About Covid-19
Lab Leak Most Likely Origin of Covid-19 Pandemic, Energy Department Now Says “The U.S. Energy Department has concluded that the Covid pandemic most likely arose from a laboratory leak, according to a classified intelligence report recently provided to the White House and key members of Congress…
The new report highlights how different parts of the intelligence community have arrived at disparate judgments about the pandemic’s origin. The Energy Department now joins the Federal Bureau of Investigation in saying the virus likely spread via a mishap at a Chinese laboratory. Four other agencies, along with a national intelligence panel, still judge that it was likely the result of a natural transmission, and two are undecided.”
Not enough data to support multiple annual COVID boosters, U.S. CDC advisers say “An expert advisory group to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said there is not sufficient evidence to recommend more than one COVID-19 booster shot a year for older people and those with weakened immune systems…”
First combination home test for flu and covid cleared by the FDA “The Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized the first combination test for the flu and the coronavirus that is fully performed at home, giving consumers a convenient way to determine which pathogen may be causing their respiratory illnesses.
The agency granted emergency use authorization to the Lucira Covid-19 & Flu Test, which provides results in about 30 minutes from samples collected by a nasal swab.”
About health insurance/insurers
IDRs to resume certain payment determinations under No Surprises Act “Effective Feb. 27, certified independent dispute resolution entities will resume issuing payment determinations for payment disputes involving out-of-network services and items furnished before Oct. 25, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced. CMS has posted guidance for certified IDRs issuing payment determinations for items and services furnished before Oct. 25, 2022.”
About pharma
Democratic-led U.S. states challenge restrictions on abortion pill “Twelve Democratic-led states have sued the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to challenge certain federal restrictions imposed on the distribution of the abortion pill mifepristone, saying those limits are not supported by evidence.
The lawsuit, led by Washington state and Oregon, was filed on Thursday in federal court in Yakima, Washington and aims to expand access to mifepristone by allowing it to be prescribed and dispensed by any doctor or pharmacy, like most drugs. Currently, doctors who prescribe mifepristone, and pharmacies that dispense it, must obtain a special certification.
Meanwhile, a separate lawsuit by anti-abortion activists that seeks to end access to the drug is proceeding in Texas.”
How 5 drugmakers fared in 2022 FYI
About healthcare IT
DEA announces proposed rules to make telemedicine permanently flexible, safeguarded “The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced on Friday that it is proposing rules to make many flexibilities for telemedicine that were established amid the COVID-19 pandemic permanent, with certain safeguards.
The DEA said in a release that the rule will give patients access to virtual therapies beyond the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, which is scheduled to conclude in May.”
Major coalition of health groups aims to combat health misinformation “A new industrywide coalition of healthcare groups aims to combat persistent problems with misinformation, a lingering problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Coalition for Trust in Health & Science is expected to formally launch on March 2. The coalition will contain more than 50 groups that run the gamut from payers, providers to drug manufacturers.”
About health technology
Wearable Fitness Trackers May Interfere With Cardiac Devices “Wearable electronic devices such as smart watches, worn by consumers to monitor their health, could interfere with the correct working of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), posing serious health risks to these patients.
Researchers at the University of Utah, in Salt Lake City, found that certain fitness trackers, such as smart watches, smart rings and smart scales, that emit an electrical current have the potential to essentially confuse CIEDs, devices including pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices, (CRTs), causing them to stop working.
Smart watches generated the highest level of interference; smart scales and smart rings generated lower levels.”
FDA Clears Spectrum’s Saliva Collection Device “Spectrum Solutions has received 510(k) marketing clearance from the FDA for a saliva collection device that keeps microbial nuclear acids stable for weeks at room temperature.
The device uses the company’s patented nucleic acid preservation technology and neutralizes viruses within 10 seconds of collection to mitigate the risk of exposure.”