A study of more than 2 million Veterans Health Administration patient records found GLP-1 drugs lowered the likelihood of dozens of health conditions including Alzheimer's disease but also had some unexpected risks.
Why it matters: The review in Nature Medicineprovides some of the most compelling evidence yet that the blockbuster drugs for weight loss have widespread health benefits.
For most of the Biden administration, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure presided over Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and the Affordable Care Act, which combined now insure more than 100 million people.
The big picture: As CMS administrator,Brooks-LaSure kept a relatively low profile but rolled out policies that brought the uninsured rate to historic lows and implemented the first government drug price negotiations. Many voters were unaware of the accomplishments.
Mehmet Oz is in line to succeed her, pending Senate confirmation.
The Trump administration inherited some big health policy headaches on Monday. And the nature of federal rules means it can't start from scratch on key questions about surprise billing, coverage of GLP-1s and prescribing controlled substances.
The big picture: All eyes will be on Trump health appointees as they sort through unfinished business from the Biden years.
President Trump took the first step toward rolling back protections for transgender people on Monday, signing an executive orderthat the federal government would only recognize two sexes, male and female.
Why it matters: Trump made attacks on transgender individuals a central focus of his 2024 campaign, and by issuing the executive order on his first day in office, signaled the importance of the issue in his second term.
The big picture: The U.S. is the WHO's top donor, contributing about $130 million per year to help cover its global health preparedness and response, along with efforts to address HIV, tuberculosis, and childhood vaccination, per Devex.
President Biden on Monday added to his record for the most pardons and sentence commutations in a single presidential term when he issued preemptive pardons to protect his family and others before leaving office.
Why it matters: Public attitude on criminal justice and prosecutions for non-violent crimes has shifted dramatically in recent decades. While much of Biden's legacy is set to be eroded by President-elect Trump, his use of presidential clemency power could be remembered.
