Public Health and U.S. Policy
- Government Shutdown Looms Over Health Care Funding: Negotiations in Washington are gridlocked over a must-pass spending bill, with a government shutdown deadline approaching. Democrats are demanding the renewal of expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits and the reversal of health care cuts, while Republicans are insisting on a “clean” short-term funding bill. The failure to pass a deal could lead to major disruptions in health services and increased insurance costs for millions of Americans.
- Source: Associated Press
- New National Cancer Institute Director Sworn In: Dr. Anthony Letai has been officially sworn in as the new Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) highlighted Dr. Letai’s research on cell death and its application in cancer treatment as a key part of the new administration’s health agenda.
- Source: HHS.gov
- Federal Mental Health Grants for Schools Reinstated: The U.S. Education Department has restarted a previously canceled $270 million grant program aimed at increasing the number of school-based mental health professionals, particularly school psychologists. The reinstated grants come with new priorities focused on building capacity for mental health support in schools.
- Source: The Times of India
- Hospitals Urge Exemption from H-1B Visa Changes: The American Hospital Association (AHA) has formally requested that the Administration exempt healthcare personnel from new fees and proposed changes to the H-1B visa program. The AHA warns that the changes could negatively impact the recruitment of foreign-trained physicians and worsen ongoing healthcare workforce shortages.
Global Health and Disease Alerts
- Report Warns of Risk from Weak Primary Care in the Americas: A new landmark report by the World Bank and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warns that weak Primary Health Care (PHC) systems in Latin America and the Caribbean put lives and economies at risk. The report states that without building resilience in PHC, the next health crisis could lead to up to 165,000 preventable deaths in the region.
- Update on Listeria Contamination Alert: The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has updated its public health alert regarding ready-to-eat meals contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. New whole genome sequencing confirms that a sample of the pasta ingredient used in certain store-bought meals (including a Walmart brand) is genetically related to the ongoing Listeria outbreak strain.
- PAHO Honors COVID-19 Health Workers: The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) unveiled a sculpture at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., to honor the resilience and dedication of health workers across the Americas during the COVID-19 pandemic. The region recorded over three million deaths during the crisis.
