NFL Star Diagnosed With ALS at 39; ‘No Surprises’ Windfall; Arizona Plague Scare

Note that some links may require registration or subscription.

Chris Johnson, a former NFL running back for the Tennessee Titans, revealed he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at 39. (People)

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed criticism from Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.) that he’s breaking promises. (The Hill)

The FDA selected seven companies to participate in its PreCheck Pilot Program that aims to bolster domestic drug manufacturing in response to one of Trump’s executive orders from 2025.

Some surgical assistants have used a loophole in the No Surprises Act to file for arbitration and earn more than surgeons, sometimes as high as $22,000 an hour. (New York Times)

Micro hospital operator Nutex Health’s profits soared after it started using No Surprises Act arbitration. Here’s what else STAT found in its investigation.

Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.) was discharged after being hospitalized for 2 days for a blood clot. (The Hill)

The Trump administration is proposing that hospitals report Medicare patients’ end-of-life preferences in electronic health records. (Axios)

Congo banned public gatherings in the capital Kinshasa and three provinces over the ongoing Ebola outbreak. (Reuters via MSN)

Health officials in Arizona are looking into a suspected case of pneumonic plague. (Arizona’s Family)

The U.S. reported 32 new measles cases in the past week, according to the Yale School of Public Health. Here’s where they were.

Luigi Mangione’s federal trial for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been postponed to January. (AP)

The FDA expanded the indication for roflumilast (Zoryve) cream 0.3% to treat plaque psoriasis in kids ages 2 and up, maker Arcutis announced.

Resident doctors in England voted to accept a deal with the government, getting a pay bump and bringing an end to strike actions that cost the National Health Service $1 billion. (The Guardian)

A Manhattan hotel was evacuated after bear spray was released inside; seven people were hurt and two were hospitalized. (CBS News)

Influencer and businesswoman Emilee Saldaya, who promotes medically unassisted “freebirths,” has long claimed no mother has died after but that may not be the case. (The Guardian)

Daveigh Chase, the actress who voiced Lilo in “Lilo and Stitch” and played the villain in “The Ring,” died from AIDS, according to the Los Angeles medical examiner. (USA Today)

NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders said he feels like himself again a year after surgery to remove his cancerous bladder. (AP)

Here’s what a gastroenterologist wants people to know about bidets. (Washington Post)