Not just the elderly: Polypharmacy a threat in middle age
Polypharmacy—taking five or more daily medications—is increasingly common among middle-aged adults, raising safety concerns. A Journal of General Internal Medicine links polypharmacy in middle age to reduced physical function scores to lower physical function scores and higher risks of drug interactions, cognitive impairment, and hospitalization. While causality remains unclear, the authors urge clinicians to assess physical function in middle-aged patients with polypharmacy to catch decline earlier and reduce harm. (Journal of General Internal Medicine; Medscape)
California tightens PBM oversight
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 41, a sweeping law tightening oversight of pharmacy benefit managers. The measure requires PBMs to be licensed by the state’s Department of Insurance and bans spread pricing, steering patients to affiliated pharmacies, and exclusive drugmaker deals. It also mandates full rebate pass-throughs to payers or patients and limits deceptive practices and certain fees. Newsom said the law protects consumers and small pharmacies, while PBM lobbyists argue it will raise drug costs. California joins 15 other states regulating PBMs. (Fierce Healthcare)
Practice Transformation
Docs need to debunk pediatric allergy myths
Pediatricians should actively dispel common allergy misconceptions, Dr. David Stukus told attendees at the AAP 2025 conference. First-generation antihistamines like Benadryl have longer onset, shorter duration, and more side effects than second-generation alternatives like Zyrtec and Claritin. Local honey can’t treat allergies since it lacks relevant pollen. Most children deemed penicillin-allergic aren’t. Most hives resolve without steroids, and egg allergy doesn’t contraindicate flu vaccines. Breastfeeding mothers rarely need dietary elimination. Reassure parents that most issues resolve naturally without drastic interventions, Stukus counseled. (Medscape)
AI is helping address rural shortages
Health systems are turning to AI, and not just for EHR documentation and billing: They’re using it address rural care gaps and clinician shortages. For example, Westchester Medical Center uses multilingual AI chatbots to deliver preventive care to non-English speakers, and Cedars-Sinai introduced a Spanish-language version of its patient app using AI tools. Other systems, including Hackensack Meridian Health, Hartford Healthcare, and Rush University Medical Center, have launched AI-enabled virtual primary care platforms integrated with EHRs, offering 24/7 access and helping patients stay within their health networks. (Modern Healthcare)
Evidence & Innovation
Misinformation fails? Patients still trust their doctors
Despite widespread health misinformation, 83% of patients still trust their doctors most for medical advice, up from 81% last year, according to a new PatientPoint survey. While only 5% use AI for health research, many welcome tech that boosts convenience: 53% want online appointment scheduling, and 45% want instant test results. The findings point to the need for healthcare systems to balance personal care with technology-driven experiences. (TechTarget)
Policy Solutions
EHR pop-up messages do little to change prescribing habits
Pop-up reminders in the EHR had little impact on reducing overuse of proton pump inhibitors, according to research published in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health. The number of prescriptions decreased by 2.8% after implementation of guideline pop-up messages in primary care physicians’ EHR systems, but 91% to 100% still exceeded the recommended eight-week duration. Clinicians closed 67% of the messages, clicked on 33% for additional information and opted out of 0.4%, “Our findings suggest that more comprehensive, multi-faceted approaches may be necessary to achieve meaningful changes in prescribing behavior,” the researchers write. (Medscape; Journal of Primary Care & Community Health)
