February 2025 Health News Roundup

New Hampshire:

• Welcome Erin Jablonski, APRN, to Monadnock Gastroenterology Associates (Mass General Brigham Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, 2/28/25)
• HB 524 would repeal the New Hampshire Vaccine Association. But what does the NHVA actually do? (New Hampshire Bulletin, 2/27/25)
• Press Ganey patient experience awards for mental health services earned by Portsmouth Regional Hospital (Portsmouth Hospital, 2/26/25)
• Flu and other breathing illnesses keep rising in New Hampshire (Concord Monitor, 2/25/25)
• Concord Hospital Health System Receives $2,500 Grant from Bishop's Charitable Assistance Fund (Concord Hospital, 2/24/25)
• Protecting Medicaid is Critical to Granite Staters' Mental Health (National Alliance on Mental Illness NH, 2/24/25)
• Recipients say Medicaid has been a lifeline, bemoan potential cuts (NH Union Leader, 2/24/25)
• Some Medicaid recipients would pay premiums under Ayotte’s budget plan (NH Public Radio, 2/24/25)
• US winter flu deaths outpace Covid for first time in five years (NH Union Leader, 2/22/25)
• Dr. Patrick Ho: Momnibus 2.0 cares for new mothers (NH Union Leader, 2/20/25)
• Lawmakers introduce ‘Momnibus 2.0’ bill to address maternal health in New Hampshire (New Hampshire Bulletin, 2/20/25)
• NH Republicans introduce bill allowing trans people to be banned from bathrooms, locker rooms (New Hampshire Bulletin, 2/20/25)
• Opponents of Latest ‘Bathroom Bill’ Call it Discriminatory, Say There Is No Evidence or Need (InDepth NH, 2/19/25)
• Portsmouth Regional Hospital expands intensive care unit (Portsmouth Hospital, 2/19/25)
• Safety, privacy on the line as N.H. House considers bathroom bill, parental bill of rights (Concord Monitor, 2/19/25)
• Taking Mask Mandate Decisions Away From School Boards Supported in House Bill 361 (InDepth NH, 2/19/25)
• Orthopaedic Surgeon Added to NH Union Leader’s “40 Under Forty” List (Dartmouth Health, 2/17/25)
• Bill to end NH vaccine-purchasing group gets strong pushback from nurses, doctors (Concord Monitor, 2/13/25)
• Sens. Collins and Hassan introduce bill to support maternal health at rural hospitals (NH Union Leader, 2/12/25)
• In the News: Mobile Healthcare Does House Calls (Mass General Brigham Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, 2/11/25)
• ‘Bradley’s Law’ seeks to strengthen mental health background checks for gun buyers (Concord Monitor, 2/10/25)
• Cheshire Medical Center Hires David Horne, MD, MPH, as Inaugural Dermatology Chief (Cheshire Medical Center, 2/10/25)
• High health care costs burden New Hampshire families in more than just dollars (New Hampshire Bulletin, 2/10/25)
• House Republicans seek to dismantle state DEI offices, programs in New Hampshire (Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, 2/10/25)
• Black Lives Matter NH maternal health conference brings disparities into focus (NH Public Radio, 2/9/25)
• Two Catholic Charities NH health care communities named among nation’s best for short-term rehabilitation (NH Union Leader, 2/9/25)
• Eliminating DEI at state level draws plenty of pushback (NH Union Leader, 2/8/25)
• DHHS Identifies New Hampshire Resident with Clade I Mpox (NH Department of Health and Human Services, 2/7/25)
• New Hampshire healthcare provider resumes gender-affirming care after confusion over Trump’s executive order (Concord Monitor, 2/6/25)
• New Hampshire House officially axes 15-week abortion ban proposal (New Hampshire Bulletin, 2/6/25)
• NH House Votes to Withdraw Abortion Restriction Bill (InDepth NH, 2/6/25)
• Executive Council blocks contract over vaccine policy (NH Union Leader, 2/5/25)
• U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen Joins Health Care Leaders to Discuss Legislation to Prevent Rising Health Care Costs in NH (New Futures, 2/5/25)
