Health Report

When you pay for private health insurance, you might assume you'll be well covered if you get injured or fall ill. 
But a new report has revealed the huge costs that catch people off guard, and sometimes prevent them from receiving care. 
Also, a study hints that constant colds in childhood might not be business-as-usual and should be taken more seriously. 
And we talk through the Nipah virus outbreak in India, and changes in Victoria to ADHD medication prescribing.
References:
Nipah and Hendra Viruses: Deadly Zoonotic Paramyxoviruses with the Potential to Cause the Next Pandemic - PMC
Urgent ADHD Top-Up Prescriptions Even Easier And Cheaper
Restoring affordable access to specialist care in Australia
Burden of Infections in Early Life and Risk of Infections and Systemic Antibiotics Use in Childhood

Many people turning to AI for health advice are doing it for valid reasons — it's cheap, fast and isn't bound by a 15-minute timer. 
But the checks and balances companies use to ensure their products are safe, or even accurate, aren't open to public scrutiny.
Also on the show, medical abortion is available up to nine weeks in Australia. There's a push to allow access later. 
And the much-maligned fat cell gets a look-in from a world-leading expert.
References
First step towards a national medicines record
National medicines database promised after telehealth 'doctor-shopping' leads to overdose
Uptake of Shingrix vaccine in its first year on the National Immunisation Program: an analysis of Australian Immunisation Register data
Cannabis‐based medicines for chronic neuropathic pain in adults
Safety and efficacy of early medical abortion at home between 10+0 and 11+6 weeks' gestation: a retrospective review

If you're having a month off the beers to kick off the year, do you know what a short stretch of sobriety could achieve?
Some companies in the United States are even pushing people to trade their alcohol for THC, for "high" January. 
Also, there hasn't been a big COVID spike over the holidays, but the flu has been going around. 
People aren't accessing palliative care early enough to reap the benefits, but are there enough services to go around?
And a study finds women notified of their breast density are often confused and anxious about what to do next. 
References:
NSW respiratory surveillance
Senior CDC official: Loss of measles elimination status in U.S. would be ‘cost of doing business’
Prenatal paracetamol exposure and child neurodevelopment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Alcohol consumption and mortality from four alcohol-related cancers in Australia 1950-2018: a time series analysis
Early Palliative Care and Quality of End-of-Life Care for People With Terminal Cancer, Victoria, 2018–2023: A Retrospective, Population-Based Cohort Study
Impact of population based breast density notification: multisite parallel arm randomised controlled trial in BreastScreen

How far would you go to save your dog? One owner has used ChatGPT and other AI models to find a treatment for his pup's cancer. 
Also, we could be missing cases of liver disease because of differences between pathology centres. 
The final instalment of Stroke of Luck, a series on the experience of having a stroke and the recovery process. 
And a look back at the year: does artificial intelligence have a place in your local doctors' office?
References
What AI scribes can (and can't) do for healthcare - the Health Report
Paul is using AI to fight his dog's incurable cancer - UNSW

People with osteoarthritis used to be told to take it easy and avoid overdoing exercise. But the advice has changed drastically. 
Also, should everyone going onto GLP-1 medications for weight loss be screened and monitored for eating disorders? 
Another instalment of Stroke of Luck, a series on the experience of having a stroke and the recovery process. 
And a look back at the year: Robert F. Kennedy Jr and his hyperfixation on autism as an epidemic. 
References
Trump links paracetamol to autism, urges parents to delay vaccines
The EPIPHA-KNEE trial: Explaining Pain to target unhelpful pain beliefs to Increase PHysical Activity in KNEE osteoarthritis – a protocol for a multicentre, randomised controlled trial with clinical- and cost-effectiveness analysis
Management of eating disorders for people with higher weight: clinical practice guideline
Eating disorder resources:
The Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673 or webchat.
Eating Disorders Foundation Victoria
Eating Disorders Families Australia — 1300 195 626
Professionals Credentialed in Eating Disorders
Lifeline on 13 11 14
Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800