iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

States have already allocated billions of dollars from major opioid settlements. The largest share of funds, about 40%, is going toward unknown purposes, finds an analysis of publicly reported data led by USC Schaeffer's Rosalie Liccardo Pacula.

schaeffer.usc.edu

Billions From Opioid Settlements Are Finally Arriving. Here's How the Money Can Be Spent Wisely. - September 29, 2026 - USC Schaeffer

The science about what works is far stronger than the current spending patterns in many states suggest. - September 29, 2026

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 25/09/2026

A proposal to tie Medicare physician pay increases to inflation represents a retreat from using sweeping financial incentives to influence how doctors provide care, USC Schaeffer’s Paul Ginsburg told @statnews.com.

statnews.com

Momentum is building for a big change to how doctors get paid

Congress is considering linking doctor payment rates to medical inflation under the proposed Patients First Act.

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Reposted by USC Schaeffer

CIDRAP @cidrap.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Most older US adults would be interested in a dementia vaccine, survey finds Researchers asked about a hypothetical vaccine that could cut the risk of dementia in half. Read more: bit.ly/4y9IYDl 📷: CDC

Clinician and patient discuss brain scans

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 21/09/2026

Older Americans appear ready to embrace a vaccine that would help prevent dementia. New USC Schaeffer research finds nearly 3 in 4 older adults would be interested in receiving a vaccine that could cut the risk of dementia in half.

schaeffer.usc.edu

Older Adults Have Strong Interest in Dementia Vaccine, Survey Finds - September 21, 2026 - USC Schaeffer

Nearly 3 in 4 expect they would get a vaccine that lowers a high risk of developing dementia. - September 21, 2026

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 17/09/2026

New FDA-approved blood tests can detect signs of #Alzheimers before symptoms appear, creating a critical opportunity for early intervention. Congress should pass bipartisan legislation allowing Medicare coverage, USC Schaeffer's Joe Grogan writes. www.realclearhealth.com/articles/202...

realclearhealth.com

Alzheimer’s Science Is Advancing

The Food and Drug Administration cleared two more Alzheimer’s blood tests last month, the latest sign of how quickly Alzheimer’s science is accelerating.But my career in Washington has tau

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 03/09/2026

The first prescription for sleep medications may play an important role in shaping long-term use. Patients initially prescribed drugs like Ambien for longer durations were more likely to still be using them years later, new USC Schaeffer research finds.

schaeffer.usc.edu

Long-Term Use of Sleep Drugs May Start With the Initial Prescription - September 3, 2026 - USC Schaeffer

The first prescription may play an important role in shaping long-term use of sleep medications. - September 3, 2026

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 27/08/2026

Medicare's GLP-1 Bridge Program is off to a fast start. USC Schaeffer Scholar Jeremy Shane tells @npr.org the program's early success offers an opportunity to think more broadly about how to link medicine prices to value.

npr.org

Drugstores say Medicare's $50 obesity drug program is catching on

The Bridge program, which began July 1, makes some Medicare beneficiaries eligible for obesity drugs for $50 a month. CVS and Walgreens say they've each already filled 100,000 such prescriptions.

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 26/08/2026

📅Voter turnout in the midterms will be shaped by an often-overlooked factor: friends & family. Join USC Schaeffer researchers and voting rights advocates on Sept. 15 for a conversation on how social circles influence voter intentions. Register here: schaeffer.usc.edu/event/do-you...

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 24/08/2026

Leading voices on the left and right incorrectly assume NIH funding and private research dollars are interchangeable. In reality, they are complementary investments that drive U.S. scientific leadership, USC Schaeffer's Darius Lakdawalla argues.

schaeffer.usc.edu

What the Left and Right Both Get Wrong About the NIH - August 24, 2026 - USC Schaeffer

Public and private research dollars are far from interchangeable. They're complementary investments that drive America's scientific leadership. - August 24, 2026

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 20/08/2026

New USC Schaeffer research estimates that 52 million U.S. adults have experienced at least one long COVID symptom, including ~10 million whose symptoms have severely limited daily activities. The need for effective long COVID treatments and surveillance remains urgent.

schaeffer.usc.edu

Long COVID Prevalence: Current Evidence - August 20, 2026 - USC Schaeffer

About 10 million Americans have experienced severe limitations in daily activities due to long COVID, underscoring the need for effective therapies and continued surveillance. - August 20, 2026

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 17/08/2026

Drug prices fell more sharply over the past year than at any point in more than 6 decades. USC Schaeffer’s Geoffrey Joyce tells @axios.com that market forces are driving much of this decline. www.axios.com/2026/08/17/d...

axios.com

Why prescription drug prices are plunging

The decline comes amid a major Washington push to lower drug costs.

