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Health Care

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The Big Story

The second MAHA report is out

The White House released its long-awaited second report on fighting chronic disease by the Make America Healthy Again Commission.

The paper laid out plans for increased scrutiny on vaccines and prescribing practices while taking a softer stance on pesticides.

It contained a roadmap to “make our children healthy again,” but it reiterated much of what was said in the first report issued in May and contained little policy or regulation.

Instead, the strategy report issued Tuesday asked companies to make voluntary commitments and called for studies of previously approved medical treatments. It focused on better nutrition, more exercise; and a review of vaccines and prescription drugs.

“This strategy represents the most sweeping reform agenda in modern history—realigning our food and health systems, driving education, and unleashing science to protect America’s children and families,” Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement. “We are ending the corporate capture of public health, restoring transparency, and putting gold-standard science—not special interests—at the center of every decision.”

The MAHA strategy includes:

Restructuring HHS to include the Trump administration’s Administration for a Healthy America.
A “vaccine framework” to be developed by the White House Domestic Policy Council and HHS. The framework will include ensuring the “the best childhood vaccine schedule;” addressing vaccine injuries; “modernizing” American vaccines; ensuring “scientific and medical freedom;” and “correcting conflicts of interest and misaligned incentives.”
A call for working to “reform the approval process” for chemicals and pesticides,” but no specifics on what those reforms will be.
Updating CDC guidance on water fluoridation and “forever chemicals” in water.
Creating a “mental health diagnosis and prescription working group” to evaluate prescription patterns for common psychiatric medications like antidepressants, mood stabilizers and stimulants.

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

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Essential Reads

How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:

Bloomberg blasts RFK Jr.: ‘No serious scientist can hold CDC job’ under Kennedy

A Bloomberg editorial published Tuesday criticized Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for ousting the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), saying his leadership would make it difficult for any serious scientist to follow her. Kennedy pushed CDC Director Susan Monarez out of her job two weeks ago, a move followed by other resignations of senior CDC officials. “Monarez’s departure from …

Full Story

Trump signs order to crack down on prescription drug advertising

The Trump administration is planning to ramp up oversight and enforcement of direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising, but will stop short of an outright ban. President Trump on Tuesday signed an executive memorandum instructing the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure transparency and accuracy in direct-to-consumer advertising, including by requiring greater disclosure of side effects. The Food …

Full Story

CDC warns of deadly ‘kissing bug’ disease: What to know

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a Tuesday report raising awareness about the deadly “kissing bug” disease also known as Chagas. Chagas disease can cause severe fatigue in early stages in addition to heart and digestive problems in the chronic stage. Blood sucking insects called triatominae or “kissing bugs” that transmit the illness have been reported in 32 states. Other states with human cases …

Full Story

In Other News

Branch out with a different read:

Doctors group recommends COVID-19 vaccine for all adults in break with government

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) is recommending that adults 18 and older, children and pregnant women receive COVID-19 vaccines, contrary to the federal government’s recently narrowed recommendations for the shots. “History shows us that vaccines have eradicated diseases that were disabling and deadly in the past, and we can keep it that way, if we continue to vaccinate,” said Margot Savoy, chief medical …

Full Story

Around the Nation

Local and state headlines on health care:

Louisiana has not monitored public funds given to anti-abortion pregnancy centers (Louisiana Illuminator)
West Nile virus on the rise in Wyoming (Wyoming Public Radio)
Texas governor expected to issue executive order setting age requirements for THC products, other restrictions (The Texas Tribune)

What We’re Reading

Health news we’ve flagged from other outlets:

How to get a coronavirus vaccine and who’s eligible amid limited access (The Washington Post)
Trump’s Medicaid cuts will hit some children’s hospitals (NPR)
Vaccine policy threatens to put Kennedy at odds with Trump (Stat)