A watchdog group alleged Robert F. Kennedy Jr. committed voter fraud by registering for and voting in the 2024 election from a New York residence where he does not legally reside.
Why it matters: The complaint Accountable.US filed with the New York State Board of Elections on Wednesday marks yet another controversy for President-elect Trump's pick to lead America's health agencies.
A review of 74 medical studies links higher fluoride exposure to lower IQ in kids — but mostly draws on research that took place outside of the U.S. and had a high risk of biased results.
Why it matters: The federally funded analysis could further stoke the debate over adding fluoride to drinking water as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who's called for ending the practice, is poised to take over the Health and Human Services Department.
The Biden administration within days is expected to select the next batch of drugs that will be subject to Medicare price negotiations — a process that this time could include Novo Nordisk's blockbusters Ozempic and Wegovy.
Why it matters: The political appeal of bringing down the price of the wildly popular drugs and other medicines for seniors could outweigh deep misgivings in Republican circles about one of Democrats' most significant health policy achievements.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on Tuesday finalized a new rule banning medical debt from being included on credit reports.
Why it matters: The policy will remove medical debt from about 15 million Americans' credit reports, making it easier for them to obtain loans, per a CFPB press release.
Doctors are increasingly asking their patients about their needs for food and housing during medical appointments, but the frequency of such screening remains low, a new study shows.
The big picture: Asking about so-called social determinants of health doesn't necessarily mean patients in need are being referred to social service organizations that can help, but it's an important first step.
Telehealth brand Hims & Hers donated $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural committee, the company told Axios, becoming what's believed to be the first digital health firm to do so.
Why it matters: It joins major tech players the likes of Amazon and Meta, as well as drug giant Pfizer and PhRMA, which have each reportedly contributed in what's seen as a chance to earn goodwill with the incoming president.
Less than 0.1% of U.S. adolescents received drugs for gender-affirming care between 2018 and 2022, according to a study published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics.
Why it matters: Critics of gender-affirming care say the drugs are experimental and dangerous and warn of their overuse, but the new study led by Harvard University researchers suggests young people rarely receive them.
A rise in cases of human metapneumovirus in China is stoking fears of a new health crisis, though authorities and experts say prospects for a sequel to the COVID-19 pandemic are remote.
The big picture: HMPV is similar to respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and thought to account for about 1 in 10 respiratory illnesses in children. Though most cases are mild, some patients can develop a lower respiratory tract infection like pneumonia, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The Biden administration is a step closer to lowering the amount of nicotine in cigarettes after an 11th-hour proposal cleared a key White House review.
Why it matters: The Food and Drug Administration rule, whose precise language hasn't been made public, offers the administration one more chance to address the harms of smoking after it punted on banning menthol in tobacco products.