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 13/08/2026

Confidence in U.S. democracy and higher education are both declining. Adding a civics requirement for college freshmen could help address both issues, argue USC Schaeffer Scholars Anna Saavedra and Peter Levine.

schaeffer.usc.edu

Universities Must Start Graduating More Good Citizens - August 13, 2026 - USC Schaeffer

A civics requirement could help restore confidence in U.S. higher education and democracy itself. - August 13, 2026

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 12/08/2026

As maternity care costs rise, most rural hospitals no longer deliver babies. USC Schaeffer's Virat Agrawal argues that states should use new rural health funding to expand access to high-quality, lower-cost options.

dcjournal.com

$50 Billion Won’t Fix Rural Maternity Care Without State Reform – DC Journal - InsideSources

Congress allocated $50 billion through the One Big Beautiful Bill to improve rural healthcare. Many states have identified maternal and infant health as a

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 07/08/2026

Clinical trial recruitment for #Alzheimers treatments is a persistent challenge. USC Schaeffer’s Clinical Trial Recruitment Lab interviewed stakeholders from across the trial ecosystem to ID areas of alignment, where priorities diverge and critical gaps.

schaeffer.usc.edu

Fixing the Funnel: Stakeholder Insights on Alzheimer’s Disease Trial Recruitment - August 7, 2026 - USC Schaeffer

Interviews with stakeholders across the Alzheimer’s clinical trial ecosystem explored barriers, emerging practices and opportunities to improve recruitment. - August 7, 2026

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 06/08/2026

FDA reviewers can't possibly keep pace with software development in the age of machine learning and AI, USC Schaeffer's Dana Goldman writes in @statnews.com Congress must give FDA the tools it needs to adapt so patients can access -- and have confidence in -- the latest innovations, he argues.

statnews.com

I’m using not-FDA-approved software to manage my diabetes. I’ve never felt better

“It is no longer possible to ask the FDA to keep pace with software development by doing the same reviews faster,” writes Dana Goldman.

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 04/08/2026

Drug spending is shifting away from “me-too” products and toward highly novel medicines, according to new USC Schaeffer research in Health Affairs. The findings suggest markets & policy are evolving to reward meaningful scientific innovation.

schaeffer.usc.edu

Pharmaceutical Spending Is Shifting Away From ‘Me-Too’ Drugs - August 3, 2026 - USC Schaeffer

Drug spending has become increasingly concentrated on innovative medicines, largely due to greater patient use rather than higher prices. - August 3, 2026

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 03/08/2026

While federal reforms are forcing changes to PBM practices, USC Schaeffer's Geoffrey Joyce tells Healthcare Brew it's unclear whether PBMs will simply be able to find new ways to generate revenue.

healthcare-brew.com

The government is forcing PBMs to be more transparent, but will reforms make a difference?

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, passed in February, included several significant reforms for PBMs.

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 29/07/2026

The 2025 L.A. wildfires had lasting psychological impacts on residents in evacuation zones, particularly those already facing social and economic hardship, according to a new study from the Center for Economic and Social Research at USC Schaeffer.

schaeffer.usc.edu

L.A. Wildfires Had Lasting Mental Health Impacts for the Most Vulnerable Residents - July 29, 2026 - USC Schaeffer

Almost one year after the fires, elevated levels of anxiety and depression were concentrated among Angelenos who already faced social and economic hardship. - July 29, 2026

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 27/07/2026

📢 New research funding opportunity: The USC-Yale Roybal Center for Behavioral Interventions in Aging, hosted at the USC Schaeffer Center, is accepting proposals for research testing mechanisms of behavior change to promote healthy aging. More info here ⬇️

schaeffer.usc.edu

USC-Yale Roybal Center for Behavioral Interventions in Aging - USC Schaeffer

Mission To advance value-based care through randomized trials and to understand mechanisms of behavior change to promote healthy aging. Specific Aims The application for the 2027-2028 funding period i...

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 23/07/2026

A prolonged vacancy atop the FDA could mean delayed work on new treatments until there's greater policy clarity, USC Schaeffer's @profgenkanter.bsky.social tells Pharma Voice. “Transition delays and really, any uncertainty in leadership, are not good for the industry and not good for the public."

pharmavoice.com

Why the FDA’s top spot could sit empty for months

Multiple factors could get in the way of confirming a new commissioner before the midterm elections, experts said, leaving the agency’s long-term initiatives in limbo.

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 22/07/2026

Language barriers could make it difficult for some patients to understand or get info about hospitals’ financial assistance programs. USC Schaeffer's Erin Duffy in AJMC explains how the financial consequences for patients can be substantial.

ajmc.com

Closing Language Access Gaps Is Key to Improving Financial Assistance Awareness: Erin L. Duffy, PhD, MPH | AJMC

June author Erin L. Duffy, PhD, MPH, discusses her study showing nonprofit and system-affiliated hospitals provide greater access to translated financial assistance documents.

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 13/07/2026

Much of what's known about preventing #dementia comes from research in wealthy countries like the US. A new global study from USC Schaeffer's Center for Economic and Social Research finds modifiable dementia risk factors vary widely around the world, but also share some key similarities. #aaic26

today.usc.edu

Dementia risk factors look different around the world, large USC study finds

Because risk factors such as low education, high blood pressure and smoking vary widely, a one-size-fits-all approach to prevention won’t work.

