January 2025 Health News Roundup

Topics in this News Roundup

• Cancer
• Cardiology
• Children's Health
• Chronic Health Conditions
• COVID-19
• Criminalization of Medicine
• Disabled Populations
• Endocrinology
• Environmental Health
• Financial Concerns
• Flu Season
• Food Safety
• Gastrointestinal Health
• Good News
• Government and Advocacy
• Health Care Systems
• Health Equity and Access to Care
• Health Technology
• Immunology
• Infectious Disease
• Insurance
• Measles Outbreak
• Medical Care
• Medicare and Medicaid
• Medications and Prescribing
• Mental and Behavioral Health
• Neurology
• Obesity and Weight Loss
• Physicians
• Public Health
• Reproductive and Sexual Health
• Respiratory Health
• Rheumatology
• Rural Populations
• Social Factors Affecting Health
• Substance Use and Treatment
• Vaccination
• Veterans' Health

Cancer

• Lower Cancer Survival Seen for Residence in Redlined Neighborhoods (HealthDay, 1/27/25)
• Breast cancer survivors with BRCA mutations at greater risk for second primary malignancies (Healio, 1/17/25)
• Cancer deaths are declining, but diagnoses are rising especially among younger women (National Public Radio, 1/16/25)
• Breast Cancer Mortality by Clinical Stage: Low-Risk Cancers Cause Most Breast Cancer Deaths Each Year (American Society of Clinical Oncology, 1/15/25)
• FDA Bans Red No. 3 Artificial Dye in Food, Ingested Drugs (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/15/25)
• Lung Cancer Screening Facilities Least Accessible to American Indian/Alaska Native Patients, Rural Communities (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/13/25)
• Skin Cancer Disparities Persist in Latine/Hispanic Population (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/11/25)
• Maternal Cancers Detected Through Prenatal Blood Tests (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/10/25)
• Dietary Calcium Cuts Colorectal Cancer Risk by 17% (Medscape, 1/8/25)
• Revolutionizing Lung Cancer Care: The Impact of Liquid Biopsies (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/1/25)

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Cardiology

• Flossing Linked to Lower Risk for Ischemic, Cardioembolic Stroke, A-Fib (HealthDay, 1/31/25)
• Heart Health Risk Factors Continue To Increase (HealthDay, 1/28/25)
• Add Anxiety and Depression to CVD Risk Prediction Model? (Medscape, 1/15/25)
• Is Assisted Reproductive Technology Associated With CV Risk? (American College of Cardiology, 1/10/25)

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Children's Health

• Increase Seen in Infant Mortality From Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (HealthDay, 1/31/25)

