Axios Vitals: Where's the Tylenol?

Plus, CES showcases sleep tech | Thursday, January 05, 2023

Open in app View in browser   Presented By CVS Health   Axios Vitals By Tina Reed · Jan 05, 2023 Good morning, Vitals readers. Today's newsletter is 934 words or a 3½-minute read. 🥶 1 freezing thing: Looking for a wellness boost? Axios' Mike Allen offered up the benefits of taking a plunge in an ice bath in the latest edition of Finish Line.     1 big thing: Why we (still) can't find children's Tylenol Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios   Respiratory viruses may come and go, but one constant for frustrated parents this season has been the shortage of children's Tylenol and Motrin. Driving the news: How did common pediatric fever and pain remedies become as scarce as Taylor Swift tickets? Unlike last year's baby formula shortage, it's not because of a broken supply chain, but the result of unexpectedly high consumer demand. What they're saying: "What is happening is the earliest and most severe flu season in a decade. Then you add in RSV on top of that, and COVID," said Anita Brikman, a spokeswoman for the Consumer Healthcare Products Association. The trade organization represents major manufacturers including Johnson & Johnson, which makes children's Tylenol and Motrin, as well as Haleon, which makes Advil, and Perrigo, which manufactures store brands. "The demand is just unprecedented for this time of year," Brikman told Axios, adding sales were up 65% in November over the same month in 2021. December sales numbers are not yet available. State of play: The FDA's most recent drug shortages list doesn't include children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen. But that's little consolation to some parents who've been riding the waves of respiratory illness that have been sweeping the country since early fall. Faced with empty store shelves, some have rushed kids to hospital emergency departments. Others skipped work to stay at home, try other fever-breakers like sponge baths or hit up neighbors willing to share their stash. Some pharmacies that haven't run out of stock are rationing supplies. The big picture: These children's medications are intermittently out of stock, Brikman said. "We've been in constant contact with these companies and they are running manufacturing 24-7," Brikman said. Production levels of these products is 35% to 50% higher this year than at the same time last year. "Every order is not met to full capacity, but is being distributed equitably, including to children's hospitals," she said. What to watch: RSV has been on the decline since November, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows. Similarly, the last few CDC reports about the flu show the outbreak has peaked in most areas. Yes, but: COVID is on the rise again, with a new variant making up at least 40% of new cases. And there are other illnesses beyond the big three spreading among kids. Share this story.     2. Using Medicaid to address unmet social needs Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios   The Biden administration on Wednesday gave states more leeway to cover services addressing health-related social needs under their Medicaid programs, Axios' Adriel Bettelheim writes. Why it matters: Addressing "social determinants" like housing, transportation and food security could reduce hospital admissions and overall health spending. But researchers have questioned whether the cost of such interventions may eclipse the potential savings. Driving the news: The Department of Health and Human Services issued guidance letting states use Medicaid managed care to offer alternative benefits addressing unmet needs, and outlined requirements for showing the efforts are cost-effective. Services could include special meals for people with chronic health conditions made worse by poor diet, or for those without access to nutritious food choices, per CMS. Zoom out: Some states already use alternative benefits under Medicaid to increase access to inpatient mental health and substance use disorder services. The new flexibilities would encourage medically appropriate substitutes for state-covered services and would augment the Biden administration's ongoing efforts aimed at reducing hunger and diet-related diseases by 2030. Background: North Carolina's approach to Medicaid has been held up as an example of how to address social determinants of health, Politico previously reported. The state launched an online social service referral program in some counties to help social workers and health care case workers get people help, per the report.     😴 3. CES kicks off with sleep tech William (Joo Wan) Cho, CEO of LG Electronics, speaks in Las Vegas on Thursday. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP   The 2023 International Consumer Electronic Show kicks off in Las Vegas today with health-related tech gadgets ranging from earbuds that read your brainwaves to a toilet attachment that screens urine and even a fitness tracker for your dog. Why it matters: Much of the tech that debuts at CES may never actually make it to market — and many so-called health products may make dubious claims — but the gathering offers a glimpse of what companies are prioritizing for the consumer market. Zoom in: Among the wellness themes this year? Sleep tech. LG Electronics announced new earbuds that claim to improve users' sleep patterns using brain wave-sensing technology. Earable Neuroscience's FRENZ Brainband. Photo by Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images Another company, Earable Neuroscience, is showcasing the FRENZ Brainband, which it says tracks EEG brain waves and uses proprietary algorithms to send audio stimulation for better sleep, focus and relaxation. Yukai Engineering rolled out a humanoid robot named Lightony that nods off and claims to help users do the same. The company is also showcasing its Fufuly pulsating cushion, a pillow that imitates deep and slow breathing to relieve anxiety. Follow Axios' coverage: What's happened so far at CES 2023     A message from CVS Health Healthier happens together     No matter who you are, where you are or what you need to take care of your health, CVS Health is there for you. What you need to know: CVS Health connects you to high-quality, convenient and affordable care — whether it's in your community, on your phone or in your home. Learn more.     4. Quote du jour: Suit filed against CommonSpirit "Plaintiff and Class Members are now at a significantly increased and certainly impending risk of fraud, identity theft, misappropriation of health insurance benefits, intrusion of their health privacy, and similar forms of criminal mischief, risk which may last for the rest of their lives." — A class action lawsuit filed against CommonSpirit Health system over a ransomware attack that compromised data of more than 600,000 patients.     5. Catch up quick 👉 Walgreens and CVS plan to start offering abortion pills, the pharmacy chains confirmed. The Postal Service was also given the OK to deliver the pills. (Axios) (The Hill) 👀 As the FDA considers new Alzheimer's drug, a case study details safety concerns. (STAT) 📈 The spinoff GE HealthCare's shares started climbing in its first day of trading Wednesday. (Barrons) 🐝 The USDA has approved the world's first vaccine for honeybees. (Axios)     A message from CVS Health From the simplest of health needs to more complex care     Whether your health needs are simple or more complex, CVS Health is here to connect you to high-quality, convenient and affordable care. In your community, on your phone or in your home, CVS Health delivers care however you need it. Learn more about how we're making healthier happen together.   Did someone forward this email to you? Here's how to sign up. Thanks for reading, and thanks to senior editor Adriel Bettelheim and senior copy editor Bryan McBournie for the edits. Your personal policy analyst is here. Track health care policy formation at every step of the process with Axios Pro. Talk to our sales team today.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. 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