Plastic In Chewing Gum, Prior Auth Reform Stalls, The Stupidity of Physical Therapy Visit Caps

Hey all,

Happy Monday! I’d already given up chewing gum, but a new study on plastic in chewing gum has me once again reviewing what things in my environment have plastic. It is pervasive and insidious. Enjoy the rundown!

Jacob Brody (Co-Founder & CEO, ZorroRX) 

(Business Insider) Chewing Gum Microplastics Study 

A recent study presented at the American Chemical Society meeting reveals that chewing gum can release hundreds to thousands of microplastic particles into your mouth, primarily due to its synthetic rubber base, which is a type of plastic. Though gum is a minor source compared to other everyday exposures, this finding highlights how deeply embedded microplastics are in daily life and raises concerns about long-term health effects, such as inflammation and increased disease risk. So maybe skip the gum—apparently we’ve already got enough plastic in our brains to whip up a spoon. Full Article.

(Modern Healthcare) Prior Authorization Reform Stalls

Recent reforms to the prior authorization process have done little to ease public frustration, as patients continue to face delays and denials for essential medical treatments. Despite insurer promises and legislative efforts aimed at simplifying the system, critics argue that the changes amount to superficial fixes that fail to address the deeper issues plaguing chronically ill patients and overburdened providers. While there is growing public outrage—intensified by viral patient stories and high-profile incidents—there is little consensus on how to solve the problem. Full Article

(KFF Health News) Physical Therapy Capped, Even For Patients That Can’t Walk

Despite the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of health coverage, a major oversight allows insurers to cap the number of physical and occupational therapy sessions per year, often leaving severely injured or ill patients without sufficient rehab to recover basic mobility or independence. With nearly 80% of ACA plans imposing annual visit limits—typically 20 to 30—patients must either forgo needed care or pay out-of-pocket, a burden disproportionately affecting those recovering from strokes, accidents, or major surgeries. And in a stroke of genius, those same 20 to 30 visits are often shared with mental health therapy too—because obviously, you can totally rehab from major surgery and resolve your emotional trauma in the same handful of sessions. Full Article