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Chronic Health Conditions

• General
  • American College of Preventive Medicine Sends Incoming Trump-Vance Administration Recommendations to Prevent Chronic Disease and Invest in Public Health (American College of Preventive Medicine, 1/15/25)
  • (New Hampshire) NHMS Secures a Planning Grant to Research the Impact of Chronic Disease (NH Medical Society, 1/3/25)
• Asthma
  • Asthma Treatment: Nearly 1 in 6 Patients Nonadherent Due to Cost Concerns (Pulmonology Advisor, 1/22/25)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Study: People with ADHD have shorter life expectancy, higher risk of mental health issues (WMUR, 1/25/25)
  • New Research Highlights Trends in ADHD Diagnoses (American Psychiatric Association, 1/13/25)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Prevalence of Dementia Among US Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/2/25)
• Cystic Fibrosis
  • Novel Once-Daily Cystic Fibrosis Treatment Matches Standard Therapy in Phase 3 Trials (Medscape, 1/22/25)
• Diabetes
  • Meta-Analysis Links Metformin to Lower Dementia Risk in T2D (Medscape, 1/23/25)
  • Continuous Glucose Monitoring Can Predict Microvascular Complications in Type 1 Diabetes (HealthDay, 1/22/25)
  • Younger age at type 2 diabetes diagnosis tied to higher dementia risk (Endocrine Today, 1/7/25)
  • Oral Glucose-Lowering Agents vs Insulin for Gestational Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/6/25)
• Epilepsy
  • Gestational Eclampsia Linked to Fivefold Epilepsy Risk (Medscape, 1/7/25)
• HIV/AIDS
  • Poor Oral Health Quality of Life Found in Frail Patients With HIV (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/31/25)
  • Over-the-Counter HIV Test Approved for Adolescents (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/8/25)
  • Lockdowns Led to Altered Regulation of Inflammatory Responses in People Living with HIV (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/3/25)
  • Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir Could Support HIV Prevention in Vulnerable Populations (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/3/25)
• Huntington's Disease
  • Surprise finding sheds light on what causes Huntington’s disease, a devastating fatal brain disorder (AP, 1/16/25)
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Metrics From Wearable Devices Can Predict IBD Flares (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/27/25)
  • Early Onset Active IBD Linked to Higher Rates of Psychiatric Disorders, Medication Use (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/12/25)
  • Intestinal Ultrasound Feasible for Detecting Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/8/25)
• Long COVID
  • Does Age Predict Severity of Neurologic Manifestations of “Long COVID?” (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/31/25)
  • (New Hampshire) The pandemic may have ended, but for these NH long COVID patients, the virus’ impact continues (New Hampshire Bulletin, 1/27/25)
  • Study: Multiple SARS-CoV-2 infections increase risk for long COVID (Healio, 1/24/25)
  • Women face a greater risk for long COVID vs. men (Healio, 1/24/25)
  • Most People With Long COVID Do Not Recover in Second Year of Illness (HealthDay, 1/23/25)
  • (New Hampshire) Almost 17 Percent of the State’s Working-Age Population Has Experienced Long-COVID (NH Fiscal Policy Institute, 1/21/25)
  • (New Hampshire) One in Four New Hampshire Adults With COVID-19 Developed Long-COVID Symptoms (NH Fiscal Policy Institute, 1/21/25)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Approach May Improve Long COVID Symptoms, Boost Physical Function (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/17/25)
  • Vaccination Does Not Impact Long COVID Neurologic Symptoms (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/16/25)
  • Patients With HIV May Have High Prevalence of Long COVID (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/15/25)
  • Long COVID patients are frustrated that federal research hasn't found new treatments (National Public Radio, 1/10/25)
  • (New Hampshire) New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute study measures impact of long COVID on workforce (WMUR, 1/10/25)
  • (New Hampshire) An Estimated 4,000 Granite Staters May Be Out of the Workforce Due to Long-COVID (NH Fiscal Policy Institute, 1/9/25)
  • COVID-19 Vaccine Confers Protection Against Post-COVID-19 Conditions (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/6/25)
  • Post-COVID Conditions in Health Care Workers: Rates and Risk Factors (American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 1/3/25)
• Migraine
  • Chronic Migraine in Adults (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/9/25)
• Multiple Sclerosis
  • Multiple Sclerosis May Worsen With Menopause Transition (HealthDay, 1/24/25)
  • FDA warns of serious allergic reactions with some multiple sclerosis drugs (Reuters, 1/22/25)
  • Pain May Be Indicator of MS Prior to Disease Onset: Study (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/6/25)
  • Meta-Analysis: Vascular Function Worse in People With MS (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/3/25)
• Myalgic Encephalomylitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Risk for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Higher After COVID-19 (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/17/25)
  • NIH-funded study finds cases of ME/CFS increase following SARS-CoV-2 (National Institutes of Health, 1/13/25)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
  • Glutamatergic Meds Show Promise for OCD Disorders (Medscape, 1/30/25)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Combination Drug Therapy May Better Alleviate PTSD Symptoms Than SSRIs Alone (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/17/25)
• Schizophrenia
  • Disparities in Telehealth Access Undermine Adoption Among Patients With Schizophrenia (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/16/25)

