Latest news with #LaPook
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. Has Stunning Response to Cuts to Vital Public Health
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is 'not familiar' with the billions of dollars worth of cuts he proposed to make on essential health programs and departments. CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook asked the secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Wednesday if he had personally approved the more than $11 billion proposed cuts to programs addressing mental health, infectious diseases, addiction, and childhood vaccination. Kennedy, however, alleged that he had no knowledge of them. When pressed by LaPook, who stated that there were 'more than 50 pages' detailing the cuts, Kennedy backtracked and said that they were 'mainly DEI cuts, which the president ordered.' The secretary of health was also surprised to learn that the University of Michigan's $750,000 grant towards researching adolescent diabetes was slashed, telling LaPook how he 'didn't know that, and that's something that we'll look at.' He added, 'I just, I'm not familiar with that particular study ... But there's a number of studies that were cut that came to our attention and that did not deserve to be cut, and we reinstated them.' RFK Jr. said, 'Our purpose is not to reduce any level of scientific research that's important.' The health secretary's 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda included a 'dramatic restructuring' of health services, bringing down the total number of full-time employees from 82,000 to 62,000, the HHS wrote in a March 27 press release. By March 31, the 10,000 federal job cuts plan had already begun, Kennedy posted on X a day that 'our hearts go out to those who have lost their jobs.' He added, 'But the reality is clear: what we've been doing isn't working.' Yet on Thursday, Kennedy suddenly announced that he would be reinstating around 20% of the jobs and programs that were cut from departments such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the HHS. Though he said this 'was always the plan,' he notably pointed out that he would also have to go back and fix the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) mistakes, such as slashing too many human resources jobs and programs. When LaPook inquired if these cuts, including the University of Michigan's grant, should be considered DOGE cuts, Kennedy replied that he 'couldn't speak to that' matter. According to The Minnesota Star Tribune, an HHS spokesperson told them in an email last week that these recent cuts were about 'realigning HHS with its core mission: To stop the chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again.' the HHS spokesperson added, 'Despite spending $1.9 trillion in annual costs, Americans are getting sicker every year, and we must shift course.' But following these billions of dollars worth of cuts, LaPook asked Kennedy what he viewed as the basic level of care Americans should receive and who should pay for it, to which he claimed that people 'have a choice' in how sick they are going to be. 'If you don't have any choice then we should give you all the resources that you want,' Kennedy added. 'If you're smoking three packs of cigarettes a day, should you expect society to pay when you get sick?'
CBS News
09-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
RFK Jr. says he's "not familiar" with all health program cuts in exclusive interview
In his first network TV interview since becoming Health and Human Services secretary under the Trump administration, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke with CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook about the measles vaccine, major government cuts and health care costs. LaPook met with Kennedy in Mesa, Arizona, where he visited a native health center as part of a three-state tour to promote the Trump administration's " Make America Healthy Again " agenda, which includes overhauling standards for food processing. " FDA needs to start regulating food again and saying, you know, not just when food is adulterated, when there's bacteria in it, let's look at the chemicals in it," Kennedy said. Since his appointment in February, Kennedy has facilitated sweeping cuts affecting a wide range of programs and employees . When asked by LaPook if he personally approved the more than $11 billion proposed in cuts to local and state programs that address infectious disease, mental health, addiction and childhood vaccination, Kennedy said, "No I'm not familiar with those cuts. We'd have to go … the cuts were mainly DEI cuts, which the president ordered." LaPook provided Kennedy with an example of a $750,000 University of Michigan grant focused on adolescent diabetes, which was eliminated. "I didn't know that, and that's something that we'll look at," Kennedy said. He added that he could not speak to if it should be considered a DOGE cut. "I just, I'm not familiar with that particular study. But there's a number of studies that were cut that came to our attention and that did not deserve to be cut, and we reinstated them. Our purpose is not to reduce any level of scientific research that's important." Around 10,000 HHS employees are being laid off in a restructuring move by Kennedy and Elon Musk's DOGE . The secretary acknowledged that some of the DOGE cuts will need to be reinstated . "HHS's job is to make America healthy, and we're spending $1.9 trillion a year, and people are not getting healthy. ... What Elon said is that, when you do a disruption of this, a lot of times, 80% of the people that get cut ... You may make mistakes, as much as 20[%], and then you go back and remedy that." With billions of dollars in cuts at stake, Kennedy addressed the cost of health care. "People have a choice about how sick they are going to be, many people. If you don't have any choice, then we should give you all the resources that you want, but I mean... it's a moral question too, and it's a philosophical question," the secretary said. "If you're smoking three packs of cigarettes a day, should you expect society to pay when you get sick?" For decades, Kennedy has been a vaccine skeptic and promoted false claims that vaccines cause autism. But now, Kennedy told CBS News he encourages people to get the measles vaccine . " The federal government's position, my position, is that people should get the measles vaccine, but ... the government should not be mandating those," he said. Kennedy had previously said the measles vaccine is the most effective way to prevent the virus from spreading, but until now had stopped short of recommending it. Yet he also continued to raise doubts despite