| | | | | | | Presented By PhRMA | | | | Axios Vitals | | By Tina Reed · Jul 15, 2022 | | Happy Friday, Vitals readers. Today's newsletter is 915 words — a 3.5 minute read. 🚨 Situational awareness: UnitedHealth Group is boosting its full year outlook after posting a $5.1 billion profit in the second quarter, up 19% over the same quarter last year, it said in a release. | | | | | | 1 big thing: 988 national mental health hotline prepares to launch |  A new three-digit national suicide prevention and mental health hotline— 988 — debuts tomorrow, but it's not clear whether the service will be ready for primetime in many parts of the country. Why it matters: America is struggling with a mental health crisis and it'll be easier to call or text for help with a 911-style hotline. - But that's only if someone is on the other end of the line who is equipped to respond appropriately, advocates say.
The big picture: In July 2020, the FCC designated 988 as the new emergency service to connect with either the National Suicide Prevention Hotline or Veterans Crisis Line by July 2022. - More than $430 million in federal funds were allocated to states to scale up and staff crisis centers. But federal officials have doubts about states' readiness, Politico reports.
- "There is still much work to do," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement on Friday. "But what matters is that we're launching. 988 will be live."
- Fewer than half of the public health officials responsible for deploying 988 say they are confident their communities have the necessary staff, financing or equipment to field the anticipated surge of calls, according to a recent Rand report.
What they're saying: "The concept of 988 is fantastic," Courtney Lang, a health justice advocate and Mental Health America board member, told Axios. - Yes, but: "This is supposed to be a crisis line," Lang said. "This is supposed to be a crisis line," Lang said. "If the communities aren't ready, you're going to have people sitting on hold when every second is critical to saving someone's life."
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or 988 starting tomorrow. |     | | | | | | 2. Insulin caps would hike deficit, CBO says |  | | | Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios | | | | A bipartisan Senate plan to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for people with private insurance and Medicare would increase federal spending by $23.3 billion over a decade, according to a new Congressional Budget Office projection, Axios' Adriel Bettelheim writes. Why it matters: The score adds to cost concerns over the politically appealing legislation from Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), which aims to limit out-of-pocket expenses for more than 37 million Americans with diabetes. Details: The bill would leave insurers, including Medicare, covering a greater share of costs, the CBO concluded. What they're saying: The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, which represents PBMs, seized on the score, saying the legislation won't actually lower insulin list prices and would allow drugmakers to "game the system" to maximize their profits. What we're watching: Whether the score influences Senate Republicans. - The bill needs the support of 10 of the chamber's Republicans, who've been critical of drug price caps.
| | | | | | | | 3. Monkeypox spurs call for faster response |  Data: CDC; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals Infectious disease experts raised the alarm yesterday about the U.S.' response to the escalating monkeypox outbreak, saying current efforts lack enough access to vaccines, testing and treatments to keep up with the virus' spread, Axios' Eileen Drage O'Reilly and Erin Davis report. Why it matters: The fear is the virus could become endemic in the U.S. There are 1,470 confirmed monkeypox cases in 42 states and the District of Columbia. What they're saying: "We're worried that this could become a treatment only accessible by patients with privilege or who are very savvy at navigating a very complicated system," NYC Department of Health's Mary Foote said at a news briefing on Thursday, held by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. State of play: Despite HHS sending thousands of Jynneos vaccine doses to some states and local health jurisdictions in the last week, there still isn't enough to go around, Axios' Arielle Dreher writes. - In San Francisco, where there are 80 confirmed monkeypox cases so far, health officials warned that some sites had run out of shots earlier this week. They had yet to learn when they would receive more.
- Chicago health officials have distributed just over 5,400 vaccine doses and are asking that providers vaccinate just those at highest risk for exposure.
| | | | | | | | A message from PhRMA | | What's fueling inflation? | | |  | | | | Not prescription drugs — and the presidential administration's economic data proves it. The proof: Overall inflation surged by 8.6% since May 2021 while prices for medicines grew less than 2%, even before factoring in the discounts insurers receive. Find out more. | | | | | | 4. Republicans eye family planning bill | | Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) is set to introduce legislation that would create a government website providing access to family planning services, along with information for pregnant women, she told Axios' Alayna Treene at an event Thursday. - Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is writing the companion bill in the Senate.
Why it matters: It's the latest response from Republicans to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade protections. - House Republicans are also eyeing the possibility of legislating a nationwide abortion ban should they flip control of the House in the midterms, the Hill reports.
- Texas state officials on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration to challenge its recent guidance telling health providers that they can perform surgical abortions in emergency situations and be protected by federal law against violating statewide bans on the procedure, Axios' Oriana Gonzalez writes.
The other side: Nearly 20 Senate Democrats are urging President Biden to "immediately" declare a public health emergency on abortion following the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, Oriana writes. | | | | | | | | 5. Dog of the week |  | | | Rip. Photo: Ted Okon | | | | Meet Rip, a Portuguese water dog who lives with human Ted Okon, executive director of the Community Oncology Alliance. - For fans of the TV series Yellowstone, yes, the dog is named after that Rip (although, I had to ask and Okon confirms the pup has shown none of the rather unsavory characteristics, and only the good traits of the character on the show.)
- Fun fact: Okon said he once got a tweet back from the actor who plays Rip about the sweet pup.
| | | | | | | | A message from PhRMA | | The real root of inflation | | |  | | | | Some policymakers are blaming the cost of prescription medicines for the rise of inflation to build support for harmful policies. What you need to know: Medication affordability is key, but the fact is that prescription drugs are not fueling inflation. Learn what drives up costs for patients. | | |  | | Why stop here? Let's go Pro. | | | | | | Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here.
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