CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz said the Trump administration is open to all options as Affordable Care Act subsidies are set to expire at year's end. President Donald Trump has proposed direct payments to Americans instead of insurers, while House Democrats are pushing for a three-year extension of the subsidies.

The COVID-19 pandemic period saw significant wage increases for some health care workers, particularly those in lower-earning positions. Aides and assistants experienced the biggest gains with a 13.6% increase. In contrast, registered nurses saw an increase of 3.8% and technicians 1.1%. Advanced practice providers' wages rose 8.3%.

A new H3N2 influenza strain could pose a significant challenge to the US health care system, according to international reports. The strain has caused a surge in cases in the UK, particularly among young adults and children, and has acquired several mutations, making it different from the strain included in this year's vaccine. The CDC has yet to provide updated national data because of recent disruptions, but experts recommend vaccination for protection.

Premature deaths among adults younger than 65 increased 27% from 2012 to 2022, with Black adults experiencing a higher rate than white adults, according to a study in JAMA Health Forum. The research highlights the health outcome impact of societal factors such as lack of health insurance, rising living costs and a weak social safety net, and notes that chronic diseases are a major cause of these premature deaths.

Significant disparities exist in vaccination rates among different income groups, with only 62.3% of low-income children receiving all early childhood vaccines, compared with 77.9% of high-income children. The Commonwealth Fund report highlights logistical barriers, such as transportation and scheduling issues, contributing to these disparities.

The US received a D+ for its 10.4% preterm birth rate for the fourth consecutive year, according to a March of Dimes report. The report highlighted significant disparities, with a 9.5% preterm birth rate for babies born to white mothers, compared with 14.7% for babies born to Black mothers. Data showed improved preterm birth rate percentages in 19 states, while the numbers worsened in 21 states, according to the CDC.

Research from the Keck School of Medicine indicates that social deprivation, including low income and housing instability, is linked to a higher incidence of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes, even when treatment adherence is maintained. The study, published in Eye, analyzed data from 3.7 million patients and found that socially deprived individuals experience more severe progression and complications, such as retinal detachment and macular edema, over a decade.