• HCA Healthcare invests $25,000 to expand Granite YMCA's heart health services (Parkland Medical Center, 2/4/25)
• LGBTQ rights groups urge hospitals not to panic after Trump order on gender-affirming care (New Hampshire Bulletin, 2/4/25)
• No immediate changes at NH hospitals following Trump order on gender-affirming care (NH Public Radio, 2/4/25)

New England:

• Seasonal Influenza Activity Remains Elevated in Maine (ME Department of Health and Human Services, 2/26/25)
• Vermont Physicians Say Cliff in Funding Threatens Primary Care Sustainability (VT Medical Association, 2/20/25)
• The Massachusetts Public Health Alliance Statement on the Confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  (MA Department of Public Health, 2/13/25)
• How one Mass. therapist is helping a lot of her immigrant clients cope with this political moment (NH Public Radio, 2/6/25)
• MPHA Climate Resilience Materials (ME Public Health Association, 2/5/25)
• Age Strong Vermont Reports Progress Made in First Year (VT Department of Health, 2/4/25)

General:

• 5 Rare Diseases That Now Have Their First FDA-Approved Treatments (American Journal of Managed Care, 2/28/25)
• ACOG Statement Urging Transparency in HHS Rulemaking (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2/28/25)
• Anxiety, Depression, and Insufficient Exercise Linked to IBD Flare (Medscape, 2/28/25)
• APA Statement on Gender Dysphoria and Military Readiness (American Psychiatric Association, 2/28/25)
• Bird Flu Found in Rats for First Time, USDA Confirms (Infectious Disease Advisor, 2/28/25)
• Concerning New Data on Female Physician Suicide (Medscape, 2/28/25)
• Food Safety in the Balance as Contamination Reports Increase (American Journal of Managed Care, 2/28/25)
• Gynecological Disorders Can Increase Risk for Cardiovascular, Cerebrovascular Disease (HealthDay, 2/28/25)
• Health Organizations Join Forces on Rare Disease Day for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (American College of Chest Physicians, 2/28/25)
• Kennedy moves to eliminate notice and public comment requirements for certain HHS decisions (CNN, 2/28/25)
• Lower Respiratory Tract Sampling Improves Community-Acquired Pneumonia Outcomes (Infectious Disease Advisor, 2/28/25)
• Mental Health Worse After Workplace vs Non-Workplace Injury (Medscape, 2/28/25)
• Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 Face Higher Long-Term Risk for Death, Rehospitalization (HealthDay, 2/28/25)
• Survey Explores Needs of Patients With DMD, BMD Transitioning to Adulthood (American Journal of Managed Care, 2/28/25)
• Texas measles outbreak reaches nearly 150 cases, state health department says (NH Union Leader, 2/28/25)
• Wyoming adds new regulations for abortion clinics (The Hill, 2/28/25)
• CDC report adds to evidence that HPV vaccine is preventing cervical cancer in US women (AP, 2/27/25)
• CDC Statement on Measles Outbreak (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2/27/25)
• GOP takes aim at Medicaid, putting enrollees and providers at risk (New Hampshire Bulletin, 2/27/25)
• Harsh flu season has health officials worried about brain complications in children (AP, 2/27/25)
• Iowa Passes Bill That Will Remove Protections for Transgender People (Medscape, 2/27/25)
• New NAMI Poll Finds Employees Reluctant to Discuss Their Mental Health at Work (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2/27/25)
• Rates of ADHD Up in Adults With Autism, Intellectual Disability (HealthDay, 2/27/25)
• Researchers estimate 1 in 10 abortions provided by online-only clinics one year after Roe (New Hampshire Bulletin, 2/27/25)
• SARS-CoV-2 Infection Linked to More Rapid Plaque Growth in Lesions (Pulmonology Advisor, 2/27/25)
• Sisters of Those With Adverse Pregnancy Outcome Also Have Increased CVD Risk (Infectious Disease Advisor, 2/27/25)
