The deal to end the US government shutdown did not include an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Premiums for ACA marketplace plans have already risen in anticipation of the loss of enhanced subsidies, and some subscribers may see their premiums double or triple. Congress may act to extend the subsidies before the end of the year, but bipartisan support in the Senate and House approval would be required. Some subscribers may choose to forgo coverage if it is too expensive, or they may opt for a lower-tier plan, experts say.

Cigna is covering digital mental health support from Headspace for more than 7 million subscribers, starting Jan. 1. Headspace offers a mental health app, guided cognitive behavioral therapy, an AI "companion" called Ebb, customized content and referrals to in-network mental health professionals. Cigna will track engagement rates and utilization of Headspace's resources.

US hospitals are grappling with emergency department boarding, with 40% of admitted patients boarding for over four hours and 6% for more than 24 hours as of January 2022, according to a report in the journal Health Affairs. The problem, exacerbated by nursing shortages and limited post-acute care facilities and other factors, leads to increased mortality, longer stays and higher readmission risks. Hospitals are addressing the issue through daily tracking and reporting, cross-department collaboration and transparency, but systemic changes are needed to improve patient flow and care quality.

Primary care programs to address patients' social needs were more effective at screening and assisting with food and housing needs than they were at achieving clinical outcomes, according to a review in the Annals of Internal Medicine of 23 studies. Five studies in the review tracked clinical outcomes, and three of those found no change, while one found worse blood pressure metrics and one found better blood pressure and cholesterol measures.

A meta-analysis published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health found that the global prevalence of childhood hypertension is increasing, with rates of 4.28% using in-office blood pressure measurements and 6.67% when combining in-office and out-of-office measurements. With an in-office approach, the highest hypertension rates were found for children and adolescents with obesity, at 18.77%. Overall, the data included 443,914 children in 21 countries.

The experimental drug NG101 or Neurogastrx may reduce gastrointestinal side effects associated with GLP-1-based obesity drugs, according to a study presented at ObesityWeek. A clinical trial found that NG101 was linked to a 40% reduction in nausea and a 67% decrease in vomiting, when compared with a placebo.

Eli Lilly and Co. and Novo Nordisk have agreed to partner with Mangoceuticals to provide direct access to weight-loss drugs tirzepatide and semaglutide through the MangoRx Direct and PeachesRx Direct platforms. Patients can also sign up for treatment plans and virtual consultations for an additional fee.