## Annual NHS Health Checks Recommended for Women Living with PMOS

A leading UK health watchdog is urging the NHS to introduce yearly health reviews for women diagnosed with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), warning that the condition continues to be under-diagnosed and poorly managed despite affecting a significant portion of the female population.

## What Is PMOS and Who Does It Affect?

PMOS, formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), was renamed in May to more accurately reflect the wide-ranging effects it has on the body beyond the ovaries alone. The condition affects approximately one in eight women, equating to between three and four million people across the United Kingdom.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the body responsible for evaluating NHS treatments, has published draft guidance calling for faster diagnosis, more consistent care, and structured annual monitoring for all women living with the condition.

PMOS is a leading cause of female infertility and presents with a range of symptoms including:

- Irregular or absent periods
- Excessive hair growth on the face and body
- Unexplained weight gain
- Hormonal imbalances

## What the New NICE Guidance Recommends

The draft guidelines go beyond simply addressing visible symptoms. NICE is recommending that annual health reviews also assess longer-term risks associated with PMOS, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Experts believe that timely lifestyle interventions and targeted treatment could help prevent these more serious complications from developing.

While there is currently no cure for PMOS, the NHS already provides a range of treatment options to manage its symptoms, including hormone therapies and fertility medications. However, the new guidance makes clear that laser and light-based hair removal therapies should not be offered on the NHS due to their cost implications.

NICE also stresses that PMOS should not be automatically ruled out in women who have gone through the menopause, broadening the scope of who should be assessed for the condition.

### Diagnosis and Assessment

When PMOS is suspected, clinicians are advised to use blood tests to measure hormone levels alongside ultrasound imaging to identify the characteristic multiple follicles commonly observed on the ovaries of those affected. The updated guideline sets out clear criteria for when to suspect PMOS, how to carry out a thorough assessment, and how to confirm a diagnosis.

## Ethnicity and Mental Health Considerations

NICE highlights that PMOS appears to be more prevalent among women of Black, Asian, and mixed ethnic backgrounds, and advises healthcare professionals to factor this in when evaluating symptoms.

The emotional toll of living with PMOS is also given significant weight in the new guidelines. Depression and anxiety are described as common among those with the condition, and mental health support is flagged as an essential component of comprehensive care. For women planning a pregnancy, personalised guidance on nutrition, weight management, exercise, sleep, and mental wellbeing is strongly recommended.

## Women Share Their Experiences

Kelis Bailey, a 21-year-old who began experiencing symptoms as a teenager, described a frustrating journey to diagnosis that lasted over a year. She recalls repeatedly visiting her GP before finally receiving answers.

"When it was at its worst, my mental health was also at its worst," she said. "When I went to the doctor one time, she had never heard of it, which I was quite shocked at."

Kelis welcomed the proposal for annual health checks, describing it as a "really good idea" that would offer reassurance to women navigating the condition. She also emphasised the need for wider awareness of PMOS and its long-term health implications among both patients and medical professionals.

Her experience is far from unique. Many women report significant delays in receiving a diagnosis and a lack of clear information about the potential causes of their symptoms.

## Expert Response and Next Steps

Marie Anne Ledingham, Consultant Clinical Advisor for Women's and Reproductive Health at NICE, described the recommendation for routine annual reviews as an "important step" in improving outcomes for those affected.

"This new guideline will help improve consistency of care, increase awareness of the condition, and support earlier diagnosis and management," she said.

The draft guidance is open for public and professional consultation from 1 July to 11 August 2026. Healthcare professionals, patients, and members of the public are all encouraged to submit feedback. The final version of the guideline is expected to be published in December 2026.

NICE recommends yearly NHS health checks for women with PMOS, addressing under-diagnosis and long-term risks like diabetes and heart disease.

Annual NHS Checks Urged for Women with PMOS

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Annual NHS Health Checks Recommended for Women Living with PMOS

## Danny Glover Shares Alzheimer's Diagnosis With the World

Iconic Hollywood actor Danny Glover, best known for his role in the beloved *Lethal Weapon* franchise, has publicly disclosed that he has been living with Alzheimer's disease for several years. The 79-year-old made the announcement during an appearance on *The Today Show*, offering a candid and courageous look into his personal health journey.

### A Diagnosis That Followed a Career Milestone

Glover revealed that he received his diagnosis shortly after being honored with an honorary Oscar in 2022. Despite the gravity of his condition, he has approached it with remarkable composure. "I could live with it, in a sense. I'm sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing," he shared during the interview. He acknowledged that his memory, speech, and physical movements have gradually slowed, but emphasized that the unwavering support of his family has been his greatest source of strength.

His daughter, Mandisa, joined him during the interview and stressed how vital it was for her father to share his story on his own terms. "What better time but now for him to speak for himself? It's important because people ask questions sometimes, and I don't want to be a dishonest person and say everything is all right," she said.

### Staying Hopeful in the Face of Adversity

In a separate conversation with *People* magazine, Glover opened up further about navigating life with the condition. He admitted he is "still not accepting in my mind all parts of it," yet finds comfort in cherished memories and meaningful relationships. His words carried a powerful message of perseverance: "I don't feel like it's the end of my life. There's work to do. I still have my daughter, I have friends. I want to just say, your life continues."

## A Career Spanning Nearly Four Decades

Glover's remarkable career stretches back nearly 40 years, encompassing more than 170 film and television credits. He made his film debut in *Escape From Alcatraz* in 1979 before achieving widespread fame throughout the 1980s as the lovable Roger Murtaugh opposite Mel Gibson in the *Lethal Weapon* series. He went on to deliver memorable performances in acclaimed films including *The Color Purple*, *Places in the Heart*, and *Predator 2*. His extraordinary body of work has earned him five Emmy Awards and four Grammy Awards.

### A Legacy of Humanitarian Service

Beyond his entertainment achievements, Glover has dedicated significant energy to global humanitarian causes. He served as a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador from 1998 to 2004, championing efforts to combat poverty, disease, and the HIV/AIDS crisis across Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. He was subsequently appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2004, further cementing his legacy as both a cultural icon and a compassionate advocate for human dignity.

Danny Glover, the iconic Lethal Weapon star, has confirmed his Alzheimer's diagnosis, sharing an inspiring message of hope, resilience, and family support.

