Bills Banned from Credit Reports

IN THE NEWS:
Winter Viral Infections Rise

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of people going to the doctors with illnesses including the flu, RSV and COVID is surging. Epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina joins PBS Newshour’s John Yang to discuss why this year’s sick season is hitting Americans hard and what to know about other viruses in the headlines.

MONEY:
Unpaid Medical Bills Banned from U.S. Credit Reports

The Biden administration has banned medical debt from credit reports. This sweeping change dismantles a major barrier to economic opportunity, ensuring that illness or medical emergencies no longer jeopardize financial futures.

This new rule, finalized by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, will erase $49 billion in medical debt from the credit histories of over 15 million individuals. Credit scores are expected to rise by an average of 20 points, potentially unlocking 22,000 additional mortgage approvals annually.

Vice President Kamala Harris hailed the rule as "lifechanging" for millions of families, emphasizing that it will ease access to car loans, home loans and small-business financing.

However, the celebration may be short-lived. With President-elect Donald Trump set to take office, Republicans in Congress are demanding a halt to new regulations, potentially setting the stage for a reversal of this transformative policy. Meanwhile, two industry groups have already filed lawsuits against the ban.

PATIENT SAFETY:
Meta’s Policy Shift Endangers Patient Groups

Meta's announced a shift to user-driven moderation and it risks amplifying harmful content in health support groups hosted on Facebook, potentially exposing vulnerable members to dangerous misinformation and reducing the safety of peer support networks on its platforms.

While Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained the shift to ‘Community Notes’ will be more like changes that have already been implemented at X (formerly Twitter), it’s important to note that X is an ‘open posting’ platform whereas Facebook hosts many private health-related groups.

The change could undermine the carefully curated safe spaces that support groups rely on for sharing sensitive health information, as community moderation lacks the nuanced oversight needed to protect participants.

This is in part because shifting the responsibility to regulate content to users assumes that the owners and moderators of health groups uphold best practices, which isn’t always the case on Facebook.

Vulnerable patients are already getting bullied and banned from groups for attempting to correct misinformation or other forms of inappropriate behavior. Now, those patients no longer have the hope that Facebook and Meta will help them get rogue health groups regulated into compliance with Community Standards, and frankly, sometimes even the law.

MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ spoke to NYU’s Stern School of Business Marketing Professor Scott Galloway about how the changes impact ordinary folks.

NUTRITION:
Study: Morning Coffee Drinking Lowers Death Risk

A study published in the European Heart Journal found that people who only drink coffee in the morning have a lower risk of dying from heart problems than those who drink coffee throughout the day. The study analyzed data from more than 40,000 U.S. adults and found that: 

• Morning coffee drinkers: Had a 16% lower risk of death from any cause and a 31% lower risk of death from cardiovascular problems than non-coffee drinkers

• Daylong coffee drinkers: Had no reduced risk of death compared to non-coffee drinkers

Coffee contains caffeine, which stimulates the central nervous system, heart, and muscles. It also contains chlorogenic acid, which may affect blood vessels and how the body handles blood sugar and metabolism. Coffee is also rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that may reduce the risk of serious health conditions. 

Read the full study here.

FATIGUE:
Three Reasons Why You Might Always be Tired

Millions of Americans feel tired all the time according to a national survey that found 13.5% of Americans felt tired almost every day over a three month period. Study results showed that Women ages 18 to 44 had the highest rate of fatigue – just over 20 percent.

Beyond the obvious link to a diagnosed disease or condition, nutritionists believe that not getting enough of three essential nutrients can also cause low energy levels. To determine if a nutrient deficiency is causing fatigue, your doctor can run a blood test to measure levels.

Vitamin B12:
About 20% of Americans have inadequate vitamin B12 levels, which can impair energy production and lead to anemia, resulting in fatigue. Low levels of B12 are notably higher in older people, pregnant and lactating women, people with gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease, those who take certain medications like proton-pump inhibitors, and people with alcohol use disorder.

Vitamin D:
More than 40 percent of adult Americans are deficient in vitamin D. Low levels are linked to fatigue, bone pain, muscle weakness, mood disorders and cognitive decline.

Omega Fatty Acids:
Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for brain health, and a deficiency can lead to higher anxiety and depression levels and impaired cognitive function. Taken together, these deficiencies can add to fatigue.

ChooseMyPlate.gov is a free website by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps people plan nutritious meals. It includes explanations of nutrients and tip sheets for extra insight.

SLEEP:
Study: Sleep Loss Weakens Memory Protection

When we don't get enough sleep, our brain struggles to suppress intrusive thoughts and memories, especially those that are unpleasant or distressing, according to a study published by the University of York.

The researchers found that sleep deprivation interferes with the brain's ability to inhibit memory retrieval. This means that when we're tired, we have a harder time pushing away unwanted thoughts.

Interestingly, the researchers also found that the brain's ability to regain control over these intrusive memories is linked to the amount of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep we get.

Dr. Scott Cairney from the University of York explains; "memories of unpleasant experiences often intrude into our conscious mind in response to reminders, but tend to be fleeting and can be put out of the mind again, but we have previously shown that the brain's ability to suppress such intrusive memories is contingent on obtaining restful sleep."

The researchers concluded that sleep deprivation leads to more intrusive memories by disrupting the brain circuits responsible for memory control. This finding highlights the importance of REM sleep in maintaining our ability to manage unwanted thoughts and memories.

Read the full study here.

MEDICARE:
Eli Lilly’s Zepbound Gets Coverage for Sleep Apnea

Medicare drug plans can now cover Eli Lilly’s obesity drug Zepbound for obstructive sleep apnea. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), up to 39 million adults in the United States have sleep apnea, but only six million are diagnosed. This means that 80% of people with sleep apnea are undiagnosed.

The inclusion opens the door for broader access to Zepbound, which is not currently covered by Medicare and many other insurance plans for weight loss. Demand for the injection has soared over the last year despite its roughly $1,000 per month price tag before insurance.

Last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared Zepbound for patients with obesity and moderate-to-severe forms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which refers to breathing interrupted during sleep due to narrowed or blocked airways.

CNBC investigates how patients on Medicare and Medicaid can get access under the new agreements here.

MEDICINE:
Free Drug Interaction Checker

Over 22% of American adults aged 40-79 use five or more prescription medications and many also take supplements. The risk of interactions is high. Checking drug interactions, including those between supplements and medications, is crucial for patient safety and treatment efficacy.

Drug interactions can lead to serious consequences, such as:

• Altered drug effectiveness

• Unexpected side effects

• Toxicity

• Treatment failure

Patients should always inform healthcare providers about all substances they’re taking to prevent potentially life-threatening interactions. Using tools like Medscape’s free drug interaction checker can also help patients tract any known contradictions. Access the tool here