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COVID-19

• Does Age Predict Severity of Neurologic Manifestations of “Long COVID?” (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/31/25)
• COVID-19 Pandemic Increased Long-Term Nursing Home Stay or Death Across All Groups (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/29/25)
• (New Hampshire) The pandemic may have ended, but for these NH long COVID patients, the virus’ impact continues (New Hampshire Bulletin, 1/27/25)
• COVID-19 Tied to Long-Term Kidney Function Decline (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/24/25)
• Study: Multiple SARS-CoV-2 infections increase risk for long COVID (Healio, 1/24/25)
• Women face a greater risk for long COVID vs. men (Healio, 1/24/25)
• Most People With Long COVID Do Not Recover in Second Year of Illness (HealthDay, 1/23/25)
• Paxlovid Is Safe for Low- and High-Risk Children With COVID-19 (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/22/25)
• (New Hampshire) Almost 17 Percent of the State’s Working-Age Population Has Experienced Long-COVID (NH Fiscal Policy Institute, 1/21/25)
• (New Hampshire) One in Four New Hampshire Adults With COVID-19 Developed Long-COVID Symptoms (NH Fiscal Policy Institute, 1/21/25)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Approach May Improve Long COVID Symptoms, Boost Physical Function (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/17/25)
• Risk for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Higher After COVID-19 (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/17/25)
• (New Hampshire) Dartmouth Health ends COVID vaccination requirement for kidney transplants (NH Public Radio, 1/16/25)
• Vaccination Does Not Impact Long COVID Neurologic Symptoms (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/16/25)
• Connective Tissue Disease Treatments Affect COVID-19 Hospitalization and Morality (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/15/25)
• Patients With HIV May Have High Prevalence of Long COVID (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/15/25)
• Maternal COVID-19 Infection Leads to Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Newborns (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/14/25)
• Study Finds Link Between COVID-19 and Elevated Risk of GI Disorders (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/14/25)
• NIH-funded study finds cases of ME/CFS increase following SARS-CoV-2 (National Institutes of Health, 1/13/25)
• Long COVID patients are frustrated that federal research hasn't found new treatments (National Public Radio, 1/10/25)
• (New Hampshire) New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute study measures impact of long COVID on workforce (WMUR, 1/10/25)
• (New Hampshire) An Estimated 4,000 Granite Staters May Be Out of the Workforce Due to Long-COVID (NH Fiscal Policy Institute, 1/9/25)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Confers Protection Against Post-COVID-19 Conditions (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/6/25)
• Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Face Higher COVID-19 Risks (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/6/25)
• Role of Social Determinants of Health in COVID-19 Recovery (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/6/25)
• Post-COVID Conditions in Health Care Workers: Rates and Risk Factors (American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 1/3/25)

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Criminalization of Medicine

• New York doctor indicted for prescribing abortion pill to Louisiana patient (The Hill, 1/31/25)
• Removal of HIV- and LGBTQ-Related CDC Webpages Creates Dangerous Gaps in Scientific Information  (Infectious Diseases Society of America, 1/31/25)
• Some hospitals pause gender-affirming care to evaluate Trump’s executive order (AP, 1/30/25)
• Vermont Health Care Practitioners Defend Ongoing  Access to Evidence-Based Gender-Affirming Care  (VT Medical Association, 1/30/25)
• (New Hampshire) Why obstetricians find the term ‘elective’ highly misleading in bills limiting abortion access (New Hampshire Bulletin, 1/30/25)
• (New Hampshire) As Republicans move to withdraw 15-week abortion ban, advocates show up to defend reproductive freedom (Concord Monitor, 1/27/25)
• (New Hampshire) Sponsors Ask To Withdraw Strict Abortion Bill, Rep. Lynn Says the House Must Decide (InDepth NH, 1/27/25)
• Federal Judge Revives Legal Effort To Limit Access to Abortion Pill (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/23/25)
• What to know about President Donald Trump’s order targeting the rights of transgender people (AP, 1/23/25)
• (New Hampshire) NH bill would require abortion data be reported to state (Concord Monitor, 1/22/25)
• (New Hampshire) Shaheen, Dems Hammer GOP for Pushing Anti-Abortion ‘Lies’ Rather Than Helping Families (InDepth NH, 1/22/25)
• Whitmer signs legislation allowing Michigan pharmacists to prescribe birth control (The Hill, 1/22/25)
• Surge in Americans getting sterilizations given states’ abortion laws (Washington Post, 1/15/25)
• Thousands of People Are Leaving Abortion-Ban States, Study Shows (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/14/25)
• Toward Evidence-Based and Ethical Pediatric Gender Medicine (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/13/25)
• United States v Skrmetti—Testing the Transition to Politicized Regulation of Medicine (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/13/25)
• Abortion Bans Prevent Clinicians from Providing Care (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 1/9/25)
• Healey-Driscoll Administration Adopts Emergency Regulations Protecting Reproductive Health Care (MA Department of Public Health, 1/8/25)
• Fewer than 1 in 1,000 US adolescents receive gender-affirming medications, researchers find (AP, 1/7/25)

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Disabled Populations

• Adults With Disabilities Have Higher Diabetes Prevalence (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/28/25)
• Q&A: Dr Michael Ashley Stein Speaks on How Natural Disasters Can Affect Disabled Individuals (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/28/25)
• (New Hampshire) Monica Shaw wanted to give blood. Her developmental disability prevented her (Concord Monitor, 1/26/25)
• As the LA wildfires have shown, people with disabilities often have to fend for themselves (CNN, 1/18/25)
• Health insurers limit coverage of prosthetic limbs, questioning their medical necessity (CNN, 1/8/25)

