Health

More than 50 school leaders from across the nation traveled to Washington, D.C. on February 23 and 24 in support of efforts to improve school nutrition. These advocates met with dozens of congressional staff to share their stories of success serving and selling healthier meals, snacks, and drinks to students. Read More

Drug costs are rising in the United States for many patients who are undergoing costly treatments for serious diseases such as cancer and hepatitis C, according to a report from the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics. Read More

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee has recommended that a new drug be approved as the first “biosimilar” generic alternative to an existing biologic, which is a drug that has been produced by living cells.  Read More

In the October 2014 issue of Health Affairs, Editor-in-Chief Alan R. Weil describes how the promising new era of specialty pharmaceuticals—drugs typically used to treat chronic, serious, or life-threatening conditions such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis—will renew complex policy debates about the costs of and access to prescription drugs. Often... Read More

U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Preventing Antibiotic Resistance Act on March 2, 2015. The bipartisan legislation would help reduce the public health threat of superbugs by compelling drugmakers to demonstrate that human antibiotics approved for use in livestock to prevent or control disease do not unduly contribute to drug resistance. Read More

U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Preventing Antibiotic Resistance Act on March 2, 2015. The bipartisan legislation would help reduce the public health threat of superbugs by compelling drugmakers to demonstrate that human antibiotics approved for use in livestock to prevent or control disease do not unduly contribute to drug resistance. Read More

Supermoms Against Superbugs is a movement of mothers, fathers, grandparents, and other caregivers who are fighting antibiotic resistance by working to end the overuse of these lifesaving drugs in food animal production.  Read More

On February 24, 2015, Congressmen Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Jim McDermott (D-WA) introduced a bill that would allow Medicare to use drug management programs to help stop prescription drug abuse.  Read More

Children spend more time in school than anywhere else except their homes. And 3 in 5 students—more than30 million children—eat one or two school meals daily. Clearly, by serving healthier meals and snacks, schoolscan help American children establish sound nutrition and eating habits for a lifetime. Read More

Across the country, school food is becoming healthier. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued updated nutrition standards that have led to meals with more fruit, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and whole grains; with less fat, sugar, and salt; and without excessive calories. Read More

More than 50 school leaders from across the nation traveled to Washington, D.C. on February 23 and 24 in support of efforts to improve school nutrition. These advocates met with dozens of congressional staff to share their stories of success serving and selling healthier meals, snacks, and drinks to students. Read More

Drug costs are rising in the United States for many patients who are undergoing costly treatments for serious diseases such as cancer and hepatitis C, according to a report from the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics. Read More

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee has recommended that a new drug be approved as the first “biosimilar” generic alternative to an existing biologic, which is a drug that has been produced by living cells.  Read More

In the October 2014 issue of Health Affairs, Editor-in-Chief Alan R. Weil describes how the promising new era of specialty pharmaceuticals—drugs typically used to treat chronic, serious, or life-threatening conditions such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis—will renew complex policy debates about the costs of and access to prescription drugs. Often... Read More

Listeria bacteria can be deadly, especially when young children, pregnant women, and the elderly contract infections. Recent news about the bacteria—an outbreak linked to caramel-covered apples and a study that shows their ability to survive in retail environments—underscores the public health threat posed by Listeria and the need for measures to prevent future illnesses. Read More

To ensure that all foods sold in schools are healthier, Congress directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to update nutrition standards for snack foods and beverages and align them with the school meal guidelines. This graphic compares the nutritional value of the snack foods and beverages that had been available to students to those that meet the Smart Snacks in School standards that went... Read More

More than 30 million American children eat school lunches each day—a fact parents can feel good about. These tasty meals are healthier than ever before and help kids develop sound nutrition and eating habits. Read More

For decades, millions of Americans—many of them low-income—have been receiving inadequate oral health care. Some states are exploring innovative ways of expanding dental care to reach traditionally underserved populations. Read More

Download the infographic Antibiotic Use in Human Health Care (One page PDF) Antibiotic Use in Human Health Care (Two page PDF) Read More

Tooth decay remains the most common chronic childhood disease in America, and the cause of too much unnecessary pain and suffering. One safe, effective—and cost effective—oral health prevention method is drinking fluoridated water. The map above shows how each state fares in terms of children’s access to fluoridated water. Read More