From Washington, DC —

• The House of Representatives and the Senate are in session this week for floor voting and Committee business.
• The Supreme Court has over 20 opinions to issue before it can end its October 2022 term.
• Fierce Healthcare reports,
  • The Federal Trade Commission is building out its deep dive into the pharmacy benefit management industry yet again.
  • The agency said Thursday that it has sent an order to the group purchasing organization Emisar Pharma Services, requiring it to provide information and records pertaining to its business practices. The order follows similar missives sent to two other GPOs, Zinc Health Services and Ascent Health Services, last month.
  • Emisar negotiates rebates with drugmakers on behalf of Optum Rx, a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary and one of the three largest PBMs.
  • The FTC said its order to Emisar is “substantially similar” to those issued to Zinc and Ascent.

Fortune Well offers us advice on the following topics:

• Tips for staying hydrated
  • Generally speaking, women require about 91 ounces of water daily, while men need 125 ounces, according to The National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine. If you’re finding it difficult to hit that daily goal, worry not. McIntyre and Emily Werner, Ph.D., RD, team dietitian for the Philadelphia 76ers, offer tips to help you reach your hydration goals.
• A list of the 38 best foods to lower blood pressure.
  • Nearly half of Americans have high blood pressure, which increases the risk for heart disease and stroke—two of the leading causes of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And that percentage increases with age: roughly 70% of adults older than 65 have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. But lifestyle changes, such as exercising regularly, cutting back on alcohol, and getting proper nutrition can help.

McKinsey and Company explains how to improve children’s developmental trajectories.

• “Childhood is an inherently magical period of imagination, discovery, and creative play—but it’s also a critical window of development for health, social, and economic potential. Trauma, when unaddressed, can have dire consequences on physical, emotional, and brain development in young children. “We need to establish a foundation of emotional well-being, to promote their social–emotional development to the fullest, help them express themselves, find that sense of comfort and consistency,” Jeanette Betancourt, senior vice president for US social impact at Sesame Workshop, tells Katherine Linzer, McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) partner, in a recent interview. “We know that when young children display early signs of anxiety, stress, or discomfort, it’s up to us to acknowledge that and look at that without stigma.” On National Children’s Day, check out these insights to hear from experts on the role of social factors in children’s health, the effects of tech and social media on Gen Z’s mental health, the impact of mental health and well-being on children and their life trajectories, and more.”
  • Young children are experiencing trauma: How Sesame Street wants to help
  • Gen Z mental health: The impact of tech and social media
  • Why social determinants matter for children’s health: An interview with Michael Fisher
  • How states can improve well-being for all children, from birth to age five
  • Author Talks: It’s time to make youth sports about kids again
  • The power of caring adults: Nicole Carroll on overcoming childhood trauma
  • Children’s health during the COVID-19 pandemic: What have we learned?
  • Author Talks: The making of a modern fairy tale

Washington Post columnist discusses her recent experience taking Ozempic at length.

• “I cannot claim to have done this for my health — certainly, appearance was my primary motivation — but the health impact has been impressive. My sleep apnea had been so severe that tests showed I was waking up an alarming 54 times every hour; new testing put it in the mild range, and my sleep apnea machine has been stashed in the closet. In November 2020, my LDL cholesterol — the “bad” kind, which raises your risk of heart disease and stroke — was at 146; it was down to 133 by March 2022 and, a year later, to 120. My A1c levels, measuring blood sugar, have fallen from on the cusp of prediabetes to safely in the normal range. My blood pressure is lower, and my C-reactive protein, an indicator of cardiovascular disease, has plummeted. * * *
• “There are two things that are important for readers to know: My response to the medication has been extraordinary, and my experience with insurance coverage has also been unusually positive. Most insurers do not currently cover medications for obesity alone. But my doctor was able to point to my risk of developing diabetes, and my insurer, thankfully, did not question the need for coverage. “Ozempic, $24.99,” the Walgreens website informs me when I look back at my prescription records. “Insurance saved you: $1,046.10.”