Author: Frank Jost

Republican leaders on Capitol Hill are moving toward a high-stakes decision: allowing key Obamacare tax credits to expire at the end of the year, even though those subsidies help tens of millions of Americans pay for health insurance. The push comes with the explicit blessing of President Donald Trump, who has made clear he prefers to send “money to the people” rather than continue subsidizing insurance companies. But as the Dec. 31 deadline approaches, that strategy is exposing deep divisions inside the GOP. Many rank-and-file Republicans, including some in safe red districts, worry that letting the subsidies lapse will trigger…

Should you spend more time counting calories or lacing up your sneakers? For years, people trying to lose weight or live longer have bounced between strict diets and intense workout plans, often without clear answers. Today, research paints a more nuanced picture: exercise and diet play different but complementary roles for your weight, your heart and your long-term health. Instead of choosing one side in a “fitness vs food” battle, experts increasingly recommend a blended approach that focuses on moving more, eating better and thinking beyond the bathroom scale. Here’s how exercise and diet really stack up — and what…

For seniors and their families, what happens in global health policy can feel distant. Yet the decisions made in Washington about funding and international aid can have real consequences for disease control, vaccine access, and pandemic preparedness around the world. What changed in U.S. global health policy? In 2025, the United States made sweeping changes to how it supports health programs around the world. The federal government dismantled its main international aid structure and began redefining how it funds health initiatives in low- and middle-income countries. Instead of relying primarily on large multilateral programs and international organizations, the U.S. is…

The White House knows it can’t ignore health care affordability any longer. As enhanced insurance tax credits are set to expire and millions of Americans face the prospect of sharply higher premiums, senior officials are quietly searching for a plan. Behind closed doors, they are trying to answer one basic question: how do you claim economic success when families see their health costs spike? According to people familiar with the talks, President Trump’s Domestic Policy Council and top health aides have begun mapping out options to address the looming “premium cliff.” Nothing is settled yet, but the discussions themselves are…

When doctors told 13-year-old Alyssa Tapley that she had only a few weeks left to live, her family began preparing for the unthinkable. Her aggressive form of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia had already pushed her young body to its limits. She had endured repeated rounds of chemotherapy, each one harder than the last, and even a bone marrow transplant that everyone hoped would finally turn the tide. But the cancer kept coming back — stronger, more resistant, and spreading faster each time. For her parents, every hospital meeting became a heartbreaking ritual. Specialists explained that the disease was no longer…

As the population ages, cancer treatment faces the dual challenge of efficacy and tolerability. Recent advances in targeted therapies offer new hope, particularly with the advent of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), a smart chemotherapy technology redefining cancer care for older adults. These innovative therapies promise precision in attacking tumors while sparing healthy tissues, a boon for patients often vulnerable to harsh side effects. The revolution of antibody-drug conjugates in oncology Antibody-drug conjugates combine the specificity of antibodies with the potency of chemotherapy, allowing drugs to directly target cancer cells marked by unique surface proteins. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, which affects both cancerous…

When Donald Trump’s administration unveiled its new “America First Global Health Strategy”, it signaled more than just a policy tweak. It marked a fundamental reset in how the United States plans to fund HIV, malaria and other disease programs overseas — and how it sees its role in the global health system. Supporters argue the strategy will push partner countries to take greater responsibility for their own health systems. Critics warn it risks weakening hard-won progress against AIDS and other epidemics, while sidelining international institutions that have underpinned global health for decades.:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} From multilateral leadership to bilateral deals For roughly…

Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that the United States is living through an economic “golden age.” Jobs, the stock market, growth — in his speeches, everything points to a prosperous and grateful America. But behind this triumphant narrative lies a stubborn problem: the rising cost of health care. As the White House launches trips focused on “affordability,” critics and polls tell a different story. For many households, health care costs have become the most concrete measure of how the economy feels — more tangible than any index, stock chart, or presidential soundbite. A president…

CRISPR and Cancer Care: A New Horizon for Seniors As biotechnology continues to push the boundaries of medical innovation, CRISPR gene editing emerges as a transformative approach in the fight against cancer, especially for elderly patients who face unique challenges in cancer care. Unlike conventional therapies burdened by severe side effects, CRISPR technology offers the possibility of precision targeting, correcting the genetic mutations that drive tumors while minimizing harm to healthy tissues. This personalized medicine approach is particularly promising for seniors, whose bodies are often less tolerant of aggressive treatments. One vivid example is the targeted editing of mutations in…

Next-gen CAR-T Therapy: Transforming Cancer Treatment for Older Patients Next-generation CAR-T therapy has revolutionized the landscape of cancer treatment by empowering the immune system to target malignant cells more effectively. Historically, this immunotherapy was primarily reserved for younger, healthier individuals due to safety concerns and toxicities. However, recent advances have paved the way for more safety-conscious approaches, potentially allowing older patients to benefit from these breakthroughs with fewer adverse effects. The evolution of manufacturing processes and precision targeting in CAR-T therapy heralds a promising future for hematologic malignancies and beyond. Streamlined Manufacturing and Enhanced Safety Profiles One pivotal development in…