aportes a la gestión necesaria para la sustentabilidad de la SALUD PÚBLICA como figura esencial de los servicios sociales básicos para la sociedad humana, para la familia y para la persona como individuo que participa de la vida ciudadana.
viernes, 20 de febrero de 2026
Sometimes, it would be unethical not to use AI in medicine When AI outperforms clinicians, its use shouldn’t be optional
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/20/ai-medical-ethics-doctors-unethical-not-use-ai/
By Morish Shah and Ami BhattFeb. 20, 2026
Shah is a master’s of precision health student at the University of Chicago. Bhatt is the chief innovation officer of the American College of Cardiology and inaugural chair of the FDA Digital Health Advisory Committee.
Biohackers and wellness influencers are pushing nicotine as part of their ‘stacks’ The stimulant that makes cigarettes so addictive is getting a reputational makeover
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/20/nicotine-wellness-startups-productivity-boost-legal-gray-area/
By Sarah ToddFeb. 20, 2026
Reporter, Commercial Determinants of Health
Rare Disease Month Developments – Part 3: The Ugly (just kidding) – See You at Rare Disease Week February 20, 2026 By Sarah Wicks & Mark A. Tobolowsky —
https://www.thefdalawblog.com/2026/02/rare-disease-month-developments-part-3-the-ugly-just-kidding-see-you-at-rare-disease-week/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rare-disease-month-developments-part-3-the-ugly-just-kidding-see-you-at-rare-disease-week
If Part 1 of our Rare Disease Month series highlighted The Good, and Part 2 addressed The Bad, Part 3 turns to The Ugly. And by “Ugly,’ we mean something entirely different – members of Hyman, Phelps & McNamara will be well represented at Rare Disease Week (RDW) on Capitol Hill next week, convened for the 15th consecutive year by the EveryLifeFoundation for Rare Diseases.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today's selections are on Black paramedics, limb lengthening, mammograms, gene-editing, and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/longer-looks-interesting-reads-you-might-have-missed-252/
Influencers Push Cognitive, Health Benefits Of Nicotine In Image Makeover
Influencers Push Cognitive, Health Benefits Of Nicotine In Image Makeover
Companies are now marketing “clean,” “modern” nicotine pouches with minimalist packaging, aimed at helping people “lock in” and achieve their goals. The catch is that most of these products have not been cleared by the FDA for sale in the U.S.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/influencers-push-cognitive-health-benefits-of-nicotine-in-image-makeover/
Wis. Bills To Expand Medicaid, Cancer Screenings Await Governor’s Signature
Wis. Bills To Expand Medicaid, Cancer Screenings Await Governor’s Signature
The Medicaid measure would extend coverage for new moms up to a year after giving birth. The second bill requires insurance companies to cover extra cancer screenings for women with dense breast tissue. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is expected to sign them next week, AP reported.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/wis-bills-to-expand-medicaid-cancer-screenings-await-governors-signature/
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Nurses Make Tentative Deal To End Walkout
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Nurses Make Tentative Deal To End Walkout
The last set of holdouts picketing for better working conditions will vote on whether to ratify the agreement in the coming days. Other companies making headlines include EmblemHealth, Community Health Systems, UnitedHealthcare, Change Healthcare, Banner Health, and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/newyork-presbyterian-hospital-nurses-make-tentative-deal-to-end-walkout/
FDA’s Top Drug Regulator To Examine Safety Of SSRIs And RSV Monoclonals
FDA’s Top Drug Regulator To Examine Safety Of SSRIs And RSV Monoclonals
Tracy Beth Høeg, the fifth director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research since last year, says she is prioritizing the health of women and babies. Meanwhile, ACIP is postponing its meeting set for next week. Plus, measles cases continue to spread.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/fdas-top-drug-regulator-to-examine-safety-of-ssris-and-rsv-monoclonals/
MAHA Supporters Reel As RFK Jr. Backs Trump’s Order To Produce Glyphosate
MAHA Supporters Reel As RFK Jr. Backs Trump’s Order To Produce Glyphosate
Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide for a slew of U.S. crops and also the chemical in the weed killer Roundup, which is under fire in scores of lawsuits that allege it causes cancer. Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, called the move a “middle finger to every MAHA mom.”
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/maha-supporters-reel-as-rfk-jr-backs-trumps-order-to-produce-glyphosate/
Veteran Furor Prompts VA To Halt Rule Tying Disability Ratings To Treatment
Veteran Furor Prompts VA To Halt Rule Tying Disability Ratings To Treatment
The new Department of Veterans Affairs rule would have factored in whether medication effectively treats an ailment in determining compensation for veterans with a disability. “Disabled veterans should never be forced to choose between following their doctor’s orders and protecting their earned benefits,” VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore said.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/veteran-furor-prompts-va-to-halt-rule-tying-disability-ratings-to-treatment/
jueves, 19 de febrero de 2026
Morning Briefing: Today's News Summaries Thursday, Feb 19 2026 8:45 AM +++ +++ ++
Morning Briefing: Today's News Summaries
Thursday, Feb 19 2026 8:45 AM
NIH Director Bhattacharya Takes On Double Duty Leading CDC — For Now
Jay Bhattacharya's acting role gives the Trump administration time to find a permanent replacement for ousted director Jim O'Neill. Plus, Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine application will be reviewed by the FDA after all.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/nih-director-bhattacharya-takes-on-double-duty-leading-cdc-for-now/
Trump's FDA To Require Only One Study For Drug Approvals, Not Two
In changing the longtime standard, administration officials aim to speed up the approval process. Also in the news: domestic production of glyphosate, fluoride in drinking water, and more
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/trumps-fda-to-require-only-one-study-for-drug-approvals-not-two/
More Pregnant People Are Putting Off Prenatal Care, CDC Data Indicate
Although nearly all racial and ethnic groups experienced a downward trend, minority groups had more of a decrease in early prenatal care. The report didn't touch on reasons for the shift in care, but doctors noted access has become challenging as maternity care deserts pop up across the nation.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/more-pregnant-people-are-putting-off-prenatal-care-cdc-data-indicate/
New National Specialty Care Coalition Will Focus On Rural Patient Access
More than 20 health systems have joined forces to improve health care access in rural and underserved communities, Modern Healthcare reported.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/new-national-specialty-care-coalition-will-focus-on-rural-patient-access/
NYU Langone Ends Transgender Youth Health Program, To Dismay Of Many
Months after the Trump administration proposed a withdrawal of federal funds from hospitals providing gender transition treatments to young people, NYU Langone has announced the end of its health program. Advocates are calling for the reinstatement of the program, while hoping the city and state will help fill gaps in care.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/nyu-langone-ends-transgender-youth-health-program-to-dismay-of-many/
Blood Tests May Give Patients A 'Clock' For Alzheimer’s Disease, Study Finds
Although the findings are not yet accurate enough to predict a patient’s exact trajectory, The Washington Post reports that scientists created a model that could use blood test results to forecast the start of symptoms within a margin of three to four years. Other public health news is on social media, foodborne bacteria, and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/blood-tests-may-give-patients-a-clock-for-alzheimers-disease-study-finds/
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/research-roundup-the-latest-science-discoveries-and-breakthroughs-56/
Viewpoints: ICE Is Causing A Health Crisis; FDA’s Reversal On Moderna Vaccine Can’t Undo The Damage
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/viewpoints-ice-is-causing-a-health-crisis-fdas-reversal-on-moderna-vaccine-cant-undo-the-damage/
The FDA’s Moderna pirouette is one more sign of chaos at the agency While the agency may get past the latest crisis, the volatility may be here to stay
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/18/moderna-fda-reversal-vinay-prasad/
By Matthew HerperFeb. 18, 2026
Senior Writer, Medicine, Editorial Director of Events
New FDA guidance for antibiotic use in food-producing animals prompts criticism over antibiotic resistance Critics argue the effort fails to consider the impact on human health
https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2026/02/18/fda-livestock-guidance-antibiotic-resistance-cows-pigs-chickens/
By Ed SilvermanFeb. 18, 2026
Pharmalot Columnist, Senior Writer
Upcoming meeting of federal vaccine panel may be postponed after HHS missed deadlines ACIP meetings have become closely watched signs of Trump administration’s intent
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/18/cdc-vaccines-acip-meeting-may-be-postponed/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8FlKaACI4b484SpzThsHDoF6wNuN7Kmike90X9MEg6KRJCTqAw169TdwFtARjtvW8_OvDual-1jiCTH4cisu2q_ZdSzQ&_hsmi=404443553&utm_content=404443553&utm_source=hs_email
By Chelsea CirruzzoFeb. 18, 2026
Washington Correspondent
Europe Targets Medicine Shortages, Supply Chain Gaps Jean-Bernard Gervais Medscape Europe February 18, 2026
Europe Targets Medicine Shortages, Supply Chain Gaps
Jean-Bernard Gervais
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/europe-targets-medicine-shortages-supply-chain-gaps-2026a100052k
Medscape Europe
February 18, 2026
FDA’s Latest Nudge to Phase Out Petroleum-Derived Color Additives February 19, 2026 By Riëtte van Laack —
https://www.thefdalawblog.com/2026/02/fdas-latest-nudge-to-phase-out-petroleum-derived-color-additives/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fdas-latest-nudge-to-phase-out-petroleum-derived-color-additives
As we previously reported, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and FDA have highlighted the removal of petroleum-based synthetic dyes which remain approved for use in food as a focus of the MAHA campaign. These dyes include FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2. Rather than rescinding the approvals for these petroleum-based synthetic dyes, a process that would involve time-consuming rulemaking and would require evidence that these color additives are unsafe, the Secretary and FDA have taken actions to “encourage” industry to voluntarily remove them from food products.
