Does being from or living in a U.S. territory increase preterm birth risk? A national cross-sectional study found mothers from or living in U.S. territories had a 30% higher risk of preterm birth vs. those in the mainland U.S. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2846956

@pennldi.bsky.social @pennmehp.bsky.social and others are sponsoring this important #NIH funding seminar. May 19, 11 AM ET. Spread the word. #sciencesky #medsky #publichealthsky #episky #statsky

Will TrumpRx lower prescription drug prices? LDI Fellow @victorroy.bsky.social argues the plan does little to address the underlying drivers of high costs—and points instead to public-sector innovation as a more effective path forward. Read more: https://bit.ly/48YT1kp

🎉Congratulations to LDI Fellow Eric Roberts of @pennmedicine.bsky.social!

After a spike in questionable skin substitute spending in fee-for-service #Medicare, CMS tightened the rules. But those costs could still affect Medicare Advantage payments in 2027. LDI’s @zekeemanuel.bsky.social#Medicaresays risk adjustment needs modernizing. Read more: https://bit.ly/3PDhjK3

What helps caregivers ask for support? An RCT by LDI Fellow Danielle Cullen conducted in pediatric primary care and the ED found that adult caregivers were more likely to report a desire for resources when presented with a "resource menu" compared with standard screening. https://bit.ly/4fcnEGM

Doctors say “stay cool.” But millions can’t afford air conditioning. As heat waves rise, federal programs like LIHEAP still treat cooling as optional. In an op-ed in @statnews.com, LDI Fellow Charles E. Leonard argues this is not climate policy, it's a public health failure. bit.ly/42R4Llz

What can social media tell us about GLP-1 side effects? Analyzing 67K Reddit posts, LDI's @nsehgal.bsky.social and @sharathg.bsky.social found GI issues were most common, plus some reproductive and temperature-related symptoms not previously flagged in clinical trials. https://go.nature.com/3OQwVtx

1/ Today we @oppforhealthlab.bsky.social are releasing our report: "Stuckness in America." #Stuckness is a #feeling + material #reality that reinforce one another in a self-perpetuating #trap. 1 our of every 5 Americans are #stuck. opportunityforhealth.org/project/stuc...

Utah moved to let AI refill prescriptions autonomously—until regulators stepped in. In @statnews.com, LDI Fellow @alonbergman.bsky.social urges a federal regulatory framework for autonomous clinical AI. https://www.statnews.com/2026/05/11/ai-doctors-licenses-utah-doctronic-pilot/

How should hospitals be compared on emergency general surgery (EGS) outcomes? Outcomes can vary widely across hospitals—but with robust risk adjustment, fewer than 5% stand out as high- or low-performing, leaving limited guidance for most patients. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4tCAqSI

At LDI's 2026 Charles C. Leighton, MD, Memorial Lecture, Dr. Said Ibrahim discussed decades of research showing that African American patients remain significantly less likely to receive knee replacement surgery, even when osteoarthritis severity and treatment indications are similar.

📩 Interested in #healthcare and #healthpolicy? Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest data-driven, policy-relevant research from @upenn.edu#healthcare#healthpolicyxperts, upcoming events featuring national experts, and more! https://bit.ly/49DDMMZ

Will President Trump’s Executive Order 14321—focused on involuntary treatment and criminalizing sleeping outdoors—reduce homelessness? LDI experts say no, and warn it could worsen conditions for people who are unhoused. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4tt12p5

📖A different kind of perspective on health and caregiving! Read “Ambiguous Loss,” a poem by LDI Fellow Jason Karlawish of @pennmemorycenter.bsky.social in @jama.com. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2845909

Are U.S. maternal health statistics missing the full picture? New research led by LDI Fellow Beth Pineles of @pennmedicine.bsky.social finds that federal birth certificate data significantly undercounts severe maternal complications and masks racial disparities. Read more: https://bit.ly/4uz3gUz

How can informed consent forms be improved? LDI Fellow @zekeemanuel.bsky.social and colleagues tested short, medium, and long versions—finding the medium length struck the right balance: concise, yet with enough information to support understanding. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4cS7HnB

