US COVID-19 Wave Declines as Test Positivity Hits Lowest Since 2022

• The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee held a March 17 hearing on CMS fraud prevention, with Deputy Administrator Kimberly Brandt detailing data analytics and real-time monitoring shifts. • Republicans highlighted improper payments in hospice, home health and Medicaid, calling for stronger oversight; Democrats urged balancing enforcement with patient access. • Lawmakers addressed fraud risks in durable medical equipment amid calls to end 'pay-and-chase' models.

• House Republicans announced an investigation into rampant hospice fraud in Southern California, alleging tens of millions in taxpayer funds lost to improper payments. • The House Oversight Committee sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom requesting documents on state oversight of federally funded hospice programs. • Fraud involves companies receiving payments for ineligible patients, prompting calls for stronger controls amid ongoing healthcare waste concerns.

• Research analyzing U.S. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data found that 31.9% of adults reported social isolation and 8.2% reported physical isolation, with both often overlapping. • Isolation was strongly associated with material deprivation including food insecurity and trouble paying bills, with 82.1% of physically isolated adults experiencing financial hardship compared to 30.9% of those not physically isolated. • Both types of isolation were linked to lower odds of receiving preventive health services including COVID-19, flu, and pneumococcal vaccinations, as well as cancer screenings, though financial hardship partly explained these associations.

• A federal judge blocked sweeping changes to U.S. vaccine recommendations, including reductions in childhood immunizations and removal of COVID-19 guidance for certain groups, in a lawsuit brought by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups. • The ruling paused a reconstituted vaccine advisory committee and signals a forthcoming decision on broader legal questions, with the case expected to reach the U.S. Supreme Court soon. • Changes were driven by RFK's authority over federal vaccine policy, which critics argue lack scientific basis and threaten public health.

• North Carolina lawmakers introduced bills to scale back hospitals' property tax and sales tax exemptions, potentially shifting millions to state and local governments amid soaring medical costs. • The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services heard arguments on March 10, with a vote expected in April before advancing to full House and Senate. • Hospital groups like the North Carolina Healthcare Association warn of strained resources, especially for rural facilities operating on small margins, threatening patient access.

• UC Davis researchers created a new blood test to quickly detect the active, infectious form of tuberculosis, aiming to accelerate diagnosis and curb spread. • TB killed 1.23 million globally in 2024, with over 10,000 U.S. cases including 2,000 in California; the test targets high-burden areas like India. • Professor Imran H. Khan submitted trial data to India's ICMR for approval and co-founded AppGenex Diagnostics to commercialize it.

• On March 18, 2026, the CDC released a notice finding insufficient evidence to add Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane (Anti-GBM) Glomerulonephritis to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions after receiving a petition from the WTC Health Program Administrator. • The decision highlights ongoing evaluations of conditions potentially linked to 9/11 exposures for covered responders and survivors. • This ruling impacts thousands of WTC Health Program participants seeking coverage for emerging renal diseases.

• On March 24, 2026, Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Hakeem Jeffries held a roundtable condemning Republican policies gutting Medicaid and ACA programs, forcing families to choose between medications and rent. • Pressley highlighted Republicans' $2 billion daily war funding while cutting healthcare for tens of millions and supporting ICE abuses. • 'Republicans’ manufactured healthcare crisis is making people sicker, poorer, and less safe,' Pressley stated.

• CMS issued a final rule on March 23, 2026, standardizing electronic health care claims attachments and electronic signatures to replace fax and mail with digital submissions like notes, images, and reports. • The rule excludes prior authorization attachments and takes effect May 26, 2026, with compliance required by May 26, 2028 for covered entities. • This administrative simplification aims to reduce provider burden and improve efficiency in claims processing across US healthcare systems.

• New national polls from KFF and West Health-Gallup show Americans cutting back on health care, including rationing medications, to afford rising costs affecting daily living and access. • Millions express worry about affording emergency services, routine visits, and prescription drugs, leading to dangerous health trade-offs. • US physicians report higher burnout, stress, and dissatisfaction than international peers, with female doctors at greater risk and shortages projected at 40,000 primary care doctors by 2036.

• Perplexity AI introduced Perplexity Health on March 23, 2026, enabling users to connect provider health information via B.Well alongside data from Apple Health, Fitbit, and Withings. • The dashboard tracks personal health metrics and answers questions based on individual user data using AI-powered search capabilities. • This tool addresses growing demand for accessible health data integration amid criticisms of inaccurate crowdsourced medical advice from platforms like Google.