51˶

Medicare Finalizes Doc Pay Cut; Mask Mandates Return; Top Voter Concerns

— Health news and commentary gathered by 51˶ staff

MedpageToday
Morning Break over illustration of a syringe, Covid virus, and DNA helix over a photo of green vegetation.

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CMS that includes a 2.8% payment cut for physicians. Stay tuned to 51˶ for more details.

Legendary musician Quincy Jones . (AP)

The use of artificial intelligence in medicine and brain implants are among the issues and products that will need to address. (New York Times)

Speaking of the FDA, the agency to its list of cinnamon products to avoid due to elevated levels of lead.

And FDA -- which include semaglutide and tirzepatide -- as they may not be sterile.

Adding semaglutide (Wegovy) to standard of care helped in a placebo-controlled phase III trial, Novo Nordisk announced.

A quarter of child deaths following visits to emergency departments , researchers found. (JAMA Network Open)

have returned to health facilities in the Bay Area. (Mercury News)

Maryland to officially participate in CMS's AHEAD model, which sets targets for cost growth, quality and equity improvements, population health, and primary care investments. (AP)

Neurodivergence for athletes, helping them to hyperfocus. (Washington Post)

from cigarette smoking? It depends on how long and how much you've smoked. (JAMA Network Open)

among top voter concerns in the upcoming presidential election, according to a Gallup poll; it was named as most important by 9% of respondents, with the economy (21%) and immigration (13%) cited as the top two issues.

In other election news, three states -- Alaska, Missouri, and Nebraska -- on whether to require employers to offer paid sick leave. (CBS News)

Results of the election . (Stateline)

The NHL players union will form a committee to help players . (AP)

Mpox cases in the Congo , experts say. (AP)

And polio vaccination . (NPR)

Meanwhile, in Pakistan, near a vehicle carrying police officers who had been assigned to protect workers during a polio vaccination drive, killing nine people, including five children. (AP)