Health & Veritas Aaron Kesselheim: Law, Policy, and Health
Dec 5, 2024
Aaron Kesselheim, a physician, attorney, and Harvard Medical School professor, discusses the evolving landscape of healthcare regulation. He shares his insights on the implications of the end of Chevron deference for Medicare drug coverage and emphasizes the necessity of interdisciplinary expertise in policy-making. Kesselheim recounts his resignation from an FDA advisory committee over concerns regarding an Alzheimer's drug approval, highlighting transparency issues. He also advocates for stronger NIH funding and improved drug pricing negotiation to foster biomedical innovation.
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Microplastics Are Everywhere And Potentially Harmful
- Microplastics are ubiquitous in air, water, food and even human tissues like blood and placenta.
- Early evidence links them to inflammation, cardiovascular and developmental harms but human data remain limited.
Simple Steps To Lower Microplastic Exposure
- Avoid heating food in plastic containers and transfer takeout to plates before microwaving.
- Reduce use of plastic storage in refrigerators as a prudent, low-cost precaution.
Make Coverage Law, Not Just Agency Guidance
- Recognize CMS proposals to cover GLP-1 obesity drugs remain only proposals and could be legally challenged.
- Pushing Congress to codify coverage would provide firmer, longer-lasting access than agency reinterpretation alone.