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Category Archives: Health Care

House G.O.P. Floats Medicaid Cuts and More to Finance Trump’s Huge Agenda

The New York Times: “President Trump wants a massive tax cut and immigration crackdown bill. Now Republicans must decide what to cut to help pay for it. Top Republicans are passing around an extensive menu of ideas to cover the cost of a massive tax cut and immigration crackdown bill. They could create a 10 percent tariff on all imports, bringing in an estimated $1.9 trillion. They could establish new work requirements for Medicaid recipients, bringing in $100 billion in savings. They have even calculated that they could generate $20 billion by raising taxes on people who can use a free gym at the office, according to a 50-page list of options that the House Budget Committee has circulated in recent days. The bigger challenge for Republican leaders is trying to figure out what can pass Congress and be signed by President Trump. With slim majorities in both chambers, they are searching for the right mix of policy changes that could offset some of the costs of Mr. Trump’s most expensive proposals, placating spending hard-liners who are concerned about ballooning the government’s debt, while also maintaining the support of more centrist members who are loath to slash popular programs…Complicating their task is a political challenge: Many of the cuts Republicans are contemplating target programs aimed at helping low-income Americans, all in the service of paying for the extension of tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthy. The overarching goal is to push through a behemoth bill that cuts taxes and clamps down on immigration using a process called reconciliation, which would allow Republican leaders to avoid a filibuster and move legislation through the Senate with a simple majority, even if all Democrats are opposed. Many of the G.O.P.’s anti-spending members have said they cannot support a bill that adds significantly to the nation’s debt. But most of the major policies Mr. Trump wants included in the legislation are extremely expensive. Extending the tax cuts he signed into law in 2017 alone is expected to cost $5 trillion. That has left Republicans casting about for ways to offset those costs. The budget panel’s menu of possibilities includes everything from major clawbacks of current policy to lower-hanging fruit. Among many others, there are proposals to repeal major health care subsidy programs established by the Affordable Care Act, put caps on Medicaid funding, and end a policy that makes employer-provided meals and lodging tax-exempt. Here’s a look at what Republicans are considering…

Trump officials pause health agencies’ communications, citing review

Washington Post [unpaywalled]: “The Trump administration has instructed federal health agencies to pause all external communications, such as health advisories, weekly scientific reports, updates to websites and social media posts, according to nearly a dozen current and former officials and other people familiar with the matter. The instructions were delivered Tuesday to staff at agencies… Continue Reading

The Forgotten Woman Who Transformed Forensics (by inventing the rape kit)

The Atlantic – gift article: “One of the most powerful inventions of the 20th century is also an object that no one ever wants a reason to use. The sexual-assault-evidence collection box, colloquially known as the “rape kit,” is a simple yet potent tool: a small case, perhaps made of cardboard, containing items such as… Continue Reading

FTC Finalizes Order Prohibiting Gravy Analytics, Venntel from Selling Sensitive Location Data

“The Federal Trade Commission finalized an order prohibiting Gravy Analytics and its subsidiary Venntel from unlawfully tracking and selling sensitive location data from users, including data about consumers’ visits to health-related locations and places of worship. In a complaint first announced last month, the FTC alleged that Gravy and Venntel violated the FTC Act by unfairly… Continue Reading

Men, Women and Social Connections

“Roughly equal shares of U.S. men and women say they’re often lonely; women are more likely to reach out to a wider network for emotional support. As public debate and discussion over the status of men in America continues, some have raised concerns about men’s struggles with loneliness. A new Pew Research Center survey finds… Continue Reading

Fluoride in water: A research roundup and reporting tip sheet

The Journalist’s Resource: “Several U.S. communities are debating whether to remove fluoride from their water supplies in the wake of comments by President-elect Trump’s Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who called the mineral an “industrial waste,” looking to remove it from water systems across the nation once Trump takes office. Local… Continue Reading

Americans Use AI in Everyday Products Without Realizing It

Axios: “The vast majority of Americans use products that involve AI, but their views of the technology remain overwhelmingly negative, according to a Gallup-Telescope survey published Wednesday.Why it matters: The rapid advancement of generative AI threatens to have far-reaching consequences for Americans’ everyday lives, including reshaping the job market, impacting elections, and affecting the healthcare… Continue Reading

Do animals experience mental illness?

PopSci: “Modern science shows animals and humans may experience fear-based anxiety in similar ways…University of Pennsylvania associate professor and veterinarian Carlo Siracusa emphatically told Popular Science animals “absolutely” can experience mental illnesses. Siracusa regularly works with clients who have dogs and cats that exhibit signs of aggression or destructive behavior which he says is a… Continue Reading

10,000+ Free Online Certificates & Badges: A Resource for Lifelong Learners

Open Culture: “For those looking to boost their skills or explore new fields without breaking the bank, Class Central has done the heavy lifting. Known as a search engine for online courses, Class Central has compiled what might be the largest collection of free online certificates and badges available anywhere. From tech giants like Google… Continue Reading

Big 3 Pharmacy Benefit Manager charging enormous markups on dozens of lifesaving drugs

“The Federal Trade Commission today published a second interim staff report on the prescription drug middleman industry, which focuses on pharmacy benefit managers’ (PBMs) influence over specialty generic drugs, including significant price markups by PBMs for cancer, HIV, and a variety of other critical drugs. Staff’s latest report found that the ‘Big 3 PBMs’—Caremark Rx,… Continue Reading

‘TrueFood’ Research Database Offers Rankings for 50,000 Processed Foods

“The database, developed by researchers at Mass General Brigham and made available to the public, sheds light on the availability of processed foods at different grocery stores, highlighting the need for more understanding and regulation of the foods offered. A new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham provides information to empower consumers and policymakers… Continue Reading

Supreme Court’s Contempt for Facts Is a Betrayal of Justice

Scientific American [unpaywalled] – The Supreme Court majority’s recent decisions about homelessness, public health and regulatory power, among others, undermine the role of evidence, expertise and honesty in American democracy. “When the Supreme Court’s Ohio v. EPA decision blocked Environmental Protection Agency limits on Midwestern states polluting their downwind neighbors, a sad but telling coda… Continue Reading