• Trump administration cancels meeting of FDA vaccine advisers, risking flu-shot delay (NH Union Leader, 2/27/25)
• Younger People Open to Self-Collected Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections (Infectious Disease Advisor, 2/27/25)
• Abortion pill maker enters legal battle over FDA rules (The Hill, 2/26/25)
• Are Primary Care Physician Visits Declining in the US Healthcare System? (Medscape, 2/26/25)
• Chronic Condition Prevalence Similar in Medicare Advantage, Traditional Medicare Beneficiaries (American Journal of Managed Care, 2/26/25)
• Texas child 1st US measles death in 10 years (NH Union Leader, 2/26/25)
• Trump Administration Loophole Snags US Research Grants From Lyme to Lung Disease (Medscape, 2/26/25)
• Trump administration weighs pulling funding for Moderna bird flu vaccine, Bloomberg News reports (Reuters, 2/26/25)
• VA pauses billions in cuts lauded by Musk as lawmakers and veterans decry loss of critical care (AP, 2/26/25)
• Will Pharma Continue Efforts to Diversify Clinical Trials? (Medscape, 2/26/25)
• About 4 in 10 Patients Receiving Chemotherapy Develop Chronic Painful Neuropathy (Pulmonology Advisor, 2/25/25)
• Anxiety More Prevalent in Patients Surviving COVID-19 Critical Illness (Pulmonology Advisor, 2/25/25)
• CDC Reports Nearly 24% Decline in U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2/25/25)
• House Passes Budget Resolution Cutting Billions From Medicaid Funding (American Journal of Managed Care, 2/25/25)
• How Insurance Claim Denials Harm Patients’ Health, Finances (American Journal of Managed Care, 2/25/25)
• Low Vitamin D Levels at 3 Years of Age Linked to Higher Asthma Risk (Medscape, 2/25/25)
• Utah on the verge of being the first state to ban fluoride in public water (The Hill, 2/25/25)
• Antidepressants in Pregnancy: Sudden Withdrawal Is Risky (Medscape, 2/24/25)
• CDC warns of Listeria outbreak linked to supplement shakes distributed in long-term care facilities (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2/24/25)
• CDC’s Public Flu Vaccination Campaign Vanishes (Medscape, 2/24/25)
• COVID Antiviral, mAb Treatments Reduce Mortality and Hospitalization Rates (Infectious Disease Advisor, 2/24/25)
• FDA moves to rehire medical device, food safety and other staffers fired days earlier (AP, 2/24/25)
• Large Employers Sue Over Mental Health Parity Rule (Psychiatric News, 2/24/25)
• Mental Health Disparities Seen Among Sexual, Gender Minority Populations (Pulmonology Advisor, 2/24/25)
• NIH Research Funding Drops $1B Under Trump Administration (Infectious Disease Advisor, 2/24/25)
• Sexual Wellness Clinic Promotes PrEP Use, Particularly in Black Cisgender Women (Infectious Disease Advisor, 2/24/25)
• Telemedicine May Reduce Low-Value Testing and Related Costs in Medicare Beneficiaries (American Journal of Managed Care, 2/24/25)
• DOGE cuts at health agencies prompt ‘brain drain’ fears (The Hill, 2/23/25)
• Enhancing Diversity, Addressing Racial Disparities in Psoriatic Arthritis Research (American Journal of Managed Care, 2/23/25)
• How Climate-Driven Disasters Could Reshape Health Care Quality Measures (American Journal of Managed Care, 2/23/25)
• How the FDA’s approval for food additives works, and why experts say a loophole allows companies to bypass it (CNBC, 2/23/25)
• Another look at pain in ob-gyn, beyond labor and delivery (American Medical Association, 2/21/25)
• Arizona advances bill to keep AI from rejecting medical claims (The Hill, 2/21/25)
• Black Patients With Cancer Still Have Higher Mortality Rates Than Whites (HealthDay, 2/21/25)
• CDC Data on Flu and Bird Flu Goes Missing Amid Outbreaks (Medscape, 2/21/25)
• Certain Glucose-Lowering Meds Associated With Lower Risk for COPD Exacerbations (HealthDay, 2/21/25)
