Idaho will enforce a first-in-the-nation ban on vaccine mandates in businesses and schools this summer after legislators on the last day of their session passed a revised "medical freedom" bill.
Why it matters: The ban reflects a growing distrust of immunizations among Americans that helped install vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the nation's top health official.
Nearly half of all U.S. counties will experience economic losses of at least $250,000 as a result of the Trump administration's planned cuts to indirect funding by the National Institutes of Health, per the Science & Community Impacts Mapping Project.
Why it matters: Much of the discourse around the cuts has focused on the impact to states or individual universities. But this data compiled from a consortium of universities shows just how widespread the effects of the cuts would be at the local level, researchers tell Axios.
Even before President Trump's announcement that he plans a "major tariff" on pharmaceuticals, the sector was getting hammered in the markets — and not just over concerns about higher costs.
Why it matters: Investors are also responding to broader uncertainty about the Food and Drug Administration and how the industry will be regulated, experts tell Axios.
More than 20 bills focused on menopause care have been introduced across at least 13 states so far this year.
Why it matters: Menopause education isn't just having a moment. Changes that could permanently reshape insurance coverage and health care resources are being set in motion.
Distracted driving is a pervasive problem on American roadways, and more states are cracking down.
Why it matters: Around 3,300 people died nationwide in crashes attributed to distracted driving in 2022, while another 289,000 were injured, according to the latest available National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data.
Private Medicare plans will get a more than $25 billion increase in federal payments for the 2026 plan year, according to a policy finalized by the Trump administration Monday.
Why it matters: The more than 5% payment bump is an unexpectedly big win for UnitedHealth Group, Humana, CVS Health and Elevance, among other big insurers.
China has pulled ahead of the United States in key areas of the life sciences, and the U.S. may only have a handful of years to regain dominance in the sector, according to an independent commission's report sent Tuesday to Congress and the White House.
Why it matters: Advanced biotechnology is critical to national security, public health and the ability to continue feeding the population.
