Public Health News Update, June 2, 2025

by Jon Scaccia June 2, 2025

A little late today. That’s cause JUNE IS BUSTING OUT ALL OVER.

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Health costs quietly rise in New York State as hospitals buy more private practices

The article highlights how New Yorkers are unknowingly paying significantly more for healthcare services because hospitals are buying up private practices, allowing them to bill at higher hospital rates for similar care. This trend is not only driving up costs for patients and health insurers but also potentially squashing independent physician practices, drawing criticism from some lawmakers and sparking national conversations around legislative actions to standardize pricing between hospital-owned and independent practices.

Letters: The Tribune Editorial Board should give RFK more credit in his campaign against sugar

This letter criticizes the Tribune Editorial Board’s stance on sugar consumption, emphasizing the significant health impacts of excessive sugar, such as obesity and diabetes, and argues that the government should regulate sugar not only to protect public health but also to manage healthcare costs that ultimately affect taxpayers. It also highlights the conflicting views of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who accurately addresses diet-related health concerns but dangerously spreads misinformation about vaccinations, which are essential in preventing deadly outbreaks like measles and reducing the impact of COVID-19.

RFK Jr. is struggling to keep his promise to protect Native Americans from health cuts

Navajo Nation leaders met with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to discuss the impact of federal health program cuts on Native American communities. Despite Kennedy’s efforts to protect Indian Health Service jobs, tribes are still struggling with reduced funding and resources that worsen health care access and public health initiatives, raising concerns about treaty violations and the need for better consultation with tribal nations.

The medicines that lie beneath

This article traces the story of how the ancient ocean’s biological wealth, particularly compounds from marine sponges, has been harnessed for groundbreaking medical treatments, such as HIV/AIDS drugs, while emphasizing the pressing need to protect deep-sea biodiversity from threats like mining to ensure future pharmaceutical discoveries.