What We’re Reading: OTC Birth Control Pill Approval; Medicare Challenged; Redlining, Worse Heart Health Linked

FDA Approves First OTC Birth Control Pill

The FDA’s approval today of the first over-the-counter (OTC) birth control pill could greatly expand contraception access, reports The New York Times. The norgestrel tablets (Opill) would be the most effective nonprescription birth control available, and could be especially helpful for those who don’t have the resources to visit a doctor. It is expected to be available in the United States in stores and online early in 2024. The cost is still to be determined, but the manufacturer said it would have a consumer assistance program.

Motion Filed Against Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program

The US Chamber of Commerce filed a motion on Wednesday to prevent the application of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation program, according to The Hill. This program was first established by the Inflation Reduction Act, which is currently facing several legal challenges. The Chamber filed a lawsuit confronting the constitutionality of the program in June, saying it violated the First, Fifth, and Eighth Amendments. This was just one of several suits filed by the drug industry, including PhRMA, Merck & Co, and Bristol Myers Squibb.

Worse Heart Health Linked to Redlined Areas

Even though redlining officially ended in the 1940s, its effects continue to harm marginalized communities today, suggests a new study published this week in JAMA Network Open, reports STAT. Among veterans living with cardiovascular disease, those who lived in historically redlined neighborhoods (with a “D” rating) had a 13% greater risk of dying from any cause and a 14% higher risk of facing a major adverse cardiovascular event vs those who lived in historically White, wealthy areas, said the study. This is the first substantial national survey to look at the association between redlining and comprehensive cardiovascular risk, presenting current evidence of how historical racism can affect generational health.