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…
CMS/HHS final 2027 Marketplace rules: verification and lower fees
CMS finalized the 2027 ACA Health Insurance Marketplace rules that tighten eligibility verification—especially for some people enrolling through Special Enrollment Periods—and put safeguards around premium tax credit eligibility. The rule also lowers Exchange user fees, which could affect insurer pricing, but the consumer…
FDA Recall: Baxter IV Cefazolin Bags With Cardboard Particulates—What to Do
FDA posted a voluntary nationwide recall (July 24, 2026) of one lot of Baxter IV cefazolin in dextrose bags after cardboard-type particles were reported in the solution. Here’s how to confirm the exact lot, what symptoms to watch for, and what your care…
Measles Is Surging: What Families Need to Do About MMR Records and School Exposure
Measles activity has been rising in the United States in 2026, and schools and families are again fielding questions about MMR records—especially when records are missing or incomplete. This step-by-step guide explains how “vaccinated” is typically determined from documentation, what to do while…
Wildfire Smoke and Asthma: What Families Can Do Now (and When to Get Help)
Wildfire smoke can irritate airways and trigger asthma symptoms—especially in children, older adults, and people with lung or heart conditions. The good news: you can make a simple “smoke plan” around air quality (AQI), cleaner indoor air, and the right kind of particle…
CDC Update: What to Watch for After Nara Powdered Formula Use
CDC says to stop using a recalled Nara Organics powdered infant formula if your baby may have had it, and to watch for infant botulism warning signs for up to a month after last use. Get emergency care right away if you notice…
Legionnaires’ disease after a hotel stay: Do you need antibiotics or testing?
If your hotel was linked to a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak, you usually don’t need preventive antibiotics. Watch for symptoms for about 2–14 days, and get care promptly if pneumonia-like illness starts.
CMS (July 14, 2026) on CHNV parole terminations: Medicaid/CHIP Oct. 1, 2026
A July 14, 2026 CMS/CMCS bulletin explains why DHS CHNV parole terminations can trigger Medicaid and/or CHIP eligibility re-determinations—what states must do before adverse action, and why Oct. 1, 2026 matters for payment of “full” benefits for certain noncitizens.
Recalled GreenWise Frozen Blueberries Linked to E. coli: What to Do
If you ate recalled GreenWise frozen whole blueberries or whole mixed berries sold at Publix, FDA and CDC say not to eat the product and to watch closely for E. coli symptoms. Severe diarrhea can rarely lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which…
When Can My Child Return to School After a Respiratory Virus? The 24-Hour Fever-Free Rule (and What to Do for 5 More Days)
If your child has respiratory-virus symptoms, stay home until symptoms are getting better overall and there’s been at least 24 hours with no fever—without fever-reducing medicine. Then, for the next 5 days, use added precautions (cleaner air, hygiene, and mask/distancing/testing as appropriate) to…
New Heart Failure Definition: What It Changes for Symptoms, Care
A new multi-society “Second Universal Definition of Heart Failure” updated June 29, 2026 aims to standardize how heart failure risk and staging are documented—especially earlier, prevention-focused “pre–heart failure” planning. For patients, the core message stays the same: treat new or severe symptoms as…
Intermittent metformin after gestational diabetes: what July 2026 data suggest
A July 2026 randomized non-inferiority trial found that intermittent, “as-needed” metformin plus lifestyle prevented type 2 diabetes about as well as continuous metformin over 3 years in postpartum people with prediabetes. The study also reported fewer vitamin B12 deficiencies with the intermittent approach—while…