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 09/07/2026

Medicare prescriptions for Wegovy jumped in the 6 months after the weight-loss drug was approved for heart risk, new USC Schaeffer research shows. However, fewer than 1% of beneficiaries who were likely eligible had filled a prescription.

schaeffer.usc.edu

Medicare Prescriptions for Wegovy Jumped After Approval for Heart Disease - July 9, 2026 - USC Schaeffer

New research shows that expanding the use of GLP-1 medications beyond obesity could improve access, but coverage barriers remain. - July 9, 2026

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 07/07/2026

USC Schaeffer experts recently shared recommendations on a bipartisan legislative proposal to better integrate clinical trials into routine care and expand the use of real-world evidence in regulatory decision-making.

schaeffer.usc.edu

Comments on Cures in Care Initiative - June 30, 2026 - USC Schaeffer

Embedding clinical research into routine care and expanding use of real-world evidence in regulatory decisions require targeted improvements to data infrastructure. - June 30, 2026

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 29/06/2026

Medicare this week will start covering GLP-1s for weight-loss, potentially benefiting millions of beneficiaries. USC Schaeffer research on the cost, coverage and value of anti-obesity medications has helped inform this policy shift.

schaeffer.usc.edu

Schaeffer Solutions: Addressing the Obesity Crisis - June 25, 2026 - USC Schaeffer

For 20 years, Schaeffer researchers have advanced understanding of obesity’s root causes, its costs and the value of interventions, including new anti-obesity medications. - June 25, 2026

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 26/06/2026

DC health debates often center on budget scores, less so on long-term consequences for health outcomes, markets and biomedical innovation. Dana Goldman & Erin Trish in @jamahealthforum.com suggest complementing CBO analysis w/outside modeling to provide a more complete picture of policy impacts.

jamanetwork.com

Scoring Health Reform

This Viewpoint discusses the scoring system used by the Congressional Budget Office for health policy decisions and explores the long-term consequences that receive inadequate analysis within this sys...

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 25/06/2026

"This is a health crisis. It's also an economic crisis for families and government. It's not something to sit back and ignore." USC Schaeffer's Julie Zissimopoulos discusses with @marketwatch.com new research estimating dementia will cost the US $818 billion this year.

marketwatch.com

This disease is more expensive than cancer and heart disease combined. And it’s only going to get worse.

“People should be alarmed. This is a health crisis. It’s also an economic crisis for families and government.”

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 24/06/2026

Dementia costs are staggering yet largely hidden. Our new research estimates that dementia will cost the U.S. $818B this year, driven by often-overlooked costs to people with dementia and family & friends providing care. Our research in @alzdemjournals.bsky.social: schaeffer.usc.edu/research/dem...

Text graphic stating "$818B The Cost of Dementia in the U.S. in 2026" with "USC Schaeffer" at the bottom, on a red background.

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 23/06/2026

For near-retirees who are able to keep working, delaying retirement by just 1 year can be a healthy choice that also generates broader economic benefits. USC Schaeffer's Dana Goldman discusses his new research in TheStreet ⬇️

thestreet.com

The Economic Value of Americans Working One More Year

Why Raising the Retirement Age Boosts Health, Skills, and the Economy

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 19/06/2026

"Even if you live in a wealthy country, if you lack access to clean drinking water, you are far more likely to lack access to food." -USC Schaeffer's Wandi Bruine de Bruin on her new research linking food insecurity & water insecurity.

smartwatermagazine.com

A global report reveals the link between unsafe water and hunger

A landmark study spanning 121 countries has found that people without access to clean drinking water are pointedly more likely to go hungry, a link that...

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 17/06/2026

Cell and gene therapies are transforming medicine, but significant questions remain about cost, reimbursement & access. Hear USC Schaeffer's Darius Lakdawalla break down these issues in tomorrow's webinar from @mhexecutive.bsky.social. ✒️Registration: globalmeet.webcasts.com/starthere.js...

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 15/06/2026

Today’s near-retirees are healthier and more capable than ever. For those who are able to, choosing to work just one more year can improve their well-being & America's fiscal outlook. New @thehill.com op-ed from USC Schaeffer Founding Director Dana Goldman & CMS Chief Economist Anup Malani.⬇️

thehill.com

When it comes to retirement, a year can change everything

People who keep working into their 60s report more purpose and stronger social ties.

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 10/06/2026

GLP-1s may deliver the greatest health and economic benefits to disadvantaged populations, who historically have faced greater barriers to sustained weight loss through behavioral interventions. New NBER working paper from USC Schaeffer scholars ⬇️

schaeffer.usc.edu

GLP-1 Therapy and the Reshaping of Socioeconomic Gradients in Health - June 8, 2026 - USC Schaeffer

GLP-1s may deliver the greatest health and economic benefits to disadvantaged populations, who historically have faced greater challenges losing weight through behavioral interventions. - June 8, 2026

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USC Schaeffer @schaeffer.usc.edu · 09/06/2026

"The United States has already invested in developing curative therapies. Without a financing model that matches their value, those cures will remain out of reach for many patients," writes USC Schaeffer's William Padula in @statnews.com.

statnews.com

$2 million gene therapy cures require a financing model

“We do not lack cures. We lack the infrastructure to pay for and deliver them,” writes William Padula.

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