miércoles, 18 de febrero de 2026
Danaher To Acquire Medical Tech Firm Masimo For Nearly $10 Billion
Danaher To Acquire Medical Tech Firm Masimo For Nearly $10 Billion
Meanwhile, Prime Healthcare Foundation has acquired Central Maine Healthcare, and Tampa-based Moffitt Cancer Center plans an eastward expansion into Lakeland, Florida.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/danaher-to-acquire-medical-tech-firm-masimo-for-nearly-10-billion/
Proposed $7B Settlement Could Resolve Thousands Of Roundup Cancer Claims
Proposed $7B Settlement Could Resolve Thousands Of Roundup Cancer Claims
The settlement would still need the court's approval. However, it would guarantee a payout for cancer patients and would protect Bayer from higher costs should the Supreme Court rule against it when the case goes in front of justices in April.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/proposed-7b-settlement-could-resolve-thousands-of-roundup-cancer-claims/
Study Links Air Pollution To Increased Risk Of Alzheimer’s, Dementia
Study Links Air Pollution To Increased Risk Of Alzheimer’s, Dementia
Researchers examined data from more than 27.8 million Americans. There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, which affects about 57 million people worldwide. Plus: Alzheimer's affects women at an increased rate to men.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/study-links-air-pollution-to-increased-risk-of-alzheimers-dementia/
Illinois Wipes Out More Than $1.1B In Medical Debt From 500,000 Residents
Illinois Wipes Out More Than $1.1B In Medical Debt From 500,000 Residents
Illinois has spent about $10 million on the program so far, with each dollar spent equating to more than $100 of medical debt erased. Other news from around the nation comes out of Massachusetts, Wyoming, Florida, Connecticut, Hawaii, Michigan, and Maryland.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/illinois-wipes-out-more-than-1-1b-in-medical-debt-from-500000-residents/
CMS Will Cover Vaccines On Updated Schedule: ‘Go Get Your Measles Shot’
CMS Will Cover Vaccines On Updated Schedule: ‘Go Get Your Measles Shot’
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz is urging uptake of the MMR shot as the country's measles outbreak shows no signs of ending. He vowed that parents and patients will have access to inoculations and that the government will pick up the tab.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/cms-will-cover-vaccines-on-updated-schedule-go-get-your-measles-shot/
Military Rations Rife With Pesticides, Study Finds; US Floats ‘Real Food Pilot’
Military Rations Rife With Pesticides, Study Finds; US Floats ‘Real Food Pilot’
The Department of Health and Human Services has launched a program to improve meal quality at 20 military bases. Plus: Courts are receiving conflicting answers about the Trump administration's policy on pregnant detainees; the FDA no longer warns against junk autism treatments; and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/military-rations-rife-with-pesticides-study-finds-us-floats-real-food-pilot/
Editorial Biosecurity needs an expanded lens to remain effective The Lancet Planetary Health +++ +...
Global health burdens of plastics: a lifecycle assessment model from 2016 to 2040
Megan Deeney, MSca megan.deeney@lshtm.ac.uk ∙ Prof Lorie Hamelin, PhDb ∙ Claire Vialle, PhDc ∙ Prof Xiaoyu Yan, PhDd ∙ Rosemary Green, PhDa ∙ Joe Yates, MSca ∙ et al.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(25)00284-0/fulltext?dgcid=hubspot_update_feature_updatealerts_lanplh&utm_campaign=update-lanplh&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_D2EvqGbwXo_6R3red7yKZ6SWfuYE8NrDGU40GGkZf4blo7XhB2Vw2C8nGuhfWCcnmMwiNWcK_6D-8VqIaSAfIirRueQ&_hsmi=404132375&utm_content=403599203&utm_source=hs_email
Zero-emissions vehicle adoption and satellite-measured NO2 air pollution in California, USA, from 2019 to 2023: a longitudinal observational study
Sandrah P Eckel, PhDa eckel@usc.edu ∙ Futu Chen, PhDa ∙ Sam J Silva, PhDa,b ∙ Daniel L Goldberg, PhDc ∙ Jill Johnston, PhDd ∙ Lawrence A Palinkas, PhDe ∙ et al.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(25)00257-8/fulltext?dgcid=hubspot_update_feature_updatealerts_lanplh&utm_campaign=update-lanplh&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--9_5rULVDqZcfhts2o8wfkkL77zKJcHSr-dQY9i8YirdClHi_Pns0cACz-tztRYZL5Sb6zi1htcHa1KeeGH37Ek-zecA&_hsmi=404132375&utm_content=403599203&utm_source=hs_email
Mortality and long-term exposure to source-specific PM2·5: evidence from a national cohort study in China
Prof Xia Meng, PhDa,∗ ∙ Yuchang Zhou, PhDb,∗ ∙ Su Shi, MSa,∗ ∙ Prof Shuxiao Wang, PhDc ∙ Prof Maryam Zaid, PhDd ∙ Prof Hongliang Zhang, PhDe,† ∙ et al.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(25)00278-5/fulltext?dgcid=hubspot_update_feature_updatealerts_lanplh&utm_campaign=update-lanplh&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_LBU1BZwsWPY4ppUnPpC6zFVbRvAERuHNwIVOpedh4Qi8p2fzBsCXFR52M2toBPJnsonZoiBxlAirxh-UQzoPVnVl0Qw&_hsmi=404132375&utm_content=403599203&utm_source=hs_email
Editorial
Biosecurity needs an expanded lens to remain effective
The Lancet Planetary Health
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/issue/vol10no1/PIIS2542-5196(26)X2001-0
SOCIAL MEDIA AND MENTAL HEALTH: AP: Mark Zuckerberg Set To Testify In Watershed Social Media Trial ++ ++
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Newsweek: Study Of 27.8M Americans May Have Revealed Direct Alzheimer’s Cause
https://www.newsweek.com/health-alzheimers-disease-air-pollution-link-study-27m-americans-11534835?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_lf_T5Dqmo4nHsPH93N5Nfhokrj0LidJoB8o_jdf9Gdul9placuO2oxPC-M0X7VZjNa5Rysq60dglSbIQotiH0qlEfWg&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
Scientists have just found a direct link between air pollution and Alzheimer’s disease—suggesting that improving air quality could be an important way to prevent dementia and protect older adults. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, which affects about 57 million people worldwide, and there is currently no cure for it, making prevention is crucial. (Azzurra Volpe, 2/17)
MedPage Today: Alzheimer's Sex Gap: Similar Biomarkers, But Faster Decline For Women
https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/alzheimersdisease/119919?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--e_ReACwNRScZiJ7KTYQ2OXm2YrAqgOM8MnTt0o813MZtOhzayEAtSFDDZmeoW1y-A8cXK1DjFk6PL_0AtvVdjeZl6mA&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
Women had worse outcomes than men at similar levels of Alzheimer's disease pathology, data from a multi-cohort analysis suggested. (George, 2/17)
SOCIAL MEDIA AND MENTAL HEALTH
AP: Mark Zuckerberg Set To Testify In Watershed Social Media Trial
https://apnews.com/article/mark-zuckerberg-trial-testimony-instagram-c8cbaa32ccbf4933ec3a7beebd6cf34b?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_raI6676fZItlqNCrdwlotrsruE9KH8ffp4uxLqq017NNHkD6K48FQQFPLy3U6wn8EYhVzcGa1zu4xxRbb6IkPn_IMbg&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
Mark Zuckerberg will testify in an unprecedented social media trial that questions whether Meta’s platforms deliberately addict and harm children. Meta’s CEO is expected to answer tough questions on Wednesday from attorneys representing a now 20-year-old woman identified by the initials KGM, who claims her early use of social media addicted her to the technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts. Meta Platforms and Google’s YouTube are the two remaining defendants in the case, which TikTok and Snap have settled. (Huamani and Ortutay, 2/18)
The Baltimore Sun: Excessive Social Media Use Contributes To Loneliness
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/02/18/how-to-reduce-loneliness/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--a298rgU3KMRBIIlVpW06vA_wLdh8A2vsDqGvflSRPDMRFAcO07pqOH0oX8p5KPeRlm3CF2o9O2Nt7rNxIxAOXu4WKRg&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
More than half of college students say they are lonely, but those who spend 16 to 20 hours a week on social media are most likely to feel isolated, research shows. (Hille, 2/18)
PHARMACEUTICALS: AP: Bayer Strikes $7.25 Billion Deal To Settle Roundup Cancer Lawsuits +++ +++
PHARMACEUTICALS
AP: Bayer Strikes $7.25 Billion Deal To Settle Roundup Cancer Lawsuits
https://apnews.com/article/bayer-monsanto-roundup-lawsuits-settlement-154ad7c6bdff3a91b06c4e327321160b?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8IlVV8bK49QprQidrD5aAKLIiPJlhb7hfRq4M7MfdVT_PRIWBQcTn-fu2rL9DDORM6buoTlhlgLuvTDFj-Oe1cszMPLQ&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
