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With Erin Schumaker and Daniel Payne

THE BATTLE AGAINST LONELINESS — Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) calls loneliness “one of the most important political issues of our time.”

Erin recently accompanied the Connecticut Democrat on part of his annual walk across the Nutmeg State. Along the way, he explained why he sees loneliness as such a critical public health problem — likely exacerbated by the pandemic — and how the government can play a role in helping us break our malaise.

“What the government is supposed to do is create the rules of the economy and society, which makes it easier for us all to live happier, healthier, fuller lives,” he said.

Murphy’s plan: In July, he introduced legislation with fellow Democrat Tina Smith of Minnesota laying out a government strategy to advance social connection, proposing a White House office, an advisory council and $5 million in research funding.

Seeing social media as a big part of the problem, Murphy has also proposed a bipartisan bill with Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) to regulate teenagers’ access to Facebook, TikTok and other sites and ban kids younger than 13 from the platforms.

Why it matters: Loneliness is associated with a raft of physical and mental health problems, some life-threatening.

A growing body of evidence links loneliness and isolation to a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression and anxiety.

While suicide is complex, with no single cause, more than 100 years of research suggest a strong link between suicide and lack of social connection.

Those forces cost the U.S. $6.7 billion in excess Medicare spending and $154 billion in stress-related absenteeism attributed to loneliness each year, according to research.

A shared concern: Murphy’s at the head of an unspoken alliance of policymakers who see it as a key public health issue.

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) and GOP Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah are among those on a mission to help us reconnect.

Making friends: Murphy says he’s trying to live his creed in his own life by broadening his social circle.

“We’ve become so obsessed with our own success and individual achievement and wealth. We’ve lost a sense that we should feel better the healthier our community is doing,” he said.

WELCOME TO MONDAY PULSE. Did daylight saving time leave you disoriented? I am definitely not looking forward to darker evenings. Send your tips, scoops and feedback to [email protected] and [email protected] and follow along @ChelseaCirruzzo and @_BenLeonard_.

TODAY ON OUR PULSE CHECK PODCAST, host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with POLITICO health care reporter Maya Kaufman, who explains what’s behind New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s shift to opposing the funding of new overdose-prevention centers using opioid settlement monies, despite an advisory board’s recommendations.

NIH CONFIRMATION — The Senate could vote as early as today to confirm Dr. Monica Bertagnolli as the next director of the National Institutes of Health — six months after President Joe Biden nominated her for the role, Erin reports.

The job overseeing billions in federal research funding has been vacant since Dr. Francis Collins left nearly two years ago.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) held up the nomination in an effort to extract a comprehensive plan from President Joe Biden to lower drug prices. That never came, but five Republicans joined all 10 Democrats to advance the nomination in a 15-6 vote in Sanders’ Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee last month.

Republican support suggests the Senate will confirm Bertagnolli with ease, leaving a vacancy at the National Cancer Institute, which Bertagnolli directs.

What’s next: The Senate will vote on cloture tonight, according to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office. After that, it can vote to confirm.

NURSES VS. CDC ON AIRBORNE VIRUSES — The CDC’s advisers on infection control voted to approve proposed updates to 16-year-old guidance on how doctors can limit transmission of viral infections in health care facilities, Chelsea and Daniel report.

Why it matters: The vote comes as the CDC looks to rebuild trust with the public following the pandemic.

Among the changes, the proposed updated draft guidance redefines viral air transmission, putting it into three categories:

— Routine air transmission for some common respiratory illnesses that travel short distances. N95 masks aren’t recommended for providers.

— Special air transmission for new or emerging respiratory illnesses that can’t travel long distances but can lead to more severe illness. Wearing an N95 and eye protection is recommended.

— Extended air transmission for respiratory illnesses that can travel long distances or through a ventilation system. Wearing an N95 mask and placing patients in a special isolation room is recommended.

But some health workers aren’t happy about this. During the meeting’s public comment period, patients and providers called for masks to be worn in health care settings.

“It’s been a frustrating and super disappointing couple of days,” Jane Thomason, National Nurses United’s lead industrial hygienist, told Pulse.

NNU, which wants the CDC to consider the lessons from the pandemic when updating its safety protocols, is asking for protections related to aerosol transmission of infectious diseases, such as the flu, respiratory syncytial virus and Covid-19.

The group has argued nurses should wear N95 masks as a minimum level of protection when working with patients who have suspected or confirmed respiratory infections, adding that the CDC should also push for evidence-based ventilation techniques to lower the risk of spread.

What happens next: The draft will undergo CDC review followed by a 60-day public comment period.

AMERICANS WORRIED ABOUT AI — As the Biden administration attempts to rein in artificial intelligence, Americans are still skeptical about its use in health care — and lobbyists are cashing in.

The government’s burgeoning interest in artificial intelligence policy is turning into the next big payday for K Street, POLITICO’s Haley Fuchs and Brendan Bordelon report.

Lobbyists are rushing to sign up AI companies as clients. And lobbying firms are also being enlisted by a sprawling constellation of industries and interest groups that want help influencing AI policy.

But, a February study by the Pew Research Center found that 60 percent of Americans say they would be uncomfortable with their provider relying on AI in their care, with most worrying that providers are moving too fast to incorporate the technology. And there’s no consensus on whether AI will improve or worsen patients’ health outcomes.

Last week, President Joe Biden issued a sweeping order on AI, directing HHS to develop a plan for the responsible use of the technology in health care, garnering both praise and curiosity about next steps.

Ben will moderate a panel today on AI’s moment in health care at the Milken Institute’s Future of Health Summit. And POLITICO’s Carmen Paun will moderate a panel on climate change and health.

Alec Aramanda has joined Williams and Jensen as a principal on its health care team. He was a Republican staffer on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, overseeing the Medicare portfolio, and is a CMS, HHS and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) alum.

Health Affairs writes about the impacts of Medicare drug negotiation on pharmaceutical developments.

The Washington Post reports on the hunt for new therapies to combat opioid use.

NBC News reports on the mental health crisis among survivors of the Maui wildfires.