Heart disease fatalities drop but are still leading cause of death in the US: Report https://abcnews.go.com/Health/heart-disease-fatalities-drop-leading-cause-death-us/story?id=129394510

As US Is Poised To Lose Measles-Free Status, RFK Jr.’s New CDC Deputy Downplays Its Significance https://kffhealthnews.org/MjE0NTQwNw via KFF Health News

To say comments like these from the top brass at CDC is troubling is an understatement... 👇 Senior CDC official: Loss of measles elimination status in U.S. would be ‘cost of doing business’ https://www.statnews.com/2026/01/20/cdc-measles-briefing-lost-elimination-status-cost-of-doing-business/

Medicaid Tries New Approach With Sickle Cell: Companies Get Paid Only if Costly Gene Therapies Work https://kffhealthnews.org/MjE0MTk1OQ via KFF Health News

Kudos to our friend, Dr. Jessie Shay at Chronically Informed... 👇 Student Spotlight: DSW Alum Builds Capstone Project into Health Equity Nonprofit https://dworakpeck.online.usc.edu/dsw-alum-builds-capstone-into-health-equity-nonprofit/

big thing: New calls to boost kids' emergency care https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-vitals-e9e70540-f547-11f0-bcf7-3bf0ee2dde1d.html?chunk=1&utm_term=twsocialshare#story1#story1#axiosvitals

RFK Jr. is moving to remake a little-known vaccine panel. It could have big consequences https://www.statnews.com/2026/01/20/kennedy-fires-vaccine-injury-compensation-advisers-vicp-accv/ via STAT

Virginia PDAB Bill Revamped With Rare Disease, Pharmacy Payment Guardrails | InsideHealthPolicy.com https://insidehealthpolicy.com/inside-drug-pricing-daily-news/virginia-pdab-bill-revamped-rare-disease-pharmacy-payment-guardrails

PlusInc honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr! #MLKDay2026

But hey, they claim they're not practicing medicine! https://archo-advocate-brief.beehiiv.com/p/when-insurance-companies-profit-from-denying-your-care via Archo Advocacy

Native Americans Are Dying From Pregnancy. They Want a Voice To Stop the Trend. https://kffhealthnews.org/MjEzNzI4MA via KFF Health News

States Race To Launch Rural Health Transformation Plans https://kffhealthnews.org/MjE0MTk0Mg via KFF Health News

Changes to America’s childhood vaccine schedule fail to protect our nation's kids https://phrma.org/blog/changes-to-america-s-childhood-vaccine-schedule-fail-to-protect-our-nations-kids

RFK Jr.’s MAHA Movement Has Picked Up Steam in Statehouses. Here’s What To Expect in 2026. https://kffhealthnews.org/MjEzOTk1Mw via KFF Health News

Opinion | HPV Vaccine Uptake Is Too Low for Herd Immunity https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/second-opinions/119387

Rural health’s $50B moment – or missed opportunity? https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/rural-healths-50b-moment-or-missed-opportunity/

GSK's 'functional cure' for hep B proves worth in phase 3 trials setting up approval push https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/gsks-functional-cure-hep-b-proves-worth-phase-3-trials-setting-approval-push

Opinion | What Morbidity Hath Secretary Kennedy Wrought? https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/second-opinions/119304

Trump administration sparks midterm vaccine war https://www.axios.com/2026/01/06/trump-administration-rfk-midterms-vaccines-kids

Cassidy rips RFK Jr. vaccine schedule change, says it’s ‘based on no scientific input’ https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5673618-vaccine-schedule-reduction-criticized-cassidy/

Rural Health Transformation Program awards announced—Here's who's getting the most in FY2026 https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/rural-health-transformation-program-awards-announced-heres-whos-getting-most

Happy New Year! #HappyNewYear2026

Michelle Anderson has faithfully served as a founding board member of our organization since its inception in 2013 and as board chair for the last three years. Her dedication to health equity, especially her passion for improving maternal health, will be missed! Good luck 😊

Check out our new report on patient perspectives about Prior Authorization: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62b49eb01b4ac07b6879cf71/t/6931bf4f18a9b2041e14d1c4/1764867919920/2025_PLUSINC_Project_Prior_Auth_Workplan_%2811.24.25%29-FINAL-NAVIGATING-HEALTHCARE.pdf

Check out our new report on patient perspectives about Prior Authorization: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62b49eb01b4ac07b6879cf71/t/6931bf4f18a9b2041e14d1c4/1764867919920/2025_PLUSINC_Project_Prior_Auth_Workplan_%2811.24.25%29-FINAL-NAVIGATING-HEALTHCARE.pdf

Quality-Adjusted Life Years metrics used to assess the cost-effectiveness of health interventions often yield unacceptable long-term impacts. #QALYs suck for patients. Learn more about why: https://www.plusinc.org/qalys

Check out our new report on patient perspectives about Prior Authorization: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62b49eb01b4ac07b6879cf71/t/6931bf4f18a9b2041e14d1c4/1764867919920/2025_PLUSINC_Project_Prior_Auth_Workplan_%2811.24.25%29-FINAL-NAVIGATING-HEALTHCARE.pdf