Danny Glover Reveals Alzheimer's Diagnosis at Age 79

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Danny Glover Opens Up About Living With Alzheimer's Disease

## England's Resident Doctors End Industrial Action Following Pay Agreement

After three years of bitter dispute and multiple rounds of industrial action, resident doctors in England have formally accepted a new pay deal offered by the government, bringing an end to one of the most prolonged periods of NHS strike action in recent memory.

## What the Deal Includes

The agreed package covers several key areas that doctors had long pushed for, including improved pay, faster career progression, and financial relief on out-of-pocket professional costs.

### Pay Increases

Under the terms of the settlement, resident doctors will receive a **3.5% pay rise** this year, in line with recommendations from an independent review body. Pay will be backdated to 1 April 2026, amounting to an average increase of **4.9%** across the broader package. By April 2027, that figure is expected to rise to an average of **6.6%**, with further increases to follow thereafter.

As a result of the deal, starting salaries will exceed **£40,000**, while the most experienced resident doctors will receive basic pay of up to **£76,500**. Additional earnings for unsociable hours and overtime can push annual income significantly higher.

### Training and Professional Benefits

Beyond pay, the government has committed to creating **4,500 additional training places** for newly qualified doctors. Professional exam fees, which have long been a source of financial strain for doctors in training, will also be covered going forward.

## How the Vote Unfolded

The deal was put to a referendum of eligible British Medical Association (BMA) members, with **53% voting in favour**. Turnout stood at 57%, with a total of 32,932 doctors casting their votes.

## Reactions From Both Sides

**Dr Jack Fletcher**, Chair of the BMA's Resident Doctors Committee, expressed relief at the outcome while making clear his frustration at how long it had taken to reach this point.

*"These strikes did not need to happen,"* he said. *"We spent far too long at loggerheads with the government when a solution in everyone's interest was waiting for us — more jobs for doctors, better pay for doctors, and a better-staffed NHS secured for patients well into the future."*

**Health and Social Care Secretary James Murray** welcomed the resolution, stating that drawing a line under the disruption was a positive outcome for resident doctors, patients, and the NHS as a whole.

## The Impact on Patients

The years of industrial action took a considerable toll on patient care across England, with **hundreds of thousands of appointments cancelled** as a direct result of strike activity. The end of the dispute is expected to allow the NHS to focus on rebuilding capacity and reducing waiting lists.

## The Wider Picture Across the UK

The situation varies across the devolved nations:

- **Wales:** Resident doctors are currently working through pay and training disputes without resorting to strike action.
- **Scotland:** Doctors have already accepted the Scottish Government's pay offer.
- **Northern Ireland:** A **24-hour strike** commenced at 07:00 BST on 29 June, with industrial action still ongoing.

## Who Are Resident Doctors?

Formerly referred to as junior doctors, the title **resident doctor** was officially adopted in September 2024 to better reflect the level of skill and expertise these professionals bring to their roles.

Resident doctors are fully qualified medical graduates who have completed at least two years of post-foundation training. They represent nearly **half of all doctors working in England**, serving across a wide range of settings including A&E departments and GP surgeries. Many go on to specialise in specific areas of medicine or surgery as their careers progress.

Resident doctors in England have ended their three-year strike after accepting a pay deal offering rises of up to 6.6% and 4,500 new training places.

England Resident Doctors Accept Pay Deal, Ending Strikes

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England's Resident Doctors Call Off Strikes After Accepting Landmark Pay Deal

## FDA Researchers and RFK Jr. Are Pulling in Opposite Directions on Peptides

A growing tension is emerging within the Department of Health and Human Services: while Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. champions broader access to peptide therapies, the very scientists who work beneath him are urging caution — and for good reason.

The Food and Drug Administration published a set of documents this week laying out serious reservations about multiple peptide compounds currently under regulatory review. An FDA advisory panel is scheduled to evaluate these substances in a two-day session on July 23 and 24, with further deliberations planned for February.

## What Are Peptides and Why Are They Trending?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids — essentially smaller relatives of proteins — that the human body naturally produces. Some of the most commercially successful drugs in recent history, including GLP-1 receptor agonists used for weight loss, fall into this category of synthetic peptides.

However, the peptide products generating buzz in wellness communities are a different story. Promoted heavily by social media influencers and some clinicians, these compounds — including **BPC-157**, **TB-500**, and **MOTs-C** — are marketed for everything from injury recovery and muscle repair to metabolism enhancement and longevity. Most are administered through subcutaneous injections.

Unlike FDA-approved medications, these peptide therapies have never been subjected to large-scale, rigorous human clinical trials.

## FDA Scientists Flag Evidence Gaps and Safety Concerns

The internal review documents released by the FDA highlight a consistent lack of reliable data supporting the safety or effectiveness of these compounds. Scientists noted an absence of high-quality evidence and raised concerns about potential health risks.

The Biden administration moved to restrict these peptides back in 2023, placing them in a regulatory category that effectively barred compounding pharmacies from producing them. Since that decision, many users have turned to an unregulated gray market, frequently purchasing products from questionable overseas suppliers — a situation that compounds the safety risks.

## RFK Jr.'s Personal Endorsement Fuels the Debate

Secretary Kennedy has been openly vocal about his enthusiasm for peptides, acknowledging personal use of some of these compounds. He has publicly advocated for the FDA — an agency that falls under HHS oversight — to restore compounding pharmacies' ability to formulate and dispense these therapies.

The advisory panel assembled to weigh the evidence has drawn scrutiny of its own. Several members have disclosed professional ties to the peptide industry, including affiliations with companies that manufacture and sell injectable peptide products. Critics question whether such connections could influence the panel's ultimate recommendations.

## Medical Experts Urge Patience Over Hype

For clinicians on the front lines, the disconnect between patient enthusiasm and scientific reality is a daily challenge.

> *"Not a day goes by where I don't have a number of patients asking me about peptides. My stock answer is that we just don't have enough data to support their use."*
> — **Dr. Alexander Weber**, Orthopedic Surgeon and Chief of Sports Medicine, University of Southern California

Dr. Weber, who has conducted his own review of the available research, represents a broader consensus among medical professionals: the evidence base simply isn't there yet.

