• California: Google has formed a new Consumer Health Advisory Panel to help guide the company's development of health-focused technology. The panel includes 12 external experts from various health-related fields, including medicine, biomedical research, digital health, behavioral science, and sleep health. The panel will help inform Google's product development and ensure that new health features are built using scientific evidence and responsibly implemented. According to Google, the panel will help assess different technologies such as generative AI for personalized health insights. It will also work to ensure that the health tools meet safety standards and regulatory requirements. (Diaz, Becker's Health IT, 7/15)
• California: According to a new KFF analysis, premiums for ACA health plans are expected to increase by a median of 15% in 2026, the largest increase in premiums since 2018. For the analysis, KFF examined 105 health plan filings submitted across 19 states and the District of Columbia. Among the different insurers, 32 said they expect a 10% to 15% increase in premiums while 24 said they expect increases of 15% to 20%. Eight insurers said they plan to increase premiums by 30% or more while five said they would increase premiums by no more than 5%. No insurers said they plan to decrease premiums. Although enrollees who qualify for ACA premium subsidies usually wouldn't be impacted by annual premium increases, these enhanced subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year. According to the KFF analysis, the average amount people pay for ACA coverage could increase by more than 75% if the enhanced subsidies expire. "The out-of-pocket change for individuals will be immense, and many won’t actually be able to make ends meet and pay premiums, so they will go uninsured," said JoAnn Volk, codirector of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. Recently, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that 4.2 million would become uninsured over the next 10 years if ACA subsidies expire. (Goldman, Axios, 7/18; Simmons-Duffin, "Shots," NPR, 7/18; Appleby, KFF Health News, 7/18)
• Georgia: According to new CDC data, almost a third of U.S. children ages 12 to 17 had prediabetes in 2023, a significant jump from a previous estimate of around 20%. CDC researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and collected information about blood sugar levels in U.S. adolescents to create their estimate. "These new data highlight the magnitude of prediabetes among adolescents and serve as a critical wake-up call for the nation," said CDC Spokesperson Melissa Dibble. However, scientists who study and treat diabetes have raised questions about the findings since CDC officials only released a short summary of the new findings instead of raw data or a peer-reviewed paper on the research. The methodology to calculate the estimate was also changed without a detailed explanation. "For any of the national health organizations now being decimated by firings (and) layoffs, I am going to be skeptical of data updates until there is transparency and clarity on the source of the data and analysis," said Christopher Gardner, an expert in diabetes and nutrition at Stanford University. Separately, Samar Hafida, an endocrinologist and representative for the American Diabetes Association, said that while the new analysis "wasn't very transparent," the updated estimate aligned with what doctors are seeing in their patients. "It could be that maybe the number [is] slightly inflated, but I would hesitate to dismiss it," she said. (Aleccia, Associated Press, 7/11)

Enhanced subsidies have had a significant impact on Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace enrollment, driving record-high numbers. But what will happen to these subsidies after 2025? Dive into the implications for health plans and learn how they can navigate the uncertain future.