Agrochemical maker Bayer and attorneys for cancer patients announced a proposed $7.25 billion settlement Tuesday to resolve thousands of U.S. lawsuits alleging the company failed to warn people that its popular weedkiller Roundup could cause cancer. The proposed settlement comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is preparing to hear arguments in April on Bayer’s assertion that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of Roundup without a cancer warning should invalidate claims filed in state courts. That case would not be affected by the proposed settlement. (Lieb, 2/17)
CBS News: Nationwide Shortage Of Estrogen Patches Has Forced South Jersey Women To Find Alternatives
https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/estrogen-shortage-hormone-replacement-therapy/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--uiReq70CC2RcHAOO4pP567NcdMgbmX0IJIlwgQvMwbvJ4Wf731FRqh1t8h43-06g1qUSCe3uBmO41MkgnjNaqE50p6A&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
A nationwide shortage of estrogen patches used for hormone replacement therapy has prompted many women to look for alternatives for treating symptoms of menopause. Prescriptions for HRT have increased 86%, according to one survey. But finding the popular estrogen patches is tricky now. Holly Sleppy, a 52-year-old who works at Virtua, shared her frustrations, which many menopausal women are feeling because of a shortage of the estrogen patches used to treat symptoms like hot flashes, irritability and brain fog. (Stahl, 2/17)
Bloomberg: Vitamin K Shot Safety: More Parents Skip Injection That's Not Vaccine
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-17/vitamin-k-shot-safety-more-parents-skip-injection-that-s-not-vaccine?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_XgVreRtrudh6BagZOTsMEsR7-SO4fKIfcji-DC6zgAy7sOO6arMD3435VrMlACDM1NPoJLty2K9fnxn_MRTt2mHIhvg&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
The 2-month-old baby arrived at the hospital with the type of bleeding in and around his brain that was so unusual Miami neurosurgeon Heather McCrea had only read about it in textbooks. The pooling blood indicated that the baby had a severe vitamin K deficiency — something usually prevented by a shot at birth. But his parents, like a growing number of Americans skeptical of injections, had declined to get the shot for their baby. (Nix, 2/17)
CIDRAP: FDA Issues New Guidance On Antibiotic Use In Food-Producing Animals
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/antimicrobial-stewardship/fda-issues-new-guidance-antibiotic-use-food-producing-animals?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9M2VV5VznBKNODmqVoGusMbbwglc6Xcavzpw7ZPPAkjRG6Do5U8zCp5mS2noMacnAuc7N5tmcXjELYHC2fRYDG8Bw5yQ&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released new guidance for veterinary drug makers to define how long medically important antibiotics should be used in livestock. (Dall, 2/17)
Stat: Compass Says Psilocybin Drug For Severe Depression Succeeds In Trials
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-17/sanofi-experimental-drug-helps-patients-with-bowel-disease?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_GaEMxtOykTYIu36qW-prm26DY91YlYENR2jAAtHyiIf24BpCxOkgjBe7YthuyitelzWpHjVCs_rsBM5_lTNeAJcAkmg&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
Compass Pathways on Tuesday disclosed results from two Phase 3 studies that support a potential approval of its psilocybin treatment for severe depression, but more detailed data are needed to determine how beneficial the drug would be for patients. (Chen, 2/17)
Bloomberg: Sanofi Experimental Drug Helps Patients With Bowel Disease
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-17/sanofi-experimental-drug-helps-patients-with-bowel-disease?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_GaEMxtOykTYIu36qW-prm26DY91YlYENR2jAAtHyiIf24BpCxOkgjBe7YthuyitelzWpHjVCs_rsBM5_lTNeAJcAkmg&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
Sanofi said an experimental medicine it’s developing with Teva Pharmaceuticals Inc. helped patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The benefits after treatment with the drug, duvakitug, were maintained over 44 weeks, Sanofi said in a statement. The 130 patients enrolled in the intermediate trial had ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Any positive news is key to Sanofi, which needs new medicines to replace its top-seller Dupixent as it ages. (Fourcade and Furlong, 2/17)
ON CAPITOL HILL: The Hill: Top Republican Eyeing FDA Overhaul ++
ON CAPITOL HILL
The Hill: Top Republican Eyeing FDA Overhaul
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5741597-cassidy-report-fda-innovation/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_L6tqM4eLghj_Cc9lU5fkKA8PlQj1psIyLh3KSCeBL5rWscjTxULTpCWy0sFAvZHyxBvjzjVmOUSWiCIUW66twTqfspA&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) on Tuesday unveiled his proposal for modernizing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), calling on the agency to reform some of its practices and embrace innovations in order to get more products approved for patients. In the report titled “Patients and families: Building the FDA of the future,” Cassidy, chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, lamented that “unnecessary bottlenecks slow patients and consumers getting the products they need.” (Choi, 2/17)
Politico: Why Congress Failed To Reach An Obamacare Deal
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/17/inside-congress-failed-battle-to-keep-obamacare-premiums-from-skyrocketing-00781825?utm_campaign=KHN:+First+Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9Rxc6AFDxKOEd4mkwIrlAqT_CbklL-HxWEMwyySSSdwcVj43xDr75SR0g9eoYxFLISEFQ3CXNL9WYswwdPc2Dq-YSTUA&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
Brian Fitzpatrick didn’t expect to find himself in the middle of a political brawl over health policy. The Pennsylvania Republican and former FBI agent doesn’t count the legislative area as a pillar of his portfolio. But early last fall, he joined a fledgling group of lawmakers incensed that House GOP leaders were doing nothing to extend enhanced Obamacare subsidies before they expired. The lack of action, they knew, would send health insurance premiums soaring come January 1. (King and Levien, 2/17)
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION: Bloomberg: CMS Head Oz Vows Continued Vaccine Coverage, Urges Measles Shots ++++++++
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
Bloomberg: CMS Head Oz Vows Continued Vaccine Coverage, Urges Measles Shots
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-17/cms-head-oz-vows-continued-vaccine-coverage-urges-measles-shots?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_6OMrCdN8TWCLplhzEtQsBaFijaEo6eZBJV1erAtFhC_3N3DhP8tcZBs16C2z_tjp7M4fvsuuBX7q1EfQQ6EqxLYQ3JA&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
Mehmet Oz, head of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, pledged continued insurance coverage for all recommended vaccinations in the country and urged people to get the measles shot as infections skyrocket. His comments come as the Trump administration remakes the nation’s approach to immunizations by promoting personal choice and backing away from once-universal endorsements of shots that have controlled deadly disease outbreaks. Changes to the vaccine schedule have added to mounting confusion over which vaccines will be covered by government programs that often pay for childhood shots. (Nix and Muller, 2/17)
Stat: PhRMA Forum Shows Industry Divide Between Dr. Oz, Marty Makary
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/17/pharma-forum-highlights-industry-divide-oz-makary/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--jNM1tJHERuGZWTgtBtGlI3xSOLPQtEiuO47Tv60V73XsIP-O9e5Z7HnurK2bn81sphQEVtbi0cBk7S10uMF1L3h7YdQ&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
Two of health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s top lieutenants struck decidedly different tones at a forum held Tuesday by the pharmaceutical industry group PhRMA. (Lawrence and Payne, 2/17)
Politico: Judges Decry Treatment Of Nursing And Pregnant Detainees In ICE Custody
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/18/pregnant-nursing-ice-detainees-00784683?nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b7bd0000&nname=playbook&nrid=dce3ff34-c71f-442e-88e6-704b5639b9f8
