Nov 27, 2025

1. Subject: Breaking: Trump administration unveils new round of Medicare-negotiated drug prices

   Content Summary: The Trump administration released prices for 15 Medicare-negotiated drugs, saving $8.5 billion (36%) compared to previous years. Prices include obesity and diabetes medications, highlighting significant negotiation skills attributed to the Trump team over the Biden administration. The announcement was timed to limit public attention. Detailed articles discuss how these actions relate to broader health policy and ongoing drug pricing negotiations.

2. Subject: HMI Medical expands robotic surgery | WAVEDKids programme launches | NZ unveils 10-year health plans

   Content Summary: Healthcare developments in Asia-Pacific include HMI Medical’s expansion of robotic surgery targeting higher-income patients, Western Australia’s WAVEDKids program enhancing pediatric emergency care, and New Zealand’s 10-year health digital investment plan to implement a unified electronic medical record system. Additional market insights include growth projections in neurovascular thrombectomy and blood glucose monitoring markets, as well as a decline in cryoablation procedures.

3. Subject: The new No. 2 at CDC & STAT’s Thanksgiving memories

   Content Summary: Ralph Abraham, a vaccine skeptic and former Louisiana surgeon general, is appointed as the CDC’s principal deputy director. His stance includes criticism of standard vaccination practices and a preference for natural immunity. The newsletter also shares Thanksgiving-related stories from past years, discusses an upcoming CDC vote on the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine, and features a podcast on the use of beagles in medical research campaigns.

4. Subject: 🏛️ ACA vote scenarios

   Content Summary: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidy extension faces uncertainty after Republican opposition to President Trump’s proposed extension plans. Potential outcomes include subsidy expiration on December 31 if bipartisan agreements fail, with possible last-minute deals in January that may incorporate further health policy reforms. Additionally, Medicare negotiated drug price reductions could save $12 billion annually, with significant discounts on drugs like Ozempic. The Trump administration is also considering changes to Medicare Advantage plan quality ratings, rolling back some Biden-era incentives.

5. Subject: You’ve been selected: Get early access to Cyber Week savings

   Content Summary: A promotional offer grants early access to Cyber Week savings with a 6-month STAT+ subscription for $20. The subscription supports in-depth health and science journalism, enabling exclusive investigations into FDA vaccine regulation, detailed reporting on pharmaceutical companies like Moderna, and coverage of regional healthcare testing programs such as MAHA in Texas.

6. Subject: Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus symptoms disappear with CAR-T therapies

   Content Summary: CAR T-cell therapy, traditionally used in cancer treatment, shows promising results in curing autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis by modifying T cells to stop harmful antibody production. Other featured topics include genetic mosaicism discovered in human cells, pheasants sacrificing vision for mating displays, discussions on rising ADHD diagnosis trends, advances in neurosymbolic AI, and the negative impact of US aid cuts on African health programs.

Stay Well!