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Endocrinology

• Meta-Analysis Links Metformin to Lower Dementia Risk in T2D (Medscape, 1/23/25)
• Continuous Glucose Monitoring Can Predict Microvascular Complications in Type 1 Diabetes (HealthDay, 1/22/25)
• Link between fatty liver disease, hot flash severity ‘hard to tease apart’ (Healio, 1/15/25)
• Younger age at type 2 diabetes diagnosis tied to higher dementia risk (Endocrine Today, 1/7/25)

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Environmental Health

• (New Hampshire) Lead poisoning levels are the highest they’ve been since routine testing started in NH (NH Public Radio, 1/28/25)
• American Academy of Pediatrics Underscores the Need to Reduce Environmental Hazards (American Academy of Pediatrics, 1/21/25)
• Nearly One-Third of Americans Face Unregulated Contaminants in Water, Hispanic, Black Communities Hit Hardest (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/15/25)
• ‘Forever chemicals’ in sludge used to fertilize farms can pose a health risk to people, EPA says (CNN, 1/14/25)
• U.S. Government Releases First National One Health Plan to Protect People, Animals, and Our Environment from Shared Health Threats (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1/10/25)

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Financial Concerns

• (New Hampshire) NH officials discuss solutions for surprise ambulance bills (NH Public Radio, 1/16/25)
• (New Hampshire) Study: Ambulance transport in NH can cost anywhere from $414 to $2,317 (NH Public Radio, 1/13/25)
• Biden administration bans unpaid medical bills from appearing on credit reports (AP, 1/7/25)

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Flu Season

• New Bird Flu Strain Detected in the US (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/31/25)
• Trump administration’s halt of CDC’s weekly scientific report stalls bird flu studies (CNN, 1/30/25)
• 36 US states have 'high' or 'very high' flu activity, CDC data shows (WMUR, 1/29/25)
• State Officials Provide Updated Guidance on Suspected Avian Flu Cases Reported Across Massachusetts (MA Department of Public Health, 1/29/25)
• (New Hampshire) Some of country's highest levels of respiratory illness reported in New Hampshire, CDC says (WMUR, 1/21/25)
• State Officials Suspect HPAI Outbreak Impacting Geese and Other Wildlife (MA Department of Public Health, 1/19/25)
• (New Hampshire) 11 flu deaths reported since start of season in New Hampshire (WMUR, 1/18/25)
• HHS Provides $590 Million to Accelerate Pandemic Influenza mRNA-based Vaccine Development, Enhance Platform Capability for Other Emerging Infectious Disease (Department of Health and Human Services, 1/17/25)
• Highly pathogenic Avian influenza H5N1 detected in New London County backyard flock (CT State Department of Health, 1/17/25)
• Most Antiviral Drugs Showed Limited or No Effects Against Flu (Medscape, 1/13/25)
• (New Hampshire) 5 New Hampshire adults have died of flu so far this season, officials report (WMUR, 1/10/25)
• Bird flu (H5N1) resource center (American Medical Association, 1/8/25)
• (New Hampshire) Respiratory illnesses are on the rise in New Hampshire (NH Public Radio, 1/7/25)
• First H5 Bird Flu Death Reported in United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1/6/25) (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/3/25)
• HHS awards $306 million in Avian Flu monitoring and preparedness funding (Department of Health and Human Services, 1/3/25)
• (New Hampshire) NH to test dairies for bird flu (NH Public Radio, 1/1/25)

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Food Safety

• FDA Proposes Requiring At-a-Glance Nutrition Information on the Front of Packaged Foods (Food and Drug Administration, 1/14/25)
• Guidance for Industry: Action Levels for Lead in Processed Food Intended for Babies and Young Children (Food and Drug Administration, 1/6/25)

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Gastrointestinal Health

• Metrics From Wearable Devices Can Predict IBD Flares (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/27/25)
• Guidance Developed for Diagnosis, Management of Eosinophilic Esophagitis (HealthDay, 1/24/25)
• Early Onset Active IBD Linked to Higher Rates of Psychiatric Disorders, Medication Use (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/12/25)
• Intestinal Ultrasound Feasible for Detecting Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/8/25)

