POLITICO's Pulse Check

A first-of-its-kind, federally funded study will evaluate the impact of overdose-prevention centers in New York City and Providence, R.I., over the next four years. Host Ben Leonard talks with Maya Kaufman about how this may influence public health policy.

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Thousands of community health workers face layoffs as federal funding tied to the Covid pandemic dries up. Host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with Daniel Payne about why many public health officials would like to keep this workforce to tackle other health challenges, like diabetes and obesity. They’re making the case to Congress that it would be foolish to let community health workers go after spending millions to train them.

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Planned Parenthood and partner organizations are launching an effort to put abortion on Florida’s ballot in 2024, setting the stage for a high-profile battle with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis as he prepares to run for president. Host Alice Miranda Ollstein talks with Megan Messerly about what this could mean for the 6-week ban DeSantis recently signed into law and the political implications in the state. 

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A talker at this week's Milken Institute Global Conference in LA was a pitch from former NIH director Francis Collins to fund eight to 10 genomics centers in Africa for $130 million a year.  Carmen Paun talked with host Ruth Reader about the "business plan" put forth by Collins, a current White House adviser, on how the African genomics centers could help advance global pandemic preparedness, vaccine development and control of disease-transmitting vectors.

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The CDC reports that more Black Americans died from fentanyl overdoses than from any other drug in 2021 and at far higher rates than white or Hispanic Americans. Host Megan Messerly talks with Krista Mahr about how the pandemic, health inequities, discriminatory health policies and other factors have contributed to the rise in overdose deaths in Black communities.

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The next few weeks on Capitol Hill could prove pivotal for efforts in this Congress to lower health care costs, including increased access to cheaper generic drugs. Host Ben Leonard talks with Megan R. Wilson about the legislative proposals in the House and Senate that have bipartisan support.

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Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) plans to propose Senate legislation soon to give Medicare patients permanent access to virtual care. Host Ruth Reader talks with Ben Leonard about what's in the Schatz bill, and what's not, as well as where things stand with a Drug Enforcement Administration regulation that could simultaneously curtail telemedicine access to some drugs.

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Data from the CDC’s 2021 Youth Risk Behavior survey of high schoolers, as well as multiple local surveys, detailed the ways that the current teenage population is grappling with challenges ranging from gun violence, physical and sexual violence, mental health, and substance abuse. Krista Mahr talks with host Carmen Paun about the findings in the new data and the impacts the pandemic has left on teenagers’ mental well-being. 

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The Senate HELP committee announced earlier this week that it will consider a set of bills next week aimed at enhancing access to generic drugs and medications for rare diseases. The package also includes a 91-page bill targeting pharmacy benefit managers and their business practices — likely to bring ire from the industry. Megan R. Wilson talks with host Katherine Ellen Foley about the bills under consideration. 

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Hospitals want an exemption from a Federal Trade Commission proposal to ban noncompete agreements, saying it would wreak havoc on their finances and harm patients. Erin Schumaker talks with host Megan Messerly about the potential consequences for patients, doctorsand investors if a ban on noncompetes should take effect.

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