constitution's provision on the sanctity of unborn life.

Tightening restrictions on who can receive the remarkably effective class of new weight-loss drugs is putting a spotlight on an imbalance in how health plans cover obesity care.

Why it matters: The explosive growth of Ozempic and other drugs known as GLP-1 agonists has led to greater recognition of obesity as a chronic condition rather than a lifestyle disease. But it's also sparked major concerns about the potential budget-busting costs of treating the more than 40% of Americans who are obese.

Medicare Advantage patients were found to get skimpier home health care and worse outcomes than their counterparts in traditional Medicare in a study published in JAMA Health Forum.

Why it matters: With more than half of Medicare beneficiaries in MA plans, there's growing concern about how the plans are run, including whether their guardrails around coverage are reducing access to care.

In vitro fertilization typically takes more than one embryo to safely achieve pregnancy — and unused embryos are often discarded.

Why it matters: Alabama's Supreme Court ruled in February that frozen embryos created through IVF are children under state law, meaning fertility clinics in the state could be held legally liable for disposing of surplus embryos.