Public Health

• Trust in key U.S. health agencies, including the NIH and FDA, has plummeted to all-time lows following the COVID-19 pandemic. • Confidence in the CDC's ability to perform its core responsibilities has dropped by nearly 40% since the start of the pandemic. • The public health community warns that the current administration has prioritized political interests over sound policy regarding FDA approvals and NIH research funding.

• Republican lawmakers are considering new legislation to establish term limits or rules regarding prolonged incapacity for congressional leaders following health concerns over Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. • The proposed "Three strokes and you’re out" concept suggests a mechanism to remove leaders who are medically unable to perform their duties. • This movement highlights growing party anxiety over leadership stability and the lack of a formal succession process for incapacitated officials.

• An FDA advisory committee is set to review evidence regarding peptides to determine if they should be approved for legal compounding. • Experts have expressed concern over a lack of sufficient evidence to support the safety and efficacy of compounding these substances. • While FDA-approved peptide drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide have undergone rigorous clinical trials for obesity, compounded versions may lack such validation.

• Recent outbreaks of measles in the US, Cyclosporiasis, and Ebola in Africa are spreading at unprecedented levels, exposing critical vulnerabilities in global public health infrastructure. • The resurgence of measles in the US has reached record levels, primarily driven by vaccine hesitancy and declining vaccination rates that have eroded herd immunity. • These concurrent crises highlight systemic failures in disease surveillance and the fragility of preventative healthcare systems worldwide.

• Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health published a new study on July 20, 2026, regarding formulary-related insurance denials for single-source branded drugs in the U.S. • The report highlights how drug utilization management tools, such as prior authorization, step therapy, and formulary exclusions, are used to reduce overall drug spending. • This is significant because while these measures lower costs for insurers, they may create critical barriers to patient access for essential branded medications.

• The U.S. is facing a record-breaking cyclosporiasis outbreak, with Michigan officials describing it as potentially the largest in the country's history. • The crisis follows a March 2025 decision by the Trump administration to cut $12 billion in public health funding, targeting disease monitoring and laboratory capacity. • Experts warn that these cuts, alongside Medicaid reductions and layoffs, have severely hindered the ability of health officials to track and contain the foodborne parasite.

• A new wave of pharmaceutical approvals is expected to hit local pharmacies in 2026, introducing a series of "breakout drugs." • These medications are designed to lower overall public health costs and provide more accessible treatment options for patients. • The rollout is expected to assist environmental directors in creating cleaner and safer communities by addressing health issues linked to environmental factors.