The National Institutes of Health has partnered with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to analyze data from nearly 150 million Americans, focusing on autism diagnosis trends, health outcomes, access to care based on demographics and geography, and the economic burden of autism. However, experts like Helen Tager-Flusberg are skeptical that this type of dataset will help answer questions about autism's causes, as research has already shown no single cause for the complex disorder. The US government's health department plans to launch a pilot platform to study chronic conditions and treatments, sparking concerns among autism researchers who fear it may be used to support discredited theories linking vaccines to autism.
https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/nation-world/us-health-department-data-autistic-medicare-medicaid-enrollees/507-f17fc2c4-90ac-42c2-ba86-76fa1534004fThe Trump administration has purged public records since its return to power, destroying or modifying thousands of web pages and government sites focused on climate change, health rights, and other issues. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lost over 3,000 pages, while the Justice Department's website saw more than 1,000 pages removed. Experts, including Eric Nost from the University of Guelph, are preserving data using tools like the WayBack Machine and Perma.cc to safeguard climate and environmental information. The Data Rescue Project, led by Lynda Kellam, a university librarian, is working with volunteers to collect and preserve data, but faces funding challenges.
https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2025/05/08/web-archivists-scrambling-to-save-us-public-data-from-deletionThe UK Ministry of Defense has announced a £50 million "valour" scheme to improve support for veterans. The package includes dedicated mental and physical healthcare pathways, free career advice, and access to social housing. This new initiative aims to provide better connected care and support for veterans across the U.K., addressing decades of reliance on cash-strapped charities.
https://www.politico.eu/article/britain-respect-veterans-uk-gulf-war-defence/The UK government has launched a £1.8 million programme to train NHS medics in treating combat wounds and PTSD, aiming to provide better support for Britain's Armed Forces veterans. The initiative, announced on VE Day's 80th anniversary, seeks to address the unique needs of former service personnel, who may require specialized care for battle injuries and mental health conditions like PTSD and depression.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14688579/NHS-staff-given-special-training-PTSD-combat-wounds-treat-Britains-war-veterans-nation-marks-80th-anniversary-VE-Day.htmlVeterans' opinions on VA cuts and community care are mixed, with most saying the cuts haven't affected their service. CEO Jim Whaley, a 20-year Army veteran, believes the VA's recent budget request for $369.3 billion in fiscal year 2025 shows an appetite to provide the best healthcare possible. A poll found that 51% of veterans support community care, while 34% want the VA to be the sole provider. The VA is considering offering services such as obesity treatment, medical marijuana, and psychedelics like MDMA and psilocybin for conditions like PTSD and depression, despite the federal government listing marijuana as a schedule I drug.
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/nation/poll-veterans-concerned-about-proposed-va-cuts/article_bd133f90-6989-5181-b6fa-8c86fabc2113.htmlExperts and volunteers are preserving thousands of web pages and government sites related to climate change, health, LGBTQ rights, and other issues after the Trump administration destroyed or modified numerous databases, including those on AIDS prevention and care, weather records, and references to ethnic or gender minorities.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/05/08/world/americas-emea/web-archivists-scrambling-to-save-us-public-data-from-deletion/2108578The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has partnered with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate the root causes of autism and other chronic diseases. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emphasized transparency and accountability in this partnership, which aims to analyze data from Medicare and Medicaid enrollees with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya highlighted the potential for unlocking research into factors driving autism and chronic disease through secure real-world data analysis.
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/nation/nih-cms-partner-on-autism-research/article_d95d0b8b-0f0e-564b-86e3-056d21d7fea7.htmlHealth and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced a plan to utilize medical data and records from individuals on Medicaid and Medicare to study autism, following increased diagnoses attributed to growing awareness of the disorder among those with milder symptoms.
https://www.ocregister.com/2025/05/07/medicare-medicaid-autism/John Fetterman, the Pennsylvania senator, has faced criticism over his mental health after a video resurfaced showing him arguing with a pilot about wearing a seatbelt. He denied claims that he was being convinced to change his views on Gaza, stating it's common in political marriages and his wife Gisele has her own voice. Fetterman met with former President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, where the meeting reportedly went smoothly despite disagreements over Israel. His Chief of Staff Adam Jentleson made concerning accusations against him in a New York Magazine report, claiming he is not taking his medication.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14690191/John-Fetterman-wild-outburst-staffer-tears-health-concerns.html