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Good morning. Today marks the deadline for the White House to appoint a new CDC director. If this deadline is missed, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya will not be able to continue in his acting role at the other agency. Last week, STAT’s Executive Editor Rick Berke and Washington reporter Daniel Payne provided insights on the ongoing search. We remain vigilant for updates.
Oz announces new CMS program in STAT
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is introducing a pilot program aimed at improving care for children with complex conditions. This initiative will allocate $125 million among up to five states to explore integrating physical and behavioral health care with community support.
This follows CMS’s announcement last year about potential adjustments to the Integrated Care for Kids Model, the program’s predecessor. “This administration has been particularly proactive in launching experimental models to encourage high-quality care at reduced costs,” stated STAT’s Mario Aguilar. He emphasized that the intricacies of eligibility, payments, and evaluations are crucial. More details are available in STAT’s First Opinion section.
Robert Malone out from ACIP
Robert Malone, a vocal medical doctor allied with health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is leaving the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices after a federal judge halted the panel’s activities. Since Malone’s appointment by Kennedy last year, the committee significantly influenced the Trump administration’s vaccine policy revisions, including delaying the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns.
Following the judge’s decision, Malone made unclear statements about the panel’s status. He declined to comment when contacted by STAT’s Chelsea Cirruzzo, but later texted Roll Call, saying, “Suffice to say I do not like drama, and have better things to do.” Further details from Chelsea can be found in her report.
1 in 3
A recent KFF poll reveals that one in three U.S. adults has used AI chatbots for health information in the past year. Conducted mostly online with occasional phone calls between late February and early March, the survey gathered responses from over 1,000 individuals. Key findings include:
- Many users sought AI for immediate advice, while 1 in 5 cited concerns about healthcare costs and access.
- 41% of AI users uploaded personal medical information like test results or doctor’s notes for personalized advice, equating to 13% of the general public. Despite privacy concerns, most proceeded to upload their data.
- Many do not consult doctors after receiving AI advice, with 58% skipping follow-ups for mental health inquiries and 42% for physical health inquiries.
Would you know an AI X-ray if you saw one?
In AI developments, deepfake X-rays have not disrupted health systems, yet researcher Mickael Tordjman stresses the importance of distinguishing real from fake X-rays. In a study involving 17 radiologists, less than half detected discrepancies in fake imaging, and even with warnings, accuracy only improved to 75%.
Katie Palmer’s discussion with Tordjman explores the potential risks of deepfakes in medicine, who bears responsibility for mitigating these risks, and how Katie’s identification skills compared to the doctors in the study.
‘Do not bring a patient with dementia to the emergency room unless she is turning blue.’
Gabriela Khazanov was advised by a neurologist against taking her mother, who has dementia, to the ER unless necessary. Research indicates that dementia patients face higher risks of adverse outcomes in emergencies, such as long hospital stays and increased mortality. Khazanov’s experience, alongside an essay by Jay Baruch, highlights these risks. Her First Opinion piece outlines how small changes could enhance emergency care for dementia patients.
What we’re reading
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Despite state bans and restrictions, the number of abortions in the U.S. remains steady, NPR
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‘They tricked me’: A father was detained after attempting to reunite with his children through ICE, KFF Health News
- The U.S. needs to be cautious about Iranian biological materials, STAT
- ‘It felt like a life-or-death choice’: Pregnancy with long Covid presents many uncertainties, The Sick Times
- FTC reaches tentative deal with CVS over allegations of insulin price manipulations and access restrictions, STAT
What’s the word? Test your knowledge with today’s STAT Mini crossword.
