There's as much as a nearly 10-year difference in life expectancy between U.S. states, a new report finds.
By the numbers: Hawaii (79.9 years), Massachusetts (79.6) and Connecticut (79.2) have the longest life expectancy at birth as of 2021, per a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis.
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is scrutinizing hundreds of clinical trials they say U.S. drug companies conducted with medical centers connected to China's military over the last decade.
Why it matters: An Aug. 19 letter the group sent to Food and Drug Administration commissioner Robert Califf about the collaborations broadens the scope of congressional inquiries into Beijing's role in drug development ahead of an anticipated vote on banning select Chinese biotech companies from doing work in the U.S.
Rising cancer rates among younger workers are a new factor clouding employers' health cost outlook, per a major benefits survey released Tuesday.
Why it matters: Cancer was the most reported condition driving up health care costs in 2024, followed by musculoskeletal and cardiovascular conditions.
Surging demand for blockbuster GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic is helping drive up the cost of workplace insurance, leading some to predict pared-down benefits next year.
Why it matters: Employers have been reluctant to pass on health cost increases to workers in a tight labor market, but ever-rising demand for costly care could finally force a reckoning, experts say.
Nearly three-quarters of older Americans eligible for a key federal food assistance program are not taking part, a new report finds.
Why it matters: TheSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, can help low-income Americans afford today's sky-high grocery bills — but those qualifying need to apply.
Montana voters will cast ballots on whether to enshrine abortion rights protections into the state's constitution in November, per an online post from the state's top election official Tuesday.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) single-handedly raised the stakes of the 2024 elections on Tuesday, revealing he'd consider carving out rare exceptions to allow votes on protecting voting and abortion rights.
Why it matters: It's the most aggressive plan outlined by a Democratic leader on how the party would codify Roe v. Wade. But Schumer will need to avoid losing the Senate majority for the idea to pay off.
The first night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday was punctuated by powerful reminders of the election's stakes after several women took the stage to share how abortion bans had impacted their lives.
Why it matters: Abortion has consistently been a winning issue for Democrats in midterm and state elections since the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz disclosed new details about the family's fertility story this week, clarifying that they did not use in-vitro fertilization, as previous comments had implied.
Why it matters: As both governor and the vice presidential nominee, Tim Walz has leaned into his personal experience to make a political argument about the need to protect IVF and access to reproductive health care.
Check on your communication friends and colleagues, because half of them have considered quitting their job due to burnout, according to a new report from media insights platform, Muck Rack.
Why it matters: The demands of the job — like the project workload, "always on" mentality and tight deadlines — have caused 44% of PR professionals to quit this year.
More than 200 National Football League players have been using shock-absorbing helmets aimed at reducing concussions during the preseason — a trend that's reduced head injuries and could continue into the regular season.
Why it matters: Millions of kids and young adults play high-contact sports, and what the pros do will trickle down.
Hospitals are in an increasingly vulnerable position as Medicare Advantage enrollment surges and the federal government looks to take a harder line on health plans, S&P Global warns in a new report.
Why it matters: Financial pressures have already prompted providers like Scripps Health to terminate contracts with MA plans, leaving patients looking for new coverage arrangements or doctors.
For a third year, back-to-school preparations will include a scramble to find popular drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Why it matters: Despite signs from the Food and Drug Administration that manufacturers were catching up to outsized demand, the stimulants remain hard to track down with pharmacies out of stock and the Drug Enforcement Administration taking a harder line policing them.
An implant that responds to brain signals in real time was shown to ease symptoms of Parkinson's disease instantaneously in a limited trial of whether "closed loop" technology can help patients as they go about their daily lives.
Why it matters: It's an example of how deep brain stimulation combined with artificial intelligence can track a patient's brain activity for tremors, limb stiffness and other features of a condition that's diagnosed in almost 90,000 people in the U.S. each year.
