CDC’s Ominous Influenza Report and FBI Statement on Cuba Ransomware
Recent CDC data revealed details about the severity of this year’s flu season, and a joint cybersecurity advisory from the FBI and CISA warned critical industries about an emerging ransomware threat.
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By - According to CDC reporting, this year’s flu season will be the worst in recent memory as infection rates spike, hospitalizations rise, and vulnerable populations are walloped. Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) shared details last week about the emerging Cuba Ransomware that has extorted nearly $150 million in ransoms.
Joint Security Advisory for Cuba Ransomware
The FBI and CISA released a joint cybersecurity advisory warning critical entities about the fast-spreading Cuba Ransomware that has already affected over 100 companies and been used to steal at least $145 million. The advisory stated that Cuba Ransomware actors have taken advantage of security flaws in commercial software and used phishing tactics to compromise company email. Additionally, the report found that the number of Cuba attacks doubled in December. READ MORE.
FDA Approves Worlds Most Expensive Gene Therapy
At the end of November, FDA officials approved Hemgenix, an injectable treatment for hemophilia and the most expensive drug to date. The Pennsylvania-based maker of the therapy, CSL Behring, will charge $3.5 million per dose for their single-use treatment. In clinical trials, Hemgenix reduced patients’ reliance on prophylactic treatment and substantially lowered the occurrence of bleeds that can be life-threatening for hemophilia patients. READ MORE.
CDC Reports a Dozen Pediatric Flu Deaths
A recent CDC FluView report found elevated rates of influenza in pediatric patients and at least twelve pediatric deaths attributed to influenza infection this season. According to the CDC data, flu infection and hospitalization rates are rising, and many pediatric hospitals are struggling to deal with the simultaneous surge in RSV, influenza, and COVID-19. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky has now warned that flu hospitalizations are at their highest seasonal level in the last ten years. READ MORE.
AHA, AMA Ask Congress for No PAYGO Sequester
Several of the nation’s largest medical associations, including the American Hospital Association (AHA) and American Medical Association (AMA), are asking Congress to immediately prevent the pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) sequester from taking effect. In a letter to Congress, the groups argued that the sequester would lead to $38 billion in Medicare payment cuts in the coming year.
“Ninety percent of medical practices reported that the projected reduction to 2023 Medicare payment would reduce access to care,” Anders Gilberg, senior vice president of government affairs at the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), said in a public statement. “This cannot wait until next Congress — there are claims processing implications for retroactively applying these policies.” READ MORE.
AMA Defends Preventive Care Coverage Requirement
In a Texas court case, the AMA filed an amicus brief on behalf of HHS supporting the Affordable Care Act’s preventive care requirements.
“The research is clear: no-cost preventive care saves lives, saves money, improves health outcomes, and enables healthier lifestyles,” the AMA’s brief stated. “Identifying and treating conditions before they worsen, or before they present at all, yields better outcomes for patients and saves money for the health system overall. By expanding access to insurance coverage and requiring insurance plans to cover preventive health services without cost-sharing, such as copays and deductibles, the Affordable Care Act greatly expanded the availability of these services.” READ MORE.