• Defying Environmental Deregulation: As Protections Erode, Health Care Must Lead Sustainably (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2/21/25)
• Does Taking ‘The Pill’ Reduce Ovarian Cancer Risk? (Medscape, 2/21/25)
• FDA Issues Warning of Guillain-Barré Syndrome Risk for 2 RSV Vaccines (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2/21/25)
• Postpandemic Hospital Occupancy Up to 73.5 Percent, Sparking Concern (HealthDay, 2/21/25)
• Statement on Removal of Vaccine Promotion and ACIP Meeting Postponement (Infectious Diseases Society of America, 2/21/25)
• Supine Hypertension Linked to Cardiovascular Risk Regardless of Seated Blood Pressure (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2/21/25)
• Adolescent Perception of Weight Tied to Suicidal Ideation (HealthDay, 2/20/25)
• CDC vaccination committee meeting postponed days after RFK Jr. took over at HHS (AP, 2/20/25)
• Exclusive-FDA Staffers Told That 'woman,' 'disabled' Among Banned Words; White House Says It’s an Error (Medscape, 2/20/25)
• Healthcare Disparities for Patients With Disabilities Start in Medical School (Medscape, 2/20/25)
• HHS issues new definitions of terms like ‘sex,’ ‘man’ and ‘woman’ that critics say ignore science (CNN, 2/20/25)
• MD-PhD student’s breast cancer research wins $10,000 prize (American Medical Association, 2/20/25)
• Number of Family Caregivers Supporting Older Adults Increasing (HealthDay, 2/20/25)
• Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Apparently Healthy, Young Adults (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2/20/25)
• Prehospital Blood Test Can Rapidly Differentiate Stroke Types (Pulmonology Advisor, 2/20/25)
• Trump Administration Review of Psychiatric Meds Raises Concerns (Medscape, 2/20/25)
• Distribution of Opioid Prescriptions Lower in Majority Non-White Communities (Pulmonology Advisor, 2/19/25)
• Early Adult Mortality in the United States Increased From 2011 to 2023 (Infectious Disease Advisor, 2/19/25)
• Infection Risk After Colonization High Overall for Multiple AMR Pathogens (Pulmonology Advisor, 2/19/25)
• Minority Groups Less Likely to Receive Diagnostic Services After Abnormal Mammogram (HealthDay, 2/19/25)
• Rethinking Fibromyalgia: Nociplastic Pain’s Big Impact (Medscape, 2/19/25)
• The USDA fired staffers working on bird flu. Now it's trying to reverse course (NH Public Radio, 2/19/25)
• Traumatic Experiences Associated With Endometriosis (HealthDay, 2/19/25)
• As Missing and Altered CDC Webpages Threaten Patient Care, Efforts Grow to Fill Information Gaps (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2/18/25)
• ASRM Responds to Trump Executive Order on IVF (American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2/18/25)
• FDA’s food safety head resigns over mass layoffs (The Hill, 2/18/25)
• Food recalls in the US were more widespread – and deadly – in 2024 (CNN, 2/18/25)
• Medical oxygen in short supply in many parts of world: Research (The Hill, 2/18/25)
• Missouri bill proposes registry for pregnant women to ‘reduce preventable abortions’ (The Hill, 2/18/25)
• Trump Blocks Federal Funds for Schools That Require COVID Vaccines (HealthDay, 2/18/25)
• West Texas measles outbreak grows to 58 cases, including some people who said they were vaccinated (CNN, 2/18/25)
• CDC ‘disease detectors’ among hundreds fired as Trump administration ramps up agency cuts (CNBC, 2/17/25)
• Trump administration cuts reach FDA employees in food safety, medical devices and tobacco products (AP, 2/16/25)
• Trump’s drive to reshape government threatens bird flu response (CNBC, 2/15/25)
• Addressing and managing drug shortages (American Medical Association, 2/14/25)
• Advancing Accessibility in Gynecologic and Reproductive Health Care (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2/14/25)