A Myanmar refugee, with a nursing five-month-old at home, whisked abruptly to Texas by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A Massachusetts woman in her third trimester, held under ICE’s guard at a hospital after experiencing medical distress in ICE detention. An Indian national who is three months pregnant and whose weight dropped to 90 pounds while in an ICE facility. Federal judges are sounding alarms about the Trump administration’s treatment of pregnant and nursing detainees in ICE custody — and the administration has given the courts conflicting, unclear answers about whether it is following its own policies that sharply restrict those detentions. (Cheney, 2/18)
ProPublica: RFK Jr.’s FDA No Longer Warns Against Ineffective, Potentially Dangerous Autism Treatments
https://www.propublica.org/article/rfk-jr-fda-removes-autism-treatments-warning?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8SsDGS6S-q8xNIxQm9FFlbUPLEg5yvhiZXlBywU_JZPBL0r8K9htjRlF8Xjd5Zcf4i3VU13dPDkbNl5IvqJJKvtIXaZg&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
The warning on the government website was stark. Some products and remedies claiming to treat or cure autism are being marketed deceptively and can be harmful. Among them: chelating agents, hyperbaric oxygen therapies, chlorine dioxide and raw camel milk. Now that advisory is gone. (O’Matz, 2/18)
The Hill: Trump Administration To Improve Food Quality Of Military Meals
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5741493-trump-administration-improves-military-food/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_P0AcYnyI9a-SjphAgWcxSLZDVw0YZclDRe37Mb0fn8NjUVoksWBSXNfJqGD4KjFKrRPsKQ01XZdLT4nN9Q6gyLzoCaw&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
The Trump administration is reportedly launching a new push to improve the quality of food at U.S. military bases after a study found that meals contained poor nutrients and harmful contaminants. The study, commissioned by Moms Across America in partnership with the Children’s Health Defense Military Chapter and Centner Academy, detected pesticides in 100 percent of sampled military meals, including Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MREs), rations and other cafeteria items. (Brams, 2/17)
The New York Times: Documenting A ‘Drastically Changing’ Scientific Landscape
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/insider/lost-science-research-cuts.html?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_5I6zDHtMxZXMhTlwHfntWcS7JxQclHEjQVw0uPgAyKi9EZZBakC-KFFZ3njR8Nl-43FftYptCEbV7qldfGwkn6jLQhQ&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
Since the Trump administration unfurled some of the deepest cuts to U.S. science funding in decades, thousands of jobs have been terminated or frozen at federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Park Service and the Environmental Protection Agency. Proposed budgets for this year include major cuts to organizations like NASA and the National Science Foundation. These cuts, some of them seemingly indiscriminate, have led to chaos and demoralization across the scientific community. (Otis, 2/17)
Modern Healthcare: How The Rural Health Transformation Program Could Boost PACE
https://www.modernhealthcare.com/post-acute-care/mh-rural-health-transformation-program-pace/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8n6uF0iVxPFUPAjSY3SOHLVNx3YemxXQZMRIL44UgqH42xxmGxDJ-b58zWSqpbDD83aRdChX0P3YQabAXAPsasJjfMag&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
The $50 billion Rural Healthcare Transformation program could be a boon to a Medicare-Medicaid program designed to keep older adults out of nursing homes, if regulations and low reimbursement rates don’t get in the way. Three states — Connecticut, West Virginia and Montana — plan to tap some of the federal funds they are receiving to launch Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. Another six states that already operate PACE — Rhode Island, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana — plan to use some of their funds to expand those efforts. (Eastabrook, 2/17)
Listen to the Latest ‘KFF Health News Minute’ February 17, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/listen-to-the-latest-kff-health-news-minute-2026/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9aibHeAzU6c7y6y2ABoV7FumWdbr-h3XxcsTtUh6xpGI0HGeGSK6jo1tOTqogcaRQPkTkdRmronMqfRKKQD2M8ukzPWg&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
KFF Health News: Listen To The Latest 'KFF Health News Minute'
Jackie Fortiér reads the week’s news: Moves by the Trump administration have slowed cancer research, and more of America’s doctors are working into their golden years. (Cook, 2/17)
Wyoming Wants To Make Its Five-Year Federal Rural Health Funding Last ‘Forever’ By Arielle Zionts February 18, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/wyoming-rural-health-transformation-funding-grants/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8EVfevFVcb1hae1px7paBK3ZCH5GMEIAjw19s5qiv0cVL-btzxF0sJ3wJgel2X7WsYHk7Em0SVUDPc4rRDQhGhfARL_Q&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
KFF Health News: Wyoming Wants To Make Its Five-Year Federal Rural Health Funding Last ‘Forever’
Wyoming officials say they have a plan to make five years of upcoming grants from a new $50 billion federal rural health program last “forever.” The state could tackle rural health issues long into the future by investing its awards from the Rural Health Transformation Program, the director of Wyoming’s health department, Stefan Johansson, told state lawmakers. But it’s unclear whether the maneuver will pass muster with the federal government. (Zionts, 2/18)
Red and Blue States Alike Want To Limit AI in Insurance. Trump Wants To Limit the States. By Darius Tahir and Lauren Sausser February 18, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/artificial-intelligence-ai-health-insurance-companies-state-regulation-trump/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_bClrhWbYS69DZr2d9i5vkKKQNMX4hD77STAfjkr-iyNtBri3TTw_OBuXHJxkZQdF-ccR0C4mo_XgiijabPkkhXiyghg&_hsmi=404283782&utm_content=404283782&utm_source=hs_email
KFF Health News: Red And Blue States Alike Want To Limit AI In Insurance. Trump Wants To Limit The States
It’s the rare policy question that unites Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and the Democratic-led Maryland government against President Donald Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California: How should health insurers use AI? Regulating artificial intelligence, especially its use by health insurers, is becoming a politically divisive topic, and it’s scrambling traditional partisan lines. (Tahir and Sausser, 2/18)
Rare Disease Month Developments, Part 2 –The Bad: Proposed Closing of an Orphan User Fee “Loophole” & Renewed Concerns Regarding FDA Consistency February 18, 2026 By James E. Valentine & Sara W. Koblitz & Mark A. Tobolowsky —
https://www.thefdalawblog.com/2026/02/rare-disease-month-developments-part-2-the-bad-proposed-closing-of-an-orphan-user-fee-loophole-renewed-concerns-regarding-fda-consistency/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rare-disease-month-developments-part-2-the-bad-proposed-closing-of-an-orphan-user-fee-loophole-renewed-concerns-regarding-fda-consistency
Rare Disease Month Developments, Part 1 – The Good: RPD PRV Program Renewed, FDA Rare Disease Hub’s 2026 Strategic Agenda & Plausible Mechanism Draft Guidance On Its Way
February 17, 2026
By Mark A. Tobolowsky & James E. Valentine & Frank J. Sasinowski —
https://www.thefdalawblog.com/2026/02/rare-disease-month-developments-part-1-the-good-rpd-prv-program-renewed-fda-rare-disease-hubs-2026-strategic-agenda-plausible-mechanism-draft-guidance-on-its-way/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rare-disease-month-developments-part-1-the-good-rpd-prv-program-renewed-fda-rare-disease-hubs-2026-strategic-agenda-plausible-mechanism-draft-guidance-on-its-way
HR Works Video Podcast: What is the Price of “Nice”? Pt. 2 By HR Daily Advisor Staff Feb 17, 2026 ++
https://hrdailyadvisor.hci.org/podcast/hr-works-video-podcast-what-is-the-price-of-nice-pt-2/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=hrda-daily
HR Works Video Podcast: What is the Price of “Nice”? Pt. 1
By HR Daily Advisor Staff Feb 10, 2026
https://hrdailyadvisor.hci.org/podcast/hr-works-video-podcast-what-is-the-price-of-nice/
martes, 17 de febrero de 2026
Compass says its psilocybin drug helped patients with severe depression in two trials Results support FDA approval, but it’s unclear how competitive the treatment will be
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/17/compass-pathways-comp360-psilocybin-severe-depression-trial-results/
By Elaine ChenFeb. 17, 2026
Elaine Chen, a national biotech reporter, is the co-author of The Readout, a newsletter about the business, science, and politics of biotech.
