A letter signed by health officials in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington, asks the CDC to reconsider

California and Washington asked the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in May to validate a new way to test for measles – but after waiting two months, the CDC denied the request, citing “other competing priorities”, according to a letter from the West Coast Health Alliance to CDC director Erica Schwartz.

The letter, signed by health officials in California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington, asks Schwartz to reconsider and validate a rapid, high-volume measles test in preparation for major outbreaks. The alliance also asked the CDC to create protocols to test for other high-priority pathogens to prepare for future outbreaks.

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© Photograph: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images

The plans being discontinued are primarily Preferred Provider Organizations, which offer more flexible provider networks.

The plans being discontinued are primarily Preferred Provider Organizations, which offer more flexible provider networks.

Runaway applied behavior analysis spending exposes the moral hazard at the heart of Medicaid’s financing architecture.

Runaway applied behavior analysis spending exposes the moral hazard at the heart of Medicaid’s financing architecture.

Agency declines to reveal in which state latest measles death occurred as it delays reporting other measles deaths

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added a third measles death to its dashboard on Wednesday, but the agency would not reveal whether the death occurred in Pennsylvania or another state – which is “notable” as the agency delays reporting other measles deaths, experts say.

The CDC cited privacy laws in not sharing the name of the state, but experts say there are no privacy concerns in doing so – and this information is important for the public to have as the outbreak continues accelerating, growing by 8% in one week to 4,410 confirmed cases so far this year, nearly double last year’s count.

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© Photograph: The Washington Post/Getty Images

© Photograph: The Washington Post/Getty Images

© Photograph: The Washington Post/Getty Images

Most adults remain confident in the safety of long-standing childhood vaccines, though people’s views of the COVID-19 vaccine are heavily polarized, according to a new poll from health research organization KFF.   More than 80 percent of American respondents said they’re “very” or “somewhat” confident that the polio vaccine and the measles, mumps and rubella…

Most adults remain confident in the safety of long-standing childhood vaccines, though people’s views of the COVID-19 vaccine are heavily polarized, according to a new poll from health research organization KFF.   More than 80 percent of American respondents said they’re “very” or “somewhat” confident that the polio vaccine and the measles, mumps and rubella…

The Pennsylvania health department issued a warning to doctors Monday about an increase in measles cases during pregnancy, along with rising concern about congenital measles, a disease rarely seen in the U.S.  The department’s alert said congenital measles — a measles infection in a newborn contracted from the mother — was identified “for the first…

The Pennsylvania health department issued a warning to doctors Monday about an increase in measles cases during pregnancy, along with rising concern about congenital measles, a disease rarely seen in the U.S.  The department’s alert said congenital measles — a measles infection in a newborn contracted from the mother — was identified “for the first…

This shift is urgently needed.

This shift is urgently needed.

“Money out of politics! Money in your pocket! Medicare for All!” That’s the rally chant of Abdul El-Sayed, who won Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary in August. It’s catchy. So was “If you like your health care plan, you can keep it.” PolitiFact named that line its 2013 Lie of the Year, but only after roughly…

“Money out of politics! Money in your pocket! Medicare for All!” That’s the rally chant of Abdul El-Sayed, who won Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary in August. It’s catchy. So was “If you like your health care plan, you can keep it.” PolitiFact named that line its 2013 Lie of the Year, but only after roughly…

Click in for more news from The Hill {beacon} Healthcare Healthcare   The Big Story  Trump launches national kidney care plan The Trump administration launched the Kidney Care National Plan Tuesday, aiming to improve structural kidney care deficiencies the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department says lead to higher costs and lower quality. © Rich Pedroncelli,…

Click in for more news from The Hill {beacon} Healthcare Healthcare   The Big Story  Trump launches national kidney care plan The Trump administration launched the Kidney Care National Plan Tuesday, aiming to improve structural kidney care deficiencies the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department says lead to higher costs and lower quality. © Rich Pedroncelli,…

The Centers for Disease Control and ​Prevention (CDC) has added a third U.S. measles death to its national tracker as total cases for 2026 surpass 4,400. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) told Reuters the CDC updated its count after the National Center for Health Statistics received ​a report of a measles-related death…

The Centers for Disease Control and ​Prevention (CDC) has added a third U.S. measles death to its national tracker as total cases for 2026 surpass 4,400. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) told Reuters the CDC updated its count after the National Center for Health Statistics received ​a report of a measles-related death…

A report from the Peterson-Kaiser Family Foundation indicates that ObamaCare premiums are projected to increase significantly through 2027, potentially triggering an insurance death spiral as enrollment declines following the expiration of enhanced subsidies.

A report from the Peterson-Kaiser Family Foundation indicates that ObamaCare premiums are projected to increase significantly through 2027, potentially triggering an insurance death spiral as enrollment declines following the expiration of enhanced subsidies.