The FDA panel will examine proposed uses of these seven peptides for specific medical conditions, including ulcerative colitis, wound healing, obesity, and migraines. How the panel will reconcile their findings with the FDA scientists' stark conclusions remains to be seen — and the outcome could have significant implications for how these increasingly popular compounds are regulated going forward.

FDA researchers raise safety and efficacy concerns over trendy peptide therapies, even as RFK Jr. pushes to ease restrictions on their use.

FDA Scientists Warn Against Peptides RFK Jr. Supports

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FDA Scientists Raise Red Flags Over Trendy Peptide Therapies Backed by RFK Jr.

## American Scientists Are Looking Across the Atlantic

For generations, the United States stood as the undisputed global leader in scientific research and academic excellence. Its universities attracted brilliant minds from every corner of the world, and its federal funding pipelines kept laboratories humming with groundbreaking work. Today, that reputation is facing a serious challenge — and some of America's most accomplished researchers are voting with their feet.

Since President Trump began his second term, a notable exodus of U.S.-based scientists has been quietly gaining momentum. Researchers who once considered their positions untouchable are now packing their labs and heading overseas, with the United Kingdom emerging as one of the most attractive destinations.

## The Numbers Tell a Stark Story

This isn't simply a matter of a few disgruntled academics seeking greener pastures. The scale of the movement is significant and well-documented.

A comprehensive analysis published by the journal *Nature* revealed that during the first quarter of 2025, U.S. scientists submitted nearly 33% more international job applications compared to the same period in 2024. A separate survey of more than 1,600 American scientists conducted in March 2025 found that a staggering 75% were actively considering leaving the country.

Those considering departure are now becoming those who have departed.

## What's Driving Scientists Out of the U.S.?

The trigger for this shift traces back to sweeping changes in how the federal government funds and oversees scientific research.

Shortly after the Trump administration took office in 2025, research grants began experiencing significant delays or were terminated outright. Universities conducting studies related to race and gender came under intense scrutiny. Major federal funding institutions — including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) — underwent substantial restructuring designed to align their priorities more closely with White House objectives.

The administration has defended these measures, framing them as necessary steps to restore scientific integrity, reduce bureaucratic inefficiency, and eliminate wasteful spending.

However, many researchers interpret these changes very differently.

### A Cognitive Scientist Speaks Out

Megan Peters, a cognitive scientist at the University of California, Irvine, describes the shift in atmosphere as immediate and unmistakable.

"It became very apparent, very quickly, that the new administration did not value higher education," Peters says, adding that the same dismissive attitude extended to university-based scientific research.

Already weighing her career options, Peters began exploring opportunities beyond U.S. borders. This summer, she will relocate to University College London (UCL), where she will continue her research into how the human brain processes uncertainty. The move comes with a financial trade-off — Peters will accept a pay cut — but she views the professional and scientific environment at UCL as well worth it.

"London was a big draw in general, and University College London in particular was a huge draw scientifically and professionally," she says.

An added practical consideration: her partner, an aerospace engineer, was also able to secure employment in London.

Peters won't be arriving alone. UCL professor Steve Fleming, who played a key role in recruiting her to the Department of Experimental Psychology, confirmed that two additional high-profile American researchers — both of whom left tenured positions — will join the institution around the same time.

## Veteran Researchers Leave Three Decades Behind

Perhaps even more striking is the departure of neuroscientists Tamara Swaab and Ron Mangun — a married couple who spent more than 30 years building their careers at the University of California, Davis.

Swaab, whose research focuses on the neuroscience of language, and Mangun, who studies the neural mechanisms of attention, have accepted positions at the University of Birmingham. Their move represents a significant loss for American academia.

Swaab, who earned her PhD in the Netherlands, originally came to the United States precisely because it offered more opportunities — particularly for women in science.

"What I always loved about science in the United States was how open it was and how people saw opportunities and would work for them," she recalls. "There was this optimism."

Today, she observes that optimism has migrated. It now lives more prominently in British and European scientific communities than in American ones.

Mangun's transition was also supported by a grant from the U.K.'s Global Talent Fund, a £55 million (approximately $70 million) initiative specifically created to attract world-class researchers from other countries.

## The U.K. Is Actively Recruiting American Talent

Britain's ability to attract these researchers isn't accidental — it reflects a deliberate and well-resourced strategy.

The U.K.'s Royal Society and the European Research Council have both introduced grant programs explicitly designed to bring scientists from the United States and other nations into their research ecosystems. Immigration pathways have also been streamlined, making it easier for scientists to obtain the work visas they need to relocate quickly.

For American researchers suddenly facing an uncertain funding environment at home, these offers are proving hard to refuse.

## What This Means for American Science

The long-term implications of this brain drain remain to be seen, but the early signals are concerning for the future of U.S. scientific leadership. When experienced, tenured researchers — the kind who anchor departments, mentor graduate students, and attract institutional funding — begin leaving in measurable numbers, the ripple effects extend far beyond the individuals themselves.

As more nations invest aggressively in recruiting international talent and the U.S. continues to restructure its approach to research funding, America's historic advantage in global science may be quietly eroding — one departing researcher at a time.

Prominent American researchers are leaving for U.K. universities amid federal funding cuts. Learn why top scientists like Megan Peters are making the move abroa

U.S. Scientists Are Relocating to U.K. Universities in 2025

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Brain Drain: Why Top U.S. Scientists Are Choosing British Universities Over American Labs

## One Death Per Week: England's Hidden Tuberculosis Crisis

A sobering new study has revealed that at least one person every week in England dies from tuberculosis that was never detected while they were alive — meaning they received no treatment and had no chance of survival from a disease that is both preventable and curable.

Researchers behind the findings say the pattern of these posthumous diagnoses is raising serious questions about gaps in clinical awareness, particularly among healthcare professionals who may not be considering TB as a possibility in certain patient groups.

## Older, British-Born Men Are Slipping Through the Cracks

The study, published in the medical journal *Thorax*, uncovered a striking demographic pattern. While the majority of tuberculosis cases in England are typically identified in people born outside the UK — with an average age of around 36 — those receiving a diagnosis only after death tended to be older and British-born.

This contrast suggests that medical professionals may be unconsciously filtering out the possibility of TB in patients who don't match the conventional risk profile. The research also found that men living outside London and those with a history of drug or alcohol misuse faced a higher likelihood of going undiagnosed before death.

