Podcast

Healthcare’s Constitutional Crisis
Healthcare's Constitutional Crisis
September 29, 2020 - 2:02 pm

Healthcare is growing ever more complex, and in this complexity, the laws, being restrictive in nature, produce inequitable distributions of burden, disproportionately affecting specific individuals and populations more than others.

Visuals

COVID hospitalizations
COVID-19 hospitalizations per day

Despite the >16% increase in US Covid hospitalizations (1,300 more added yesterday) over the past 10 days, a 17.5% test positivity, and extremely high community transmission, the CDC has yet to issue a BA.5 warning.
Source: Eric Topol, MD & Medriva

News Briefs

Pfizer and BioNTech to test universal COVID-19 vaccine candidate
Researchers at Boston hospitals may have found a biomarker for long COVID
New dominant Omicron COVID subvariant evades immunity
U.S. scientists enroll nearly 40,000 patients in high-stakes, $1.2 billion study of long COVID
Monkeypox vaccine and testing delays echo failures in early COVID response
Subjective intent of wrongdoing required to convict doctors
Alabama cites Roe decision in urging court to let state ban trans health care
The FDA takes on Juul, but leaves public health behind
The economics of obesity
America’s obsession with freedom is making men fat: study
White House pushes strategy to slow overdoses as street drugs grow more deadly
Long COVID could be a ‘mass deterioration event’
WHO to convene emergency committee on monkeypox: ‘It’s now clear there is an unusual situation’
Supreme Court sides with hospitals on Medicare drug pay dispute
FDA advisers endorse administration of Moderna, Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines in babies, toddlers
COVID death tolls: scientists acknowledge errors in WHO estimates
Diseases suppressed during COVID are coming back in new and peculiar ways
COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage, by Race and Ethnicity
Advisers to the FDA back Novavax COVID vaccine
WHO-convened Global Study of the Origins of SARS-CoV-2
COVID vaccines: Novavax says India, Europe, South Korea to supply global doses for 2022
Youngest Children Could Get COVID Shots in Late June, White House Says
Tulsa Hospital Shooter Targeted Doctor Over Alleged Pain From Surgery
FDA audited over baby formula crisis
U.S. Monkeypox 2022: Situation Summary
US making COVID antiviral drug more available at test sites
Opioid crisis: West Virginia in tentative $161.5m settlement with drug makers
Xylazine increasingly involved in opioid overdose deaths
Guns now the leading cause of death for US children, CDC says
New documents show how drug companies targeted doctors to increase opioid prescriptions
U.S. supreme court abortion reversal would be global ‘catastrophe’ for women
The U.S. is about to make a big gamble on the next COVID winter
The FDA considers a “healthy” food label
WHO chief says China’s zero-COVID policy not ‘sustainable’
The Lancet Op-Ed: Why Roe v. Wade must be defended
Inside the sales machine of the ‘kingpin’ of opioid makers
White House warns of COVID surges in the winter
Hospitals face tough choices as lockdown in China disrupts IV contrast supply
What does the future of abortion look like?
Prisons didn’t prescribe much Paxlovid or other COVID-19 treatments, even when they got the drugs
Moderna blows out first-quarter earnings expectations, triples COVID vaccine sales
Walgreens to settle claims it exacerbated opioid crisis in Florida
Why China is reluctant to ‘live with COVID’. It’s not just politics.
DHHS fiscal year 2023 budget request
Moderna asks the FDA to authorize its vaccine for children under 6
Whither healthcare and pharma Twitter in the Musk era?
Trump officials overrode CDC on COVID-19 church guidance
Justice Department appeals to reinstate transportation mask mandate
CDC issues alert for rare liver damage in children
CDC, FDA, NIH workers did not report incidents of political interference, ‘fearing retaliation,’ government watchdog agency says
FDA could authorize COVID shots for children under 5 in June
DEA goes to battle in federal court over THC in hemp extractions
Small employers brace for giant health insurance price hikes
New CDC data shows that STD’s remain far too high
FDA reports new Listeria outbreak, begins inspections and testing in another