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Good News

• (New Hampshire) Community Re-Entry Program for Adults and Youth Launched by NHDOC and NH DHHS on January 1st (NH Department of Health and Human Services, 1/30/25)
• (New Hampshire) Wilma Hyde, DNP, Returns to Plymouth Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine at Speare! (Speare Memorial Hospital, 1/29/25)
• (New Hampshire) Gabriela M. Andujar Vazquez, MD, named Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center hospital epidemiologist (Dartmouth Health, 1/27/25)
• Respite for ME Final Evaluation Confirms Positive Impact of Pilot Program on Family Caregivers and Older People in Maine (ME Department of Health and Human Services, 1/21/25)
• (New Hampshire) In the News: Seven Employees Honored with 2024 Peter L. Gosline Scholarships at Monadnock Community Hospital (Mass General Brigham Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, 1/20/25)
• (New Hampshire) Provider Spotlight: From Armenia to New Hampshire: Dr Vache’s Journey of Healing and Hope (Mass General Brigham Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, 1/13/25)
• Discovery at Massachusetts General Hospital creates roadmap for a rare disease (WMUR, 1/11/25)
• Danbury Hospital, Danbury CT: Eight Institutions Receive the IDSA Antimicrobial Stewardship  Center of Excellence Designation (Infectious Diseases Society of America, 1/9/25)
• Biden-Harris Administration Announces $700 Million to Deliver Clean Drinking Water and Sanitation Infrastructure on Tribal Lands Through Investing in America Agenda (Department of Health and Human Services, 1/7/25)
• (New Hampshire) Concord Hospital Medical Group Welcomes Dr. Sana Fatima and Dr. Peter Moran to the Lakes Region (Concord Hospital, 1/7/25)
• (New Hampshire) AG Approves Sale of Catholic Medical Center to HCA for $110M (InDepth NH, 1/6/25)
• American Society for Reproductive Medicine Member Dr. Teresa Woodruff Awarded National Medal of Science (American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 1/6/25)
• (New Hampshire) Catholic Medical Center Receives Final Approval to Join HCA Healthcare to Secure Access to Care Close to Home (Catholic Medical Center, 1/6/25)
• (New Hampshire) With a donation from Concord Holiday Inn’s new owner, Harbor Care gets furniture for their housing programs (Concord Monitor, 1/4/25)
• (New Hampshire) Susan Reed, RPh, CPHQ, LSSBB, Named North Country Healthcare Director of Pharmacy (NCH Androscoggin Valley Hospital, 1/3/25)

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Government and Advocacy

• FDA Quietly Removes Draft Guidance on Diversity in Clinical Trials Following Executive Order on DEI (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/31/25)
• (New Hampshire) Attempted funding freeze creates a day of ‘anxiety and chaos’ for NH nonprofits (NH Public Radio, 1/29/25)
• (New Hampshire) Emotions Deep at Hearing on ‘End of Life Freedom Act’ (InDepth NH, 1/29/25)
• (New Hampshire) End-of-life-care option bill in New Hampshire stirs conversation on death (Concord Monitor, 1/29/25)
• (New Hampshire) New Hampshire lawmakers weigh spending $15M more on shelter, housing support (Concord Monitor, 1/29/25)
• (New Hampshire) Bill to cut Medicaid circumcision spending returns to New Hampshire legislature (Concord Monitor, 1/28/25)
• (New Hampshire) FAQ: What you need to know about NH’s end-of-life care legislation (Concord Monitor, 1/28/25)
• (New Hampshire) Federal Funding Pause (NH Public Health Association, 1/28/25)
• (New Hampshire) Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump’s Order Pausing Federal Grants and Loans; NH Reacts (InDepth NH, 1/28/25)
• (New Hampshire) As cannabis legalization falls flat, advocates focus on expanding New Hampshire’s medical marijuana program (Concord Monitor, 1/25/25)
• Trump wants to pull the US out of the World Health Organization again. Here’s what may happen next (AP, 1/21/25)
• Updated Guidelines Allow Men Who Have Sex With Men to Join National Blood Donor Month Efforts (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/14/25)
• 2025 AMA advocacy priorities: Medicare payment, prior authorization, physician burnout and more (American Medical Association, 1/13/25)
• AOA supports reauthorizing the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (American Osteopathic Association, 1/4/25)
• (New Hampshire) 2024 NH Legislative Session Recap (National Alliance on Mental Illness NH, 1/2/25)
• Another Big Year for Scope of Practice Advocacy (ME Medical Association, 1/2/25)

