Local Health Alerts
This Is Why Prescription Drugs Are So Expensive
High U.S. prescription drug costs are driven by a lack of price regulation, patent monopolies, and complex supply chain mechanics involving pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that incentivize high list prices. Infographics highlight that these factors, combined with extensive marketing spend over R&D, lead…
CY 2027 OPPS Proposal: 340B Drug Payments and Imaging Site-of-Care
CMS’s proposed CY 2027 Hospital OPPS/ASC rule would adjust Medicare hospital outpatient payments for certain 340B-acquired drugs, change how some outpatient imaging is paid (including rural Sole Community Hospital exemptions), and continue the phase-out of the Inpatient Only (IPO) list. CMS also issued…
FDA Updated OTC alli Label: Ask First If You’ve Had Kidney Disease
On June 10, 2026, FDA approved updates to the OTC weight-loss drug alli (orlistat 60 mg) label to highlight a rare risk of acute kidney injury and kidney stones. The label advises people who have ever had kidney disease or kidney stones to…
Mpox After Exposure: When to Get JYNNEOS and When to Seek PCR Testing
If you may have been exposed to mpox, JYNNEOS post-exposure prophylaxis works best when started within 4 days (and may still help if given up to 14 days). If you develop a new, unusual rash after a relevant exposure window, contact a clinician…
May 29, 2026 Vaccine Schedule Update: What Families Can Do Now
A May 29, 2026 executive order directs CDC and ACIP to review how childhood vaccines are organized and to update guidance using “best practices”—while aiming to preserve access to vaccines already available in the U.S. Here’s what families and schools can do today…
FDA Warns of Higher-Than-Expected Long-Term Failure Risk With Hintermann H3 Ankle Replacement
If you have a Hintermann Series H3 total ankle replacement—or are considering one—FDA says the long-term risk of device failure and possible revision surgery is higher than expected. FDA advises keeping follow-ups and contacting your health care provider promptly if specific new or…
Long COVID “Brain Fog” Trial: Goal-Oriented Rehab Helped Goals—Fatigue Didn’t
A July 1, 2026 randomized trial (CICERO) tested goal-oriented cognitive rehabilitation for long COVID “brain fog.” It improved participants’ personalized functional goal attainment at 3 months and maintained the advantage at 6 months. But the trial did not show clear improvement in fatigue/post-exertional…
U.S. Cyclospora Case Surge: Symptoms, Testing, and When to Get Care
CDC says cyclosporiasis cases have increased in the U.S. Prolonged watery diarrhea can last weeks, and routine stool testing may miss Cyclospora. Here’s what to ask about Cyclospora-specific testing, what results can mean, and what CDC says about treatment with TMP-SMX and key…
Hospital Price Transparency in 2026: CMS Enforcement and How to Use the Files
CMS enforcement of updated hospital price transparency requirements starts April 1, 2026. Here’s what hospitals must post, what “standard charges” mean, what they don’t tell you about your bill, and how to use the files for scheduled care.
Recalled requesón/soft ricotta: what symptoms to watch for (pregnancy & high-risk)
If you ate the recalled Clover Hill Dairy soft ricotta/requesón, CDC says listeria symptoms can start the same day or take weeks—up to 10 weeks. Pregnancy and other high-risk groups should call right away if symptoms appear.
CDC Snapshot: More Kids Get Flu Vaccines Than COVID-19—Catch Up
A CDC snapshot (as of May 23, 2026) shows many more children reported getting a seasonal flu vaccine than a 2025–26 COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s a calm, step-by-step catch-up plan and how families can use the VFC program if cost is a barrier.
FDA ODACTRA label update (06/2026): dizziness and rash warnings
On June 12, 2026, the FDA approved an ODACTRA (house dust mite) sublingual immunotherapy label update adding “dizziness” and “rash” to postmarketing adverse-reaction wording. Here’s what that means for allergy symptom monitoring, who should not use ODACTRA, and when to stop and get…