Top news stories from AMA Morning Rounds®: Week of Sept. 9, 2024

Read AMA Morning Rounds®’ most popular stories in medicine and public health from the week of Sept. 9, 2024–Sept. 13, 2024.

Elevated levels of lead found in one-third of tested cinnamon samples

The New York Times (9/12, Jewett) reports, “One dozen of 36 cinnamon products tested by a consumer group contained elevated levels of lead, according to” a Consumer Reports study “released on Thursday that reinforced concerns about metals in foods after tainted cinnamon applesauce poisoned dozens of children last year.” Consumer Reports researchers “tested the spice and found high levels in lead in 12 items sold at discount stores and ethnic markets, with lead levels reaching 3.5 parts per million” (ppm). The findings come after the FDA earlier this year “urged a series of recalls of cinnamon products.”

The Washington Post (9/12, Amenabar) says the study “recommended that consumers throw away the 12 products that tested above 1 ppm.” The Post adds, “Some experts say the amount of lead in one serving of cinnamon at the levels detected in the Consumer Reports study wouldn’t typically be of concern to human health. But consistent exposure could pose a risk, especially for those most vulnerable to lead’s harmful effects, including infants and young children.”

Prevalence of atrial fibrillation among U.S. adults is higher than previously believed, researchers estimate

Healio (9/11, Buzby) reports, “Nearly one in 20 adults in the U.S. are estimated to have atrial fibrillation, many more than previous studies had indicated, according to new data.” Investigators came to this conclusion after utilizing “statewide health care databases to estimate the contemporary prevalence of AF in the U.S. adults aged 20 years or older who received hospital-based care in California between 2005 and 2019.” The findings were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

CNN (9/10, Seher) reports “a bipartisan group of” 42 “attorneys general on Tuesday demanded that Congress require Surgeon General warning labels on social media apps to help curtail addiction and a mental health crisis among young adults.” The AGs’ letter to Congress said, “As state Attorneys General, we sometimes disagree about important issues, but all of us share an abiding concern for the safety of the kids in our jurisdictions—and algorithm-driven social media platforms threaten that safety.” The AGs said, “In addition to the states’ historic efforts, this ubiquitous problem requires federal action—and a surgeon general’s warning on social media platforms, though not sufficient to address the full scope of the problem, would be one consequential step toward mitigating the risk of harm to youth.”

The Washington Post (9/10, Lima) reports, “In their letter to Congress, the state attorneys general said a social media warning label ‘would not only highlight the inherent risks that social media platforms presently pose for young people, but also complement other efforts to spur attention, research, and investment into the oversight of social media platforms.’”

Four largest PBMs control 70% of national market

Fierce Healthcare (9/9, Minemyer) reports, “The four largest pharmacy benefit managers in the U.S. control 70% of the national market, and most regional PBM markets are highly concentrated, according to new data from the American Medical Association (AMA).” The research “dived into 2022 data on commercial and Medicare Part D plans and found that CVS Health’s Caremark is the largest PBM, owning 21.3% market share.” It is “followed closely by UnitedHealth Group’s Optum Rx, which has a 20.8% market share, according to the report.” Meanwhile, Express Scripts “has a 17.1% market share,” while Prime Therapeutics “controls 10.3% of the market.” AMA President Bruce Scott, MD, said the findings “warrant attention as Congress and the administration continue their work to protect patients and ensure prescription drugs remain affordable and accessible.”

AMA urges CMS to be “fully transparent” about effects of physician payment cuts

Healio (9/6, Rhoades) reported, “A letter from AMA’s executive vice president called for CMS to be ‘fully transparent’ on the impact that payment cuts in the 2025 Physician Fee Schedule will have on patients and physicians.” CMS unveiled “its proposed 2025 Physician Fee Schedule in July, which included a 2.93% cut in physician payments from the previous year and a $0.93 reduction from the current conversion factor.” Additionally, CMS “estimates that the Medicare Economic Index...will increase by 3.6%, according to an AMA press release.” The letter said, “[This] proposed rule is silent on the impact of the growing gap between what Medicare pays for care and what it costs to provide that care. ... A chorus of authorities on the Medicare program has expressed concern about the ability of patients to continue receiving high-quality care as physician payments erode.”

Editor’s note: The evidence is clear. The Medicare payment system is on an unsustainable path, threatening patients' access to physicians. How the AMA is leading the charge on Medicare payment reform.

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