Physical therapy (PT) is used in the management of many medical conditions. But variation in rates paid by commercial insurers can contribute to high out-of-pocket costs, leading some patients to underuse or stop PT altogether. For many people, that means potentially poor rehabilitation outcomes. 

In a new study, Yale researchers evaluated commercial payer-negotiated rates for outpatient PT services at a cross-section of hospitals across the United States. They found that costs for PT vary substantially based on location and insurance status. 

“PT is used in the management of many acute and chronic medical conditions, but greater cost exposure may reduce use of PT services, contributing to suboptimal patient outcomes and increased use of other health care services,” said Joshua Skydel, clinical fellow at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) and corresponding author of the study.

“Additional research is required to evaluate the impact of prices on direct costs, utilization, and outcomes for patients referred to PT.”

The study, co-authored by Joseph Ross, professor of medicine (general medicine) at YSM, appears as a research letter in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

Endocrine Society members elected Joy Wu, M.D., Ph.D., of the Stanford University School of Medicine in Stanford, Calif., as its 2027-2028 President. She will serve as President-Elect for a year beginning in June 2026 before becoming President in June 2027.

Psilocybin — the psychoactive compound in “magic mushrooms” — is gaining scientific attention for its potential in treating neuropsychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and certain neurodegenerative diseases. However, its hallucinogenic effects may limit broader therapeutic applications. Researchers publishing in ACS’ Journal of Medicinal Chemistry synthesized modified versions of psilocin, the active form of psilocybin, that retained their activity while producing fewer hallucinogenic-like effects than pharmaceutical-grade psilocybin in a preliminary study in mice. 

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered a potential new strategy to fight back against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, conditions that are linked to the toxic accumulation of Tau and alpha synuclein protein clumps in the brain. The team reports that tubulin, the building block of microtubules, the cell’s internal ‘railway tracks,’ can stop Tau and alpha synuclein from forming toxic clumps and instead steer them into their normal, healthy roles. The findings support redefining tubulin, from a passive casualty of disease to an active protector against toxic protein aggregation.

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz have identified a critical gap in how post-amputation pain is evaluated and treated. The study shows that pain after lower limb amputation is not a single uniform condition but a set of distinct experiences that change depending on activity level and prosthetic design. These findings could influence care strategies for the nearly two million Americans living with limb loss, a number expected to grow in the coming decades.

A machine-learning model developed by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators may provide clinicians with an early warning of a complication that can occur late in pregnancy.

About The Study: This cross-sectional study builds on prior evidence by documenting intersectional disparities in food insecurity persistent over 23 years despite multiple intervening policy and macroeconomic changes. As in a prior cross-sectional study, racial disparities were smaller among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-participating households than nonparticipating households.

About The Study: In this nationwide cohort study, a postholiday weekday was associated with a significantly elevated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidence in South Korea, particularly after consecutive rest days and among vulnerable populations. These findings support enhanced emergency medical services preparedness, targeted public health messaging during holiday periods, and evaluation of preventive interventions for high-risk populations during postholiday transitions.