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What We’re Reading: Fund Rejection Worries Prevention Groups; Sanders Tries to Decrease Drug Prices; Growing Autism Prevalence
Tennessee’s governor rejected $8.8 million in federal grant money for HIV prevention and detection; Senator Bernie Sanders pleads for drug price decrease in his first drug hearing as health chair; the prevalence of autism is growing, with children of color more likely to be diagnosed compared with White children for the first time.
Tennessee’s Rejection of $8.8M Federal Dollars Panics HIV Prevention Groups
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R) rejected $8.8 in federal funding for HIV prevention and detection, reported The New York Times. Tennessee is the only state to reject this federal funding, with the governor planning to use $9 million in new state funding for HIV monitoring and prevention in July. Despite this, some organizations are worried that the state won’t offer them vital funding if they do not align with the governor’s conservative beliefs regarding transgender rights and abortion access.
Senator Sanders Pleads for Drug Price Decreases in Committee Hearing
In a hearing with the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Senator Bernie Sanders used his new platform as chair of the committee to vehemently voice his beliefs on drug prices, according to Kaiser Health News. The committee has very little power over drug prices, which is under the jurisdiction of the Finance Committee that oversees Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act. This prompted a more aggressive approach from Sanders because of this limited power that ended with the senator pleading with Moderna’s CEO for a small concession on vaccine pricing, to which the CEO made no promises.
Rising Autism Rates, More Children of Color Being Diagnosed, Details New Data
A new study found that autism rates grew in the years Between 2018 and 2020, rates of autism grew from 1 in 44 children to 1 in 36 diagnosed, reported USA Today. The new data found that, for the first time, White children are less likely to carry the diagnosis than children of color. These years hold the most recent data for autism, with the increase being attributed to more children of color getting the help they need, said the chief science officer at autism advocacy group Autism Speaks. However, one of the authors on the study noted that it is unknown why autism prevalence is increasing and it should be considered a “major public health crisis.”
Global Burden of MASH-Related Liver Cancer Rising Sharply Among Older Adults
August 26th 2025The global incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years tied to metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH)-related liver cancer have more than doubled in older adults since 1990, with a heavy impact on low- and middle-income countries.
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The Breakdown: Breast Cancer Research Awareness Day
August 19th 2025Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the US. In light of Breast Cancer Research Awareness Day, The American Journal of Managed Care® breaks down the most recent advancements in breast cancer prevention, screening, and therapies.
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Hope on the Horizon for Underserved Patients With Multiple Myeloma: Joseph Mikhael, MD
August 12th 2025Explore the disparities in multiple myeloma treatment and how new initiatives aim to improve clinical trial participation among underrepresented patients during a conversation with Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, FASCO, chief medical officer of the International Myeloma Foundation.
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