AGP Executive Report

Pharma Tariff Watch: Puerto Rico imported about $3.254 billion in generic drugs and related pharma products in 2025, and a new U.S. trade policy could bring tariffs up to 200%, raising fresh concerns for drug costs on the island. Single-Use Plastics Rollout: Puerto Rico’s single-use plastics law is still moving through final recommendations, with DACO and a working committee finalizing the report after an extension—aimed at locking in how fines and enforcement will work. Behavioral Health & Dental Access: Community Health Center of the New River Valley (CHCNRV) added a licensed clinical social worker and a dentist to expand integrated behavioral health and dental services. PFAS Cleanup Delays: Sen. Tammy Baldwin pressed the Defense Department over PFAS investigation and cleanup timeline delays of up to 20 years at 178 sites, including concerns tied to drinking-water safety. Parkinson’s Research Boost: City of Hope’s Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) joined a national Parkinson’s disease Collaborative Research Network to study biological drivers of disease development. Travel for Care & Family: Fly the Whale launched new daily San Juan–St. Thomas service starting Aug. 3, cutting the trip to about 35 minutes—useful for medical appointments and family travel.

Puerto Rico Policy Watch: Puerto Rico’s single-use plastics rules are still moving toward full enforcement as DACO finalizes the working committee’s recommendations under Law 47-2025, after an education phase and earlier business impacts. Behavioral Health Access: CHCNRV in the New River Valley added a licensed clinical social worker and a dentist to expand integrated behavioral health and dental appointments. Environmental Health: U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin pressed the Defense Department over PFAS cleanup delays—up to 20 years—at contaminated military sites, warning drinking-water risks. Parkinson’s Research: TGen (City of Hope) joined an international Parkinson’s Collaborative Research Network team to study biological drivers of disease development. Public Health & Safety: Harmful algal blooms are being flagged as a summer breathing risk, with Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands noted among places where blooms occur. Healthcare Workforce/Operations: Saint Alphonsus Regional Rehabilitation Hospital named Boyd Davis as its next CEO to lead the 60-bed inpatient rehab facility. Care vs. Coercion Debate: A year after EO 14321, federal funding conditions are reshaping how civil commitment for homelessness and serious mental illness/substance use is expanding—raising concerns about care capacity.

Civil Commitment & Mental Health Care: A year after Executive Order 14321, federal funding is pushing states to expand civil commitment for people experiencing homelessness with serious mental illness or substance use disorder—while legal standards still hinge on state law, widening the gap between commitment and available treatment. Healthcare Access & Equity: A new review highlights how childcare can make or break participation in oncology clinical trials, especially for parents who may need travel and face added visit demands. Local Health Regulation: Puerto Rico’s Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO) has started islandwide inspections of scales used in veterinary clinics to ensure they’re properly calibrated and certified, aiming to protect consumers and pet care accuracy. Public Health & Food Security: Kentucky mayors joined a national push to protect SNAP benefits and asked Congress to transition Puerto Rico from NAP to SNAP, citing millions losing benefits since major cuts. Workplace Health & Safety: A Puerto Rican correctional officer in Massachusetts is suing for alleged discrimination and retaliation after an inmate assault left him injured and he was denied advancement.

Daylight Saving Time Health Debate: Trump backed ending daylight saving time, arguing clock changes worsen health and raise crash risk; Puerto Rico already doesn’t observe the switch, but the Senate is still deciding whether states can permanently opt out. Puerto Rico Healthcare Leadership & Access: Provider Network Solutions named Gustavo Leon Jr. as President and Chief Strategy Officer, with growth plans across Florida, Texas, and Puerto Rico—aimed at strengthening specialty care networks for Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial patients. Local Health System Policy: A D.C. Circuit ruling struck down the NLRB “successor bar” rule, a decision that directly affects labor bargaining rules for a Puerto Rico hospital—important for staffing stability and care continuity. Food Security for Health: Kentucky mayors joined a national push to protect SNAP and asked Congress to transition Puerto Rico from NAP to SNAP, highlighting how benefit cuts can ripple into nutrition and health outcomes. Puerto Rico Banking Leadership (Indirect Health Impact): Banco Popular CEO Javier Ferrer will retire Aug. 31, triggering executive changes at the island’s largest bank—watch for downstream effects on community services and healthcare financing.