DEA warns of ‘mass overdose events’ from Fentanyl
CMS proposes pay decrease for nursing homes
Why nurses are raging and quitting after the RaDonda Vaught verdict
CDC, under fire for COVID response, announces plans to revamp agency
DEA warns of fentanyl-related ‘mass-overdose events’ across U.S.
Justice Department finds that Indiana State Nursing Board discriminates against people with Opioid Use Disorder
Pandemic took a toll on teen mental health, CDC report says
What to know about nitrosamine, the cancer-causing ingredient behind Pfizer’s recent drug recalls
Paul Offit, MD, on risk and reward in medical innovation
Google adds appointment scheduling tool to search engine
Census Bureau: COVID drove largest spike in U.S. deaths in a century
CDC coding error led to overcount of 72,000 COVID deaths
The CDC is still trying to fix its data problem
Pfizer CEO pushes yearly shots for COVID
Why are some people good at avoiding infection?
Will the digital health bubble burst?
CDC adds wastewater data to its COVID-19 tracker
‘Stealth’ omicron cases rising in the US: Here’s what we know
Study reveals likely reason for ‘stealth’ Omicron’s recent success
Could Russian hackers cripple healthcare systems?
Biden has big plans for mental health, but will they work?
The burden of medical debt in the United States
Flu Vaccine Was Not Very Effective This Season, the CDC Says
Pfizer plans to submit data on a 4th Covid shot to FDA
CMS Innovation Center launches initiative to advance health equity
Purdue Pharma, US states agree to new opioid settlement
COVID-19 risk by county
More than 90% of U.S. population can ditch facemasks under CDC COVID guidance
Remembering Dr. Paul Farmer
J&J and distributors to pay $26bn to settle claims they fueled US opioid crisis
How to appeal an unexpected medical bill
Blood test for Alzheimer’s highly accurate in large, international study
Justice Department sues to block UnitedHealth Group’s $13 billion acquisition of Change Healthcare
FDA chief has been confirmed despite concerns over his pharmaceutical industry ties
Beijing Olympics’ COVID measures worked, but at a massive cost
Ivermectin doesn’t prevent severe disease from Covid-19, new study finds
Sackler family offers up more money for Purdue Pharma opioid settlement
National health spending for all of 2021 grew by 3.4%, reflecting significant federal government support
The CDC’s new pain treatment advice aims to correct the damage done by the 2016 version
Nearly a dozen states move to end masking mandates as COVID-19 infection rates fall
Legislators introduce bill to modernize HIPAA, health data privacy laws
Health care paradox: Medicare penalizes dozens of hospitals it also gives five stars
‘Gamechanging’ weight loss drug to be made available on NHS
CDC statement following ACIP Moderna vote
Confirming the next FDA commissioner is a matter of national preparedness
NBC opens Olympics with ‘worst hand imaginable’
CDC Study: effectiveness of face mask or respirator use in indoor public settings for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection — California, February–December 2021
FiveThirtyEight: the COVID-19 metrics policymakers should be watching after Omicron
FDA clears LSD-based anxiety drug for clinical trials
Investor-owned health systems linked to most low-value care
Many pharmacies refusing to give fourth shots to immune-compromised patients
Alarming increase in opioid overdose deaths among older adults
City finally delivers COVID poop data
IBM sells Watson Health assets to investment firm
Insurers already exploiting the surprise billing law
High number of Omicron mutations render antibodies ineffective – study
The Hard Sell – a book about greed in the opioid epidemic – now available
Optum and MarinHealth form strategic partnership
Senate Panel OKs Califf Nomination for F.D.A. Chief
Supreme Court Blocks Biden’s Virus Mandate for Large Employers
COVID-19 pill rollout stymied by shortages as omicron rages
Like many Americans, health experts are frustrated by the CDC’s ‘messaging problem.’
An experimental vaccine could help fight the opioid epidemic
AMA: CDC quarantine and isolation guidance is confusing, counterproductive
‘Paramount importance’: Judge orders FDA to hasten release of Pfizer vaccine docs
As doctors ration COVID treatments, some turn to fluvoxamine
