Public Health News Round Up, June 13, 2025

by Jon Scaccia June 13, 2025

It’s not been a good week for news in general, but I want to keep the drum going for advocacy. Your voices matter. And the more voices together create momentum

Here’s what we have coming up next week.

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$40 Million Gift Supports Michigan Medicine’s New Specialty Care Facility in Troy and Mental Health Research

Kenneth Eisenberg has donated an additional $40 million to the University of Michigan, supporting both a new specialty care center in Oakland County and mental health research at the already established Frances and Kenneth Eisenberg and Family Depression Center. This gift reflects the Eisenbergs’ long-standing commitment to advancing health care and mental health solutions, offering a significant boost to U-M’s efforts to expand high-quality medical services and deepen research into preventing depression.

Chronic Back Pain? These 2 Therapies Helped People Feel Better and Cut Back on Painkillers

A study in JAMA Network Open highlights that mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) could be game-changers for folks grappling with chronic low back pain, especially those on opioids. The therapies not only improved participants’ quality of life and helped taper their opioid doses, but also equipped them with coping skills that can make a significant difference over time.

Have job-based health coverage at 65? You may still want to sign up for Medicare

After Alyne Diamond, a real estate lawyer, experienced a series of unfortunate medical events, she discovered the hard way that not enrolling in Medicare at age 65 can lead to serious financial consequences, particularly if your employer health plan turns out to be secondary to Medicare. Despite her belief that her employer-based insurance was sufficient, the lack of a clear notification system for Medicare coordination of benefits led to her facing substantial medical debt, highlighting the need for better communication and policy changes to prevent such costly mistakes for individuals unaware of their coverage transitions.

Low-income Pennsylvanians could lose access to weight-loss drugs as Harrisburg searches for savings

In Pennsylvania, the debate over the funding of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss via the state’s Medicaid program heats up as the government looks to trim rising costs. While Governor Shapiro’s administration plans to limit access based on criteria like BMI, a bipartisan group advocates for price negotiations with manufacturers to maintain access, illustrating a broader discussion on balancing short-term savings with long-term health outcomes.

Pa. mom of disabled son who relies on Medicaid offended by response from Rep. Perry

In the midst of the contentious battle over the House GOP-led budget reconciliation bill, Paula Bussard, a mother and caregiver to her medically complex son, voices her deep concerns over potential Medicaid cuts and rising medical equipment costs due to tariffs, fearing the devastating impact on families like hers. As political divides deepen, Bussard’s story underscores the dire consequences such policies could have on millions of vulnerable Americans, urging legislators to prioritize healthcare security over partisan agendas.

Parental Rights Is a Movement With Deep Roots. It’s Spreading Nationwide.

The Trump administration’s letter from the US Department of Education, spearheaded by Education Secretary Linda McMahon, signaled a federal push to bolster parental rights while scrutinizing policies affecting trans and queer students, intensifying a culture war that Christian nationalists are seizing upon to reshape societal norms. Legal experts and child advocates warn that this weaponization of “parental rights” is being used not to safeguard families but to promote an authoritarian agenda that risks diminishing important civil liberties and children’s rights, focusing instead on broader conservative goals like rolling back progressive reforms.

RFK Jr’s shakeup of vaccine advisory committee raises worries about scientific integrity of health recommendations

In an unexpected move, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ousted all existing members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee, appointing new members, some of whom have publicly expressed anti-vaccine sentiments. This change has sparked alarm among public health experts, who fear it might compromise the scientific integrity of vaccine recommendations, potentially affecting insurance coverage, public trust, and children’s access to routine immunizations.