Disaster Preparedness: A new emergency guide urges Puerto Rico families to build a go-kit and a stay-at-home kit, and to plan for up to two weeks of supplies as recovery times stretch. Home Care Tech in Puerto Rico: MK Care rolled out new digital tools for families managing chronic conditions, including real-time monitoring, shared access for multiple relatives, and structured care reports to reduce missed updates. Specialty Care Leadership: Provider Network Solutions named Gustavo Leon Jr. as President and Chief Strategy Officer, aiming to expand value-based provider networks across Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and beyond. Mobility & Rehab Access: A wheelchair clinic supported by the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust brought physiotherapists and Puerto Rico technicians together to assess and customize seating for children, helping prevent complications and support school participation. Public Health Data Gaps: A report warns that missing federal health pages and datasets can create “disease blind spots,” complicating how communities track and respond to outbreaks. Health Equity History: A docuseries episode revisits Puerto Rico’s 1937 sterilization campaign, spotlighting reproductive coercion and its long-lasting harm.

Home Care Tech in Puerto Rico: MK Care rolled out new digital tools for families managing home care, including real-time monitoring, shared access for multiple relatives, and structured care reports—aimed at reducing confusion and keeping caregivers aligned. Reproductive Rights History: A new docuseries episode highlights Puerto Rico’s 1937 eugenics-era sterilization campaign and how reproductive coercion shaped generations, tying past policy to today’s health and rights conversations. Mental Health Through Correctional Programs: Puerto Rico’s Department of Corrections shared progress on “Paso a Paso,” an equine-assisted learning program that builds patience, responsibility, and emotional self-control for participants. Public Health Data Watch: A new analysis warns that federal health data can disappear fast—raising concerns for disease tracking and screening decisions when online resources are removed. Community Health & Mobility: A clinic supported by the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust helped customize specialized wheelchairs for children with mobility challenges, with physiotherapists from Puerto Rico involved to improve posture, comfort, and daily function. Sports & Health Spotlight: Baseball Hall of Fame weekend featured Puerto Rico’s Carlos Beltrán, while separate sports coverage noted medical impacts from injuries and surgeries—another reminder of how health care intersects with athletics.

Power & Infrastructure: Luma Energy says power has been restored to at least 1.25 million Puerto Rico customers (85.6%) after a major blackout; preliminary findings point to a fault in an underground cable, and the utility says power is back to major San Juan airports, key water facilities, and at least 31 hospitals. Home Care Tech: MK Care rolled out new digital tools in Puerto Rico for families managing home care—real-time monitoring, structured care reports, and shared access for multiple relatives to coordinate and track caregiving. Healthcare Access & Workforce: Ponce Health Sciences University’s BVI program welcomed a second cohort of medical students at a white coat ceremony, highlighting continued regional training capacity. Public Health Data Watch: A new report warns that federal health data and webpages have been removed or disrupted, creating “disease blind spots” for researchers and planning. Reproductive Justice History: A Puerto Rico-focused docuseries episode revisits the island’s 1937 sterilization campaign and how reproductive coercion shaped generations. Caregiving & Mobility: A clinic supported by a charitable trust is helping children with mobility challenges in the region get specialized wheelchairs customized by physiotherapists to improve comfort and reduce complications.

Home Care Tech in Puerto Rico: MK Care rolled out new digital features for families managing home care, including real-time monitoring, structured care reports, and shared access for multiple relatives—aimed at improving visibility and reducing confusion for chronic care and older adults. Medical Education Milestone: Ponce Health Sciences University’s BVI program welcomed its second cohort of medical students with a White Coat Ceremony, highlighting growing training capacity tied to Puerto Rico-area partnerships. Health Equity & History: A new Puerto Rico-focused docuseries episode revisits the island’s 1937 eugenics-era sterilization campaign and its long health and rights fallout, renewing attention on reproductive coercion and public health ethics. Care in Corrections: Puerto Rico’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shared progress on Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare’s “Paso a Paso” equine-assisted learning program, bringing structured emotional and life-skills support into correctional facilities. Public Health Data Risk: A new report warns that federal health data can still be lost or become hard to access after major removals from CDC and other agencies, raising concerns for disease tracking and screening decisions.

