New study investigates impact of sunscreen use on humans and environment
The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NAS) has announced a study to investigate the environmental and public health impacts of ingredients in currently marketed sunscreens. As concerns grow over the potential harms of these ingredients on the environment (specifically on water environments like coral reefs and lakes), the NAS is seeking to better understand the relationship between sunscreens and potential damage to aquatic environments. They are also interested in determining how public opinion on sunscreen use may change if ingredients are determined to be harmful to the environment.
Although UV filters are being reviewed, it is important to continue to protect yourself from the sun. If you are concerned about environmental damage, you can use other methods to protect yourself, such as sunshades, clothing to cover your arms and legs, hats to cover you face, lip balms and sunglasses. You can also select a mineral sunscreen, which are generally considered to be reef-safe.
For more tips on how to Stay Skin Healthy, visit our website to learn more!
HHS releases Healthy People 2030 plan
Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released Healthy People 2030, the department’s 10-year plan to address the country’s most important public health problems and priorities. This decade’s plan has 355 core objectives, with major goals around curbing the opioid crisis and ending the youth vaping epidemic. There are many objectives focused on cancer prevention and early detection.
“Healthy People was the first national effort to lay out a set of data-driven priorities for health improvement,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “Healthy People 2030 adopts a more focused set of objectives and more rigorous data standards to help the federal government and all of our partners deliver results on these important goals over the next decade.”
Many federal agencies use these objectives to make their own goals. Representatives from 20 different agencies worked with an external advisory panel to shape priorities—along with public comments submitted to HHS.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation® applauds HHS for its commitment to public health and bold goals to prevent hundreds of thousands of cancer deaths over the next decade. To learn more about Healthy People 2030, visit the HHS website.
Drug makers and the administration debate drug pricing
In July, President Trump announced four executive orders intended to reduce drug prices. While the first three were enacted immediately, the fourth (tying drug prices in America to those paid in other countries) was held by the president to give manufacturers the opportunity to provide an alternative plan. He set a deadline of August 24 to provide alternatives.
At least one drug company has confirmed they have submitted two proposals to the president. Though the full details have not been released, these proposals are for two pilot programs within Medicare (one for Part B and one for Part D):
- Drug makers would provide “market-based” discounts for high-cost injectables (like insulin) in Part B and cap the co-pays paid by patients at a set amount.
- Drugs offered in pharmacies through Part D would cap prices paid by patients at 5%.
Next steps are unclear and have been complicated by some reports from the White House that the president signed the executive order without drug makers’ input.
This is a developing story, and we will provide updates as they become available.
