ZorroCard Round Up (9/23/24)

Hey all,

Hope you had a good weekend. To start off the week I featured on story about an analysis of chemicals in food packaging finding their way into our bodies. Chemicals in our food supply are an under-discussed threat to human health. Hopefully research like this leads to action by government, private industry, and consumers.

Enjoy the reading!

Best,

Jacob Brody (Co-Founder & CEO at ZorroCarD)

Bloomberg (Lilly Requests Patient Data on Compounded Drugs): Eli Lilly is seeking records from individuals who obtained knockoff versions of its popular weight-loss drugs, including those who may have received treatments from unauthorized providers. This legal action highlights Lilly’s efforts to protect its intellectual property and ensure patient safety, particularly as demand for its drugs like Mounjaro surges. The move underscores broader concerns about counterfeit pharmaceuticals and their potential risks. Full Article

ConscienHealth (Chemicals in Food Packaging): A recent analysis highlights the presence of 14,000 chemicals in food packaging, with 3,601 of these substances potentially entering our bodies through food consumption. These findings raise concerns about the long-term health impacts of these chemicals, many of which are not thoroughly regulated or tested for safety. The study underscores the need for stricter regulations and better consumer awareness about food packaging materials. Full Article

PLANSPONSOR and PBMs as Fiduciaries Under ERISA: The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) is urging Congress to classify Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) as fiduciaries under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). This move is aimed at increasing transparency and accountability, ensuring that PBMs act in the best interest of plan sponsors and participants (which they don’t currently do). Full Article

The Washington Post (Health System Data Breach): After refusing to pay a $5 million ransom. Lehigh Valley Health has agreed to pay $65 million after hackers leaked sensitive patient information, including nude photos taken for medical purposes. The breach highlights significant vulnerabilities in healthcare data security and raises ethical concerns about the protection of patient privacy vs. paying ransoms. Full Article