Younger children under the age of four were also flagged as a vulnerable group. Researchers attributed this to factors including underdeveloped immune systems, vague and non-specific symptoms, and the practical difficulties involved in collecting suitable test samples from very young patients.

## A 'Never Event' That Demands Urgent Action

Dr. Eleanor Morgan, co-author of the study and a resident physician at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, emphasized the need for a broader mindset shift in clinical settings.

"As TB rates continue to rise, we need to keep asking: 'Could this be TB?' — even in people who do not fit the usual risk profiles," she said. "If England is to eliminate TB, reducing delays in diagnosis will be essential so that fewer people miss the opportunity to receive effective treatment."

The research team described a postmortem TB diagnosis as the "ultimate diagnostic delay" and called for it to be treated as a "never event" — a classification used in the NHS for serious, preventable incidents that demand immediate investigation and systemic review.

Dr. Tom Wingfield of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the paper's senior author, drew a parallel with how the NHS handles deaths linked to drug-resistant bacteria such as MRSA. He argued that TB fatalities should trigger the same level of root cause analysis to identify where care fell short and prevent similar deaths from occurring in the future.

"TB deaths should trigger learning, not blame, so that services can identify where opportunities were missed and prevent the next avoidable death," Wingfield said.

## England's TB Rates Are at a Decade High

The study arrives at a particularly concerning moment. Tuberculosis rates across England have climbed to their highest level in ten years, reaching 9.4 cases per 100,000 people in 2024. That figure sits just beneath the World Health Organization's benchmark of 10 cases per 100,000, a threshold that experts warn is likely to be surpassed once 2025 data becomes available.

Delayed diagnoses carry consequences that extend well beyond the individual patient. Late detection leads to worse health outcomes, greater social and economic burden, and extended windows during which the disease can be transmitted to others in the community.

Dr. Paul Cleary, a consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency and a co-author of the study, noted that whether a patient died directly from TB or simply had the disease at the time of death, both scenarios likely represent missed chances to intervene earlier and prevent further spread.

## A Global Disease With Local Consequences

Tuberculosis remains the deadliest infectious disease on the planet. In 2024 alone, an estimated 1.23 million people died from TB globally, while approximately 10.7 million fell ill. Despite this, it is a disease for which effective treatments exist, and recent medical advances have significantly shortened the duration of treatment — even for drug-resistant strains.

The global picture has been further complicated by disruptions caused during the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely hampered TB detection and treatment programmes worldwide. Experts are now raising fresh concerns that significant aid cuts by the United States and other major donor nations could once again set back progress in controlling the disease internationally.

Dr. Wingfield was careful to frame the situation as serious but manageable. "TB is preventable, treatable and curable," he stressed, urging calm while calling for decisive improvements in early detection and diagnostic vigilance across England's healthcare system.

A new study finds one person weekly dies from undetected TB in England, with older British-born men among the most overlooked. Here's what researchers say.

One Person a Week Dies From Undiagnosed TB in England

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Silent Epidemic: One Person Dies Weekly in England From Undetected Tuberculosis

An independent inquiry into England's maternity services has found "unacceptable racism and discrimination" is affecting patient safety.

By Michael Buchanan , Social Affairs and Eleanor Lawrie , Social Affairs Published A national inquiry has strongly criticised the NHS maternity system in England, saying it is "not set up to deliver consistently safe, high-quality and compassionate care".

Baroness Valerie Amos, who chaired the government-commissioned review, found "unacceptable racism and discrimination embedded within the system" and said that "as a country... we cannot continue like this".

She recommended eight changes to overhaul the system, including the appointment of a maternity commissioner with a "relentless focus" on improving care.

Her independent findings come days after a review into maternity care in Nottingham found hundreds of women and babies had been harmed by poor care.

Racism and 'poor' staff relationships factors in maternity care failings, report finds

Published Hungry mothers and dirty wards - maternity care 'much worse' than anticipated, review chief says

Published Controversy has surrounded the publication of the final Amos report after one of the country's leading maternity investigators resigned over its conclusions.

Dr Bill Kirkup, who investigated maternity services in Morecambe Bay and East Kent , is understood to have disagreed with Baroness Amos over her finding that a push for normal birth, including denying women caesarean sections, was not prevalent nationally.

The National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation , external was set up last summer by the then-health secretary, Wes Streeting.

The aim to was produce a report to drive through improvements across England after a series of maternity scandals undermined the trust of many families in the NHS.

Baroness Amos and her team heard from more than 450 families and visited 12 NHS trusts to understand what change was needed.

The key failing they identified was an unwillingness to listen to women and families, leading to poor outcomes. There was a lack of a consistent standard of care, with large variations across the health service.

The system is "fragmented, overly complex and too slow to learn and improve," Baroness Amos noted in her report.

One of the immediate actions being urged on maternity units is to overhaul their triage service, which Baroness Amos described as "increasingly becoming the A&E service for maternity".

As part of that, midwives should be dedicated to answering calls and providing timely advice, while women should be offered a face-to-face appointment if they remain concerned. If these changes are made, the report says, "lives will be saved and harm reduced".

Meanwhile, racism and discrimination must be treated as a critical safety issue, the inquiry found, requiring urgent intervention including gathering granular data on unequal outcomes that is escalated to board level when patterns emerge.

Baroness Amos acknowledged calls for a statutory public inquiry that would compel senior figures at under-fire hospital trusts to give evidence. But she is not supportive of such a move.

"Statutory public inquiries take a very, very long time," she told the BBC.

"From the work that I have done and from the conversations that I have had with families, I don't at the moment see that there is a need for a statutory public inquiry, but that's not a decision for me to take."

Bereaved parent Rhiannon Davies, who campaigned for a review into maternity failings in Shrewsbury and Telford after the avoidable death of her daughter Kate in 2009, said she broadly welcomed the report's findings.

"One area where I think the report is particularly strong is that it reframes listening to women as a patient safety issue rather than simply an issue of patient experience," she said.

"The report also places considerable emphasis on maternity triage. Again, I think this has huge potential - but only if we get it right."

But Dr Kim Thomas, who runs charity the Birth Trauma Association, described the report as a "huge missed opportunity" that does not sufficiently reflect families' experiences.

"Many of us were hopeful that finally this would mean harmed women and families would be listened to and that change would be forthcoming," she said.

"It is devastating, therefore, to see that so little of what women told Baroness Amos is reflected in the report."

She notes injuries caused by forceps deliveries and the impact of post-traumatic stress on women and their partners are not mentioned, and argues the experiences of staff are given too much weight in the report compared to the experiences of patients.

Helen Gittos, whose baby daughter Harriet lived for a week after sustaining a brain injury under the care of the East Kent NHS Trust in 2014, has mixed feelings about the report.

Gittos is chair of the Family Expert Reference Group for the National Maternity & Neonatal Taskforce and thinks many of the recommendations will make a real difference if they are implemented "fearlessly in a way that tackles the core issues and does not water them down".

But she was "dismayed" when reading the report's depiction of East Kent, one of the selected trusts, which she felt was "overly positive".

"If improvement in an individual trust cannot be sustained even with intensive support from national teams it indicates that the support they are giving is not working," she added.

An independent inquiry into England's maternity services has found "unacceptable racism and discrimination" is affecting patient safety.

'We can't continue like this': Inquiry demands NHS maternity

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'We can't continue like this': Inquiry demands NHS maternity overhaul

## England's Maternity Crisis Deepens as Birth Injury Rates Reach Record Highs

Women giving birth in England are now facing the highest risk of sustaining serious injuries during childbirth since the NHS began tracking such data in 2020, according to newly released figures that are intensifying pressure on health authorities to act decisively.

### Record Rates of Severe Tears and Haemorrhage

The statistics paint a troubling picture. The incidence of third- and fourth-degree perineal tears — the most severe category of childbirth-related lacerations — climbed to 31.1 per 1,000 births in the first quarter of 2025, marking the highest rate recorded since monitoring began five years ago. When data collection started in June 2020, that figure stood at 25 per 1,000.

Equally alarming is the rise in postpartum haemorrhage, defined as blood loss exceeding 1.5 litres. The annual rate reached 31.65 per 1,000 births in 2024, up from 25.6 per 1,000 when figures were first gathered. Early 2025 data shows a rate of 31.2 per 1,000 — still among the highest on record.

### Calls for a National Crisis Declaration

Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Helen Morgan, who obtained the figures directly from NHS England, issued a stark warning about what the numbers represent in human terms.

"Behind these statistics are women going through unimaginable trauma, requiring surgery and in many cases months or even years of recovery," she said. "Some will never fully recover. This shows that we need to treat maternity services as a national crisis. We will not reverse this dangerous, unacceptable trend until we make safety a priority."

The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the seriousness of the findings, stating that "too many women are being failed by poor quality maternity care" and describing the trends as "concerning."

### Government Report and Potential Maternity Commissioner

The release of this data coincides with the anticipated publication of a government-commissioned report by Lady Amos examining the current state of maternity care across England. The report is expected to amplify existing demands for a sweeping overhaul of childbirth services.

There is growing speculation that Donna Ockenden — the senior midwife and patient safety expert who recently delivered a scathing review of the NHS's largest-ever maternity scandal at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust — could be appointed as England's inaugural maternity safety commissioner. In that role, she would oversee efforts to raise standards and improve patient safety across the sector. Ockenden is currently investigating additional emerging maternity scandals in Leeds and Sussex.

The government has committed to releasing a comprehensive action plan to reform maternity services before the year's end, though campaigners are pushing for concrete details to be shared far sooner.

In a related development, authorities have expanded Martha's Rule to cover every maternity and neonatal unit in England, granting women and families the legal right to request a second medical opinion regarding the care of a mother or newborn.

### Expert Perspectives on the Rising Numbers

Not all specialists interpret the data as an unambiguous sign of deteriorating care. Dr. Kim Thomas, Chief Executive of the Birth Trauma Association, noted that a portion of the increase in recorded tears may stem from improvements in diagnosis rather than a genuine worsening of outcomes.

"The NHS has been rolling out a care bundle encouraging hospitals to identify and treat such injuries more promptly," she explained. "I don't necessarily think that the apparent increase in third- and fourth-degree tears is a sign of worsening maternity services, though it may be."

Additional contributing factors may include the higher average age of mothers giving birth, the elevated susceptibility of Asian women to perineal trauma, and England's comparatively high rate of forceps deliveries — all of which can increase the likelihood of injury.

### Critical Gaps in NHS Birth Data

Adding another layer of concern, an investigation by the Guardian uncovered significant deficiencies in how the NHS records birth outcomes. Of the 542,235 births that took place in England during 2024-25, the outcomes of more than 85,000 — nearly 15% — were absent from the NHS Hospital Episodes Statistics dataset. A similar gap existed the previous year, with data missing for over 100,000 of the 545,149 recorded births.

The missing information encompasses details such as delivery location, method of birth, infant birth weight, anaesthetics administered, and gestational age at delivery. Some NHS trusts have also been found to be filing incomplete records with the separate Maternity Services Dataset.

Clare Livingstone, Head of Professional Policy and Practice at the Royal College of Midwives, stressed the severity of this issue.

"Incomplete data is a fundamental barrier to improving maternity care," she said. "Without a full picture of what is happening before, during and after birth, it is much harder to identify where action is needed — and these figures point to a significant gap in NHS maternity data."

As political and public pressure continues to mount, the coming weeks are likely to prove decisive in shaping the future of maternity services across England.

NHS data shows women in England face record rates of severe birth injuries, with calls growing louder for maternity services to be treated as a national crisis.

England's Birth Injury Rates Hit Record High in 2025

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England's Maternity Crisis Deepens as Birth Injury Rates Reach Record Highs

## A New Lyme Disease Vaccine Could Be Coming — But Will People Actually Take It?

Tick season is upon us, and by many accounts, it may be one of the worst in recent memory. As climate change continues to push tick populations into new territories across the United States, more Americans than ever are finding themselves at risk for tick-borne illnesses — including the most prevalent of them all, Lyme disease.

Now, pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Valneva have announced plans to seek regulatory approval for a new Lyme disease vaccine, reigniting a conversation that's been dormant for decades. A similar vaccine was briefly available in the late 1990s before being pulled from the market just three years later, largely due to lawsuits, fears over side effects, and low public demand.

The question today is whether history will repeat itself — especially in a post-COVID landscape where vaccine skepticism has never been more pronounced.

