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 Mandates: Idaho’s sweeping “Medical Freedom Act” now bans vaccination requirements across schools, workplaces, and childcare, while Florida is moving to end childhood vaccine mandates entirely, even as most Florida voters oppose eliminating mandates.

USPSTF: Reports indicate that Secretary Kennedy may replace members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force amid criticism that its work prioritizes diversity and inclusion efforts over evidence-based standards. The potential overhaul raises questions about how future coverage recommendations will balance scientific guidance and administrative oversight.

Health Coverage: Congress is considering a short-term deal to extend enhanced ACA subsidies set to expire this year, which would prevent Marketplace premiums from rising by as much as 75%. Meanwhile, states testing digital systems to verify Medicaid work compliance report low engagement, with pilot programs in Louisiana engaging less than 7% of enrollees. 

Avian Flu: Bird flu detections are increasing in wild birds and poultry across several states, including Minnesota and Virginia, with wildlife officials noting seasonal patterns tied to fall migration. The surge coincides with a federal shutdown that has disrupted surveillance and coordination.

Vax News: The recording from our webinar on provider liability and practice considerations around COVID-19 vaccines, co-hosted with the American Academy of Pediatrics, can be found here. Check out the Common Health Coalition’s Vaccine Resources page for additional explainers and toolkits related to immunization policy. Follow us on Instagram @commonhealthcoalition for more up-to-the-minute health content.

Colleague Corner

AIDSVu, an interactive online mapping tool that visualizes the impact of the HIV epidemic on communities across the U.S., has launched an Interactive HIV Impact Calculator. The tool models how changes in PrEP coverage and viral suppression affect new HIV infections and costs.

"We know that even a modest 3.3% annual drop in PrEP coverage over the next decade could lead to over 8,600 additional preventable HIV infections and $3.6 billion in additional medical costs.  By visualizing the trade-offs, we hope to strengthen the case for sustained investment in HIV prevention, equitable access to PrEP, and efforts to maximize viral suppression."

– Dr. Patrick Sullivan, PhD, Emory Professor and AIDSVu Principal Scientist

Data Watch

A Washington Post analysis found that cancer rates among adults under 50 are rising fastest in the Corn Belt, where incidence is now 5% higher than the national average. Iowa ranks fifth nationwide, with researchers pointing to overlapping environmental factors, such as radon and nitrate exposure.

Relative cancer prevalence and mortality rates of U.S. states

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