Listeners, today is September thirtieth, twenty twenty-five, and several important public health alerts are active across the United States. The most urgent concern is the impending expiration of key telehealth flexibilities at midnight tonight. The Telehealth Resource Center warns that, without congressional action today, Medicare beneficiaries will lose access to many telehealth services from their homes and will once again face hard restrictions on where and how care can be delivered. Programs like Hospital at Home will lose crucial reimbursement options, and Federally Qualified Health Centers, as well as Rural Health Clinics, may only be reimbursed for telehealth in very limited cases. Providers are urged to begin transition communications with patients and prepare for increased in-person care needs, especially in rural and underserved communities. Most private insurers are likely to follow Medicare’s lead, meaning telehealth coverage could contract across the board.

According to the American Medical Association, health organizations are lobbying fiercely for an extension, but at this hour, there is no guarantee Congress will act. This lapse could disrupt care for millions of people, especially those with chronic conditions, disabilities, or transportation barriers. Listeners relying on telehealth should contact their providers about ongoing care plans.

On the infectious disease front, Infection Control Today highlights a growing threat from NDM-CRE, or New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales. This antibiotic-resistant superbug is more common in healthcare settings and can lead to outbreaks. The CDC urges hospitals and clinics to maintain vigilant hand hygiene, strict use of personal protective equipment, and enhanced environmental cleaning. Sink drains are identified as hidden sources of infection. Facilities are piloting whole genome sequencing and increased screening for high-risk patients. Listeners with recent hospital stays or chronic care needs should be aware of enhanced infection precautions.

A second pressing issue concerns routine immunization, especially the ongoing debate over the universal birth dose of hepatitis B vaccination. STAT News reports that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was set to discuss whether to end or delay the recommendation that all American newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine within twenty-four hours of birth. The meeting was postponed at the last minute, but health leaders like Dr. Tom Frieden warn that any retreat from this proven intervention could condemn thousands of children to chronic infection and death from preventable liver disease. The American College of Physicians emphasizes that hepatitis B is spread far beyond stereotyped risk groups, and lifelong complications from delayed vaccination are severe. Pediatricians urge parents to continue following the CDC immunization schedule, as delaying or opting out of infant vaccines increases the risk of outbreaks.

According to the Post-Gazette, measles cases have surged to the highest level in over thirty years, with nearly fifteen hundred confirmed cases nationwide. Ninety-two percent of these are in people who are unvaccinated or with unknown status, and there have already been three deaths. Listeners are strongly encouraged to check their family’s vaccine records and keep up with boosters.

For listeners planning international travel, the CDC has issued a travel advisory for Cuba, Brazil, and other parts of the Caribbean and South America due to a major outbreak of chikungunya—a mosquito-borne virus causing debilitating joint pain. Travelers are advised to use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, and consult with health professionals before departure.

Finally, Healthcare Now Radio notes that the upcoming open enrollment period for health insurance could be affected by Congressional funding...