Aug 16, 2024

Hey everyone! I just heard some great news about Medicare drug prices. The agency has announced that they were able to negotiate lower costs for 10 drugs in the first year of negotiation, saving a whopping $6 billion. This is fantastic as it will result in reduced out-of-pocket costs for seniors when these changes take effect in 2026. It’s a major win for patients and taxpayers.

On a different note, the New York State Department of Health has issued an advisory to stop using the antibiotic ciprofloxacin for patients who may have been in contact with someone who has meningitis. This is due to an increase in antimicrobial resistance. It’s important to start antibiotic treatment to people who may have been exposed to the disease, so it’s great to see this proactive response from health authorities.

In other news, the World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency of international concern regarding the outbreak of mpox in multiple African countries. This is a significant step to coordinate international efforts to contain the threat and provide guidance to countries on steps they should take to address the problem. It’s good to see global cooperation in response to health emergencies.

The newsletter also highlighted the disparities in representation on federal panels for osteopathic physicians, the need for a global system for sharing the benefits from genetic sequences, and the sentiments of women on abortion policy. These are all important issues that require attention and action.

Overall, it’s great to see progress being made in various areas of healthcare, from drug pricing to public health responses. It’s a reminder of the importance of staying informed and advocating for positive change in the healthcare system.

Take care and stay healthy!

Summy

Stay Well!