Axios Vitals: Where COVID was deadlier

Plus, FDA rejects Lilly lung cancer drug | Friday, March 25, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Blue Cross Blue Shield Association   Axios Vitals By Tina Reed ·Mar 25, 2022 😎 Happy Friday, Vitals readers. Today's newsletter is 885 words or a 3-minute read. ⏱ Countdown: 11 days until Axios' inaugural What's Next Summit! Register here!     1 big thing: The pandemic is deadlier in red states Data: Axios analysis of CDC data; Chart: Will Chase/Axios COVID is killing more people in red states than in blue states, a reflection of GOP resistance to vaccines and varying state pandemic policies, Axios' Caitlin Owens and Will Chase report. Why it matters: "The COVID-19 pandemic removed any doubt that state policies can affect health outcomes," Virginia Commonwealth University professor Steven Woolf recently argued in JAMA. Between the lines: The partisan gap, measured by deaths above what would normally be expected, was particularly stark during last year's Delta wave, when all adults had access to vaccines but stark differences emerged between Democrats and Republicans' vaccination rates. The gap shrank during the Omicron wave, as the variant evaded some of the vaccines' protection. In the pre-vaccine phase of the pandemic, blue states — particularly big cities — were hit hardest beginning in March 2020. But once those initial outbreaks subsided, the virus took off in red states and less populated areas. The big picture: The virus has proved itself to be exhaustingly unpredictable in many ways over the last two years. But there's no doubt that tools like high-quality masks and vaccines reduce the risk of catching the virus, and in the case of vaccines, of dying from it. That means it's not surprising that once those tools were widely available, states with political and cultural aversions to using them were hit harder. The bottom line: America's political divisions are now on display in mortality rates, but that's unlikely to be a wakeup call for anyone. Go deeper: Partisanship undermines a playbook for the next pandemic     2. Scoop: Optum buys Refresh Mental Health Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   UnitedHealth Group's Optum unit quietly bought Jacksonville Beach, Florida-based Refresh Mental Health from private equity firm Kelso & Co., sources told Axios' Sarah Pringle. The big picture: This comes at a time when there's a growing recognition around the link between mental health and physical health, and payors and providers are increasingly factoring in the many co-morbidities associated with poor behavioral health conditions. Refresh, founded in 2017, operates a network of more than 300 outpatient mental health, substance abuse and eating disorder centers spanning 37 states. The bottom line: The pandemic heightened demand for behavioral health services, as unemployment, death and illness brought long-term distress to many. It will also likely continue to grow in large part because the segment has also proven among the most applicable areas of telehealth.     3. Study: Big gaps in mental health care Nearly one in four adults in the U.S. reported signs of anxiety or depression with millions going without counseling or medication — and that was before the pandemic, Axios' Adriel Bettelheim writes from a new Kaiser Family Foundation study. By the numbers: Leading up to the pandemic, 8.5 million adults reported moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety and or depression but didn't get treated in the previous year, per KFF. 54.9 million adults reported at least mild symptoms, with 9.5 million having severe symptoms. Top reasons for not receiving treatment included skipping therapy due to the cost or not knowing where to get help. Details: The percentage of people on Medicaid reporting moderate to severe symptoms was more than three times higher than the percentage on employer-sponsored health coverage. A much larger share of Black adults (53%) with moderate-to-severe symptoms of anxiety and or depression did not receive treatment in the previous year, compared to white adults (36%). The lack of a diverse mental health care workforce, stereotyping and not enough information about treatment options all contributed to the gap, the researchers wrote.     A message from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Making insulin affordable for all     Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are partnering to develop insulin for $30 per vial — reducing the cost of the medication by up to 90%. Why it's important: 1 in 4 diabetics ration their insulin due to cost. Lowering the price will help advance affordable care and protect patient health. Learn more.     4. FDA rejects Lilly cancer drug Photo illustration: Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images   The FDA rejected a lung cancer immunotherapy drug from Eli Lilly just a month after a key advisory panel raised concerns its clinical trials being conducted solely in China. The agency recommended Lilly and its partner Innovent Biologics conduct an additional global study. Why it matters: A number of companies with immunotherapy drugs created in China have been "lining up at the FDA's door," Fierce Pharma writes. It's a signal that more clinical trial diversity will be required to get U.S. approval. Lilly and Innovent are "assessing next steps for the sintilimab program in the U.S.," the partners told FiercePharma in a statement. Zoom in: In a research note, Morgan Stanley analysts said they don't expect Lilly to continue developing the drug for the U.S. due to the cost and the time it would take to conduct the additional study, the Wall Street Journal wrote.     5. Catch up quick Congress opens an investigation into the FDA's handling of a problematic heart device. (ProPublica) Senators ask the GAO to examine Medicaid's low COVID vaccination rates. (KHN) Moderna wants to give FDA "flexibility" in deciding eligibility for fourth COVID shot, CEO says. (CNBC) From Katrina to COVID: The disasters that proved the U.S. needed more emergency health care workers. (USA Today, subscription)     6. Dog of the week Gobi. Photo: Amanda Loughran   Meet Gobi. He's a 1.5-year-old Havanese living in Alexandria, Virginia, who was adopted by Amanda Loughran and her husband, Andrew, during the COVID lockdown. "I do communications and public affairs for a COVID-19 vaccine so this little guy has sat next to me through countless hours of meetings with FDA and CDC and is up-to-date on all things boosters!" Loughran wrote. "He probably knows more about COVID-19 vaccines than most Americans!" 🧐 Is there such as job as a vaccine spokespuppy? 🐶 Don't miss Axios Science's latest edition taking on the debate about whether animals have emotions. I can verify my Boxer has very strong positive feelings about dinner time.     A message from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Taking action to curb rising drug costs     Millions of people can't afford their prescriptions, and prices continue to rise. What you need to know: Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies nationwide are taking action through partnerships and policies to lower the cost of drugs. Learn more.   Like this email style and format? It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 200 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: