Senate inquiry suggests Trump administration softened kratom and tobacco policies in quid pro quo

The Senate investigation includes RFK Jr. as well as the heads of Reynolds American and kratom company Botanic Tonics, asking for written responses and documentation by Aug. 31.

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How Josée became one of the 7.9% of Québécois who die by assisted suicide

“In focusing on medical aid in dying solely as an end, we’ve missed out on the life that was lived,” writes physician Sai Rajagopal.

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As Trump administration pushes court-ordered mental health care, a new report raises questions

A study of New York’s court-ordered care for people with serious mental health conditions adds to the research on this type of involuntary care.

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Kennedy and Oz call Medicaid cuts ‘myths.’ It’s more complicated than that

Kennedy and Oz say Medicaid isn't being cut. But state Medicaid directors say new policies are likely to cause many people to lose coverage.

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Eli Lilly to allow more patients to apply for special access to unapproved obesity drug

Doctors are asking how to get retatrutide for their patients, after Eli Lilly gave one man early access.

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Michigan reports first two U.S. deaths in outbreak of cyclospora

Two people have died in the cyclospora outbreak in Michigan in the first confirmed deaths in the U.S. related to the microscopic parasite, state health officials announced.

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After Eli Lilly granted one man special access to obesity drug, doctors struggle to get answers

Doctors are asking how to get retatrutide for their patients, after Eli Lilly gave one man early access.

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Senate measure would block Trump plan to politicize federal grants, for now

A White House proposal to subject research grants to political scrutiny meets at least a temporary roadblock in the Senate.

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Medicare eliminates key pathways used by 'breakthrough' devices for extra payments

Medicare is removing flexibilities that have allowed 'breakthrough' medical devices to leapfrog qualifications for extra payments.

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Senate measure would block Trump plan to politicize federal grants, for now

A White House proposal to subject research grants to political scrutiny meets at least a temporary roadblock in the Senate.

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Heart transplant candidates fail if they get too weak. New program tries inpatient prehab

Patients often get weaker waiting in the hospital for heart transplant. A cardiologist had an idea: inpatient prehabilitation.

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Syphilis spreads while researchers contend with federal constraints and a drug shortage

At the San Diego-Tijuana border, syphilis spreads while researchers contend with federal constraints and a drug shortage.

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NSF testing new Ph.D. model giving trainees academic and industry experience

Students working in fields eligible for NSF funding will be able to participate, including chemistry, engineering, and basic life science research that doesn’t deal directly with the treatment of dise...

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Judge denies states’ motion to postpone Medicaid work requirement

Federal judge denied 26 states’ request to postpone the implementation of Medicaid work requirements announced in June.

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Is it safe to drink Red Bull and alcohol? Questionable research tied to energy drink giant has shaped policy

Studies tied to Red Bull helped block warning labels about drinking alcohol along with energy drinks. Independent studies report risks in mixing the two.

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Chronically ill people face confusion over new Medicaid work rules and ‘medically frail’ exemption

Patients, advocates, and experts fear the difficulty in documenting a frailty exemption to Medicaid work requirements will lead to millions losing coverage.

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Key Senate panel backs Trump’s picks for CDC, pandemic preparedness

In win for RFK Jr., Senate committee sends nominations of Erica Schwartz for CDC director and Sean Kaufman for ASPR to full Senate.

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Hims misled consumers and violated their privacy, FTC alleges in a lawsuit

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission sued telehealth company Hims & Hers alleging business practices that agency says misled consumers.

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In the biotech industry, a most-wanted fugitive was long hiding in plain sight

Ronald Fischer, a most-wanted fugitive, was long hiding in the biotech industry in plain sight, and using an alias more extensively than has been previously reported.

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Office Hours with Isabella Cueto and Lev Facher

Join the journalists behind STAT’s series 'The Deadliest Drug' at 1 p.m. on July 29 for a discussion on a public health epidemic, alcohol, hiding in plain sight.

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From ‘lost cause’ to gold rush: Biotechs swarm to cure AATD

Biotech companies are racing to cure alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, AATD, fueling patent disputes, startup defections, arbitration, and a U.S.-China rivalry.

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Six key issues we're watching at Fauci's hearing

Sen. Rand Paul is forcing Fauci to appear before his Senate panel.

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Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment in declining to answer questions before Senate panel

At a highly anticipated Senate hearing, Anthony Fauci evoked his Fifth Amendment right to refuse to answer questions about the Covid-19 pandemic and its origins.

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CMS evaluates one year of health tech progress, announces eight new pledge categories

One year after launching the CMS Health Tech Ecosystem, officials convened in D.C. to celebrate the Trump administration modernizing health technology.

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From ‘lost cause’ to gold rush: Biotechs swarm to cure AATD

Biotech companies are racing to cure alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, AATD, fueling patent disputes, startup defections, arbitration, and a U.S.-China rivalry.

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After PCOS became PMOS, there's hope for new awareness among Black and Latina women

Growing awareness of a painful endocrine disorder now named PMOS is good news for women of color, who have high prevalence and low diagnosis.

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Anthony Fauci’s pandemic-era diary entries

New data on American substance use, concerns of a global HIV resurgence, and more health news from Morning Rounds

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As some medical schools embrace RFK Jr.'s nutrition push, they deftly sidestep MAHA priorities

Even as some medical schools heed health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s call for more nutrition education, several told STAT that they plan to steer clear of topics that aren’t backed by evidence.

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