decades of research and extensive testing that backs up the effectiveness and safety of vaccines. "When I say they're not safety tested, what I mean is they're not adequately — many of the vaccines are tested for only three or four days with no placebo group," Kennedy said. "I always said during my campaign and every part, every public statement I've made: I'm not gonna take people's vaccines away from them. What I'm gonna do is make sure that we have good science so that people can make an informed choice." The growing multi-state measles outbreak has hit Texas the hardest. As of Tuesday, the state reported more than 500 confirmed measles cases since January and two deaths in unvaccinated children, ages 6 and 8. Following the death of the second child from measles-related causes, Kennedy traveled to Gaines County, Texas, posting on X that he was there "to comfort the Hildebrand family after the loss of their 8-year-old daughter Daisy." As of April 3, the CDC has reported 607 confirmed measles cases in more than 20 states, including: Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Washington. The outbreak centered in West Texas has primarily impacted children and teens, most of whom were unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status.
CBS News
25-03-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Foods that trigger acid reflux, how to prevent it and when to consult a doctor
An estimated 20% of Americans suffer from GERD, a chronic form of acid reflux that goes beyond occasional heartburn. GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, can be more common among older people, those who are obese, and pregnant women, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. When should symptoms raise concern? CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook broke down what to know about serious acid reflux on "CBS Mornings Plus" Tuesday. "The stomach loves acid, it helps with digestion. The esophagus, the swallowing tube, hates acid," LaPook, who is a gastroenterologist at NYU Langone Health, explained. "Fortunately, there's a valve in between the stomach and the esophagus that stops acid from bubbling up and giving you symptoms. When that loosens up, acid bubbles up, and it can cause all sorts of symptoms." Symptoms can include heartburn , cough and chest pain, he noted. Certain foods and other products can also trigger acid reflux, including: "Basically anything that gives you even an iota of pleasure," LaPook laughed. Besides avoiding these trigger foods, there are ways to prevent and treat acid reflux, including antacids and other medications. "Things that can make it better are things like antacids. So you have pills that actually go into the stomach, or liquid that coats the esophagus and goes into the stomach — the liquid tends to work a little faster — and they hit that stomach acid ... and decrease the amount of acid the stomach," LaPook said. If that doesn't work, there are medications that can help stop the production of acid. "They can get increasingly powerful, and they can be more important in the long run for controlling long-term symptoms," he said. Finishing meals at least 2 to 3 hours before going to sleep, and elevating your head in bed, can also help reduce discomfort, the Sleep Foundation suggests. While most commonly acid reflux is something that can be treated with medication, diet or weight loss, LaPook urges people to talk to their doctor in case it's the sign of something more serious. "My advice to people is, when you have something pop up, especially a new symptom, talk to your health care provider about it, because it can be tricky knowing when to do what," he said. For patients experiencing chest pain, LaPook said it could just be acid reflux but also cautioned that it " could be a lot of things ," including an ulcer, gallbladder disease or heart issue. "People with heart attacks or angina can feel burning in their chest," he said, highlighting the importance of bringing up your exact symptoms to your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
CBS News
18-03-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Immediate access to health test results can be a mixed bag for patients
Patients can access their own health records — including test results — as soon as they're available. While it might sound beneficial, in some cases, people are receiving life-changing diagnoses before their doctors have a chance to speak with them. The accessibility is due to legislation that went into effect in 2021 called the 21st Century Cures Act. It is designed to give patients easier access to electronic health records and quicker access to medical innovations, but experts say it comes with an unintended side effect. "It is a great idea, but it comes with some wrinkles," said CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook. For example, patients can see information like cancer screening results on their own before a doctor delivers the news. While it's best to discuss the results with your doctor, some believe the ability to access the information can be beneficial. "Especially with paper records we would say, 'Well, no news is good news,' … well, no news may not be good news because maybe the doctor never got the result, maybe they got the result and didn't read it, they got the result, read it and didn't realize it was abnormal, they try to call you … so it is a good idea," LaPook said. He explained a doctor can ensure the results are not immediately released, but to do that it would have to follow certain criteria. "It has to be because they think the results will cause the patient to have physical harm to themselves or to somebody else, not emotional," LaPook said. "The patient, depending on the app that they're in, can also say, 'I don't want to see the results.'" LaPook's oldest sister, Judy, had a similar experience a few years ago with blood test results. It was late at night when her phone dinged with a result of a blood test. It was a kidney test called BUN, Blood Urea Nitrogen. The result was "a little bit high" and abnormal, LaPook said. His sister turned to the internet for answers. "By the middle of the night it's pointing her to renal dialysis sites, kidney transplant sites, and by 7 in the morning when she finally called me … she was kind of laughing at herself but also serious. I said, 'no, you're fine, and here's why,'" LaPook said. That's why it's crucial to have conversations with your doctor. "At the end of the day you need to be available to those patients … and I love empowering patients," LaPook said. "We are in this transition period now where they're not doctors, they're not clinicians and we need to educate them."
