and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya made recent remarks that caused panic and distrust in the autism community, a wave of canceled evaluations has occurred. People with autism and parents of autistic children are requesting clinicians to erase their diagnoses and canceling appointments with medical professionals. This response is driven by concerns about being targeted for having the diagnosis, following Kennedy’s promise to address an autism “epidemic” and assertions that autistic children would never date, pay taxes, or throw a baseball.
These remarks have revived stigma around the autism diagnosis and could potentially undermine decades of research. Many advocates reject the characterization of autism as an epidemic and are concerned about the implications of the new spotlight on autism. The cancellations of evaluations and erasure of diagnoses are causing disruptions in the autism community and among researchers.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against three Medicare Advantage insurers, CVS Health’s Aetna, Elevance Health’s Anthem, and Humana. The lawsuit alleges a scheme in which the insurers bribed insurance brokers to steer older adults to their policies, which cover nearly 40% of the Medicare Advantage market. The DOJ is also pursuing a fraud case against UnitedHealth Group related to the Medicare Advantage program.
In another development, a government laboratory working on dangerous pathogens such as Ebola and Eastern equine encephalitis was ordered to cease operations due to serious safety violations. One incident involved a staff member poking holes in a colleague’s protective equipment during a lover’s spat. The lab director has been put on administrative leave, and the safety violations have raised concerns about the handling of dangerous pathogens at the facility.
These recent developments in the fields of autism research, healthcare insurance, and pathogen research highlight the complex challenges and controversies facing the health and medicine sectors. The impact of these events on patients, researchers, and the broader healthcare system remains to be seen.
After the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) decided in late February to suspend public comment on much of the business it conducts, there was a wave of opposition from numerous patient groups. However, members of Congress remained relatively quiet on the matter.
Yesterday, Democratic lawmakers finally pushed back and introduced two resolutions urging the administration to reverse its decision. These resolutions, supported by organizations such as the National Rural Health Association, Children’s Hospital Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the United Steelworkers, called for HHS to restore the public comment period. Former federal health officials also joined the chorus, questioning why HHS was hesitant to hear from those affected by government policies. Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, former CMS administrator, criticized HHS for its lack of transparency and accountability.
In other news, there are several interesting articles circulating that shed light on various issues:
– An opinion piece on the need for a thorough post-mortem analysis of the public health response to Covid.
– A discussion on the future of science in the US.
– Insights from biotech leaders at a Stanford conference expressing concerns about Trump policies.
– The Trump administration’s decision to cut funding for misinformation research, despite being accused of spreading misinformation.
– The cancellation of $1 billion in grants for student mental health by the Trump administration, as reported by the New York Times.
These articles provide valuable insights into current events and trends shaping the healthcare landscape. It is crucial to stay informed and engaged with such developments to understand the broader implications for public health and policy.
