'Profound autism' definition under scrutiny at federal committee meeting

Also: A new report shows some health equity wins. Experts fear they will be short-lived ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

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Alex Wong/Getty Images In first meeting, federal autism committee focuses on ‘profound autism’ BETHESDA, Md. — The federal autism advisory committee met for the first time since Trump took office, months after health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired most of the committee’s scientific experts and replaced them with activists and advocates who more closely align with his controversial views on the link between autism, vaccines, and environmental factors. In its first meeting in 19 months, the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, which helps set the federal research agenda and the hundreds of millions that come with it, focused on how to help autistic people with the highest support needs. The group voted on Tuesday to recommend several proposals to help this population, including a directive that would change the existing scientific definition of people with “profound autism.”  By O. Rose Broderick STAT+ | Opinion: Did Kennedy just stack the deck on FDA oversight of peptides? RFK Jr.'s push to revisit peptide restrictions could reopen access to unproven compounds, raising concerns about safety, data gaps, and FDA oversight. By Paul Knoepfler Infant formula largely safe from heavy metals, FDA finds FDA analyzed 312 samples from major infant formula brands; finds low or undetectable levels of pesticide residue, PFAS, heavy metals and phthalates. By Sarah Todd PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images New report shows some health equity wins. Experts fear they will be short-lived Commonwealth Fund study finds positive signs, but since the data stop at 2024, experts fear Trump cuts will make the gains short-lived. By Anil Oza STAT+ | Why conversations around health AI may be evolving beyond hype In this edition of AI Prognosis, Brittany Trang argues that the tide may be turning when it comes to how the health care industry talks about AI. By Brittany Trang STAT+ | AIDS group sues Trump administration over undisclosed agreement with Gilead The group sued the administration for failing to disclose an R&D agreement that was at the heart of a settlement with Gilead. By Ed Silverman John Lamparski/Getty Images STAT+ | Health system CEOs get off easy at Congressional hearing on affordability  The hearing was part of the House Ways and Means Committee’s effort to understand the root causes of rising health care costs in the U.S. By Tara Bannow

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