Healthcare News Roundup

The FDA issued a "not approvable" letter to enVVeno regarding its VenoValve implant for severe deep chronic venous insufficiency, signaling regulatory hurdles for the investigational device. Meanwhile, a federal jury awarded $20 million to a Black nurse who was fired after reporting racial discrimination at HCA HealthONE Aurora.
Public health officials are facing challenges planning programs due to uncertainty over CDC funding, while a case of plague in South Lake Tahoe, California, highlights the risks of outdoor activities. The FDA also warned about norovirus-contaminated oysters from Korea, adding to food safety concerns.
A retrospective analysis of the 1990-1991 measles outbreak underscores the potential for disease resurgence, while CVS Health's decision to exclude the HIV prevention drug lenacapavir from its coverage plans raises concerns about access to critical treatments.
The Justice Department issued unprecedented subpoenas targeting medical care for transgender minors, seeking sensitive records and communications. Additionally, gender-affirming care coverage is nearly eliminated from the Federal Employee Health Benefits program for 2026.
New York City and two construction firms were sued over a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Harlem, while the New England Journal of Medicine published a guide for integrating AI tools into medical education. Tick surveillance efforts in Montana are helping doctors identify tick-borne illnesses, and researchers are exploring why young adults in the U.S. are dying at disproportionately higher rates than peers in other wealthy nations.
Rocket Pharmaceuticals announced the FDA lifted its clinical hold on a gene therapy for Danon disease, allowing trials to resume. However, patients seeking spine surgery for degenerative disc disease may face insurer pushback, while Providence Seaside Hospital in Oregon plans to end obstetrics and inpatient newborn care due to rising costs and declining births.
In a separate development, Stephen Parnis, an emergency physician and former board chair of the Medical Insurance Group of Australia, resigned amid backlash over social media posts related to the Gaza war.

Published: 8/21/2025