Food Safety: CDC closed the multistate Salmonella outbreak tied to imported moringa leaf powder after 131 illnesses and 36 hospitalizations across 38 states, with Puerto Rico among the affected distribution areas—officials warn some recalled bottles may still be in homes due to long shelf lives. Public Health Data: Researcher John Kubale says federal data gaps are creating “disease blind spots” after thousands of CDC and other government pages were removed or disrupted, complicating tracking of outbreaks and health risks. Healthcare Access & Workforce: Thomas Jefferson University plans a four-year Sidney Kimmel Medical College regional campus in Allentown, expanding clinical training through Jefferson Health hospitals and outpatient sites. Local Health & Equity History: A new Puerto Rico-focused docuseries episode revisits the island’s forced sterilization era, highlighting how reproductive coercion shaped generations. Community Health Support: Direct Relief reports delivering millions of defined daily doses and medical aid shipments, including response coordination for the ongoing Ebola outbreak. Care in Corrections: Puerto Rico’s Department of Corrections shared progress on Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare’s “Paso a Paso” equine-assisted learning program, bringing life-skills training into correctional facilities.

Equine Rehab in Corrections: Puerto Rico’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation says Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare’s “Paso a Paso” equine-assisted learning program is now fully underway inside correctional facilities, aiming to build patience, responsibility, communication, and emotional self-control through horse care and handling. Disease Watch: A new report warns that data gaps are creating “disease blind spots,” after major CDC webpages and datasets were removed starting in early 2025—raising concerns about how quickly public health can spot and respond to outbreaks. Food Safety Alert: The CDC officially closed a multistate Salmonella outbreak tied to imported moringa leaf powder after 131 illnesses and 36 hospitalizations; Puerto Rico is listed among affected distribution areas, and officials caution some recalled bottles may still be in homes. Mosquito-Borne Risk: Dengue cases in the U.S. have topped 500 in 2026, with Aedes aegypti expanding northward—meaning local transmission risk could spread further. Healthcare Workforce: Jefferson’s Sidney Kimmel Medical College plans a four-year regional campus in Allentown to expand clinical training and strengthen the physician pipeline. Public Health Access in Emergencies: Canadian wildfire smoke disrupted opioid treatment access, highlighting how air-quality crises can block in-person medication-assisted care. Local Health Policy: Puerto Rico employers face expanded expectations under new lactation guidance, adding compliance pressure for workplaces.

Dengue Watch: U.S. dengue cases topped 500 in 2026 as the Aedes aegypti mosquito expands north, raising the odds of local transmission beyond Florida—no vaccine for general use and no specific antiviral means prevention and early care matter more. Opioid Treatment Access: Canadian wildfire smoke disrupted opioid medication-assisted treatment access, highlighting how clinic and in-person dispensing rules can become life-threatening during air emergencies. Puerto Rico Health Infrastructure: The U.S. House approved $33.5M for an emergency water treatment system at Fort Buchanan, aimed at keeping critical operations running during disasters. Local Care & Coverage: Puerto Rico’s homelessness response is being compared across Latin American capitals, with San Juan reporting nearly 930 homeless people as of Jan. 2026 and a shift toward more housing and shelter resources. Food Security: Mayors nationwide are urging Congress to protect SNAP amid a deepening food security crisis—relevant to nutrition and health outcomes for families. Workforce Health: US Foods warehouse workers in Cleveland ratified a Teamsters contract with higher wages and fully employer-paid health care.

Healthcare Access & Safety: Canadian wildfire smoke is disrupting opioid treatment access, raising alarms that MAT patients can’t safely travel for buprenorphine or methadone visits during air-quality emergencies. Public Health & Environment: A new study finds critically endangered sawfish teeth are still being used as cockfighting spurs across Latin America, including Puerto Rico, despite bans—scientists urge stronger enforcement and action through CITES. Local Health Infrastructure: The U.S. House approved $33.5 million for an emergency water treatment system at Fort Buchanan in Puerto Rico, aiming to keep operations running during disasters and service interruptions. Sexual Health & Prevention: MISTR launched ED medications (MISTR Magic with sildenafil+tadalafil) alongside its existing online PrEP, DoxyPEP, STI testing, and long-term HIV care platform. Workforce & Care Delivery: US Foods warehouse workers in Cleveland ratified a first Teamsters contract with fully employer-paid health care and higher wages—supporting stability for workers tied to food supply chains. Community Health & Youth: Cataño will host 120+ youth baseball teams for the 2026 Caribbean World Series, with games across Cataño, Bayamón, Toa Baja, and Dorado.