CBS News
25-02-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Testosterone replacement therapy is rising in popularity. What is it and what are there risks?
Testosterone replacement therapy, which involves taking manufactured forms of testosterone, has surged in popularity. Prescriptions for the treatment rose from 7.3 million in 2019 to more than 11 million last year. "It's exploding," CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook said Tuesday on "CBS Mornings Plus." But the treatment, also known as TRT, carries health risks to be aware of. And while it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for some conditions, and is widely marketed as a way to improve health and stay young, data on long-term effects is limited. "We did a big investigation five years ago, went across the country, and there are a lot of places that are pushing this as a fountain of youth. Who doesn't want to be younger?" LaPook said. "But there are problems." What is testosterone replacement therapy? TRT involves the use of anabolic steroids, a synthetic drug, to increase testosterone levels. It can be administered via injection, oral medication or topically with gels or patches. Testosterone is a hormone produced primarily in the testicles that helps develop or maintain bone, muscle and fat, as well as facial and body hair, red blood cells, sex drive and sperm production. Though testosterone levels are naturally higher in males, both testicles and ovaries produce testosterone, the Cleveland Clinic notes. "For adult females, testosterone enhances libido. However, the majority of testosterone produced in the ovaries is converted to the primary female sex hormone, estradiol," the clinic's website reads. What is testosterone replacement therapy approved for? The FDA only approves the use of testosterone for people who have symptoms and are hypogonadal, meaning they have a condition that causes lower-than-normal testosterone levels, LaPook said. "So it's not just a low testosterone. You have symptoms of erectile dysfunction, decreased libido. You're fatigued," he added, advising people to seek proper medical care to determine if this therapy is right for them. "This is something where you don't want to be going online and just getting it and taking it at home and not following the levels. You need somebody who's professional." How do I know if I have low testosterone? Multiple blood tests can measure testosterone levels. Before testosterone therapy is recommended, a doctor may test levels multiple times to determine the best treatment option. Treating normal aging with testosterone therapy is also not advisable, according to the Mayo Clinic. "If you don't have a medical condition that's contributing to your decline in testosterone levels, your doctor might suggest natural ways to boost testosterone, such as losing weight and increasing muscle mass through resistance exercise," the clinic notes. Testosterone replacement therapy risks While the treatment may have an impact on muscle strength and how people feel, LaPook said there is limited evidence on the extent of potential benefits and potential dangers. "Anything that is pharmacologically active and can help, is pharmacologically active and can hurt," LaPook warned. "One of the problems is that there are a lot of people, guys out there who are taking testosterone because they want to feel younger — they want the muscle, they want to get jacked up. But there are problems with it." For people with low testosterone using TRT, studies show slight increased risk of certain heart, lung and kidney conditions. But there aren't controlled studies for those using it with normal testosterone levels. "You're kind of rolling the dice there," he said. It could also affect fertility by reducing sperm count, cause acne and worsen sleep apnea, according to both the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic. The Cleveland Clinic adds that TRT is also unsafe if you have certain existing health conditions like prostate cancer, breast cancer or heart failure. "Although some men believe they feel younger and more vigorous if they take testosterone medications, there's little evidence to support the use of testosterone in otherwise healthy men," the Mayo Clinic says.
