Traditionally, and still in many practices today, some of the most important parts of a primary care visit happen after the patient leaves the exam room. Diagnosis is often delayed, follow-up decisions are disconnected from the visit itself, and early opportunities for intervention can be missed.

Weight-loss drugs are among the hottest products in medicine. GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic and Wegovy are so popular that demand has routinely exceeded supply. Into that gap, a booming market for compounded versions has emerged. One that authors from The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and JAMA Health Forum warn is largely unregulated, inconsistently manufactured, and increasingly risky.

When most Americans think of health insurance, they picture their employer plan or marketplace coverage. Yet behind the scenes, two massive public programs — Medicaid and Medicare Advantage — shape the foundation for how coverage works across the entire system.

When people talk about rising health care costs, they often focus on prescription drugs, insurance premiums, or hospital stays. But a quieter force is shaping what patients pay every day: the consolidation of primary care. Ownership matters, and who employs your doctor influences the bill you receive, often in ways that aren’t obvious.

Defective car parts trigger recalls. Children’s toys are tested for choking hazards. Even e-cigarettes face restrictions on flavors and advertising. Yet firearms, now the leading cause of death among U.S. children and teens, remain largely exempt from the consumer safety rules that govern other potentially dangerous products.