Why it matters: Without a sufficient number of pediatricians throughout the country, kids may miss out on necessary health care that is key to improving overall health in the country and ultimately lowering the cost of care.
The Food and Drug Administration granted approval to Eli Lilly's Alzheimer's drug, which was found to slow progression of the disease by about a third, the company announced Tuesday.
Why it matters: The approval of donanemab, which will be sold under the brand name Kisunla, makes the antibody the second drug of its kind to win Food and Drug Administration approval.
The U.S. government has awarded vaccine makerModerna a $176 million federal contract to help create a vaccine against pandemic influenza for people as concerns rise about a bird flu outbreak in cattle on U.S. dairy farms.
Why it matters: There is no evidence the virus is spreading from human to human and the risk for the general public is still considered low, but that could change if the virus were to evolve.
The Biden administration is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to train primary care clinicians to better serve older adults, officials announced Monday.
Why it matters: America faces a shortage of geriatricians, who specialize in health care for patients over 65 years old. Training primary care providers in geriatrics will make it easier for older adults to get the care they need, the Health Resources and Services Administration said in a news release.
The rise in hoarding disorder as America ages requires a national response, a new Senate report shared first with Axios says.
Why it matters: The prevalence and severity of hoarding disorder increases with age — and the U.S. population is growing older, making this a crucial moment for policymakers to address the condition.
Americans are turning to social media and certified color analysts to find out whether they're a muted autumn or more of a cool summer.
Why it matters: Having an expert determine which color "season" you are could offer a confidence boost when you shop and get dressed, but color analyses can be pricey and come with limitations.
Walgreens' plans to pare back what it calls a "significant portion" of its 8,600 locations will likely worsen the pharmacy shortage in underprivileged communities already struggling with access to care.
Why it matters: Instead of transforming how health care is delivered, retailers' retrenchment from primary care could exacerbate health disparities and bodes ill for poor patients who already are less likely to refill prescriptions.
Catch up quick: During a gloomy earnings call last week, Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth acknowledged concern about growing pharmacy deserts, noting that his chain is the last company standing in a lot of places.
Supplies of the widely used chemotherapy drug cisplatin now exceed demand, ending a national shortage that shook cancer care and highlighted supply chain vulnerabilities, especially for sterile injectables.
Why it matters: While it's encouraging news for patients, ongoing shortages of other drugs are driving a debate over reliance on overseas manufacturing and FDA authority.
Driving the news: FDA Commissioner Robert Califf announced Friday that the cisplatin squeeze had ended and that the agency is working with drugmakers and other players along the supply chain to address shortages of other cancer treatments.
Walgreens' plans to pare back what it terms a "significant portion" of its 8,600 locations will likely worsen the pharmacy shortage in underprivileged communities already struggling with access to care.
Why it matters: Instead of transforming how health care is delivered, retailers' retrenchment from primary care could exacerbate health disparities and bodes ill for poor patients who already are less likely to refill prescriptions.
Starting Monday, the Food and Drug Administration will wield new regulatory powers over makers of lipsticks, shampoos, baby wipes and other cosmetic products that account for more than $40 billion in sales annually.
Why it matters: It's part of the phase-in of a 2022 law that calls for more oversight of adverse events and requires companies to clearly label allergens, register their facilities and disclose every product they sell.
If courts weren't already exerting outsized influence over health policy, they're much closer to being final arbiters now that the Supreme Court has scrapped the decades-old doctrine that gave the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other health agencies the power to interpret vague or ill-defined laws.
Why it matters: Judges could get the final say onMedicare payment rates, drug and device regulation and even what constitutes a public health emergency.
