Axios

Planned Parenthood of Arizona (PPAZ) will begin offering vasectomies at its central Phoenix health center Tuesday.

Why it matters: The organization said it has seen heightened demand for the procedure — especially from metro Phoenix — following abortion restrictions enacted in the fallout of the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade.

The Biden administration on Monday followed through on its proposal to cut next year's base payments to Medicare Advantage plans an average of 0.16%, despite pressure from insurers and their allies in Congress.

Why it matters: While the plans will wind up seeing a net increase once payments are risk-adjusted to account for the health of their customers, the news sent shares of UnitedHealth, CVS Health, Humana and Centene falling amid predictions of continued financial pressure.

Highway safety regulators are kicking off a new campaign to reduce distracted driving, particularly targeting younger drivers who are the most likely to die in distraction-related crashes.

Why it matters: Distracted driving is a major cause of U.S. traffic deaths and injuries. Such behaviors soared during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing to a spike in road fatalities.

More kids than ever are covered through the Affordable Care Act as the law's insurance markets help catch those affected by the nationwide Medicaid enrollment purge that began a year ago this week.

Why it matters: The transition to the ACA marketplaces from Medicaid or a sister program just for kids comes with tradeoffs that hundreds of thousands of families may be discovering about their child's new coverage.

President Biden's campaign declared Florida "winnable" in the 2024 elections after the Republican-led state's Supreme Court made two key rulings on Monday.

Why it matters: The court put a referendum on abortion on the ballot for November in the state, where former President Trump won 51% of votes to Biden's 48% in 2020. Trump also won Florida by a slim margin in 2016.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) on Monday signed legislation to end the state's criminal ban on paid surrogacy and surrogacy contracts.

Why it matters: It was the last U.S. state to criminalize compensated surrogacy and related contracts.

A person in Texas is being treated for bird flu after exposure to dairy cattle presumed to be infected with the virus, health officials said Monday.

The big picture: The case comes as the highly contagious and often deadly virus has been spreading globally among mammals in recent years.

New evidence suggests that Russia may be behind the mysterious neurological illness that has affected U.S. diplomats and government workers around the world.

Why it matters: A new investigation linked a Russian military assassination unit to cases of "Havana Syndrome," contradicting the U.S' previous assessment that it was "very unlikely" a foreign adversary was to blame.

Federal health officials on Monday ordered hospitals to get patients' consent before they undergo breast, pelvic and other sensitive examinations, citing "increasing concerns" about the absence of such permissions in educational settings.

Why it matters: Media reports and medical literature have documented instances where medical students subjected anesthetized patients to invasive exams without proper consent, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and other officials wrote to teaching hospitals and medical schools.

New federal data show America's nursing workforce has become more diverse over the past 15 years, but underrepresentation remains a problem in a field struggling with burnout and racism.

Why it matters: A diverse nursing workforce can reduce health disparities, provide more culturally competent care and, in turn, improve patient outcomes.

More pets, particularly dogs, are being treated for itchy skin and allergies.

Why it matters: Seasonal allergies can be terribly uncomfortable for furry friends, and they can snowball into secondary issues, including skin infections.

There's been a major shift in what Americans say — or won't say — about our weight.

Why it matters: The blockbuster success of anti-obesity drugs is driving efforts to frame obesity as a chronic disease with clear and urgent health impacts rather than a cosmetic condition.

A joint media investigation into "Havana syndrome," a mysterious health condition that's affected U.S. diplomats and government officials, has found evidence that a Russian military assassination unit may be responsible.

Why it matters: "60 Minutes" noted that the findings from its five-year probe with The Insider and Der Spiegel that Russia's GRU Unit 29155 may be behind the neurological symptoms marked the first evidence linking a foreign adversary to the cases.