When IV opioids are in short supply at the hospital, who gets pain relief? We need an ethical framework for distributing pain medication
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/17/iv-opioid-shortages-ethics/
By Parker Crutchfield, Casey Chmura, and Abram BrummettFeb. 17, 2026
Crutchfield is a professor of medical ethics, humanities, and law at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. Chmura is a second-year resident in J. Willis Hurst Internal Medicine Residency Program. Brummett is an assistant professor of medical humanities and clinical bioethics at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine.
In a financial pinch, major health insurers are turning to AI for help Broadening efforts to cut costs and boost efficiency raise questions about trust and oversight
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/17/health-insurers-expand-ai-use-undermining-providers-trust/
By Casey RossFeb. 17, 2026
Chief Investigative Reporter, Data & Technology
Colorado Deals Losses To People With Disabilities, Minors Seeking Trans Care
Colorado Deals Losses To People With Disabilities, Minors Seeking Trans Care
A governor-appointed board has preliminarily approved cutting Medicaid disability services that paid for cleaning, cooking, and laundry services. Separately, a Denver judge on Friday sided against families who sued after Children’s Hospital Colorado halted gender-affirming care for youths.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/colorado-deals-losses-to-people-with-disabilities-minors-seeking-trans-care/
Eldercare Workers Lead Job Market Growth; Many Straddle Poverty Line
Eldercare Workers Lead Job Market Growth; Many Straddle Poverty Line
NBC News reports how nationwide nearly 4 million people work as home health or personal care aides. Most of them are women. Another roughly 1.5 million people work as nursing assistants. The pay for these roles is often just above the poverty line and below the national annual median wage.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/eldercare-workers-lead-job-market-growth-many-straddle-poverty-line/
HRSA Seeks Feedback On 340B Drug Rebate Pilot Program Reboot
HRSA Seeks Feedback On 340B Drug Rebate Pilot Program Reboot
After the first attempt at a 340B rebate pilot stalled in court in December, the Health Resources and Services Administration is looking into a pilot that would require 340B program participants to pay full price for covered medications up front, then receive a rebate from manufacturers later. This time it is requesting feedback from providers, drugmakers, and others before moving forward.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/hrsa-seeks-feedback-on-340b-drug-rebate-pilot-program-reboot/
US Stands To Lose Its Scientific Edge, Vaccine Maker Warns
US Stands To Lose Its Scientific Edge, Vaccine Maker Warns
Moderna claims the Food and Drug Administration moved the goalposts when it rejected the company's application for a new flu vaccine. Citing the uncertainty of innovation under the Trump administration, the CEO says the FDA's move “threatens U.S. leadership in innovative medicines.” Meanwhile, vaccine makers are readjusting their plans.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/us-stands-to-lose-its-scientific-edge-vaccine-maker-warns/
RFK Jr. Takes Aim At Ultra-Processed Food, Additives In Newest Reform Push
RFK Jr. Takes Aim At Ultra-Processed Food, Additives In Newest Reform Push
"Americans deserve to know what is in their food so they can make the best choices for their health,” an HHS statement released Monday said. No formal plan or timeline has yet been released. More MAHA news looks at pesticide reform, baby formula guidelines, autism diagnoses, and more.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/rfk-jr-takes-aim-at-ultra-processed-food-additives-in-newest-reform-push/
Indian Health Service To Stop Use Of Mercury Dental Fillings By Next Year
Indian Health Service To Stop Use Of Mercury Dental Fillings By Next Year
The amalgam fillings were reclassified from low to moderate risk by the FDA in 2009. Meanwhile, the Department of Veterans Affairs looks to expand access to dental care for the roughly 2.3 million veterans who currently qualify.
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/indian-health-service-to-stop-use-of-mercury-dental-fillings-by-next-year/
Consolidation and Integration in Health Care: What It Means for Patients, Payers, and Policy 18 feb 2026 02:00 p. m.
https://kff-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/7416575568873/WN__A8Y5s4KR1e0ERrVZa_kbQ?utm_campaign=KFF-Events&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8BEq26LOMUiTgpXSQ9ws4v86RpWfTvQdxiByQzRcMEsh04jHsYZ9BCYjdvPDyEevWxx5xeM063T1I7TPUJqoHklE3FGA&_hsmi=403674101&utm_content=403674101&utm_source=hs_email#/registration
Consolidation and Integration in Health Care: What It Means for Patients, Payers, and Policy
News reports across the country trumpet major mergers and consolidation involving health insurers, physician practices, pharmacy benefits managers, hospitals and health systems, and other providers, including many that integrate different services under a single umbrella. The current wave of consolidation and integration has federal and state policy makers examining how it affects competition, prices, and overall costs.
Tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET, three experts will join moderator Larry Levitt for an hour-long “Health Wonk Shop” discussion about health care consolidation and integration. During the event, panelists will discuss the motivations behind horizontal and vertical consolidation in health care, its potential to lower or raise costs, the implications for patients and payers, and how policy makers could respond.
Contact: Craig Palosky | 202.654.1369 | CraigP@kff.org
Town Hall – Clinical Decision Support Software, Final Guidance March 11, 2026
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-devices-news-and-events/town-hall-clinical-decision-support-software-final-guidance-03112026?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will host a town hall for industry and other interested parties to discuss updates to the Clinical Decision Support Software, Final Guidance, issued on January 6, 2026, and re-issued on January 29, 2026.
This guidance clarifies the FDA’s thinking on the types of clinical decision support (CDS) software functions that are excluded from the definition of device by the criteria in section 520(o)(1)(E) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This guidance further clarifies that the FDA’s existing digital health policies continue to apply to software functions that meet the definition of device, including those that are intended for use by patients or caregivers.