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Health Care Systems

• HHS Releases Report on Consolidation and Private Equity (PE) in Health Care Markets (Department of Health and Human Services, 1/15/25)

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Health Equity and Access to Care

• Food Insecurity in Pregnancy Linked to Perinatal Complications (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/29/25)
• Airlift Services Underused for Minority Patients With Severe Trauma (HealthDay, 1/28/25)
• Environmental and Socioeconomic Factors Fuel Respiratory Health Disparities in Rural and Urban Areas (Medscape, 1/28/25)
• Racial Disparities in End-of-Life Home Health Use in Medicare Advantage vs Traditional Medicare (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/27/25)
• ACP Reaffirms Commitment to Equity (American College of Physicians, 1/23/25)
• Going the Distance: The Impact of Travel Time on Emergency Surgical Outcomes, Health System Burden (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/21/25)
• More focus needed on Black, low-income women to identify, treat common midlife conditions (Healio, 1/21/25)
• Insights on Health Disparities, Treatment, and Research in Psoriasis in the Latine Community (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/8/25)
• FDA Proposes Updated Recommendations to Help Improve Performance of Pulse Oximeters Across Skin Tones (Food and Drug Administration, 1/6/25)
• Anemia Affects 13% of US Women, With Stark Racial and Income Disparities (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/3/25)
• Nearly 1 in 3 US Pharmacies Have Closed Since 2010, Widening Access Gaps (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/3/25)

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Health Technology

• New Proposed Health Cybersecurity Rule: What Physicians Should Know (Medscape, 1/10/25)

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Immunology

• Poor Oral Health Quality of Life Found in Frail Patients With HIV (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/31/25)
• Over-the-Counter HIV Test Approved for Adolescents (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/8/25)
• Lockdowns Led to Altered Regulation of Inflammatory Responses in People Living with HIV (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/3/25)
• Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir Could Support HIV Prevention in Vulnerable Populations (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/3/25)

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Infectious Disease

• HHS Intends to Provide $211 Million to Accelerate, Enhance Platform Capability for Emerging Infectious Diseases (Department of Health and Human Services, 1/16/25)
• On Apache lands, progress in a long war against ticks and the disease they spread (National Public Radio, 1/15/25)
• Cases of HMPV are trending up in the US, especially in these states, CDC data shows (The Hill, 1/14/25)
• Reducing Risk, One Mask at a Time: What the Science Says (Medscape, 1/9/25)
• Pertussis Cases Surging in the United States (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/8/25)
• NIH researchers discover novel class of anti-malaria antibodies (National Institutes of Health, 1/3/25)
• Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Remains a Concern Among US Transplant Candidates (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/2/25)

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Insurance

• 99% of Vermont Clinicians Report Prior Authorization Increases Burnout (VT Medical Association, 1/16/25)
• Nearly 24 Million Consumers Have Selected Affordable Health Coverage in ACA Marketplace, With Time Left to Enroll (Department of Health and Human Services, 1/8/25)
• (New Hampshire) New Law Prevents Delays Getting Prior Authorization Insurance Decisions (InDepth NH, 1/3/25)
• (New Hampshire) Insurance dispute between Anthem and St. Joseph Hospital could impact thousands (NH Public Radio, 1/2/25)

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Measles Outbreak

• Measles Case Identified in Rhode Island (RI Department of Health, 1/18/25)

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Medical Care

• Biden-Harris Administration Announces $60 Million Investment for Adding Early Morning, Night, and Weekend Hours at Community Health Centers (Department of Health and Human Services, 1/14/25)
• Trauma Informed Care: A Systematic Review (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 1/14/25)

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Medicare and Medicaid

• Medicare Recipients Face High Financial Burden Despite Charitable Copay Assistance (Medscape, 1/23/25)
• Medicare Advantage Enrollees Underuse Dental, Vision, Hearing Benefits (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/14/25)
• CMS Releases Proposed 2026 Payment Policy Updates for Medicare Advantage and Part D Programs (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 1/10/25)
• Jan. 10, 2025: Medicare Payment Reform Advocacy Update (American Medical Association, 1/10/25)
• Prices of top 25 Medicare Part D drugs have nearly doubled, AARP study finds (CNBC, 1/9/25)
• Cap on Out-of-Pocket Costs and Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (ME Medical Association, 1/2/25)

