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Good morning. As spring approaches, what comfort food do you enjoy during the last cool days? I’m craving one last hearty soup or stew before switching to fresher, seasonal dishes.
Watch RFK Jr. attempt a balancing act today
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to appear before Congress today to discuss the fiscal 2027 budget. Over the next week, he will participate in at least seven hearings with key House and Senate committees. According to STAT’s Chelsea Cirruzzo, Kennedy’s ability to maintain focus during lawmakers’ inquiries will be tested as he prepares for a midterms tour to rally support for the MAHA movement and the White House’s agenda.
While Kennedy is expected to highlight the administration’s achievements with the “MAHA wins” over the past year, the primary topic will be the budget, including a proposed 12% cut to HHS and other proposals from the fiscal 2026 budget that Congress ignored. More details from Chelsea on the important questions she will monitor throughout the day.
The mental health parity gap is gaping
Are you finding it challenging to locate an in-network therapist? You are not alone.
A recent analysis of commercial insurance data indicates that Americans often struggle to access clinicians for mental health care and substance use disorder treatment, despite a federal law mandating equal coverage for mental and physical health care.
The Mental Health Parity Index, introduced on Tuesday by the Kennedy Forum, the American Medical Association, and other organizations, reveals a significant disparity. In 43 states, this gap affects enrollees in plans provided by the nation’s four largest commercial health insurance companies: Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. Not only patients but also providers in every state receive lower payments from these insurers for these services.
This issue is not new, as noted in previous writings, and there is no indication of any change on the horizon, given federal health officials’ reluctance to enforce the parity law. — O. Rose Broderick
FDA will consider broader access to certain peptides
The FDA plans to hold a series of advisory panel meetings to explore the possibility of allowing compounding pharmacies to manufacture certain peptides, as reported by STAT’s Lizzy Lawrence and Sarah Todd. The initial meetings are scheduled for July, with another set to occur by the end of February 2027.
The FDA, under Biden, removed 19 peptides from the list of drugs that compounding pharmacies could produce. The July panel will focus on seven of these peptides, while the subsequent meeting will address another five. Further insights on the reactions from scientists, politicians, and compounding pharmacies to this development.
You thought text-based chatbots were risky?
As large language models become more integrated into American society, there is growing concern about how chatbots might reinforce delusions and create emotional dependency. However, as highlighted in a new First Opinion essay by a doctor, there is a notable difference between interacting with a chatbot via text and engaging with one through speech.
“Long before a child learns to read, their brain is already wired to process speech,” writes Marc Augustin. “When an AI speaks to you, it taps into something deeper and more primal than literacy.” Discover more about the current evidence on the impact of voice-first chatbots.
Additionally, explore another First Opinion essay on the necessity of rethinking health care’s structure in light of the medical AI revolution.
14%
This figure represents the percentage of ACA marketplace plan enrollees who failed to pay their premium in January 2026, based on a new report from the consulting group Wakely. Although CMS previously reported that about 5% of individuals disenrolled from their plans following the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, the report authors emphasize the significance of understanding the number of people unable to afford the increased premiums. Those who automatically re-enrolled in the same plan after covering their monthly bill last year may discontinue payments and lose coverage if they cannot manage the higher premium.
The authors predict that total disenrollment from ACA plans could range from 17% to 26%, which may significantly impact the development of 2027 premium rates and, consequently, individuals’ health.
What we’re reading
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If your heart stopped right now, would a stranger save you? It depends on your sex, Your Local Epidemiologist
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A spatial atlas of the healthy human liver from live donors, Nature
- CMS proposes rolling back breakthrough device payment flexibilities, STAT
- The great Ozempic experiment, New York Times
