KFF Reporters Tackle FDA Sunscreen Lag, Rural Dialysis Closures

KFF Health News reporters made the national media rounds last week to break down two stories that share a common thread: patients losing access to care and products that are routine elsewhere.

The first is the FDA's pace on sunscreen. According to KFF Health News, the United States still lacks many of the newer ultraviolet filters long available in Europe and Asia because federal regulators treat sunscreen ingredients as drugs requiring extensive safety review. The result is that American consumers have fewer modern options for sun protection even as skin cancer rates remain a public health concern.

The second is the closure of rural dialysis clinics in Nebraska. KFF Health News reported that shutdowns force kidney patients, who typically need treatment three times a week, to drive long distances or go without. For people with end-stage renal disease, missed sessions can be life-threatening.

Both stories underscore how policy decisions and market economics translate directly into narrower choices for patients.