A group of autism researchers and advocates have formed a new, independent advisory group with a name that’s so similar to a federal autism group, you can’t assume it’s a coincidence. The Independent Autism Coordinating Committee (I-ACC) will hold its first meeting on March 19, the same day that its federally funded doppelganger, the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), will meet for the first time in its new iteration.

What’s the deal? As you may remember, 21 new members were recently appointed to the federal committee, many of whom have publicly expressed — or belong to groups that have publicly expressed — a belief in the debunked claim that vaccines can cause autism. The new group wants to be a bulwark against potential misinformation from federal health agencies on autism, STAT’s O. Rose Broderick reports. Read more from Rose on who’s in the new group, why they chose such a similar name, and what their plans are for the future.

commercial determinants

How preschoolers act on an ultra-processed diet

The more ultra-processed food a 3-year-old eats, the worse behavioral and emotional symptoms they’ll show at age 5, according to a Canadian cohort study published yesterday in JAMA Network Open. Researchers found that, among more than 2,000 children, ultra-processed foods accounted for about 45% of energy intake for 3-year-olds. Every 10% increase in energy from ultra-processed foods was associated with more inward-focused behavioral issues like anxiety and depression, as well as externalizing issues like aggression and hyperactivity.

The study adds to a growing body of research connecting the quality of a person’s diet with psychosocial health, but more research is needed on the mechanisms behind these associations. And things might get more complicated if the Trump administration decides to codify a definition of ultra-processed foods that differs from the system typically used in research, as STAT’s Sarah Todd has reported.

one shrinking number

A curious change in UnitedHealth’s latest SEC filing

Last year, when UnitedHealth Group submitted its annual filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it reported nearly 3,100 subsidiaries. But this week, the company counted just 10 “significant subsidiaries.”

STAT’s reporting over the past few years has shown UnitedHealth has voraciously acquired medical clinics, surgery centers, and numerous other companies. But those subsidiaries are now in a black hole, as reporter Bob Herman writes — still in existence somewhere, but invisible. Read Bob’s story on how this one shift reflects how American business titans are deciding to disclose only what’s absolutely necessary, piggybacking off the Trump administration’s explicit goal to slash corporate reporting requirements.

from AXIOS:

Feds’ measles response under fire

By Peter Sullivan

Data: CDC; Chart: Axios Visuals A surge of recent measles cases approaching half of the 30-year high recorded in 2025 is stoking more criticism of the Trump administration’s lukewarm endorsement of vaccines. Why it matters: There have already been more than 1,100 measles cases this year, overwhelmingly in unvaccinated people, putting the U.S. at risk of losing its measles elimination status. While top officials have stressed that the MMR vaccine is the most effective protection, they’ve repeatedly portrayed vaccination as a personal choice and ruled out new mandates. Driving the news: Senate health committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-La.) repeatedly pressed President Trump’s surgeon general nominee, Casey Means, at a hearing last week on whether she would encourage vaccination against measles in response to outbreaks. Means said she supports the shots but added that everyone should talk to their doctor “before putting a medication in their body.” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a long history of vaccine criticism that has fueled mounting criticism that he could be doing more to fight the outbreaks. “RFK isn’t 100% to blame — but he helped fuel the [vaccine] hesitancy we’re dealing with,” Jerome Adams, President Trump’s first surgeon general, wrote on X on Sunday. “Now HE is in charge of the (clearly failing) response.” What they’re saying: “Typically, for something like this, you would see the secretary of health or the head of CDC … at a community clinic where people are getting vaccines, and congratulating them, giving them a sticker saying, ‘I vaccinated,'” said Richard Besser, a former acting head of the CDC. “Promoting vaccination, not this sense of ‘Well, you know, it’s just a matter of choice,'” said Besser, now CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The CDC remains in upheaval and hasn’t had a full-time political leader since Susan Monarez was fired amid a dispute over changing vaccine recommendations. Read more