Democrats propose California universal healthcare, funded by new income, business taxes
The Supreme Court will weigh vaccine rules for healthcare workers and businesses
FDA plans to allow 12- to 15-Year-olds to receive Pfizer boosters
Fauci and WHO Director-General disagree on COVID booster programs
More than a million Americans have died from overdoses during the opioid epidemic
CDC significantly cuts estimate of omicron’s prevalence in US
Patients won’t have to fear as many surprise medical bills come January
Achieving 70% COVID-19 immunization coverage by mid-2022
Omicron overpowers key COVID antibody treatments in early tests
Biden is latest President to confront rising opioid deaths with over 53,000 in 2021
Healthcare investors will double down on key digital health markets
CDC shortens COVID isolation period for health care workers as cases rise
‘Tidal wave’: Omicron could put U.S. COVID-19 surge into overdrive
Unvaccinated kids can stay in school after exposure if tested, CDC says
CDC advisory panel, concerned about rare side effects tied to J&J vaccine, gives preferential nod to mRNA shots
Amazon consolidates healthcare groups under veteran exec, shakes up pharmacy leadership
Weight of COVID pushing health care workforce to breaking point
Squid Game, Ted Lasso, and Unicorn Fatigue: top 10 healthcare industry predictions for 2022
Pfizer CEO says fourth vaccine shot may eventually be needed
Chris Christie says it’s “undeniable” he got COVID from Trump
COVID is making many offices obsolete
New opioids called Nitazenes may be 20 times stronger than Fentanyl
How bad is Omicron? What scientists know so far
The Supreme Court gaslights its way to the end of Roe v. Wade
Judge halts Biden’s Covid vaccine mandate for healthcare workers nationwide
At-home Covid tests promised by White House
Omicron coronavirus variant three times more likely to cause reinfection than delta, S. Africa study says
EU regulator gives go-ahead to first COVID shot for 5-11 year olds
What will the Covid-19 pandemic look like in 2022?
Healthcare industry will face higher medication errors, declining patient trust in 2022: Forrester
These healthcare stocks should thrive in 2022
CVS, Walmart and Walgreens are responsible for roles in opioid crisis, jury finds
Europe’s COVID death toll could rise by hundreds of thousands
U.S. faces crisis of burned-out healthcare workers
States are ignoring federal guidelines, taking boosters into their own hands
Top economists call for ‘radical redirection’ focusing on healthcare
Consolidation, prior authorization drive improper Medicare payments to historic low
Johnson & Johnson to Split Consumer From Pharmaceutical, Medical-Device Businesses, Creating Two Companies
Oklahoma court overturns $465 million opioid judgment against J&J
Ten states sue Biden administration over COVID vaccine mandate for health care workers
CMS rescinds final rule for ‘breakthrough’ medical devices
OSHA publishes long-awaited emergency temporary standard on workplace COVID-19 vaccination
Britain authorizes Merck’s molnupiravir, the world’s first approval of oral covid-19 treatment pill
Biden’s vaccine rules for 100 million workers are here.
Pfizer expects 2021, 2022 COVID-19 vaccine sales to total at least $65 bln
Europe facing 500,000 more Covid deaths by February, WHO warns
FDA panel: benefits of COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5-11 outweigh risks
WHO director-general Tedros unopposed for 2nd five-year term
Concerns raised over FDA plan to allow hearing aids with no prescription
Biden picks Dr. Rahul Gupta to lead Federal Drug Policy during overdose crisis
A cheap antidepressant is showing promise treating COVID-19 in high-risk adults
Analysis of recent national trends in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment
1 In 10 Americans turn to social media for health information
Neither side should expect dramatic shifts — even if Supremes scrap Roe v. Wade
Delta plus variant identified in UK
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine appears more than 90% effective in kids 5 to 11
Hulu’s ‘Dopesick’ tells the chilling story of America’s opioid crisis
U.S. moves pandemic data tracking to CDC, reversing Trump
Africa CDC: who should replace John Nkengasong?
Vaccine injury database VAERS considered unreliable, ‘subject to biases’
