Health care lobbyists and conservative groups are stepping up preparations for what a second Trump presidency could mean for drug prices, health insurance subsidies and changes to health care entitlements.
Why it matters: A Trump win would once again shock the system, bringing unpredictability and the possibility of cuts to federal health programs.
Patients struggling to find doses of blockbuster anti-obesity and diabetes drugs will have new help from a drug supply tracker built by telehealth company Ro.
Why it matters: Explosive demand for drugs from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have led to shortages, making it difficult for patients with prescriptions to find the treatments when they need them.
The rates of premature and early-term births slightly increase after heat waves, and the risk grows as extreme temperatures last longer, according to a new study of 25 years of birth data.
Why it matters: It's one way that extended heat waves, which have grown more common with climate change, may be harmful to infant health, the study in JAMA Network Open suggests.
The increasing demand for cosmetic procedures like Botox injections, dermal fillers and fat-dissolving treatments at popular medical spas has raised growing alarm about risky care from unlicensed providers.
Why it matters: A patchwork of state rules governing these facilities are often poorly enforced, leaving consumers more vulnerable to infection and potentially disfiguring and even life-threatening consequences, experts say.
Why it matters: It comes with a slew of perks, from boosting mental health to aiding scientific discovery.
By the numbers: 96 million Americans — more than 35% of people who are 16+ — have taken part in bird-watching or bird conservation activities, according to a 2022 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey.
