Hello from the Common Health Coalition! The 2-4-2 Digest is a weekly snapshot for health leaders - 4 key insights in 2 minutes or with 2 swipes on your phone. 

Weekly Health Insights

Vaccine Guidance: The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine released recommendations ahead of the 2025–26 respiratory virus season, advising COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and Tdap vaccination during pregnancy. 

Cannabis Use: A new federal survey shows heavy marijuana use and cannabis use disorder are increasing in the U.S., even as tobacco and binge drinking decline. At the same time, research highlights rising cannabis-related hospital visits and potential cognitive and cardiac risks among older adults.

Hepatitis C: A clinic in Buffalo, NY cured 98% of its hepatitis C patients, illustrating how same-day, low-barrier treatment can close persistent gaps in care. Such successes have renewed calls for a national elimination strategy, which could save an estimated $7 billion over 10 years through early treatment.

Health Investments: On Face the Nation, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz shared plans to invest over $200 billion in Medicaid, though details remain unclear and follow significant cuts to Medicaid in the recently enacted reconciliation bill. He also previewed a new CMS-led initiative to let patients securely share personal health records across providers and private health apps.

Colleague Corner

In a NEJM Perspective, Drs. Kristen Panthagani, Edward Melnick, Katelyn Jetelina, and Megan Ranney call for changes in how academic and public health institutions train health professionals to communicate.

“Although improving health care access and institutional health information is critical, these efforts alone are insufficient. Academic and health care institutions must also equip scientists and clinicians to engage effectively on nontraditional media platforms. Without these changes, rumors and falsehoods will continue to be more influential than health science.”

– Dr. Kristen Panthagani et al.

Data Watch

A recent JAGS study found that adults 65 and older hospitalized with RSV had higher 30-day mortality, ICU transfers, and long-term heart complications compared with those hospitalized for flu or other conditions. 

Measles reports: In the U.S., there have been 1,333 confirmed measles cases in 40 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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