Check out our new report on patient perspectives about Prior Authorization: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62b49eb01b4ac07b6879cf71/t/6931bf4f18a9b2041e14d1c4/1764867919920/2025_PLUSINC_Project_Prior_Auth_Workplan_%2811.24.25%29-FINAL-NAVIGATING-HEALTHCARE.pdf

Check out our new report on patient perspectives about Prior Authorization: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62b49eb01b4ac07b6879cf71/t/6931bf4f18a9b2041e14d1c4/1764867919920/2025_PLUSINC_Project_Prior_Auth_Workplan_%2811.24.25%29-FINAL-NAVIGATING-HEALTHCARE.pdf

Executives examine the benefit of DEI practices for building trust in healthcare https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/executives-examine-benefit-dei-practices-building-trust-healthcare

In the Vast Expanses of Indian Country, Broadband Gaps Create Health Gaps, Too https://kffhealthnews.org/MjEzMTEzNw via KFF Health News

Florida Plows Ahead on Push to Roll Back Certain Vaccine Mandates for Schoolchildren https://www.medpagetoday.com/pediatrics/vaccines/118997

Quality-Adjusted Life Years metrics used to assess the cost-effectiveness of health interventions often yield unacceptable long-term impacts. #QALYs suck for patients. Learn more about why: https://www.plusinc.org/qalys

Check out our new report on patient perspectives about Prior Authorization: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62b49eb01b4ac07b6879cf71/t/6931bf4f18a9b2041e14d1c4/1764867919920/2025_PLUSINC_Project_Prior_Auth_Workplan_%2811.24.25%29-FINAL-NAVIGATING-HEALTHCARE.pdf

It is our honor to welcome Kimberly Williams as our new Board Chair! Learn more about Kimberly and our other directors here: https://www.plusinc.org/board. And a special shout-out and thank you to Michelle Anderson for her many years of service as our board chair.

Check out our new report on patient perspectives about Prior Authorization: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62b49eb01b4ac07b6879cf71/t/6931bf4f18a9b2041e14d1c4/1764867919920/2025_PLUSINC_Project_Prior_Auth_Workplan_%2811.24.25%29-FINAL-NAVIGATING-HEALTHCARE.pdf

Report Finds Too Many Children Missing Out on Afterschool Nutrition Programs https://frac.org/afterschool-report-2025?emci=d02a5a88-42d5-f011-8195-000d3a1d58aa&emdi=c3f89c03-e1d5-f011-8195-000d3a1d58aa&ceid=5047409

Wheelchair? Hearing Aids? Yes. ‘Disabled’? No Way. https://kffhealthnews.org/MjExOTU5MA via KFF Health News

Number of Hospitals Equipped to Handle Pediatric Cases on the Decline https://www.medpagetoday.com/pediatrics/generalpediatrics/118918

Check out our new report on patient perspectives about Prior Authorization: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62b49eb01b4ac07b6879cf71/t/6931bf4f18a9b2041e14d1c4/1764867919920/2025_PLUSINC_Project_Prior_Auth_Workplan_%2811.24.25%29-FINAL-NAVIGATING-HEALTHCARE.pdf

'We Must Absolutely Ignore Them': Experts Defy CDC Panel's Hep B Vaccine Vote https://www.medpagetoday.com/pediatrics/vaccines/118917

Slow mail hurts medication access: Study https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-vitals-03f9e3b0-d461-11f0-9e90-b39b5337a13c.html?chunk=4&utm_term=twsocialshare#story4#story4#axiosvitals

Ongoing clinical trials are recruiting for Opioid, HIV, and Immune System. Learn more: https://www.medpagetoday.com/clinical-trial-finder/study/nct04304768?

RFK Jr's quest to put children at risk continues... 👇 "Exclusive: US FDA launches fresh safety scrutiny of approved RSV therapies for infants" https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-fda-launches-fresh-safety-scrutiny-approved-rsv-therapies-infants-2025-12-09/

Best hospitals for maternity care: US News https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/rankings-and-ratings/best-hospitals-for-maternity-care-us-news/

In RFK Jr.’s Upside-Down World of Vaccines, Panel Votes To End Hepatitis B Shot at Birth https://kffhealthnews.org/MjEyODIwNg via KFF Health News

The Gene Therapy Poised to Rewrite Childhood Deafness https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/gene-therapy-poised-rewrite-childhood-deafness-2025a1000y4c

Rural America Relies On Foreign Doctors. Trump's Visa Fee Shuts Them Out. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/12/08/h1b-visa-fees-rural-health

1 big thing: Vaccine divide helps Trump upend policies https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-vitals-0d346870-d39d-11f0-a090-9f17275bda71.html?chunk=1&utm_term=twsocialshare#story1#story1#axiosvitals

Poll shows Americans trust AMA over CDC when it comes to vaccines https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/public-health/poll-shows-americans-trust-ama-over-cdc-when-it-comes-vaccines