FDA advisory panel unanimously endorses Moderna’s Covid vaccine booster for some groups
Q3 2021’s health tech funding blows previous years out of the water
Columbia University researchers testing opioid use disorder vaccine
ACT-Accelerator partnership welcomes leadership and commitments
COVID-19: Global vaccine plan aims to end ‘two-track pandemic’
Pfizer Asks FDA to Authorize Its Covid-19 Vaccine for Children 5 to 11
CDC ‘starting to see mix-and-match data’ for COVID-19 vaccines
After 25 years in the dark, the CDC wants to study the true toll of guns in America
Former FDA chief predicts the Delta variant could be the last major COVID-19 surge in the US and be over by Thanksgiving
Methamphetamine-involved overdose deaths nearly tripled between 2015 to 2019, NIH study finds
House Republican calls on Biden to have plan to counter drug trade in Afghanistan
Federal Panel recommends booster shots, opening new campaign against the virus
The AAMC Center for Health Justice will leverage community health partnership to drive health equity forward.
States that ended COVID unemployment benefits see no boost in job growth
UN health agency sets higher, tougher bar for air quality
Feds charge 138, including doctors, with $1.4 billion in health-care fraud involving telemedicine, Covid, opioids
FDA Says Covid-19 Vaccines Remain Effective Without Boosters
More Than 5.85 Billion Shots Given: Covid-19 Tracker
WHO Suspends Approval Process For Russia’s Sputnik Vaccine
DOJ moves to block Purdue Pharma deal shielding Sacklers
CDC: It’s Safe to Get COVID, Flu Vaccines at Same Time
Biden announces COVID-19 vaccine mandates that will affect 100 million Americans
Israeli health minister: Room for COVID optimism as ‘R’ drops to 0.8
Covid-19 Virus Variants Mu and Lambda Unlikely to Supplant Delta
Beijing 2022: China readies for Winter Olympics as pressure grows
Moderna Stock Jumped Because It Just Unveiled a Two-in-One Vaccine for Covid and the Flu
Opium Suppression in Afghanistan Was a US‐​Led Failure
Biden’s top-down booster plan sparks anger at FDA
COVID-19 boosters in rich nations will delay vaccines for all – Nature – Letter to Editor
Moderna Has Asked The FDA To Authorize A Booster Of Its COVID-19 Vaccine
The Sacklers, Who Made Billions From OxyContin, Win Immunity From Opioid Lawsuits
COVID-19 booster shots will roll out in September in U.S.
Medicare hospital reimbursement set for 2.5% increase in 2022
Heir: Sacklers won’t settle unless freed from opioid suits
NPR answers basic questions about vaccines for patients under 12
COVID vaccines protect against Delta, but their effectiveness wanes
At HIMSS21, Micky Tripathi weighs in about what to expect from ONC
Health care’s burnout crisis
U.S. FDA authorizes COVID-19 vaccine boosters for the immunocompromised
A COVID-19 variant ‘more infectious than the delta variant’ will hit U.S. in 2-4 months, according to CDC
FDA set to formally approve certain mRNA COVID-19 vaccines
Israeli study finds 2.6% COVID breakthrough infection rate
Moratorium on evictions and student loans extended
The Commonwealth Fund releases report comparing healthcare of high-income countries – United States ranks in last place
Israel Is Offering Its Older Citizens A 3rd COVID-19 Shot As Infections Rise
CDC Says New Mask Guidelines Informed by Cape Cod Outbreak
DUMP Opioids Act signed into law
Healthcare venture capital investments reach all time high
Mental health venture investments reach all time high
AMA backs update to CDC opioid prescribing guidelines
Vaccinated people make up 75% of recent COVID-19 cases in Singapore, but few fall ill
10% of opioid settlement funds go to lawyers
Cato Institute decries opioid settlements
Germany sees Covid-19 spike as EU-wide vaccinations fall short of 70% target
The Delta Variant Will Drive A Steep Rise In U.S. COVID Deaths, A New Model Shows
BSC/NSCIPC convene to discuss revision strategies for the 2016 opioid prescribing guidelines
Surgeon General says misinformation contributes to ‘Lives Lost’
Startup investment poised to break records in 2021, report says
American Association of Medical Colleges advocate for vaccine mandates
Rural healthcare warrants investment increase
CDC and Pfizer at Odds Over Need for COVID-19 Booster Shots
The White House is taking right approach in fighting the Covid-19 delta variant, Gottlieb says