Dates: March 11, 2026
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET
Registration is not required.
https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/clinical-decision-support-software?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Clinical Decision Support Software
Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff
January 2026
Rare Disease Month Developments, Part 1 – The Good: RPD PRV Program Renewed, FDA Rare Disease Hub’s 2026 Strategic Agenda & Plausible Mechanism Draft Guidance On Its Way February 17, 2026 By Mark A. Tobolowsky & James E. Valentine & Frank J. Sasinowski —
https://www.thefdalawblog.com/2026/02/rare-disease-month-developments-part-1-the-good-rpd-prv-program-renewed-fda-rare-disease-hubs-2026-strategic-agenda-plausible-mechanism-draft-guidance-on-its-way/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rare-disease-month-developments-part-1-the-good-rpd-prv-program-renewed-fda-rare-disease-hubs-2026-strategic-agenda-plausible-mechanism-draft-guidance-on-its-way
February is Rare Disease Month, designated as such to raise awareness and to support the millions of individuals affected by rare diseases. It is also an extremely meaningful time for those of us at HPM who work regularly with sponsors to help get therapies to patients suffering with rare diseases despite the unique challenges getting these through the FDA approval gauntlet. That’s why we are thrilled to see this month start off with a bang, including the long-awaited renewal of the Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher (“RPD PRV”) program, the publication of FDA’s Rare Disease Innovation Hub’s Strategic Agenda for 2026, and a draft guidance on the Plausible Mechanism Pathway under review. At the same time, we have seen recent reminders that such challenges persist, which we will cover in a Part 2 blog post in the coming days.
lunes, 16 de febrero de 2026
Study explores how reversible RNA editing could transform future cardiovascular medicine
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260215/Study-explores-how-reversible-RNA-editing-could-transform-future-cardiovascular-medicine.aspx
Emerging research suggests reversible RNA editing mechanisms may influence heart disease biology while opening new avenues for biomarkers and next-generation cardiovascular therapies.
Why lung cancer in never smokers is rising and how targeted detection could reduce deaths
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260215/Why-lung-cancer-in-never-smokers-is-rising-and-how-targeted-detection-could-reduce-deaths.aspx
Researchers reveal why lung cancer in people who never smoked is increasing and explore how genetics, environmental exposures, and new screening strategies may help detect disease earlier and improve outcomes.
Role of food nutrients in reducing oxidative stress linked to micro- and nanoplastics
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260215/Role-of-food-nutrients-in-reducing-oxidative-stress-linked-to-micro-and-nanoplastics.aspx
Emerging research suggests certain dietary compounds may strengthen the body’s defences against microplastic exposure, but translating these findings into clinical practice will require much stronger human evidence.
Obesity sharply increases hospitalisation risk from infections, global analysis shows
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260215/Obesity-sharply-increases-hospitalisation-risk-from-infections-global-analysis-shows.aspx
Large international cohort data reveal that excess body fat may increase susceptibility to severe infections and substantially contribute to global infection mortality, underscoring prevention as a major public health priority.
Higher red meat intake links to greater diabetes odds in large US study
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260215/Higher-red-meat-intake-links-to-greater-diabetes-odds-in-large-US-study.aspx
Large-scale U.S. population data suggest that red meat consumption patterns may be associated with diabetes prevalence, whereas alternative protein choices may confer metabolic advantages.
Misinformation about COVID-19 Vaccines Cost the United States $2 Billion from Hospitalizations in 2021
https://academic.oup.com/healthaffairsscholar/advance-article/doi/10.1093/haschl/qxag037/8487365?rss=1&login=false
Misinformation is a major public health threat, as it leads to unnecessary illnesses, deaths, and costs to society. In 2021, misinformation was rampant for COVID-19 vaccines, where a large portion of the US population believed in vaccine misinformation and refused vaccination.
Air pollution increases physical disability progression in older adults
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260216/Air-pollution-increases-physical-disability-progression-in-older-adults.aspx
Tracking nearly 30,000 older Americans over eight years, researchers show that long-term exposure to common air pollutants may not only raise the risk of physical decline but also reduce the chances of recovery.
Global study reveals disparities in early-onset gastric cancer
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260216/Global-study-reveals-disparities-in-early-onset-gastric-cancer.aspx
Gastric cancer remains the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although its overall incidence has declined, early-onset cases—diagnosed before age 50—display unique biological and clinical patterns. These include diffuse histologic features, signet ring cell predominance, and poor prognosis. Environmental and lifestyle exposures, such as Helicobacter pylori infection, smoking, and high-salt diets, are known contributors. However, previous global studies have rarely focused exclusively on early-onset gastric cancer(EOGC). Due to these challenges, it is necessary to conduct in-depth research on the global distribution, risk factors, and future trends of EOGC to inform effective prevention
Excessive social media use linked to loneliness among U.S. college students
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260216/Excessive-social-media-use-linked-to-loneliness-among-US-college-students.aspx
More than half of college students are lonely – and those who use social media the most are particularly likely to feel isolated, a study of tens of thousands of 18 to 24-year-olds in the US shows.
Study quantifies the economic implications of living with HIV
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260216/Study-quantifies-the-economic-implications-of-living-with-HIV.aspx
A recent study, published in Nature Communications, shows that in the Netherlands, people who are diagnosed with HIV are less likely to be employed, work fewer hours, earn less income, and are more likely to receive disability benefits up to seven years after diagnosis.
Study explores perspectives of healthcare practitioners on environmental sustainability in healthcare
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260216/Study-explores-perspectives-of-healthcare-practitioners-on-environmental-sustainability-in-healthcare.aspx
Healthcare systems worldwide are increasingly recognizing the importance of environmental sustainability, yet little is known about how healthcare professionals perceive and implement sustainable practices in Kazakhstan. A new qualitative study explores the perspectives of Kazakhstani healthcare practitioners on environmental sustainability in healthcare and highlights key opportunities and challenges for building greener health systems.
Who Qualifies for the New FDA PreCheck Pilot Program? February 16, 2026 By Kalie E. Richardson —
https://www.thefdalawblog.com/2026/02/who-qualifies-for-the-new-fda-precheck-pilot-program/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=who-qualifies-for-the-new-fda-precheck-pilot-program
FDA is now accepting submissions to its PreCheck Pilot Program, which is the Agency’s latest initiative to increase domestic production of pharmaceuticals. The two-phase structure of the Program and its benefits to industry, which we previously detailed in connection with the Onshoring Manufacturing of Drugs and Biological Products Public Meeting, have not significantly changed. However, FDA has now provided specific eligibility and selection criteria for the PreCheck Pilot Program and a timeline for next steps.
domingo, 15 de febrero de 2026
Hospital Spending Accounted for 40% of the Growth in National Health Spending Between 2022 and 2024 Authors: Jamie Godwin, Zachary Levinson, and Tricia Neuman Published: Feb 11, 2026
https://www.kff.org/health-costs/hospital-spending-accounted-for-40-of-the-growth-in-national-health-spending-between-2022-and-2024/?utm_campaign=KFF-This-Week&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Ekxt_LvnvyM1Cpx96jIm-Nm9bTl2l6LKf_bM2vplqRflJOBGPZ3SNSs04WGprVL4xyAtera9ch303QcaBK6cwR0V13g&_hsmi=403610529&utm_content=403610529&utm_source=hs_email
National spending on health has increased rapidly over time—rising to $5.3 trillion and 18% of GDP in 2024—and is projected to continue to do so into the future. This analysis examines the extent to which hospital spending has contributed to the growth in national health expenditures in recent years and over the long term.
Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plans Revisited: Lessons Learned from a Decade of Implementation
https://academic.oup.com/healthaffairsscholar/advance-article/doi/10.1093/haschl/qxag036/8470714?rss=1&login=false
Originally introduced in *Health Affairs* in 2013, Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plans (SCAMPs) are clinician-developed, modifiable care pathways designed to reduce unwarranted variation and optimize resource use while preserving professional judgment. Unlike traditional clinical practice guidelines that prescribe “best” practice, SCAMPs begin with consensus-based “sound” practice and emphasize iterative learning from real-world deviations and outcomes. Initially developed for conditions with limited evidence, SCAMPs have since expanded across a wide range of diagnoses and care settings.
State Laws that Address Workplace Violence in Healthcare Settings
https://academic.oup.com/healthaffairsscholar/advance-article/doi/10.1093/haschl/qxag022/8471765?rss=1&login=false
Workplace violence (WPV) against health care workers is a long-standing challenge that impacts the well-being of workers and patients. State legislative efforts to address WPV against health care workers have accelerated in recent years, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shared Labor—Public Private Partnerships for Maternal Health Equity
https://academic.oup.com/healthaffairsscholar/advance-article/doi/10.1093/haschl/qxag038/8472953?rss=1&login=false
The United States faces a worsening maternal health crisis, with mortality rates far exceeding those of peer nations and persistent inequities for Black, Indigenous, and rural women. Medicaid finances over 40% of U.S. births, yet fiscal pressure, heightened scrutiny of program spending, and political resistance to benefit expansion constrain states’ ability to adopt new maternal health interventions. In this environment, outcome-indexed public–private partnerships (PPPs) offer a pragmatic pathway to advance maternal health equity while tying expenditures to measurable value.
