USPSTF eyes update to vision screening guidelines for young children; a $134M ACA subsidy fraud scheme; autism not tied to faster cognitive decline in older adults – Morning Medical Update

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USPSTF eyes update to vision screening guidelines for young children

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is reviewing whether current vision screening practices for children aged 6 months to 5 years still hold up. A newly released draft research plan aims to evaluate the accuracy, benefits, and potential harms of screening for conditions like amblyopia and refractive errors. The goal: determine if early detection truly improves visual outcomes or leads to unnecessary treatment. Public comments are open through May 21, with the final plan set to shape future national guidelines.

Insurance exec pleads guilty in $134M ACA subsidy fraud scheme

A Florida insurance executive pleaded guilty to orchestrating a $133.9 million scheme to defraud the Affordable Care Act by enrolling ineligible individuals into subsidized health plans. Dafud Iza, 54, inflated applicants’ incomes and used fake information to secure government-funded coverage — then pocketed commissions from insurers. Prosecutors say Iza and his team targeted vulnerable populations and coached them through fraudulent applications. He faces up to 10 years in prison, with sentencing to be determined.

Autism not tied to faster cognitive decline in older adults

Older adults with autistic traits experience age-related memory decline at the same rate as neurotypical peers, according to a new UCL-led study in The Gerontologist. Tracking more than 10,000 UK adults over seven years, researchers found no increased risk of spatial working memory loss in those with high autistic traits — challenging prior concerns that autism may raise dementia risk. While more research is needed, the findings offer reassurance that cognitive aging may follow a similar course regardless of neurodevelopmental differences.