## Hunters: High Risk, Mixed Feelings

To gauge how this potential vaccine might land with rural, high-risk populations, KFF Health News sat down with a group of hunters at the Busch Shooting Range in Weldon Spring, Missouri. It's a fitting demographic to consult. Hunters spend enormous amounts of time in wooded, tick-heavy environments, making them among the most vulnerable to Lyme disease. At the same time, hunters as a group tend to lean conservative and rural — communities where vaccine hesitancy has historically been more common.

The responses from the eight individuals interviewed — seven hunters and one hiker — painted a picture that was neither fully accepting nor outright dismissive.

### One Clear Enthusiast

Jess Manganelli was the most openly enthusiastic about the prospect of a Lyme vaccine. An avid turkey hunter, she said her love of the outdoors alone made the decision easy.

"Given my proclivity for the outdoors, absolutely," she said without hesitation.

Manganelli believes she may have already contracted Lyme disease two years ago, though she was never officially diagnosed. After a tick bite, she experienced muscle weakness, fatigue, headaches, and swelling — but was told by urgent care staff that they didn't test for Lyme. Her suspected personal experience with the illness made her more receptive to preventive measures.

### The Others: Open, but Cautious

The remaining participants said they would consider the vaccine but wanted more information. Specifically, they were interested in understanding its safety profile, its effectiveness rate, and their own individual risk levels before making any decisions.

Almost all of them had a personal connection to Lyme disease — an old roommate, a family member, a former student — and had watched those individuals struggle through the disease's notoriously difficult diagnostic and treatment process.

Julian Barnes described himself as generally vaccine-hesitant but acknowledged that watching a relative battle Lyme had shifted his thinking.

"I would say I am vaccine-hesitant, generally speaking," Barnes admitted. "But Lyme — I've seen the way it affects people in my life. I would definitely have to really understand the vaccine and how it works."

Jeremy Hollingshead, on the other hand, said he'd be less inclined to take the vaccine — not because of a bad experience, but ironically because of perspective. His former roommate had a severe and lasting case of Lyme, still feeling effects a decade later. Yet Hollingshead, having spent virtually his entire life outdoors alongside hundreds of other people, knew of only that one case.

"I know it was a bad outcome for him," Hollingshead said, adding that the odds of contracting Lyme personally seemed relatively low from his vantage point.

## A Celebrity Hunter's Personal Cautionary Tale

Steven Rinella, the well-known outdoorsman and host of the popular hunting show *MeatEater*, offered a compelling firsthand account that underscores just how serious Lyme disease can be.

Thirteen years ago, Rinella and his older son both contracted Lyme disease during a fishing trip in New York's Hudson Valley. His son developed Bell's palsy — a sudden facial paralysis — but recovered relatively quickly with oral antibiotics. Rinella himself wasn't so fortunate. His symptoms persisted for months, leaving him unable to navigate stairs without gripping a handrail or even ride a bicycle. He ultimately required a full month of intravenous antibiotic treatment.

"I thought my life had changed," Rinella recalled. "But I recovered, as far as I know."

For Rinella, the experience was more than enough motivation to seriously consider a future Lyme vaccine, provided it demonstrated strong safety and efficacy data. He also noted something important: unlike some infections, surviving Lyme disease does not confer permanent immunity. A person who has had Lyme can get it again — making vaccination relevant even for those who've already been through it.

Rinella also pointed out how deeply embedded tick awareness is in hunting culture.

"I'm a turkey hunter. In talking about turkey hunting, you talk about ticks as much as you talk about turkeys," he said. "You're sitting for long periods of time trying to use vegetation for concealment — the exposure is constant."

## What the Data Says About Lyme Disease

The CDC estimates that approximately 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease annually. The geographic reach of the disease has expanded dramatically since 1995, with cases now reported in regions that were previously considered low-risk. Left untreated, Lyme can cause a wide range of serious symptoms, from fevers and chills to joint inflammation, shooting nerve pain, and in severe cases, inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

The new vaccine candidate being developed by Pfizer and Valneva is administered in four doses. It technically fell short of one trial benchmark — not enough participants ended up contracting Lyme for a fully conclusive result — but the companies report an approximately 75% effectiveness rate in reducing cases and are moving forward with regulatory submissions.

## The RFK Jr. Factor

Any discussion about vaccine approval in today's political environment inevitably circles back to one figure: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the current Secretary of Health and Human Services. A longtime anti-vaccine activist before assuming the role, Kennedy has reshaped the federal health landscape in ways that have caused some pharmaceutical companies to scale back vaccine development.

However, Lyme disease appears to be a notable exception in Kennedy's outlook. In May, he announced a federal initiative to address Lyme disease, and during his Senate confirmation hearings, he stated that his own family had been deeply impacted by the illness. He pledged that no one would work harder than he would to advance a vaccine or effective treatment.

According to Ashley Kirzinger, Associate Director for Public Opinion and Survey Research at KFF, an endorsement from Kennedy could be a game-changer — particularly among his Make America Healthy Again supporters, who are typically among the most vaccine-resistant segments of the population.

"They trust him as much as they trust their own doctors," Kirzinger said. "If he comes out as a strong proponent of this vaccine and says, 'Look what my administration did, and we made this available,' I would imagine there would be less vaccine resistance among that group."

## The Bottom Line

The potential arrival of a new Lyme disease vaccine presents a genuinely complex public health challenge. The people who stand to benefit most — those who spend significant time outdoors in tick-prone areas — are also among those most likely to approach a new vaccine with caution. Personal experience with the disease, or witnessing it in someone close, appears to be one of the most powerful factors in shifting attitudes.

Whether this vaccine ultimately wins approval, and how it's received by the public, may depend as much on political messaging and personal storytelling as it does on clinical trial data.

A new Lyme disease vaccine may soon seek FDA approval. We explore how hunters — among those most at risk — feel about getting vaccinated in an era of skepticism

Lyme Disease Vaccine: Would Hunters Get the Shot?

Would Hunters Get a Lyme Disease Vaccine? Their Answers May Surprise You

## Nearly 300 Ebola Patients Missing as DR Congo Crisis Deepens

Africa's leading public health authority has revealed that the locations of nearly 300 confirmed Ebola patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remain completely unknown — a alarming development that officials warn could fuel uncontrolled spread of the deadly virus.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), disclosed on Thursday that the ongoing humanitarian emergency, compounded by active armed conflict in affected regions, has left more than one million displaced civilians living in camps that health workers simply cannot reach.