The Timeliness of Health Plan Drug Coverage Policy Changes to FDA Label Revisions
https://academic.oup.com/healthaffairsscholar/advance-article/doi/10.1093/haschl/qxag034/8482729?rss=1&login=false
Health plan coverage policies determine specialty drug access and should reflect evolving standards of care; however, the timeliness of policy updates remains unclear.
Unsafe, Not Effective, $3.2 Million Per Dose: Why Is This Drug Still Available? Robert M. Kaplan February 11, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/unsafe-not-effective-3-2-million-per-dose-why-drug-still-available?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8ewAGzaN5lB67BjjLmKVbblzizyoB30RKxSM43aMIwFvtZBCy0vBq15syuTeBV2bo-Bq4hE6G_UG8UJ9E5XbJS3Cc7ig&_hsmi=403582794&utm_source=hasu
On June 20, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval for Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec), a gene-transfer therapy for boys four years and older with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The price for a single infusion was listed at $3.2 million, making Elevidys one of the most expensive medicines in the world.
Financial Fix, Quality Flaw: Lessons From Pennsylvania’s Rural Health Model Dinesh R. Pai February 11, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/financial-fix-quality-flaw-lessons-pennsylvania-s-rural-health-model?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--rf1mND4lv7FdmfuBuUEv990zCMviMf9t2yQSG5Ku60WC6cXoaWnIwBLuNwapZiosIYM5xl0H4FkbBS9NcLQweVmyavQ&_hsmi=403582794&utm_source=hasu
The financial collapse of the US’s rural hospitals remains one of the most persistent and urgent crises in health care policy. Since 2005, more than 180 rural hospitals have shuttered, and more than a quarter of those remaining face imminent financial ruin. This instability does more than threaten balance sheets; it hollows out patient access to care and destabilizes the economic bedrock of entire communities.
A System Built For Ordinary Times: Why US Vaccine Policy Fails When It Matters Most Ram Koppaka February 13, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/system-built-ordinary-times-why-us-vaccine-policy-fails-matters-most?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9DQWwNMUkrmg147PeHFYcvAcG16sU-n2URM-tTYFhimTyWw-WZbPnUTQJ4rIiWPyIFZtFvEaHs3d38Yt3VNNLzfZSMhw&_hsmi=403582794&utm_source=hasu
This article is the latest in the Health Affairs Forefront featured topic, “Health Policy at a Crossroads,” produced with the support of the Commonwealth Fund and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Articles in this topic offer timely analysis of regulatory, legislative, and judicial developments in health policy under the Trump-Vance Administration and the 119th Congress.
Time For State-Based Single Payer: The New York Health Act Ashley M. Fox Martha Livingston Len Rodberg Richard Gottfried February 9, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/time-state-based-single-payer-new-york-health-act
With the recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act, the fate of millions of Americans’ health care coverage hangs in the balance. Although implementation of the largest cuts have been pushed off to 2028, the Congressional Budget Office’s latest cost estimates show that the law will reduce federal Medicaid spending by $793 billion and increase the number of uninsured people by 7.8 million. A separate study suggests that as many as 16,642 people annually could lose their lives as a result of these cuts. In New York, initial estimates suggest that Medicaid cuts will cost New York State $13.5 billion a year and that one in five New Yorkers could lose health insurance as a result of federal cuts.
What Precision Prevention Misses: A Migration-Informed Approach To Risk Chul S. Hyun February 12, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/precision-prevention-misses-migration-informed-approach-risk
Over the past decade, health policy and clinical practice have increasingly embraced precision medicine. Advances in genomics, molecular diagnostics, and biomarker-driven care have transformed how disease is classified, diagnosed, and treated, reshaping expectations for individualized care and driving innovation across health systems. In parallel, the concept of precision prevention has emerged, emphasizing targeted preventive strategies based on differential risk. Much of this progress has focused on incorporating genomic, biomarker, and individualized risk information into prevention frameworks, extending the logic of precision medicine upstream.
Beyond Star Ratings: Proposal For A Medicare Advantage Transparency Scorecard Elizabeth Fowler Isabelle Jouve Angela Liu Purva Rawal February 10, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/beyond-star-ratings-proposal-medicare-advantage-transparency-scorecard
A previous Forefront article by these authors described how a two-tier framework—reformed Stars Ratings and a comprehensive Medicare Advantage (MA) Transparency Scorecard on non-clinical dimensions—can better reflect overall plan performance, improve accountability, and strengthen quality measurement across MA. This second article delves further into the ways in which the scorecard can support accountability and provide policy makers with timely insights into plan performance beyond clinical quality.
HHS Proposes Sweeping Changes For 2027 Marketplace Plans (Part 2) Katie Keith Matthew Fiedler February 13, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/hhs-proposes-sweeping-changes-2027-marketplace-plans-part-2?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_XcRNG4CHL-APPgQT09PhsJuCqK88nkDDRdJP4mq7uqqfRQuocpNq9c1O1wUTBj4zhFtdGyAUCB5U_kEBpXdmuJ-benw&_hsmi=403582794&utm_source=hasu
This article is the latest in the Health Affairs Forefront featured topic, “Health Policy at a Crossroads,” produced with the support of the Commonwealth Fund and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Articles in this topic offer timely analysis of regulatory, legislative, and judicial developments in health policy under the Trump-Vance Administration and the 119th Congress. Matthew Fiedler wrote the section of this article on risk adjustment; Katie Keith wrote the other sections of the piece.
HHS Proposes Sweeping Changes For 2027 Marketplace Plans (Part 1) Katie Keith February 11, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/hhs-proposes-sweeping-changes-2027-marketplace-plans-part-1?utm_campaign=forefront&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9wJDM3gJfi49UOrB0lUsczyhmvCnjDctDyiVANCdWjmTzwTu_TnBDmCrOGV_qhJAXJp2I4tottrLozjywWsfs1NhO1yA&_hsmi=403582794&utm_source=hasu
This article is the latest in the Health Affairs Forefront featured topic, “Health Policy at a Crossroads,” produced with the support of the Commonwealth Fund and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Articles in this topic offer timely analysis of regulatory, legislative, and judicial developments in health policy under the Trump-Vance Administration and the 119th Congress.
New Cost-Sharing Requirements In Medicaid: Considerations For State Implementation Betsy Q. Cliff Richard Hirth February 12, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/new-cost-sharing-requirements-medicaid-considerations-state-implementation
This article is part of a Health Affairs Forefront featured topic, Medicaid Financing. The featured topic includes analysis, proposals, and commentary that will inform policies on the state and federal levels to address sustainability, efficiency, and access to care in Medicaid programs. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the deadline. Health Affairs Forefront alone reviews all submissions then selects, edits, and publishes them only if they meet Forefront’s editorial standards. We are grateful to Arnold Ventures for supporting this work.
Podcast: Medical Debt After Hospitalization: The Financial Fallout Rob Lott John W. Scott February 10, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hp20260205.501155/full/?utm_campaign=podcast&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9GRazlMoKdS-YjtthreztGUppcz4oqxeHt6kJTtyN27fHLQAK8qYfh3C2M9dQG-kT2TSYsUfUk7m9Z4MdVHDDB6l87xA&_hsmi=403582794&utm_content=ahp&utm_source=hasu
Health Affairs' Rob Lott interviews John Scott of the University of Washington about his recent paper exploring findings on the financial fallout from traumatic injuries, highlighting persistent medical debt burdens and the policy gaps that leave many patients unprotected.
Podcast: 2025 Dietary Guidelines: Protein, Policy, and the Ultra-Processed Foods Problem February 13, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hp20260211.486814/full/?utm_campaign=this%20week&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--3DzM54vawPSv3aOJkgkVfW2hAl2eODZZfFSS5U8_BOqnVfBvfy9TbmCJQS21qaQwzUBvMEAG1Wd2l9Sxc1bBJt84aHQ&_hsmi=403582794&utm_source=hasu
Health Affairs' Jeff Byers welcomes dietitian Jenny Lo from Wellness and Sports Dietetics to discuss the recently revised dietary guidelines for Americans. They discuss what's changed, the emphasis on protein, the ambiguity over ultraprocessed foods, and the best advice she gives to new clients looking to make dietary changes.