Can a community health fair bring together clinical care and environmental health? LDI Fellow @jnwanajienwerem.bsky.social piloted the “Grounded in Health” Fair—combining insurance enrollment help with screenings, education, and environmental hazard testing. Read more: https://bit.ly/4nbjhO0

Penn Researchers are presenting research posters @popassocamerica.bsky.social #PAA2026 this THURS, FRI & SAT. Penn at PAA 2026: https://www.pop.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/2026-05-06PennAtPAA2026.pdf @pennldi.bsky.social @pennmehp.bsky.social @pennchibe.bsky.social @oppforhealthlab.bsky.social#PAA2026

🎉Congratulations to LDI Exec Director @rachelwerner.bsky.social, and LDI Fellows @jnwadiuko.bsky.social and Eric T. Roberts! They have received top awards from the Society of General Internal Medicine (@societygim.bsky.social)! Read more about the awards & their work here: https://bit.ly/4nliD0M

Do text message reminders help connect emergency department (ED) patients to public benefits? 📱 An RCT in two Philadelphia EDs found 25% of patients receiving text reminders contacted a benefits navigator vs. 0% of patients who only received a paper flyer. Read more: https://bit.ly/4tVP9ZS

Check out new research featuring LDI Fellow @hamsabastani.bsky.social in @nature.com.⤵️

How can caregivers for children and adolescents help them navigate the rise of #generativeAI? In a new @ameracadpeds.bsky.social#generativeAIreview, LDI Fellows offer timely, practical guidance for pediatricians and families, highlighting both opportunities and risks. Read more here: https://bit.ly/42gx10r

How can we advance the #HospitalAtHome model? LDI Fellows Austin Kilaru and Robert Burke call for lower startup costs and simpler rules to reduce barriers and expand this effective program. Read more about the model and the authors' recommendations. https://bit.ly/48DkYhp

How have Latino families changed safety talks with kids? As ICE arrests surge—even among people with legal status—many families are making contingency plans if a loved one is detained. LDI Fellow Diana Montoya-Williams explains the impact on children and families: https://bit.ly/48A4YNc

Is Medicare Advantage working as intended? Experts at our recent panel said the program offers valuable benefits for many seniors, especially those with modest incomes, but it is costing taxpayers more than expected and creating new challenges in the system. Read the recap: https://bit.ly/4rRTmM3

💻 Want to rewatch our virtual discussions with leading experts on some of the most pressing issues facing health care and health policy in the U.S.? Check out our video library here for recordings: https://ldi.upenn.edu/virtual-seminar-recordings/

🎙 LDI Exec Director @rachelwerner.bsky.social shares expert insights on the impact of state minimum #staffing standards on #nursinghomes in a new podcast episode of "Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care" hosted by The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care Listen here: https://bit.ly/4n9vH9s

​Thrilled to have had nearly 1,000 registrants from around the U.S. tune in for today's virtual discussion on #Medicaid After HR1: State Challenges and Policy Tradeoffs. Thank you to our panelists! Stay tuned for the video recap coming next week to ldi.upenn.edu

In @jamainternalmed.com, Austin Kilaru (Emergency Med), Susan Landon (@penndgim.bsky.social), Felicia D'Souza & Bob Burke (Hospital Med) argue that hospital-at-home programs work. Scaling them will require upfront investment & more flexible, patient-centered policies jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

How are states responding to the largest #Medicaid cuts in history? Hear from experts TODAY 12pm ET: - @pboozang.bsky.social, Manatt - Bruce Greenstein, Secretary, Louisiana Dept of Health - Benjamin Sommers, @hsph.harvard.edu - @rachelwerner.bsky.social#Medicaid(LDI Exec Director) https://bit.ly/4eccyAY

How have Latino families changed safety talks with kids? As ICE arrests surge—even among people with legal status—many families are making contingency plans if a loved one is detained. LDI Fellow Diana Montoya-Williams explains the impact on children and families: https://bit.ly/48A4YNc

Can an EHR-integrated tobacco treatment system help parents of pediatric patients quit smoking? A @ameracadpeds.bsky.social study finds sustained cessation for mothers, but no significant effect for fathers. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41839447/

In #ThePitt, a child nearly dies from asthma after losing #Medicaid. In real life, about 45% of kids on Medicaid experience coverage gaps, disrupting access to meds and care. LDI's Aditi Vasan says 12-month continuous eligibility is helping, but more can be done. Read more: https://bit.ly/4vt1WnM