## WHO Projects Thousands of Cases and Deaths by September

The warning came alongside sobering projections published in the *Lancet Infectious Diseases* journal by the World Health Organization's Africa regional office. The WHO's modelling forecasts approximately 8,210 Ebola cases and around 1,420 deaths by mid-September 2026. Under the worst-case scenario, confirmed cases could soar as high as 66,000 by that same deadline.

The modelling also estimated a 70% probability that the outbreak will cross the border into South Sudan within the coming weeks — a prospect that has intensified calls for urgent international intervention.

As of now, the DRC has recorded 1,118 confirmed cases and 291 deaths. Neighboring Uganda has reported 20 cases and two fatalities. In a further sign of the outbreak's reach, France confirmed that a doctor who had been working in the DRC tested positive for Ebola upon returning home. His employer, medical NGO Alima, stated they were actively investigating how the infection occurred.

## Massive Community Transmission Fuels Concern

Dr. Kaseya noted that 30% of new infections are appearing among individuals who are already known contacts of confirmed cases — a pattern he described as evidence of "huge, huge community transmission." In response, authorities plan to deploy 20,000 community health workers sourced from affected local areas to dramatically expand contact tracing operations.

The situation inside Ebola treatment centers is equally dire. Bed occupancy has reached 95% capacity, and officials warn the outbreak has not yet reached its peak.

"These camps have cases, and because we don't have access to them, we cannot carry out contact tracing. We cannot get a clear picture of what's happening there. We cannot stop this outbreak without resolving the humanitarian crisis," Kaseya stressed.

### Travel Restrictions Imposed

DRC authorities announced on Thursday that any individual who has been present in affected provinces must observe a mandatory 21-day waiting period before being permitted to travel elsewhere — a measure aimed at preventing further geographic spread.

## A Record-Breaking Outbreak

The current outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, is already the largest on record at this stage — just five weeks after its official declaration. By comparison, the catastrophic West Africa outbreak of 2014 to 2016, which ultimately infected more than 28,000 people and claimed over 11,000 lives, had recorded only 239 cases and 160 deaths at the equivalent point in time.

Despite the bleak projections, WHO researchers noted that current case counts align most closely with their central transmission scenario, which estimates between 6,636 and 10,287 cases by September 16. There are early indications that containment efforts are beginning to slow transmission rates.

## Funding Gap Threatens Response

The financial picture remains deeply troubling. Africa CDC and the WHO previously calculated that $518 million would be required purely for health-related response efforts. When broader humanitarian needs are factored in, that figure climbs to $1.4 billion.

However, Dr. Kaseya revealed that only around 13% of the $910 million pledged by international governments and organizations has actually been delivered — a shortfall that threatens to severely undermine containment efforts.

## First Drug Trials Set to Begin

There is a glimmer of hope on the treatment front. The first-ever clinical trial of drugs designed to treat the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola is scheduled to begin in the DRC next week. A separate trial testing an antiviral medication administered to close contacts of infected individuals — with the goal of preventing them from developing the disease — is set to launch one week after that.

Nearly 300 confirmed Ebola patients are unaccounted for in DR Congo as WHO projects up to 8,210 cases by September and community transmission surges.

Nearly 300 Ebola Patients Missing in DR Congo Outbreak

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Nearly 300 Ebola Patients Unaccounted For as DR Congo Outbreak Escalates

## One Woman's Decision to Book Her Own Mammogram May Have Saved Her Life

When Carol Turansky, a 79-year-old woman from Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex, contacted her local breast screening unit to arrange a mammogram, she had no reason to believe anything was wrong. No lumps, no pain, no warning signs whatsoever. Yet that single proactive decision led to a life-changing diagnosis — breast cancer, detected early enough to act on.

Now, Turansky is channeling that experience into a nationwide campaign urging women over the age of 70 to take advantage of a little-known NHS provision that allows them to self-refer for a routine mammogram every three years.

## The Screening Gap Nobody Talks About

In England, women between the ages of 50 and 70 are automatically invited for breast cancer screenings on a regular basis. Once a woman turns 71, however, those invitations stop — and with them, the routine safety net that regular screening provides.

What many women don't realize is that the option to be screened doesn't disappear at 70. It simply becomes the individual's responsibility to request it. Women over 70 can contact their local breast screening unit directly or speak to their GP if they have concerns or notice any changes.

Turansky believes this distinction is not being communicated clearly enough, and she's not alone in that view.

## A Petition That's Struck a Chord

Her online petition, which calls on the NHS to launch a dedicated awareness campaign informing older women about their right to self-refer for mammograms, has already gathered over 70,000 signatures. The response, she says, has been overwhelming — and deeply personal.

"There are people who have said that their mother died of cancer at 76, but if they'd had a mammogram, they might not have died because it had progressed so far," Turansky shared.

She is not demanding that the NHS reinstate automatic invitations for women over 70. Her ask is simpler and arguably more achievable: make sure every woman knows the choice exists.

"I'm not asking the NHS necessarily to continue sending out invitations — I accept that. But at least let people have the option of self-referring. Not enough people are aware that they can," she said.

## A Personal History With Cancer

This is not Turansky's first encounter with breast cancer. She was diagnosed with the condition 23 years ago and navigated her way through it. That history, combined with the shock of a second diagnosis with no preceding symptoms, has only deepened her commitment to spreading the message.

"Cancer doesn't stop when you're 70 — and neither should mammograms," she said firmly.

She added that she "pats herself on the head every day" for having the presence of mind to book that appointment, and says she "shudders to think" what the outcome might have been had she not.

Turansky is currently preparing to undergo a mastectomy as part of her treatment plan.

Her husband Philip was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and passed away at the age of 78 in 2011, giving her an intimate and painful understanding of what late or missed diagnoses can mean.

## Why Routine Screening Ends at 70

Sam Robinson, a former breast cancer nurse and representative from Big C — a Norfolk-based cancer charity — explained that the decision to stop automatic invitations after age 70 is rooted in clinical evidence, not indifference.

"There could be other health problems that patients have," Robinson noted. "The treatments could be detrimental to their health… that is research-based, so that's the reason why it stops for over 70s."

