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Dr. Lena Park
Dr. Lena Park
Healthcare Policy Correspondent

Lena covers health policy, pharmaceutical regulation, insurance markets, and the politics of healthcare reform.

385 articles published

Senate Panel Advances Bill to Ban Disability-Based Organ Transplant Denials
Healthcare
Senate Panel Advances Bill to Ban Disability-Based Organ Transplant Denials
A Senate committee has approved a bill that would bar organ transplant networks from denying life-saving care solely bec
Medicare's New $50 GLP-1 Program: Eligibility, Costs, and Political Stakes
Healthcare
Medicare's New $50 GLP-1 Program: Eligibility, Costs, and Political Stakes
Medicare's new GLP-1 Bridge program offers select weight loss drugs for $50/month to eligible beneficiaries, but strict
FDA Greenlights Zyn Nicotine Pouches for ‘Lower Risk’ Marketing Over Cigarettes
Healthcare
FDA Greenlights Zyn Nicotine Pouches for ‘Lower Risk’ Marketing Over Cigarettes
The FDA has allowed Zyn nicotine pouches to be marketed with claims they are less harmful than cigarettes, a major victo
Dementia Costs US Economy $818 Billion in 2024, Unpaid Caregivers Bear Brunt
Healthcare
Dementia Costs US Economy $818 Billion in 2024, Unpaid Caregivers Bear Brunt
Dementia will cost the U.S. $818 billion in 2024, with unpaid caregivers covering most of the tab, according to a study
Suicide Prevention Progress at Risk as Federal Cuts Hit Key Programs
Healthcare
Suicide Prevention Progress at Risk as Federal Cuts Hit Key Programs
Suicide rates fell 3% in 2024, the first significant decline in decades, but former CDC and HHS officials warn that staf
PBM Lobby Launches Offensive to Reshape Drug Pricing Debate After Reform
Healthcare
PBM Lobby Launches Offensive to Reshape Drug Pricing Debate After Reform
The PBM industry's top lobby is launching an aggressive campaign to redefine its role in drug pricing after reforms, tar
Dr. Oz's Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: A Subsidy, Not a Price Control Model
Healthcare
Dr. Oz's Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: A Subsidy, Not a Price Control Model
Dr. Oz's Medicare GLP-1 Bridge provides $50 monthly access to obesity drugs for seniors, but health economist Fred Roede
Oral Obesity Drug Aleniglipron Shows 12% Weight Loss in Trial
Healthcare
Oral Obesity Drug Aleniglipron Shows 12% Weight Loss in Trial
A new study shows the oral GLP-1 drug aleniglipron leads to nearly 12% weight loss over 36 weeks, with mild side effects
Politicians Exploit False Health Crises While Americans Actually Get Healthier
Healthcare
Politicians Exploit False Health Crises While Americans Actually Get Healthier
Americans are living longer, surviving cancer more often, and beating obesity—but politicians still claim a healthcare c
4 Million Exit ACA Plans After Subsidies Expire, Enrollment Plunges 16%
Healthcare
4 Million Exit ACA Plans After Subsidies Expire, Enrollment Plunges 16%
About 4 million Americans have left ACA plans after enhanced subsidies expired, driving double-digit premium hikes. Enro
Funding Cuts Threaten Overdose Prevention Gains as Deaths Fall
Healthcare
Funding Cuts Threaten Overdose Prevention Gains as Deaths Fall
Overdose deaths are falling for the first time in years, but without congressional action, the fragile system behind the
Vermont Becomes First State to Ban Paraquat Over Parkinson's Link
Healthcare
Vermont Becomes First State to Ban Paraquat Over Parkinson's Link
Vermont has become the first U.S. state to ban paraquat, a widely used herbicide linked to Parkinson's disease. The move
Premium Hikes, Not Fraud, Driving ACA Enrollment Collapse, Experts Say
Healthcare
Premium Hikes, Not Fraud, Driving ACA Enrollment Collapse, Experts Say
ACA enrollment dropped 5% overall and 13% for new sign-ups, with only 86% of 2026 enrollees paying first premiums. Exper
Evidence-Based Mental Health Care Key to Safer Streets, Not More Prisons
Healthcare
Evidence-Based Mental Health Care Key to Safer Streets, Not More Prisons
Treating mental illness before crisis, not more prisons, is the evidence-based path to safer streets, argues a Yale scho
GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Spark Debate Over Fairness in Professional Sports
Healthcare
GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Spark Debate Over Fairness in Professional Sports
The use of GLP-1 weight loss drugs by athletes like Serena Williams has ignited a debate over whether they should be ban
Tirzepatide Shows Promise in Activating Calorie-Burning Brown Fat
Healthcare
Tirzepatide Shows Promise in Activating Calorie-Burning Brown Fat
Research presented at ENDO 2026 suggests tirzepatide activates brown fat, potentially increasing energy expenditure beyo
Combination Drug Therapy Shows Promise in Preserving Muscle During Weight Loss
Healthcare
Combination Drug Therapy Shows Promise in Preserving Muscle During Weight Loss
A study published in Nature shows that the monoclonal antibody apitegromab, when used with tirzepatide, can preserve lea
GLP-1 Drugs Show Promise in Restoring Male Fertility, New Study Finds
Healthcare
GLP-1 Drugs Show Promise in Restoring Male Fertility, New Study Finds
A new study from UK researchers suggests GLP-1 drugs can improve male fertility by raising testosterone levels and enhan