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In other news:
Drivers of Variation in Health Care Spending Across US Counties: In this cross-sectional study of health care spending from 3110 US counties in 2019, 65% of the cross-county variation was explained by variation in service utilization, while price and intensity of services, disease prevalence, and population age explained 24%, 7%, and 4% of the variation, respectively. Insurance coverage and median income were associated with service utilization, while the fraction of Medicare with Medicare Advantage was associated with less utilization.
And in a related article:Tracking US Health Care Spending by Health Condition and County: This observational study showed considerable variation in spending across health conditions, types of care, age groups, payers, and counties—with spending being greatest for type 2 diabetes. Across counties, there was more variation in utilization rates rather than price and intensity of care.
About pharma
Moody's downgrades Walgreens outlook to negative: Moody’s warned in a report today that Walgreens struggles with a weak consumer environment that could hurt retail sales, and ongoing legal disputes, including a nearly $1 billion liability attached to an arbitration award won by a former partner. Moody’s also said Walgreens is challenged by “dark rent” on closing stores, persistent inflation and prescription reimbursement rate pressures.
Despite Walgreens paying down some debt and reporting modest growth, Moody’s expects Walgreens to face negative free cash flow over the next 12 months. Even the recent decision to suspend the dividend won’t help Walgreens in the near-term, Moody’s says.
About the public’s health
Trump creates MAHA commission on chronic disease, chaired by RFK Jr.: The commission will look to address health research, the food system and expanded coverage options. The executive order outlines a need for “fresh thinking” on physical activity and new technological habits, and the role the private sector currently holds. It will study contributing causes to childhood chronic disease such as "the American diet, absorption of toxic material, medical treatments, lifestyle, environmental factors, Government policies, food production techniques, electromagnetic radiation, and corporate influence or cronyism."
Federally funded health research should “avoid conflicts of interest” through renewed transparency and open-source data, according to a fact sheet. The new effort also calls for “gold-standard research on why Americans are getting sick in all health-related research funded by the federal government.”
About healthcare IT
Patients’ Trust in Health Systems to Use Artificial Intelligence: This analysis found low trust in health care systems to use AI responsibly and protect patients from AI-related harms. General trust in the health care system, but not health literacy or AI knowledge, was associated with these perceptions.
Trends in Obesity-Related Measures Among US Children, Adolescents, and Adults: From 2013-2014 to August 2021-August 2023, there were small increases in the percentage of children and adolescents with obesity, as well as in adults with severe obesity (but not obesity). There were no other significant changes in obesity-related measures, including waist circumference. This period included the COVID-19 pandemic; a study using electronic health records found a small increase in mean weight among adults during the pandemic.
About healthcare personnel
Trump administration to fire thousands at health agencies: Senior officials were informed in meetings Friday morning that roughly 5,200 people on probationary employment — recent hires — across agencies including the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be fired that afternoon, according to sources briefed on the meetings. CDC leadership was told the Atlanta-based agency would lose about 1,300 workers. The numbers at the NIH are not clear, but exceptions are being made for certain probationary employees, according to a memo viewed by STAT.
Also, see: Thousands more fired as Trump, Musk intensify assault on US agencies