NHS England has also acknowledged that the risk of overdiagnosis rises with age, meaning some cancers identified through screening may never actually pose a threat to the patient's life.

"It's more likely that someone in their older years will die with breast cancer rather than from breast cancer," Robinson explained.

Nonetheless, Robinson emphasized that screening remains valuable — especially when women notice changes or have personal concerns — and encouraged anyone unsure about their options to speak with their GP or contact a local breast screening unit directly.

"If people aren't going for screening, something could easily be missed," she warned.

## The Statistics Behind the Call to Action

The numbers lend significant weight to Turansky's campaign. Research indicates that approximately one in three breast cancer cases occurs in women aged 71 or older — a demographic that currently falls outside the routine NHS invitation system.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care stated that screening decisions are grounded in the best available evidence, with the independent UK National Screening Committee continuously reviewing all programmes.

## A Trial That Could Change Everything

There is reason for cautious optimism on the horizon. Cancer Research UK and AgeX are jointly supporting a UK clinical trial designed to evaluate both the risks and benefits of extending breast cancer screening to women aged 47 to 49 and 71 to 73. The findings from this trial are expected to be published in 2027.

Until that evidence is in hand, Turansky's message remains urgent and personal.

"Tell your mother, your aunt, your neighbour — get a mammogram," she said.

For women over 70 who wish to arrange a routine mammogram, the process is straightforward: contact your local breast screening unit directly, or speak to your GP if you've noticed any changes in your breast health. Don't wait for an invitation that may never arrive.

Carol Turansky discovered breast cancer at 79 with no symptoms. She's urging all women over 70 to self-refer for NHS mammograms before it's too late.

Woman, 79, Finds Cancer After Self-Referring for Mammogram

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79-Year-Old Woman Discovers Breast Cancer After Self-Referring for Mammogram — Now She's Urging Others to Do the Same

## ACA Enrollment Drops by 5 Million as Premium Costs Spiral Out of Reach

A significant decline in Affordable Care Act marketplace enrollment has been confirmed by newly released federal data, revealing that 5 million fewer Americans currently hold ACA health coverage compared to last year's record-breaking figures. Health policy analysts point squarely at skyrocketing premium costs as the driving force behind this dramatic exodus from the marketplace.

### The Numbers Tell a Stark Story

According to a report published Friday by the Department of Health and Human Services, current ACA marketplace enrollment stands at 19.2 million people. That figure represents a sharp retreat from the 24.2 million enrollees recorded in 2025, which had been the highest number in the program's history.

The decline breaks down into two distinct components. More than 1 million fewer individuals selected a plan for 2026 during the open enrollment period. Beyond that, an additional 4 million people either voluntarily disenrolled or forfeited their coverage by failing to pay their monthly premiums — a rate of non-payment that far exceeded patterns seen in previous years.

## Expired Tax Credits Send Premiums Soaring

The financial backdrop to this enrollment collapse centers on the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits that had made marketplace coverage significantly more affordable during and after the pandemic era. When Republican lawmakers in Congress allowed those credits to lapse, premium costs for many consumers doubled on average from 2025 to 2026, with some enrollees experiencing triple-digit percentage increases in what they owed each month.

Democrats attempted to preserve those subsidies, going so far as to shut down the federal government in October 2025 in a bid to negotiate an extension of the credits. Those efforts ultimately failed, leaving millions of Americans facing dramatically higher insurance bills.

"The main takeaway is that enrollment is down 13% from last year," said Cynthia Cox, director of KFF's Program on the ACA. "While the Trump administration attributes this drop in enrollment to their attempts to address fraud, this coverage loss happened at the same time millions of people faced double or even triple-digit increases in their premium payments with the expiration of enhanced tax credits."

### Trump Administration Points to Fraud — Experts Push Back

Officials within the Trump administration have framed the enrollment decline differently, suggesting that a cleanup of fraudulent sign-ups is responsible for the shrinking numbers. This narrative aligns with arguments promoted by the Paragon Health Institute, a conservative think tank with influence in current administration circles.

However, health policy researchers are largely unconvinced by that explanation. They argue that the enrollment surge seen during the pandemic was a straightforward and predictable result of Congress making coverage more affordable through federal investment — not a sign of widespread fraud.

"The marketplace doubled in size during the period when there were enhanced subsidies because the coverage was much more affordable and much more appealing to people," Cox explained.

Stacey Pogue, senior research fellow at the Georgetown Center on Health Insurance Reforms, echoed that view. "I don't see data that point to the conclusion that a 5 million person drop can be explained by allegations of fraud," she said. "There's lots of evidence pointing to people making decisions based on what they can pay each month."

While both researchers acknowledge that fraud exists in insurance markets broadly, neither believes it accounts for anything close to the full scale of this year's enrollment drop.

## Financial Strain Forces Hard Choices for American Families

The premium increases are landing on consumers already stretched thin by persistent inflation across the broader economy. As healthcare costs climb, families are being forced into difficult trade-offs — reconsidering household budgets, employment decisions, and other major life choices in light of what they can afford to pay for health coverage.

The ripple effects extend beyond individual households. Several major insurance companies, including Cigna, have announced plans to exit ACA markets in the coming year. Fewer enrolled consumers make the marketplace less commercially attractive to insurers, raising concerns about long-term market sustainability.

### Could the ACA Market Enter a Death Spiral?

A particular concern among health economists is the composition of those leaving the marketplace. Evidence suggests that healthier individuals — who tend to use less medical care — are disproportionately dropping coverage. When healthy enrollees leave insurance pools, the remaining customer base skews sicker, which drives costs higher and can trigger a self-reinforcing cycle of rising premiums and further departures known as a "death spiral."

For now, Cox says she is not predicting that outcome. "I think there are still enough people buying ACA marketplace coverage and that's going to keep these markets working," she noted. "At this point, we don't see any parts of the country that are at risk of having no insurance company."

Nevertheless, the trajectory heading into 2027 offers little reassurance. Early insurance rate filings analyzed by Georgetown's Pogue indicate that premiums are set to rise again next year, suggesting that the financial pressure on ACA enrollees is far from over. Unless legislative action intervenes to restore affordability, millions more Americans could find themselves priced out of coverage in the years ahead.

ACA enrollment has fallen by 5 million people as expired premium tax credits cause health insurance costs to double, forcing millions of Americans to drop cover