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Medications and Prescribing

• FDA approves painkiller designed to eliminate the risk of addiction associated with opioids (AP, 1/31/25)
• HHS Announces 15 Additional Drugs Selected for Medicare Drug Price Negotiations in Continued Effort to Lower Prescription Drug Costs for Seniors (Department of Health and Human Services, 1/17/25)
• Biden's DEA issues remote prescribing proposal (Modern Healthcare, 1/15/25)
• (New Hampshire) Drugmakers hiked prices for hundreds of drugs in early January (NH Public Radio, 1/14/25)

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Mental and Behavioral Health

• Does Pregnancy Lead to Discontinuation of Mental Health Treatment? (Medscape, 1/31/25)
• Glutamatergic Meds Show Promise for OCD Disorders (Medscape, 1/30/25)
• (New Hampshire) HCA Healthcare donates $45,000 to United Way to support mental health initiatives (Portsmouth Hospital, 1/28/25)
• Study: People with ADHD have shorter life expectancy, higher risk of mental health issues (WMUR, 1/25/25)
• Combination Drug Therapy May Better Alleviate PTSD Symptoms Than SSRIs Alone (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/17/25)
• Disparities in Telehealth Access Undermine Adoption Among Patients With Schizophrenia (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/16/25)
• SAMHSA Releases Updated National Behavioral Health Crisis Care Guidance (Department of Health and Human Services, 1/15/25)
• New Research Highlights Trends in ADHD Diagnoses (American Psychiatric Association, 1/13/25)
• The Biden-Harris Administration Awards 14 States and Washington, D.C. with CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Planning Grants for Expanding Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services (Department of Health and Human Services, 1/7/25)

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Neurology

• Novel Brain Biomarker Accurately Predicts Pain Sensitivity (Medscape, 1/29/25)
• Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy May Be Associated With Future Neurological Issues (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/24/25)
• Multiple Sclerosis May Worsen With Menopause Transition (HealthDay, 1/24/25)
• FDA warns of serious allergic reactions with some multiple sclerosis drugs (Reuters, 1/22/25)
• Surprise finding sheds light on what causes Huntington’s disease, a devastating fatal brain disorder (AP, 1/16/25)
• Dementia risk is rising in an aging US population. Cases are projected to double by 2060 (CNN, 1/13/25)
• How Long Does It Take to See a Neurologist? (Medscape, 1/10/25)
• Chronic Migraine in Adults (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/9/25)
• Gestational Eclampsia Linked to Fivefold Epilepsy Risk (Medscape, 1/7/25)
• Pain May Be Indicator of MS Prior to Disease Onset: Study (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/6/25)
• Meta-Analysis: Vascular Function Worse in People With MS (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/3/25)
• Prevalence of Dementia Among US Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/2/25)

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Obesity and Weight Loss

• Case Series Shows Possible Link Between Semaglutide, Ophthalmic Complications (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/30/25)
• Empathy, Please: Be Sensitive Addressing Weight Management (Medscape, 1/30/25)
• Large Weight Swings Risky in CVD Patients With Obesity (Medscape, 1/23/25)
• Popular GLP-1 medications may have health benefits that extend beyond weight loss and blood sugar control, a new study finds (Washington Post, 1/20/25)
• Global Experts Call for Overhaul in Obesity Diagnosis Framework (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/14/25)
• Are Patients On GLP-1s Getting the Right Nutrients? (Medscape, 1/10/25)

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Physicians

• Fighting for physicians’ right to access mental health care (American Medical Association, 1/14/25)

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Public Health

• Early Adult Death Rising in the US: Pre- and Postpandemic Trends (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/31/25)
• How bad epidemiological data can drive distrust in health care (American Medical Association, 1/21/25)
• American College of Preventive Medicine Sends Incoming Trump-Vance Administration Recommendations to Prevent Chronic Disease and Invest in Public Health (American College of Preventive Medicine, 1/15/25)
• (New Hampshire) Collaborative Community Health Needs Assessment 2025 (NCH Androscoggin Valley Hospital, 1/10/25)
• (New Hampshire) NHMS Secures a Planning Grant to Research the Impact of Chronic Disease (NH Medical Society, 1/3/25)

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Reproductive and Sexual Health