J&J: Coronavirus Vaccine Protects Against Delta Variant, Lasts at Least 8 Months
VA will stick with Cerner for EHR modernization
Health insurers are threatening not to cover some patients’ ER bills
Overnight Health Care: White House to send ‘surge teams’ to delta variant hot spots
FDA to add warning about rare heart inflammation to Pfizer, Moderna vaccines
Fentanyl Is Spreading Nationwide And Will Lead To A “Fourth Wave” Of Overdose Deaths
Novavax’s Covid-19 vaccine may face severe uptake challenges in the US
The FDA recently approved Aduhelm as the first new drug for Alzheimer’s disease in almost 20 years.
Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic say that people who’ve already had COVID-19 may not necessarily benefit from vaccination.
Asian immigrant experiences with racism and the COVID-19 pandemic
CureVac COVID vaccine let-down spotlights mRNA design challenges
G-7 nations expected to pledge 1B vaccine doses for world
One Medical will expand care with acquisition of Iora Health
COVID-19 cases rising and falling
Biden administration to buy 500 million Pfizer coronavirus vaccine doses to donate to the world
Babylon bets big on tech-enabled proactive primary care
Drug prices top issue for most patients
Obama used to increase ACA insurance enrollment by public
Vulnerable may need COVID-19 booster shots
Mothers are being left behind in the economic recovery from COVID-19
COVID economic recovery hub releases indicators to watch
Comparing the Covid-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson
AMA pledges to dismantle causes of health inequities
Health inequities during pandemic
America returns to an old friend – the opioid epidemic
India’s pandemic surge turns political
CDC abruptly changes course on mask wearing
Genetic therapy falls short for Huntington’s Disease
International COVID-19 trial to restart with focus on immune responses
Opioid trial in WV could be bellwether case for future opioid litigation
Op Ed states Healthcare is Infrastructure
India’s Covid crisis: Rural hospitals unable to cope as virus spreads
Pfizer and Moderna seek full FDA approval
Oregon state lawmaker charged with enabling Oregon state capitol violence
Biden redefines Trump’s populism in his own image
China scolds former president Donald Trump
Atlantic releases op-ed on Indian Americans and COVID-19
CDC releases brief on vaccine statistics
IHME COVID-19 Results Briefing
Oxygen demand exceeds supply in India
U.S. ends J&J COVID-19 vaccine pause; shots to resume immediately
First “pattern and practice” investigation ordered by the Biden administration
J&J seeks AstraZeneca’s help with blood clotting issue
Pfizer: 3rd COVID vaccine dose likely needed within 12 months
India has a double mutant virus variant.
Biden administration investing $1.7B into tracking, combating COVID-19 variants
South African COVID variant can ‘break through’ Pfizer vaccine: study
Pfizer says Covid vaccine 100% effective in children ages 12 to 15
NIH to fund Moderna vaccine study on COVID-19 South African variant
AstraZeneca and J&J vaccine now under full EU review
New study finds properly analyzing vaccination efficacy against variants may require new clinical studies
Brookings Institute Special Report: Behavior and the dynamic of epidemics
European Union’s new COVID-19 surge highlights vaccination missteps
World Health Report raises more questions than actually addressing answers
CDC releases variant tracker database
Special Report by Heritage Foundation: A Statistical Analysis of COVID-19 and Government Protection Measures in the U.S.
Global economy’s K shaped recovery
IHME projects variants-led COVID-19 resurgence will lead to 600,000 deaths by July 2021
Vaccine disinformation continues to rise
So called “double mutant” variants found in India
P.1 strain responsible for most new cases and mortality among Brazilian COVID-19 patients
Reinfection rate 1% for vaccinated healthcare workers, according to UCSD study
Variant with greatest mutation found in Tanzania
FDA provides resources for schools
WHO releases statement on AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago partially closed due to COVID outbreak
Half of US health workers not vaccinated
20% of Americans have received the vaccine.
EU regulators reaffirm AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine
