Hello from the Common Health Coalition! The 2-4-2 Digest is a weekly snapshot for health leaders that highlights four key things to know and can be read in less than two minutes or with two swipes on your phone. 

Weekly Health Insights

Vaccine Guidance: At last week’s meetings, ACIP upheld annual flu shots for everyone 6 months and older, but advised against use of a safe, long-used preservative (thimerosal). Check out these ACIP-related summaries from The Evidence Collective. The meetings followed this important announcement from payer and provider associations reaffirming their commitment to ensuring access to vaccines for patients.

Preventive Care: The Supreme Court upheld the ACA’s requirement for insurers to cover preventive services like cancer screenings and PrEP at no cost. The ruling also affirms the HHS secretary’s authority over the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Medicaid: A new Congressional Budget Office analysis estimates the Senate GOP’s domestic policy bill would result in 11.8 million more uninsured Americans by 2034 and cut federal health spending by over $1.1 trillion, primarily from Medicaid. Senate debate is ongoing, with a vote expected before July 4.

Mental Health: The closing of the 988 lifeline’s LGBTQ+ option on July 17 has prompted Maryland-based organizations to fill the gap through local warm lines and expanded youth programming. 

Colleague Corner

In a recent Forbes piece, Dr. Arthur Kellermann highlights the Common Health Coalition’s new report, More Illness, Greater Cost, which analyzes how cuts to public health infrastructure increase strain across the health care system.

Datawatch

A recent study in JAMA Network Open showed persistent racial inequities in access to addiction treatment. Black and Hispanic patients were 17% less likely than white patients to receive buprenorphine or naltrexone within 180 days of an opioid-related health event.

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Measles reports: In the U.S., there have been 1,244 confirmed measles cases in 37 jurisdictions. To continue following Measles updates, visit our Resources page for the latest Measles Briefs from Yale School of Public Health (under Situational Awareness Briefs). Read the latest deep-dive here.  

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