• Guide for Ob-Gyns on Counseling Patients about Access to IVF (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 1/28/25)
• Risks faced by some pregnant Medicaid enrollees highlight need for adequate postnatal care (Healio, 1/17/25)
• HHS Office for Civil Rights, Cedars-Sinai Enter Into Mutual Agreement to Advance Civil Rights and Improve Maternal Health for All (Department of Health and Human Services, 1/16/25)
• New Research Links Gender, Racial Microaggressions to Higher Postpartum Blood Pressure (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/9/25)
• Maine DHHS Awarded Nearly $17M to Help Support the State's Maternal Health System of Care (ME Department of Health and Human Services, 1/7/25)
• Obstetric Outcomes by Hospital Volume of Operative Vaginal Delivery (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/6/25)
• Oral Glucose-Lowering Agents vs Insulin for Gestational Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/6/25)

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Respiratory Health

• Early Tamiflu Treatment Improves Influenza Outcomes in Hospitalized Adults (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/31/25)
• Raising Concern for the Impact of Climate Change on Pulmonary Health (American College of Chest Physicians, 1/27/25)
• Asthma Treatment: Nearly 1 in 6 Patients Nonadherent Due to Cost Concerns (Pulmonology Advisor, 1/22/25)
• Novel Once-Daily Cystic Fibrosis Treatment Matches Standard Therapy in Phase 3 Trials (Medscape, 1/22/25)
• Respiratory Illness Reporting Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities in 2025 (Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association, 1/6/25)

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Rheumatology

• Genetic Causal Link Found Between RA, Increased Fracture Risk (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/30/25)

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Rural Populations

• (New Hampshire) Leading the Way: Cottage Hospital’s Vision for Rural Healthcare (Cottage Hospital, 1/3/25)

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Social Factors Affecting Health

• (New Hampshire) NH Medical Society speaks out against policy allowing ICE arrests at hospitals (NH Public Radio, 1/23/25)
• Prolonged Immigration Detention Tied to Poor Health, PTSD, and Mental Illness (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/22/25)
• The Intersection of Climate Justice and Criminal Justice: Extreme Heat and Health Inequities in Carceral Facilities (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/22/25)
• AAP Statement in Response to Trump Administration Actions Impacting Children in Immigrant Families (American Academy of Pediatrics, 1/21/25)
• (New Hampshire) As negative temperatures continue, people experiencing homelessness continue to bear brutal cold (Concord Monitor, 1/21/25)

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Substance Use and Treatment

• Limited Awareness, Protocols Hinder Naltrexone Use in EDs (Medscape, 1/31/25)
• (New Hampshire) Senate passes mandatory minimums for fentanyl possession, deals (Concord Monitor, 1/30/25)
• Mindfulness-Based Groups Tied to Significant Reduction in Opioid Craving (HealthDay, 1/29/25)
• ASAM Releases New Assessment Guide to Help Clinicians Select an Appropriate Level of Addiction Care for Patients (American Society of Addiction Medicine, 1/27/25)
• Odds of Opioid Misuse Lower in States With Medical Cannabis Laws (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/21/25)
• Attorneys General Sue Walgreens Over Dangerous Prescription Practices (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/20/25)
• FDA Proposes Significant Step Toward Reducing Nicotine to Minimally or Nonaddictive Level in Cigarettes and Certain Other Combusted Tobacco Products (Food and Drug Administration, 1/15/25)
• DMHAS and DPH launch toolkit to enhance care for long-term care residents with opioid use disorder (CT State Department of Health, 1/10/25)
• U.S. overdose deaths far outpace other countries: Report (The Hill, 1/9/25)
• U.S. Surgeon General Issues New Advisory on Link Between Alcohol and Cancer Risk (Department of Health and Human Services, 1/3/25)

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Vaccination

• MMR vaccination more common among children whose parents got COVID-19 shot (Healio, 1/23/25)
• CDC Announces 2025 Vaccine Schedule Updates (Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association, 1/17/25)
• Consequences and Opportunities From Poor Uptake of COVID Vaccinations Despite Strong Evidence (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/17/25)
• COVID-19 Vaccines Do Not Increase Risk for Thyroid Diseases (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/15/25)
• Interviews Identify Factors Tied to COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Black Women (Infectious Disease Advisor, 1/15/25)
• (New Hampshire) New Hampshire trails national average in childhood vaccination rates (WMUR, 1/13/25)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Black Women in the US (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/9/25)

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Veterans' Health

• CRH Programs Influence Better Health Outcomes, Access, for Veterans (American Journal of Managed Care, 1/7/25)

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