Europe initiates another round of lockdowns
World bank to create relative severity score to contextualize COVID-19 impact
Systemic manipulation of nursing home data found in NY Times investigation
Converged IoT and contextual data to predict to future of work post COVID-19
United States projected to grow by 6% in 2021
Over 100M vaccinated, yet President calls to increase the pace of vaccination
Brookings Institute analyzes economic impact of pandemic related financial aid to cities and states
Some optimistic policy experts believe herd immunity will be reached in April
FDA warns against Ivermectin use for COVID-19
CDC to issue new guidelines for COVID-19 vaccinated patients
Congress questions medical device manufacturers on opioid settlement tax breaks
NPR advises patients not to miss medical appointments
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)
Prominent TikTok doctors resign from popular feeds
Walmart to appeal dismissal
Individual costs per vaccine in United States revealed
COVID-19 variants much ado about nothing
CDC reports low adverse event rates for vaccines for January 2021
Study reveals drop in COVID-19 cases not related to vaccines
Wild disparities in vaccine prices among different countries across the world
Hospital admissions not linked to COVID-19 plunged in fall of 2020
Vaccination rates are projected to double based upon vaccine supply forecasts
Greater disparity among black women than men regarding vaccine confidence
Study finds timing an issue in combination therapy for COVID-19 patients
Diabetes type 2 prioritized over diabetes type 1 in CDC prioritization schedule
Common asthma drug Budesonide, Ivermectin in treatment of coronavirus
Convalescent plasma no benefit to hospital patients
CDC is not recommending a Covid-19 test requirement before domestic travel
Minimum wage a public health issue?
Racism ingrained in healthcare data, study finds
McKinsey settles opioid settlement for $600M
Vaccine roll out could potentially extend out to years
Experts say decline in cases not due to vaccines
COVID-19 vaccination model targets ages of 29-40 to minimize meaningful transmission
CDC tracking three key COVID-19 variants in the US
Johnson & Johnson DNA vaccine is easier to store and distribute
WHO now concurs with CDC in recommending mRNA COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy
New expectations for herd immunity timeline, both in the US and internationally
India to export vaccines internationally
East coast hospital the first to cancel vaccines due to shortages
Hepatitis A vaccine shortage
COVID-19 variants infectivity rates studied
CDC clarifies vaccine guidelines and mixing
Incoming CDC director predicts 100,000 deaths in next month
Telemedicine while helping, burdens select populations
Medical societies applaud the HHS for removing X-waiver
CDC begins to map spread of COVID-19 variants
Noted COVID-19 projection model estimates 20-50% detection rate
UK recommends against vaccine mixing
Analysis of Pfizer vaccine confirms 95% efficacy
India to begin world’s largest vaccine distribution plan
Virtual care regresses to pre-pandemic levels
Britain takes a gamble with Covid-19 vaccines
US daily COVID-19 hospitalizations have hovered above 100,000 for a month — but experts say the post-holiday surge is yet to come
Google Updates COVID-19 Forecasting Models
Viral Mutation Patterns Predict Dissemination Patterns
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump Test Positive For COVID-19
Twenty-one states are reporting increased Covid-19 cases as experts warn of a fall surge
Chaos theory can explain the uncertainty of COVID-19
In the context of COVID-19, cancer survivors represent a particularly vulnerable population that may be “doubly hit” by both costs of cancer treatment and financial strain imposed by the pandemic.
Vindicated Covid-19 models warn pandemic is far from over
Fourth large-scale COVID-19 vaccine trial begins in the United States
The IHME again revises its COVID-19 predictions for the remainder of 2020

Trivia

Is Omicron Mother Nature’s Variant?
Welcome to the Virosphere

In recent years, scientists have discovered that the world of virus diversity — what they sometimes call the virosphere — is vast.


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