Youth Mental Health
- In this survey study, primary care physicians preferred identifying adolescent depression accurately and shortening well-child examination time. Health systems and payers should consider these preferences for accuracy and efficiency by physicians, who are strongly positioned to identify adolescent depression early and to implement screenings. Further research is needed to better understand family and administrative staff preferences regarding pediatric integrated behavioral health care. Read more here.
- Smartphone ownership was associated with depression, obesity, and insufficient sleep in early adolescence. Findings provide critical and timely insights that should inform caregivers regarding adolescent smartphone use and, ideally, the development of public policy that protects youth. Read more here.
The Opioid Crisis
- The opioid epidemic is still primarily a problem among younger people. As it has worn on, a change has been happening that’s largely gone unnoticed. The Maine Monitor analyzed Medicare claims data to show for the first time that the number of Medicare patients in Maine, ages 65 and older, who received buprenorphine treatment for their addiction to opioids increased about 70% between 2019 and 2023. Read more here.
- Evan Ashkin, a family physician and director of the North Carolina Formerly Incarcerated Transition Program, has long been concerned about people who are returning to the community from prison — especially people with substance use disorders. Nearly 80% of people entering North Carolina state prisons need treatment for substance use disorder, according to the N.C. Department of Adult Correction, and that’s a higher proportion than in the population as a whole. Read more here.
Research
- In this cohort study of over 100 million Brazilians, household suicide exposure was associated with a 32% higher risk of all-cause mortality and a 4-fold higher risk of suicide, with over half of suicides occurring within two years following the index case. Risks were greatest when the index cases were young or female and among those in poor housing conditions. Read more here.
- What are the expected rates of uptake, attrition, and adherence in randomized clinical trials of mental health apps for depression and anxiety? This systematic review and meta-analysis of 79 randomized trials found high rates of app uptake (94%) and moderate adherence (62%) among participants with depression or anxiety. Posttest attrition averaged 17%, and follow-up attrition was 27%. These findings highlight the need to optimize app design and trial protocols to improve engagement and reduce attrition in digital interventions for depression and anxiety. Read more here.
Health Insurance Subsidies
- Congress returns to session and kicks off a December sprint to address expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies and prevent health insurance premium hikes for millions of Americans. Members of both parties acknowledge success hangs on one question: Will President Donald Trump ever figure out what he wants? Read more here.
- A federal watchdog dropped what a top House Republican called “a bombshell,” revealing how easy it is for fraudsters to extract Obamacare payments by setting up health insurance accounts for people who do not exist. The Government Accountability Office, the nonpartisan investigative arm of Congress, said it had set up 24 fake accounts during the 2024 and 2025 plan years and that 22 had slipped through. The fake accounts in 2025 cost the government more than $10,000 per month in subsidies. Read more here.
- At a hearing on health care affordability, senators left the door open for a bipartisan agreement that would extend expiring Affordable Care Act enhanced subsidies before year’s end, a day after many of their colleagues had essentially slammed it shut. The tone at the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee was set by Chairman Bill Cassidy, R-La., who acknowledged that a large overhaul this late would be impossible, even as he wants to end enhanced credits in favor of funding health savings accounts that individuals could use to cover medical expenses like copays. Read more here.
- Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) announced that Democrats will force Republican senators to vote on a three-year extension of enhanced health insurance premium subsidies that are due to expire in January. Read more here.
- A majority of Americans want Congress to extend subsidies on ObamaCare set to expire at the end of the year, according to a survey from the health nonprofit KFF released. Read more here.
Health Care Expenses
- Charities that help people cover their medical bills say they’re seeing an alarming increase in requests for help. Worse yet, they say, it’s coming even before cuts to Medicaid in President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act take effect and the potential expiration of Obamacare subsidies at year’s end. The charities are warning of exploding medical debt and lower survival rates for diseases like cancer if Congress doesn’t act. Read more here.
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