LDI Fellow Molly Candon’s study of a large commercial insurer finds coverage for acupuncture increased across pain conditions, including low back pain, joint pain, and migraines. Notably, Medicare Part B limits acupuncture coverage to indications of chronic low back pain. https://bit.ly/4t0S6Xy

Did embedding doulas and a certified nurse midwife in the NICU after lactation initiation improve breastfeeding rates? A secondary analysis of the PeliCaN RCT found that the intervention increased breastfeeding prevalence at 6 months. Read more: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41372-026-02616-x

What do experts say is driving up health care costs? At our recent convening co-hosted with Penn Washington, panelists weighed in on several key drivers and potential solutions. Read their insights, in their own words: https://ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/health-care-affordability/

How has surgical care delivery changed since the COVID-19 pandemic? More surgeries are being performed in the outpatient setting. Wharton researchers say the move toward outpatient surgery is likely here to stay. Read our Q&A on the study here: https://bit.ly/4mRf2Hz

"Incarceration as Social Determinant of Health: Penn Researcher Jason Schnittker Says Mental Illness, Chronic Disease Risks Surge After Release" He recently spoke at the 11th Annual Health Equity Week https://ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/incarceration-as-social-determinant-of-health/

In Utah, an AI system can now independently prescribe medications—traditionally the role of highly trained clinicians. In Health Affairs, LDI Fellow Eric Bressman argues that as AI takes on clinical roles, fragmented regulatory oversight isn’t enough to protect patients.⤵️ https://bit.ly/4tAGqMf

In the @inquirer.com, LDI Fellow Diana Montoya-Williams of @policylabchop.bsky.social explains how "The Talk" with children has evolved for Latino families in light of rising ICE arrests and detainments. Read the op-ed here: https://bit.ly/3QBaV6f

What factors drive access gaps to minimally invasive heart valve replacement procedures at the county-level? LDI's Guy David identified health care market concentration, facility capacity, and socioeconomic conditions—modifiable factors that can be addressed by policymakers. https://bit.ly/4eHEAVl

📩 Interested in #healthcare and #healthpolicy? Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest data-driven, policy-relevant research from @upenn.edu experts, upcoming events featuring national experts, and more! https://bit.ly/49DDMMZ

Can a remote, automated program boost exercise in veterans with Parkinson's disease? LDI Fellow Kimberly Waddell of @pennmedicine.bsky.social and colleagues found it effectively increased daily steps by 28% during the six-week intervention. Read more here: bit.ly/4eEEuxH

How are states responding to the largest Medicaid cuts in history? Join us for our seminar next Friday, 5/1 with experts @pboozang.bsky.social of Manatt, Lanhee Chen of @hooverinstitution.bsky.social, Benjamin Sommers of @hsph.harvard.edu, & LDI's @rachelwerner.bsky.social. https://bit.ly/4eccyAY

How could CMS reduce favorable selection and upcoding in #Medicare? LDI Fellows developed Franklin, an #AI model that predicts Medicare costs 3x more accurately than the current HCC system used for risk adjustment—potentially saving billions in overpayments. https://bit.ly/4eo8kqn

AI is already transforming health care. How should we pay for it? LDI Fellow Amol Navathe recommends aligning #HealthCareAI reimbursement policy with outcomes instead of inputs to prevent long-term cost increases. Read more on our blog: https://bit.ly/4mLZZic

Incarceration is not just a criminal justice issue. It is a public health issue. At our recent event, LDI Fellow Jason Schnittker highlighted how incarceration increases risks of mental illness, chronic disease, and poor health outcomes after release. Read the recap here: https://bit.ly/4cl0fkI

A survey of hospital nurses by LDI Fellows @matthewmchugh.bsky.social, Linda Aiken, and Karen Lasater indicates that their work environments have not recovered from the pandemic, and on some measures they are even worse. A new LDI chart highlights their findings. https://bit.ly/42kqL7Q

Utah is letting AI prescribe meds—starting with refills. In a Health Affairs Forefront piece, LDI Fellow Eric Bressman breaks down the current fragmented AI regulatory landscape and recommends adopting a centralized approach to ensure patient safety. ⤵️ www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...