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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday announced its approval of Ixchiq, the first chikungunya vaccine. The vaccine, which is made by Valneva, is approved for anyone age 18 and older who has a risk of being exposed to the virus. The chikungunya virus is transmitted to people through bites from infected mosquitoes. (Rudy, 11/11)

Chikungunya virus infects more than 300,000 people per year globally, the FDA said, mostly in the global south. The virus has recently become more prevalent in the north, however, leading to FDA approval of the new vaccine. “Infection with chikungunya virus can lead to severe disease and prolonged health problems, particularly for older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions,” Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. (Robertson, 11/10)

Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford in his capacity as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus joined with national civil rights and health equity organizations to call on states to stop disenrolling people from Medicaid for procedural reasons this week. Medicaid “unwinding” began in June in Nevada with the end of pandemic-era requirements that states continue coverage for people enrolled in Medicaid without requalification. In the six months since, Nevada had the nation’s highest procedural termination rate, according to the report that used data from health policy research organization �鶹Ů��. (Todd, 11/12)

Medicaid was expanded during the pandemic, but the coverage ended in March, with thousands of people losing it monthly. A study shows about 170,000 people will lose Medicaid in the next year. But with open enrollment happening now, leaders like Dr. Don Williamson with the Alabama Hospital Association say options are available. (Chatman, 11/12)

A national group of doctors gathered Sunday for a march in downtown Atlanta, pushing for the expansion of Medicaid, while also urging Wellstar Health System to donate the former Atlanta Medical Center site to the city. Some carried signs with tombstones of closed hospitals in Georgia, and others of the over 100 people in attendance chanted in support for a single-payer health system, while decrying the actions of Georgia state officials and Wellstar Health System as detrimental to the health of Georgians. (Thomas, 11/12)

The Rowan County Public Health Department is pleased to announce an upcoming milestone in healthcare accessibility for our community. On Dec. 1, North Carolina is set to expand Medicaid, offering a lifeline to thousands of residents who have struggled with limited or no access to essential healthcare services. This significant development aligns with our commitment to promoting health equity and well-being for all residents of Rowan County and will mark a transformative step toward better health outcomes and financial security for many. (11/12)

A decades-old federal program that offers doctors incentives to practice in disadvantaged communities has had little effect on physician density or patient mortality, a recent analysis concludes. Publishing in the journal Health Affairs, researchers looked at data from the Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) program, zeroing in on physician density and mortality. Introduced in 1965, the HPSA program designates areas in need of more physicians and offers bonuses, loan repayment, visa waivers, higher reimbursements and other benefits to doctors who choose to practice and serve Medicare patients in specific communities. (Blakemore, 11/12)

Sen. Bernie Sanders' push for sweeping legislation to address a growing shortage of primary care providers, the opioid crisis and other key health issues faces an unusual obstacle: escalating tensions among members of the health committee he chairs. If the progressive firebrand secures passage of the roughly $25 billion package, it will overshadow complaints about how it got done. (Sullivan, 11/13)

Doctors are staring down a cut to their Medicare pay next year, and while the news has united them in outrage, it’s also turned one specialty against another. (Trang, 11/10)

Without a little aid from the federal government, Whitley Hasty would have a tougher time buying the fresh broccoli her toddler son loves to eat with ranch dressing. Hasty receives WIC, the food assistance program for low-income women, infants and young children. It has helped her purchase milk, cheese, juice, eggs, fruits, vegetables and other staples for 3-year-old Leni – a benefit that has been even more vital in recent years as the price of groceries and other necessities has soared. (Luhby, 11/12)

Former Chicago Department of Public Health commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady has taken a new job with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Arwady, who led the city's efforts to fight COVID-19 during the pandemic under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, confirmed she has taken a position with the CDC in Atlanta, leading the National Center for Injury Prevention & Control, starting Jan. 16, 2024. She will lead the agency's efforts to prevent injuries from drug overdoses, violence, suicide, and other causes, according to a press release. (Feurer, 11/9)