Marty Makary: A quiet blockade on safer nicotine
There are moments in public health when the path forward is unusually clear, when the evidence aligns with behavior, when risks are well understood, and when policy has a genuine opportunity to reduce harm at scale. This should be one of those moments. Non-combustible nicotine products—vapes, heated tobacco, and especially nicotine pouches—are widely understood to be far less harmful than smoking, a point I and many others have covered repeatedly, and one that no longer sits at the frontier of scientific debate. At the same time, the political panic that once drove restrictive policy has subsided, with youth vaping falling sharply from its peak. The most recent data show that around 5.2...
Why FDA’s new Adverse Event Monitoring System matters
FDA’s announcement regarding the launch of AEMS is worth watching. The Adverse Event Monitoring System is intended to consolidate multiple reporting systems across FDA-regulated product categories into a single platform, including medical products, vaccines, devices, tobacco, food, cosmetics, and veterinary products. Legacy systems to be replaced by AEMS now include: FAERS (FDA Adverse Event Reporting System) — containing reports for drugs, biologics, cosmetic products, and color additives. VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) — containing reports for vaccines. Note: The FDA will display VAERS data in AEMS. VAERS is co-managed by the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and...
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Florida Blue Foundation accepting mental well-being grant applications for 2026
South Florida – Florida Blue Foundation, the philanthropic affiliate of the state’s Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, is committed to supporting nonprofit organizations that improve health by impacting food security, advancing mental well-being, growing healthy communities, and addressing health disparities. The Foundation is now accepting applications for 2026 grants from organizations with documented expertise in mental well-being. The Florida Blue Foundation is committed to improving the health and well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities across Florida. Among its funding priorities for mental well-being grants, the Foundation supports innovative and effective solutions...
After man’s death following insurance denials, West Virginia tackles prior authorization
Eric Tennant with his wife, Becky, and daughter, Amiya. (Becky Tennant) ~~~~~ Six months after a West Virginia man died following a protracted battle with his health insurer over doctor-recommended cancer care, the state’s Republican governor signed a bill intended to curb the harm of insurance denials. West Virginia’s Public Employees Insurance Agency enrolls nearly 215,000 people — state workers, as well as their spouses and dependents. The new law, which will take effect June 10, will allow plan members who have been approved for a course of treatment to pursue an alternative, medically appropriate treatment of equal or lesser value without the need for another approval from the...
