The Trump administration's push to reshore drug development is becoming part of efforts to renew the user fee system that pays for review of new medicines.
Why it matters: "America First" incentives the administration is proposing would add a political twist to what's been a bipartisan process, but could gain favor as policymakers look for ways to reduce dependence on China.
The Food and Drug Administration is considering evaluating generative AI-enabled medical devices through a "competency-based approach," similar to how doctors are evaluated, the agency writes in a discussion paper first shared with Axios.
Why it matters: Emerging medical technologies are challenging the existing framework for overseeing medical devices, prompting calls for new approaches.
Vaccination rates among American kindergartners decreased during the 2025–2026 school year for all tracked vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Monday.
Exemptions from getting one or more vaccines increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia, growing to 4.2% from 3.6% the year before.
The early days of the cyclospora outbreak were dominated by uncertainty about what was safe to eat and what wasn't, with both social and traditional media filled with speculation and panic-inducing headlines.
Why it matters: Today's media ecosystem abhors a vacuum. Whenever there's a lack of official, verifiable information, speculation and disinformation will rush in.
Young people raised on swiping, DMing and streaming are doing something bold: going out.
Why it matters: Amid a loneliness epidemic, millennials and Gen Zers are craving IRL connection — enough to show up for meetups built around activities once considered solitary, or "grandma hobbies."
America is experiencing its biggest prescription drug price deflation in generations.
Why it matters: By one important measure, there is a striking reversal underway for one of health care's most stubbornly expensive necessities amid a major Washington push to lower drug costs.
One of health care's biggest administrative hassles — waiting for an insurer's approval for doctor-ordered care — is on the verge of getting a technological fix.
Why it matters: The federal government's long-promised effort to modernize prior authorization is beginning to show up in the software doctors use every day.