• Chronic Medical Conditions Take Toll on Employees (HealthDay, 2/14/25)
• Few Individuals With Mental, Substance Use Disorders Receive Guideline-Consistent Treatment (HealthDay, 2/14/25)
• HHS is losing thousands of workers under Trump administration probationary job cuts (AP, 2/14/25)
• Infant mortality rate rises in states with abortion bans, study finds (The Hill, 2/14/25)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis Causally Linked to Prostate Cancer (Pulmonology Advisor, 2/14/25)
• Adults With Depression Likely Develop Physical Conditions 30% Faster (American Journal of Managed Care, 2/13/25)
• After delay, CDC releases data signaling bird flu spread undetected in cows and people (National Public Radio, 2/13/25)
• Bird Flu Signs Found in Three Veterinarians Suggest Wider US Spread (Bloomburg, 2/13/25)
• Judge Blocks Trump Order Curbing Youth Gender Transition Treatments (Medscape, 2/13/25)
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr Confirmed as HHS Secretary, Nearly Along Party Lines (American Journal of Managed Care, 2/13/25)
• Advancing Transgender Health amid Rising Policy Threats (New England Journal of Medicine, 2/12/25)
• Archives Host Missing CDC Data (MedPage Today, 2/12/25)
• CDC Posts, Then Deletes, Data on Bird Flu (Infectious Disease Advisor, 2/12/25)
• Coalition of Ob-Gyn Medical Organizations Calls for Autonomy and Privacy for Members and Their Patients (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2/12/25)
• Despite Increases, Gender Disparities in Life Expectancy Persist Among People With HIV (American Journal of Managed Care, 2/12/25)
• Facing Political Attacks on Medical Education — The Future of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Medicine (New England Journal of Medicine, 2/12/25)
• Federal health agencies restore webpages and datasets following judge’s order (AP, 2/12/25)
• Pediatric Long COVID Risk Factors Include Pneumonia History, Anosmia (Infectious Disease Advisor, 2/12/25)
• Post-COVID Cough Linked to Neurological Dysfunction (Medscape, 2/12/25)
• Systemic Solutions to Improve Telehealth Access for Non-English Speakers (American Journal of Managed Care, 2/12/25)
• The Consequences of Silencing the “Voice of CDC” (New England Journal of Medicine, 2/12/25)
• Trends in Travel Time to Obtain Surgical Care for Rural Patients (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2/12/25)
• Advancing Integrated Care for Comorbid Schizophrenia and Substance Use Disorder (American Journal of Managed Care, 2/11/25)
• Flu is surging nationwide, with 24 million cases so far (NH Union Leader, 2/11/25)
• Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels Tied to Dementia, Cognitive Decline (Medscape, 2/11/25)
• Food Allergies in Children Associated with Risk of Anxieties and Bullying (American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, 2/11/25)
• Isolated Early-Life Antibiotic Exposure is Associated with Increased Risk of Childhood Asthma (American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, 2/11/25)
• Judge orders health agencies to restore data scrubbed by Trump administration  (The Hill, 2/11/25)
• Kansas City Tuberculosis Outbreak: A Deadly Wake-Up Call (American Journal of Managed Care, 2/11/25)
• Labelling of Animal-Free Medications Needed for Patients with Alpha-Gal Syndrome (American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, 2/11/25)
• NIH study finds infection-related hospitalizations linked to increased risk of heart failure (National Institutes of Health, 2/11/25)
• Rising Breast Cancer Rates Show Disparities Across Racial, Ethnic Groups in the US (American Journal of Managed Care, 2/11/25)
• Wildfires, Compound Extreme Events, Climate Change, and Cardiovascular Health (Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2/11/25)
