Axios

The oil shortage brought on by the Iran war will spread throughout the world, much as COVID-19 did, moving from east to west and leaving a path of destruction in its wake, a new analysis says.

Why it matters: If the oil shock plays out along those lines, it would mean the global economy has only just begun to feel the pain of the war's impact.

The Trump administration is cracking down on hospital contracting practices that it alleges are anticompetitive and drive up health care costs.

Why it matters: Hospitals have been the leading contributor to health spending growth in recent years, but policymakers are usually reluctant to go after institutions that are deeply entrenched in their communities — and politically popular.

Republicans are considering reductions in federal health spending to help pay for a budget bill containing as much as $200 billion to fund the Iran war and immigration enforcement.

Why it matters: New efforts to rein in health programs are sure to be controversial and open the GOP up to election-year attacks that they're cutting health care to pay for an unpopular war.

Without a federal law, surrogacy in the U.S. is governed by a patchwork of state regulations/

Why it matters: Confusing, varied local rules can determine everything from whether agreements are legally binding to who is recognized as a parent at birth.

More Americans are turning to surrogacy to build their families, as the practice becomes more common and more publicly discussed.

Why it matters: As surrogacy becomes more visible and accessible, ethical, legal and cultural tensions become harder to ignore.

Surrogacy in the U.S. can cost from $100,000 to more than $250,000.

Why it matters: High costs and limited insurance coverage make surrogacy inaccessible for many people seeking to build families.

MaRiahh Hodgkinson knows she has "unique" origins: She grew up with a mom and dad — and an "auntie" who gave birth to her in 1999.

The big picture: That has "always been a part of my family and story," she says. She doesn't even remember a time she was sat down and told about her parentage."

China's emergence as a second hub of pharmaceutical innovation could trigger massive changes to the global drug market, including how treatments are regulated and priced in the U.S.

Why it matters: More cutting-edge therapies are generally a good thing for patients, regardless of where they come from. But the new world order could spark questions over who'll access those therapies and where money flows.

As the Company Formerly Known as Twitter prepares to go public, its former CEO is raising money for a very different venture.

Driving the news: eMed, an employee telehealth company led by Linda Yaccarino, this morning announced $200 million in new funding at a post-money valuation north of $2 billion.

Trump administration health officials are giving serious consideration to a plan that would make injuries from COVID-19 vaccines a formal diagnosis that can be coded in medical records.

Why it matters: Increasing documentation of what's still a loosely defined condition could help lay the groundwork for future lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers.