first opinion
More research is needed on colorectal cancer in younger adults
GARETH CATTERMOLE/GETTY IMAGES FOR DISNEY
The rate of colorectal cancer among adults under age 50 in the U.S. has been climbing steadily and mysteriously since the 1990s. Three years ago, STAT's Nicholas St. Fleur reported on this alarming trend and the "hot spots" that have cropped up across the country for early-onset colorectal cancer. Nick has a family history of the disease, and invited STAT to document in a video his first colonoscopy at age 30 — 15 years before the procedure is typically recommended.
Nick's colonoscopy and reporting was partially inspired by the shocking death of actor and writer Chadwick Boseman from colon cancer at age 43. Now, in a First Opinion essay, artist, advocate, and caregiver Simone Ledward-Boseman emphasizes that there's still a need for better understanding of why colon cancer is affecting more younger adults. "I am not writing here to talk about my husband," she begins. Instead, Ledward-Boseman calls on Congress to prioritize funding around colorectal cancer. Read more on how she believes the country can invest in better preventing this deadly disease.
h5n1 bird flu
Can bird flu survive in pasteurized milk? An update
Tests run by researchers at Ohio State University and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital show that pasteurization is working to kill off bird flu in milk, STAT's Megan Molteni reports. The scientists involved told Molteni late Tuesday that they had tried and failed to grow H5N1 from 58 samples of retail dairy products that had tested positive for genetic traces of the virus. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is conducting its own, larger study of 297 samples of retail dairy products from 38 states: Results are expected later this week.
primary care
Walmart will close down its medical clinics and online care
In January 2020, former STAT reporter Megan Thielking described a screaming crowd outside a Walmart in Calhoun, Ga., where actor Mark Wahlburg appeared for the grand opening of the superstore's second primary care clinic in the country. Walmart's network of clinics attached to stores was intended to be a cheaper, less intimidating way to access care. But yesterday, the retail giant announced it is shuttering all 51 medical clinics across five states, as well as its virtual care offering.
The about-face comes just months after Walmart executives continued to tout their hopes for the clinics and telehealth options, and roughly a year and a half after the company kicked off a partnership with UnitedHealth Group to manage care for people enrolled in Medicare Advantage. Read the full STAT+ story from reporter Bob Herman on Walmart's reasoning for the closures and retailers' overall spotty track record with care delivery.
disabilities
HHS protects health care for people with disabilities
Forty-seven years after sit-ins across the country secured rights for disabled people, the Department of Health and Human Services is extending protections under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to ensure that people with disabilities do not face discrimination in healthcare settings, STAT's Timmy Broderick tells us. The rule has several provisions, including a mandate that disabled folks have accessible medical equipment for routine appointments, like adjustable exam tables or mammography machines that don't require someone to stand.
These changes will apply to any program or activity that accepts federal funding. The rule change also emphasizes the importance of supporting community-based care for people with disabilities. Stay tuned for more from Timmy about how the rule will affect the healthcare industry, and be sure to check out their separate story this morning about how private-equity-owned companies are leaving wheelchair users waiting months for repairs.
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