A new study found popular brands of tampons may contain toxic metals, such as lead and arsenic.
Why it matters: Chemicals absorbed vaginally enter directly into the body, without detoxification, the study noted. Despite more than half of those who menstruate in the U.S. using tampons, the researchers said theirs was the first endeavor to assess the concentration of metals in tampons.
The big picture: The California Democrat, 79, is the latest member of Congress to face health issues amid a re-election campaign as President Biden faces questions about his age and health.
Prescription drug middlemen took in nearly $1.6 billion in extra revenue on two cancer drugs in less than three years, by steering business to affiliated pharmacies, a new Federal Trade Commission report finds.
Why it matters: The findings underscore the degree to which vertical integration and concentration among pharmacy benefit managers allow the companies to influence the drug supply chain, potentially driving up cost to patients.
A federal judge in Texas blocked a Biden administration policy aimed at preventing Medicare insurers from paying agents and brokers to sign people up for certain plans.
Why it matters: The decision came last week from U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor, a go-to judge for industry groups looking to target Democrat-backed health policies.
Two of the buzziest technology trends in health care — artificial intelligence and weight-loss drugs — appear to be converging as companies increasingly scope out the potential to capitalize on both.
Why it matters: Some companies tell Axios the explosive demand, outsized costs and wide range of potential of uses for GLP-1s — the category of drugs that includes diabetes drug Ozempic and its weight-loss counterpart Wegovy — make them the perfect test case for AI's potential.
Why it matters: After reporters demanded White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre provide more details on a top Parkinson's disease specialist's meetings with Biden, his physician released a letter late Monday that emphasized the specialist had only conducted routine annual physical examinations.
President Biden was examined by a neurologist who specializes in Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders as part of his annual physical examinations, per a letter from White House physician Kevin O'Connor released late Monday night.
Why it matters: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at a testy briefing earlier Monday that she wouldn't identify Dr. Kevin Cannard nor details of any of his visits due to privacy reasons amid concerns about Biden's health.
There are oft-shared theories about pregnancy: If you carry low, it's a boy. If you've got bad morning sickness, it's a girl.
Why it matters: There's not a lot of evidence that widespread gender predictors are accurate, says Tiffany Pham, OB-GYN and Flo Health medical adviser.
Some weight-loss drugs produce better outcomes than others, a study published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine found.
Why it matters: The study confirmed that patients on Mounjaro, a drug approved for diabetes treatment, were both more likely to lose weight and saw larger reductions in body weight than patients on Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, which is approved for the same indication.
Starting this fall, most students at Johns Hopkins' medical school will attend tuition-free thanks to a $1 billion donation from billionaire Mike Bloomberg.
Driving the news: The generous gift is intended to address "twin challenges of declining levels of health and education," Bloomberg said in a letter Monday.
Diagnoses of sexually transmitted diseases jumped nearly 24% among seniors ages 65 and older during the pandemic, new data provided first to Axios by FAIR Health shows.
Why it matters: The data points to the need for conversations about the risks of STDs — which can mimic other age-related conditions — with older patients.
Physician burnout rates have dipped below 50% for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to survey data from the American Medical Association.
Why it matters: Physicians are leaving the workforce in droves after a tough four years in health care, exacerbating shortages in the health workforce and leaving gaps in patient care.
A proposed rule that would require the nation's most critical industries to more quickly report cyberattacks is raising the ire of the health care industry, which claims the new directives could actually hinder its response in a crisis.
Why it matters: Cyberattacks have sent shockwaves across the health care industry, but regulators and providers don't agree on how to get a handle on the problem.
