What We’re Reading: Ozempic and Smoking Cessation; North Carolina’s Medical Debt Relief Plan; Mental Health Care Barriers

Lower Smoking Cessation Efforts Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes on Ozempic

Patients with type 2 diabetes taking semaglutide (Ozempic) had fewer tobacco-related medical encounters and smoking cessation interventions compared with those on other diabetes drugs, according to Reuters. Ozempic users were up to 32% less likely to discuss tobacco use with health care providers and up to 68% less likely to receive prescriptions for smoking cessation medications. The findings, drawn from electronic health records of nearly 229,000 patients, suggest a need for clinical trials to explore semaglutide's potential in smoking cessation.

Federal Regulators Approve North Carolina’s Groundbreaking Medical Debt Relief Plan

Federal Medicaid regulators have approved North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper's (D) innovative plan to offer hospitals financial incentives to eliminate medical debt for low- and middle-income patients, according to The Associated Press. Announced by Cooper's office and praised by Vice President Kamala Harris, this first-of-its-kind initiative aims to relieve $4 billion in debt for up to 2 million residents. State Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley emphasized that the program supports both the well-being of North Carolinians and the financial sustainability of hospitals.

Cost Barriers to Mental Health Care Affect Nearly 1 in 4 American Adults, Survey Finds

A survey by Mental Health America found that nearly 1 in 4 US adults with frequent mental distress avoided seeing a doctor due to the cost, according to Axios. This delay or avoidance of treatment is often linked to insurance status and medical debt, exacerbating a treatment gap that affects all demographic groups. The survey highlighted that in states like Georgia, Alabama, and Texas, which also have limited mental health worker availability, more than 30% of adults with frequent mental distress reported being unable to afford medical help.