HHS has declared a public health emergency in California because of the Los Angeles County wildfires, which have burned more than 35,000 acres and caused at least 10 deaths. The declaration allows greater latitude for Medicare and Medicaid providers and suppliers, and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response is ready to deploy medical supplies and personnel as needed.

Health systems are expressing concern over a recent update to federal security standards aimed at protecting patient data from cyberattacks. The update, the first major overhaul of the HIPAA Security Rule in more than a decade, requires encryption, multifactor authentication and rapid data restoration, but health systems argue that the changes are too expensive and unworkable, especially for smaller facilities. HHS estimates that the first-year compliance costs will total roughly $9 billion, with annual costs of $6 billion in subsequent years.

The average duration of RSV illness in children under 5 was found to be 11.7 days, with 36% of children still experiencing symptoms 30 days post-infection, according to a study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine and involving children in five European countries. This extended illness period contributes to a high burden on health care systems and parental work absence.

A study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine involving nearly 400,000 adults found that aerobic fitness is associated with reduced risk of premature death, regardless of body weight. Individuals with obesity and high fitness levels had similar mortality risks as fit people of normal weight.

The FDA has mandated that RSV vaccines from GSK and Pfizer include a warning about Guillain-Barre syndrome after data indicated a potential link. The FDA emphasized that the benefits of the vaccines still outweigh the risks, noting that the vaccines are a major tool against RSV, especially for adults older than 75.

Suzetrigine, a drug by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, is being hailed as a non-opioid alternative for managing acute pain. Unlike opioids, it works by stopping pain signals before they reach the spinal cord, potentially reducing addiction risks. The drug's development highlights the ongoing search for effective non-addictive pain treatments. While clinical trials have shown effectiveness in surgeries, and FDA approval is expected yet this month, some experts are cautious about long-term safety and addiction risks.

TD Cowen's annual report, based on feedback from health care stakeholders, indicates that US drug prices rose by 7% on average in 2024 and are projected to increase by about 3% annually after 2025, driven by high-value treatments in areas like oncology, cell and gene therapy, and obesity management. The report notes that the Inflation Reduction Act is expected to have a modest or moderate effect on rising drug prices.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to the Affordable Care Act's mandate for preventive services coverage, potentially affecting tens of millions who receive health insurance through employers or the ACA marketplace. The case, brought by Texas employers, argues that the panels advising HHS on required services are unconstitutional. Lower courts have partially sided with the challengers.

House Republicans are considering a list of potential spending cuts totaling $5.7 trillion, meant to support President-elect Donald Trump's initiatives, which include border security and tax cuts. The proposed cuts are not a formal proposal but rather a "menu" of options for members to consider and target the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. The cuts to Medicaid could save an estimated $2.3 trillion, lawmakers say, by implementing per capita caps for states, shifting Medicaid from an open-ended entitlement to a population-based model, and instituting work mandates.

Join us on Wednesday, Feb. 12, from 1 to 2 p.m. ET for Using Medication History Insights to Improve Cost and Quality Outcomes as Surescripts and their two guest panelists discuss how to use medication history for populations' insights to improve return on investment for chronic disease management, medication adherence, Star ratings, and risk stratification programs.