• District of Columbia: HHS has delayed the release of the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans until early next year. The guidelines, which are required to be updated every five years, were supposed to be replaced by the end of 2025. Earlier this year, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the new guidelines would be released by late summer or early fall, but the release continues to be pushed back. According to Kennedy, the new guidelines will prioritize whole foods and provide advice to help people eat healthier. He has also suggested that the guidelines would encourage people to eat more meat, full-fat dairy, and saturated fats, which health experts say could increase cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. The official dietary guidelines affect what kinds of meals are served in day cares, schools, and military cafeterias, as well as food in programs for low-income and older adults. They also affect the nutrition lessons taught in schools and dietary advice from doctors. (Callahan, New York Times, 12/4)
• Indiana: Eli Lilly is rolling out a new model to help employers provide access to the company's GLP-1 drugs more easily. According to Lilly, the model allows for flexibility around benefit options for obesity care and uses a dedicated pharmacy network to help employers understand and track GLP-1-related costs. Lilly is also working with third-party organizations, including Waltz Health and 9amHealth, to help employers develop holistic weight-management solutions. "Obesity care is the next frontier in employer health benefits," Lilly wrote. "Companies that act now will lead the way, closing coverage gaps and building healthier, more resilient workforces." Lilly is currently working with its partners to refine the rollout, with the model expected to launch in early 2026. (Minemyer, Fierce Healthcare, 11/21)
• Rhode Island: CVS has agreed to pay $37.76 million to resolve allegations that the company over-dispensed insulin pens and improperly billed federal health programs over a decade-long period. The settlement resolves claims that CVS pharmacies repeatedly refilled prescriptions for insulin too soon, dispensed more insulin than prescribed, and underreported the days-of-supply dispensed between 2010 and 2020, which led federal health programs to reimburse CVS for ineligible claims. As part of the settlement, CVS acknowledged some of its pharmacies failed to follow proper billing procedures, and that its auto-refill programs sometimes led to premature refills due to inaccurate data. Of the roughly $38 million settlement, $24.4 million will go to the federal government while the rest will be distributed to "various states." (Jeffries, Becker's Hospital Review, 12/3)

Writing for the New York Times, Alice Callahan outlines 10 science-backed nutrition tips to help you start eating healthier.