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

Hepatitis C: The Senate has introduced the bipartisan Cure Hepatitis C Act, which would allow the federal government to bulk-purchase hepatitis C drugs for high-risk populations. Access to these medicines has remained limited up to this point due to cost and administrative barriers.

Vaccine Policy: Yesterday, HHS dismissed all members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), with officials citing a desire to improve transparency and public trust in vaccine oversight. Experts expressed concern about potential disruptions to the evidence-based review process at a time of rising vaccine-preventable illness.

Congenital Syphilis: Congenital syphilis cases have increased tenfold nationwide since 2012. For instance, in one Nevada county, data shows over half of affected mothers received no prenatal care, and one-third weren’t tested despite visiting an emergency department. Incorporating opt-out syphilis screening into ED and other settings – as well as test-and-treat initiatives – may help close gaps in care.

Coverage Losses: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects 16 million could lose insurance under the House GOP tax bill. The CBO also projects that of those 16 million people, 10.9 million would lose insurance from Medicaid work requirements and coverage cuts, and 5.1 million from expiring ACA subsidies and other related provisions.

Colleague Corner

In a recent Forbes op-ed, Dr. Brian Castrucci discusses how proposed federal Medicaid cuts could have broader effects beyond current enrollees–impacting rural hospitals, increasing health system costs, and affecting local economies. He emphasizes Medicaid’s role in supporting health and economic infrastructure nationwide.

“You may not be a Medicaid recipient, but you likely interact every day with people who are…Medicaid isn’t just about those people — it’s about all of us.” 

– Dr. Brian Castrucci, President and CEO, de Beaumont Foundation

Datawatch

A new JAMA Network Open study tracking over 3.2 million people finds that individuals incarcerated in 2008 had a 39% higher risk of death and were over three times more likely to die of overdose by 2019 compared to matched peers. The study also found that higher county incarceration rates were linked to increased mortality among non-incarcerated residents.

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Measles reports: The number of measles cases in the U.S. is nearing a 30-year high. 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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