When Cost Control Ignores the Data: Why the IRA Fails to Address Cardiovascular Disparities Gary A. Puckrein, PhD, National Minority Quality Forum | February 9, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/sponsored-content/when-cost-control-ignores-the-data-why-the-ira-fails-to-address-cardiovascular-disparities?utm_campaign=34032557-Health%20Affairs%20Sunday%20Update%202026&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--4jBvnMgbny5hP3CkU2GiCVY3uJTf4PrVTfD9Ol-JCY91KMA-MHfo4_c0DUZHxCo7CAsP1ggjh08vIdCl7MlK3-GT7WA&_hsmi=403582794&utm_content=403582794&utm_source=hs_email
The Inflation Reduction Act's (IRA) drug price negotiation provisions are celebrated as a watershed moment in American healthcare policy. Yet this celebration obscures a fundamental truth: government price controls are the wrong approach to healthcare cost reduction. By underpaying for products and services, government—acting as monopoly purchaser by force of law—distorts the marketplace, creating a host of adverse clinical and financial outcomes. The apparent benefit of government price controls is a mirage.
What Excites Insiders About Health Care in 2026? Michael S. Gerber Renée M. Landers Martin Cauz Mark Speicher February 25, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/he20260122.74703/full/?utm_campaign=insidermarketing&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--x_5APJUR0JDmAE4shykH1TA5ciFd4Ks3pRPxMlAbusbEdJydzRQ0iFQJ-7pGg8URMmoYTi8RLkKwdS8rvBO6ojWGfQQ&_hsmi=403582794&utm_content=eventspecific&utm_source=hasu
Join Health Affairs on February 25 for an exclusive Insider virtual event featuring Insider members discussing what excites them about health care for 2026.
Moderated by Health Affairs’ Michael Gerber, presenters include:
Martin Cauz from Beechwood Consulting Group on the financial challenges facing skilled nursing facility operators.
Renée Landers from Suffolk University Law School on the Health Equity Compact and its aims to embed equity in all policies and programs involving health expanding.
Mark Speicher from American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine on community-based training models to connect educational programs for the health care workforce.
The FDA and Its Changing Relationship to Industry Genevieve Kanter Holly Fernandez Lynch Rachel Sachs Chris Meekins February 17, 2026
https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/he20260116.623606/full/?utm_campaign=insidermarketing&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_BqSFmkL80a6RH-eGwOZUPQkV_O0TeCdO_SJTqJs-S0r037JYhC6lOCOjTC-GkAAGQhNuQTOdwZmr2Ykg5gMdnSPyI1Q&_hsmi=403582794&utm_content=eventspecific&utm_source=hasu
Join Health Affairs on February 17 for an exclusive Insider virtual event exploring recent changes at the FDA and what it means for industry and consumers.
Moderated by Rachel Sachs from Washington University in St Louis, speakers include:
Genevieve Kanter, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
Holly Fernandez Lynch, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Chris Meekins, Raymond James
sábado, 14 de febrero de 2026
Major shakeup underway at HHS as White House braces for midterms Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill and General Counsel Mike Stuart are exiting HHS, while other officials are being promoted
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/13/hhs-leadership-changes-rfk-jr-hhs-midterm-elections/
By Chelsea CirruzzoFeb. 13, 2026
Washington Correspondent
Obamacare Sign-Ups Drop, but the Extent Won’t Be Clear for Months By Julie Appleby February 10, 2026
https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/affordable-care-act-aca-obamacare-sign-ups-subsidies-higher-premiums/?utm_campaign=KHN%20-%20Weekly%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_qqGO3jEU16cnQMVIjbJR9pRYyXsclh3-ldOYXSF-fiOehB7r51Y0XpAffLpuCpiy7hYUK5Rudarxxraj8-FIUNhXSqg&_hsmi=403598782&utm_content=403598782&utm_source=hs_email
Hello! I’m Julie Appleby, a senior correspondent at KFF Health News, where I cover all things health insurance. Send tips to jappleby@kff.org.
By Julie Appleby
It’s February, so open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act is over. We’re getting the first glimpses of how sign-ups are shaking out after the expiration of enhanced subsidies that helped most people with their premium costs.
https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2024-12/59230-ARPA.pdf?utm_campaign=KHN%20-%20Weekly%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8XziupykqD02aTEiAKI3KFvBiUMlRMd9N3tsqvalhuf7pUMwiKOaXK2xL3H0GOqSgCzMvy2gLtH2EPdLLonk5PHbPFAA&_hsmi=403598782&utm_content=403598782&utm_source=hs_email
While more Americans enrolled than some policy analysts had expected, the number was still 1.2 million below what it was at the same time last year. And experts say it will be months until the numbers are final. The timing will depend on how many of those people who signed up for coverage actually pay their premiums and remain enrolled.
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/marketplace-2026-open-enrollment-period-report-national-snapshot-2?utm_campaign=KHN%20-%20Weekly%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9ubePAl9jZ6e7VHyAxyIb47Ku3paDPdD-6TmbMRhk1HmeKKqOoWJr1au0bO3E1eGweYMek_rSPgimR0mDdF6KDrl97MQ&_hsmi=403598782&utm_content=403598782&utm_source=hs_email
In coming weeks, “consumers may find they really can’t afford the premiums and cancel their plans, while carriers may also cancel coverage for nonpayment,” said Pat Kelly, executive director of Your Health Idaho, a state-based ACA marketplace, during a Jan. 22 call with reporters.
The drop comes after several years of record-breaking enrollment, with 24.2 million sign-ups for the 2025 enrollment year. Enrollment growth took off after enhanced subsidies — which lowered the amount most households had to pay out of their own income toward premiums and removed an upper-income cap — went into effect during the Biden administration. Lawmakers, in adopting the enhanced subsidies, set an expiration date of Dec. 31, 2025.
Congressional debate over extending those more generous subsidies was heated, even leading to the longest-ever government shutdown. Now, the subsidies are back to their original level, and people who earn more than four times the federal poverty rate (about $62,600 for an individual or $84,600 for a couple) can’t qualify for any at all.
https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/extending-enhanced-premium-tax-credits-things-stand?utm_campaign=KHN+-+Weekly+Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--ytsej2pYQxJi6kq8YnFet3pDIolOOW5cMNPACWIFeQmbFdiuGjTi7CR_bpzDd3H_zwq15Wy2iywGS5eRMHMSMEA8_qw&_hsmi=403598782&utm_content=403598782&utm_source=hs_email
https://statemarketplacenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/SMN-Open-Enrollment-Data-January-2026-Factsheet.pdf?utm_campaign=KHN%20-%20Weekly%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9GhCmqGDT9tW7AEiohdOjTEG4DDPkLQ9_FAbY5-EgexOWUu_23vlrjI0bGeYzaNMSsWPAmcpGLjr8KctTQuWJPx76zRA&_hsmi=403598782&utm_content=403598782&utm_source=hs_email
Falling enrollment was seen in most states this year, with the biggest drop in North Carolina, where sign-ups fell by nearly 22%, federal data shows.
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/marketplace-2026-open-enrollment-period-report-national-snapshot-2?utm_campaign=KHN%20-%20Weekly%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--5UOhIRjrrnJ69UXGs-nuKC3WxNyMyW5SYk9-4XXPTtsKdXKaedNMxb_9H3H8lNVjjq2Do0x-SynAtp3qI-1iwVuOQHA&_hsmi=403598782&utm_content=403598782&utm_source=hs_email
In a few places — including New Mexico, Texas, and Maryland, as well as the District of Columbia — the number of people selecting ACA plans increased.
The jump was largest in New Mexico, with its tally of people selecting plans up by nearly 18%. Increases were in the single digits in the other states and Washington, D.C.
New Mexico — uniquely — used its own tax dollars to fully offset the loss of the more generous federal tax subsidies for all consumers. A few other states, including California, Colorado, Maryland, and Washington, used state money to help some enrollees.
We’ll keep watching to see how this unfolds over the coming weeks.