• ASAM Endorses Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act (American Society of Addiction Medicine, 2/10/25)
• Contemporary Hormonal Contraception and Risk of Venous Thromboembolism (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2/10/25)
• Decline in Psychiatrists Billing Medicare Part B Sparks Mental Health Access Concerns (American Journal of Managed Care, 2/10/25)
• Fifteen cases of measles reported in small West Texas county with high rate of vaccine exemptions (AP, 2/10/25)
• Influenza A viruses adapt shape in response to environmental pressures (National Institutes of Health, 2/10/25)
• New strain of bird flu is detected in a Nevada dairy worker, CDC says (AP, 2/10/25)
• Race and Ethnicity in Biomedical Research: Changing Course and Improving Accountability (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2/10/25)
• Scientists warn Trump’s medical research cuts endanger patients as judge blocks the move for now (AP, 2/10/25)
• Quality vs. quantity: Untangling sleep issues tied up with ADHD (NH Union Leader, 2/9/25)
• ACP Advocates for Nationwide Safeguards to Protect Workers From Extreme Heat-Related Injury and Illness (American College of Physicians, 2/7/25)
• Confirmed: Antidepressants Effective for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Medscape, 2/7/25)
• COVID Antiviral, mAb Treatments Reduce Mortality and Hospitalization Rates (Pulmonology Advisor, 2/7/25)
• DEA Publishes New Telemedicine Rules (American Society of Addiction Medicine, 2/7/25)
• Flu season in the US is the most intense it’s been in at least 15 years (AP, 2/7/25)
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease Tied to Higher Risk for Heart Disease (Infectious Disease Advisor, 2/7/25)
• Landmark Study Aims to Enroll 100 000 Black Women to Investigate Their Cancer Risks and Outcomes (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2/7/25)
• Permanent Contraception Procedures Increase Among Young Adults Post Dobbs (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2/7/25)
• Systematic Review Examines GLP-1 Drugs’ Effectiveness and Safety in Patients Without Diabetes (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2/7/25)
• ‘Voice of the CDC’ resumes publication, but experts worry about what they’re not hearing (AP, 2/6/25)
• Searches for ‘abortion’ on CDC website prompt suggestion to look up ‘adoption’ (The Hill, 2/6/25)
• ASRM Releases Fact Sheet on Biological Sex Differentiation (American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2/5/25)
• Bird flu (H5N1) resource center (American Medical Association, 2/5/25)
• FDA Alerts Patients of Potential to Miss Critical Safety Alerts Due to Phone Settings When Using Smartphone-Compatible Diabetes Devices (Food and Drug Administration, 2/5/25)
• Minority Children Less Likely to Be Diagnosed With Migraine in Emergency Department (HealthDay, 2/5/25)
• Racial gap widened in deaths among US moms around the time of childbirth (AP, 2/5/25)
• Better Mental Health Linked to Resilience in Older Women After Hip Fracture (HealthDay, 2/4/25)
• Four in 10 Patients Receiving Chemo Develop Chronic Painful Neuropathy (HealthDay, 2/4/25)
• Mental Health Disparities Seen Among Sexual, Gender Minority Populations (HealthDay, 2/4/25)
• Most People With Long COVID Do Not Recover in Second Year of Illness (Pulmonology Advisor, 2/4/25)
• ACOG Urges Uncensored Access to Scientific Research and Clinical Data (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2/3/25)
• Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Preserve Patient Access to Accountable Care (Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association, 2/3/25)
• COVID-19 Linked to More Severe Outcomes Than Flu, RSV in 2022-2023 Season (Infectious Disease Advisor, 2/3/25)