V.A. Begins Drive to Put Some Homeless Veterans Into Guardianship
The Trump administration announced that the Department of Justice will grant the Veterans Affairs (VA) department authority to initiate guardianship proceedings for veterans deemed unable to make health‑care decisions. The policy targets homeless veterans and those without family, allowing state courts to appoint independent guardians and potentially place them in involuntary institutional care. It follows a 2024 executive order urging agencies to use civil commitment to move homeless individuals into long‑term facilities. Proponents claim the measure will streamline access to needed medical services for veterans who would otherwise fall through the safety net.
Food Stamp Recipients Sue Over Bans on Sugary Drinks
A coalition of SNAP recipients has filed a lawsuit to block sugary‑drink bans in five states, arguing that the Trump administration overstepped its authority under the federal food‑assistance program. The plaintiffs contend that recent policy changes violated statutes governing SNAP...
A Planned Parenthood Clinic, in a Pinch, Turns to Botox
Facing deep federal funding cuts, the Sacramento clinic of Planned Parenthood Mar Monte announced it will offer cosmetic Botox injections and IV hydration drips. The new services are intended to generate revenue and keep the clinic financially viable amid Medicaid...
F.D.A. Opens Door to More Flavored E-Cigarettes
The FDA announced a draft guidance that would permit e‑cigarette flavors such as mint, coffee, tea, and spices while maintaining a ban on sweet and fruity varieties. The shift follows earlier attempts to curb teen vaping with a broad flavor...
Viral Outbreaks Take a Common Path From Animals to People, Study Finds
Researchers analyzed seven viral outbreaks, including COVID‑19, Ebola and the 2009 H1N1 flu, and found that most pathogens jumped from animal reservoirs to humans without needing extraordinary genetic changes, with the 1977 influenza strain as the sole outlier. By reconstructing...
F.D.A. Reverses Decision and Agrees to Review Moderna’s Flu Vaccine
The FDA has reversed its earlier position and will formally review Moderna's application for an mRNA-based flu vaccine after additional regulator discussions. This acceptance opens a pathway toward potential approval of the first mRNA influenza shot. The decision underscores growing...
N.I.H. Director Will Temporarily Run C.D.C. in Leadership Shake-Up
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the current NIH director, has been named acting director of the CDC, a role he will hold while continuing to lead the National Institutes of Health. He replaces Jim O’Neill, who is slated for a nomination to...
Vaccine Makers Curtail Research and Cut Jobs
Federal policies driven by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are creating a hostile environment for vaccine developers, prompting companies like Moderna to scale back late‑stage studies. A Texas startup canceled a new manufacturing plant, and a San Diego firm...
Should Drug Companies Be Advertising to Consumers?
Direct‑to‑consumer advertising for prescription drugs is resurging, highlighted by Novo Nordisk’s $180 million spend on Ozempic TV spots in 2022 and $189 million in 2023. The ads use upbeat jingles and lifestyle imagery to present the GLP‑1 medication as a gateway to...
Measles Outbreak Hits Ave Maria University in Florida
More than 40 measles cases have been confirmed at Ave Maria University, marking the largest campus outbreak in recent memory. The incident follows similar exposures at Clemson, Anderson, the University of Wisconsin‑Madison and the University of Florida, indicating a broader resurgence....
RFK Jr. Allies Target States to Overturn Vaccine Mandates for Schools
Allies of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are mobilizing state legislators to repeal school‑based COVID‑19 vaccine mandates. The campaign combines grassroots lobbying, targeted ballot initiatives, and legal challenges aimed at overturning existing public‑health orders. Pro‑vaccine experts warn the push...
4 Months Trapped in a Hospital for an Obsolete Way of Treating Their Disease
A multi‑drug‑resistant tuberculosis (MDR‑TB) ward in northern Cameroon continues to confine patients like Asta Djouma for months, despite World Health Organization guidelines that deem long‑term isolation obsolete. The government mandates hospitalization until patients test negative, separating them from families and...
Senate Questions Health Care Firm for Profiting Off Program Meant for Poor
The Senate Health Committee has subpoenaed Apexus, a for‑profit Texas firm that administers the federal 340B drug‑price program, to explain its earnings and business practices. Apexus reportedly generated $227 million in revenue in 2022 with profit margins above 80 percent, despite the...
New Method Can Find Hidden Eggs to Aid in Fertility Treatment
Researchers at AutoIVF introduced OvaReady, a microfluidic device that scans discarded follicular fluid and retrieves eggs missed by traditional microscopy. In a study of 582 patients across four U.S. clinics, the system found additional viable eggs in 316 cases, yielding...
Four States Sue Administration Over Loss of Public Health Funds
Four Democratic‑led states have filed a federal lawsuit accusing the current administration of cutting public health funding as political retaliation. The suit targets recent reductions to programs that support HIV testing, treatment, and broader sexually transmitted infection prevention. Plaintiffs seek...
Dr. Oz Says Drinking Is a ‘Social Lubricant.’ Some Experts Worry About That.
Dr. Mehmet Oz described alcohol as a “social lubricant” while the U.S. dietary guidelines were revised to eliminate the traditional one‑drink‑for‑women, two‑drinks‑for‑men cap. The updated recommendations now only advise Americans to drink “less,” despite evidence that even low‑level consumption raises cancer...