CDC releases latest life expectancy data
According to new data from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, American life expectancy at birth in 2024 surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with babies born that year expected to live to age 79. This is up 0.6 years from 2023 and 0.2 years from 2019, the last year before COVID-19 drastically reduced those rates. The increase from 2023 to 2024 was driven largely by a decline in COVID-19 deaths, but also by decreases in deaths from unintentional injuries (the biggest contribution), heart disease, cancer, and homicide.
Magdeleine Bradford-Butcher submitted a public comment opposing a pending White House regulation that would subject federal science funding to increased political intervention, noting that her daughter has cystic fibrosis, as does the daughter of Russell Vought, who directs the White House Office of Management and Budget. In her comment, she pleaded with Vought to not make the rules effective, mentioning a medication both children have used. Her comment was later removed without explanation. STAT's Anil Oza reports that she is one of 42 published comments that were taken down, including 10 that mention Vought's family's benefit from federally funded research. Legal experts have reacted to the deletions, and the removals may affect future challenges to the proposal.
A study from the firm Invistics claims that machine learning and AI can detect drug diversion—when hospital staff steal or skim medications meant for patients—at much higher rates than traditional manual methods. Chris Fortier, former chief pharmacy officer at Massachusetts General Hospital, said, "There is diversion going on everywhere... It's very, very difficult to identify." However, outside experts are skeptical and caution that the technology is only as effective as the people using it. STAT contributor Alexandra Byrne reports on how well these programs work in reality.
Regarding Trump's cuts, the full impacts of the incoming Medicaid cuts won't be felt for years, but many parts of the health care system are already being reshaped, according to the excerpt.