Water & Public Health: Puerto Rico’s water crisis is hitting small businesses hard, with the retailers center warning of $18–$20 million in estimated daily losses and up to $700/day in added costs for water hauling, bottles, and compliance—especially affecting laundromats, salons, childcare, and restaurants. Military Infrastructure: The U.S. House approved $33.5 million for an emergency water treatment system at Fort Buchanan, aiming to keep operations running during outages and disasters. Emergency Preparedness: A union says Luis Muñoz Marín Airport’s ARFF staffing shortages are forcing firefighters into extended shifts (up to 18 hours), raising fatigue and burnout risks. HIV/AIDS Funding: Reports highlight PEPFAR funding cuts that could reverse HIV/AIDS progress, with clinics closing and staff laid off. Sexual Wellness: MISTR launched ED medications (sildenafil/tadalafil) as part of its online sexual health platform, adding another option for “sexual confidence.” Renal Care: A new hemodialysis center opened in Pampanga, expanding capacity to serve more patients with more machines and sessions. Health Policy & Access: VA disability payments for August are set for Sept. 1, 2026.

Puerto Rico Water Crisis: Puerto Rico’s drought and infrastructure failures are hitting small businesses hard, with the Puerto Rico Retailers Center warning of $18–$20 million in daily losses and up to $700/day in emergency water costs for places like restaurants, laundromats, childcare centers, and beauty salons. Airport Safety & Health Workforce: The IAM union says Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is facing ARFF staffing shortages, forcing certified firefighters to cover shifts up to 18 hours, raising fatigue and burnout risks. Public Health Event: The National Medical Association is holding its Annual Convention & Scientific Assembly in San Juan (July 25–29), kicking off with a free “Walk a Mile With a Child” wellness event featuring screenings, CPR demos, and youth STEM activities. Renal Care Expansion: Pampanga Medical Specialist Hospital opened a major hemodialysis center (99 machines) to more than double capacity, a reminder of the growing need for accessible dialysis services. HIV/AIDS Funding Watch: A report warns U.S. cuts to PEPFAR could reverse HIV/AIDS progress, disrupting clinics and staff globally. Medication Pricing: A multistate settlement targets Glenmark over alleged generic drug price-fixing, with potential payouts for eligible people who bought certain drugs.

Unlicensed Anti-Aging IV Death (Bronx): Police say 27-year-old Elizabeth Baron died after an unlicensed doctor allegedly administered an NAD+ IV at a Bronx wellness center; the owner, Luis Rojas Cabrera, reportedly told investigators he wasn’t licensed in New York and was charged with reckless endangerment and unauthorized practice. Healthcare Justice in Puerto Rico: The National Medical Association is bringing its annual convention to San Juan (July 25–29) with a free “Walk a Mile With a Child” community event featuring health screenings, CPR demos, and youth STEM activities. Energy Costs Relief (Puerto Rico): A U.S. Weatherization program finished upgrades in 103 Puerto Rico homes, aiming to cut electricity costs for low-income families, older adults, and people with disabilities. Local Governance & Oversight (Puerto Rico): Puerto Rico’s governor says two top aides—chief of staff Francisco Domenech and deputy chief of staff Itza García—will step down amid ongoing corruption allegations tied to permit-management irregularities. Food Security (SNAP): A bipartisan push urges Congress to protect SNAP funding and expand access in Puerto Rico as lawmakers consider the next Farm Bill.

Unlicensed Medical Care Risk: A Bronx man, Luis Rojas Cabrera, faces manslaughter and reckless endangerment charges after prosecutors say he unlawfully administered an NAD+ IV infusion at a Kingsbridge wellness center; the 27-year-old patient later died, and he told police he wasn’t licensed to practice medicine in New York. Drug Pricing Accountability: Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories are tied to a major generic-drug antitrust settlement: AG Aaron D. Ford announced a $29.6M Glenmark deal over alleged price-fixing and reduced competition for 100+ generics. Local Governance & Health Oversight: Puerto Rico’s governor says two top officials—chief of staff Francisco Domenech and deputy Itza García—will step down amid corruption allegations tied to permit-management irregularities. Public Health & Safety: Puerto Rico’s drought response remains in the spotlight after reports of emergency measures and water rationing as conditions worsen. Care Access & Workforce: New lactation guidance is expanding expectations for Puerto Rico employers, adding compliance pressure for workplaces supporting breastfeeding. Health Policy Context: A new push in the U.S. to make daylight saving time permanent is raising health concerns, including sleep and heart-risk impacts. Healthcare Community Legacy: The death of Denise Oliver-Velez, a Young Lords and Black Panther leader known for advocating for community health and affordable care, is prompting renewed attention to Puerto Rican health activism.