“Votebeat is a nonprofit news organization committed to reporting the nuanced truth about elections and voting at a time of crisis in America. Our mission is to help people understand our system of democracy so they can participate in strengthening it. Our approach is to cover and explain the mechanics of voting — no political… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Medicine
New Axios/Ipsos American Health Index
“As a summer COVID surge continues, the latest Axios/Ipsos American Health Index finds that concern about COVID is ticking up, even as mask use hasn’t changed. However, concern about COVID remains relatively low and in line with other respiratory illnesses, like the flu. When it comes to the top public health worries for the country,… Continue Reading
Scientists are falling victim to deepfake AI video scams here’s how to fight back
Nature: “…But lately the attacks have become more sophisticated, and harder to debunk. “With AI, they can make an image look and speak exactly like me, with my mannerisms,” he says. In one video, he is depicted as saying that people could live to 100 years if they take a certain herbal product. Such videos… Continue Reading
Long COVID: a clinical update
Available online 31 July 2024 – “Post-COVID-19 condition (also known as long COVID) is generally defined as symptoms persisting for 3 months or more after acute COVID-19. Long COVID can affect multiple organ systems and lead to severe and protracted impairment of function as a result of organ damage. The burden of this disease, both… Continue Reading
Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission
“The 2024 update of the Lancet Commission on dementia provides new hopeful evidence about dementia prevention, intervention, and care. As people live longer, the number of people who live with dementia continues to rise, even as the age-specific incidence decreases in high-income countries, emphasising the need to identify and implement prevention approaches. We have summarised… Continue Reading
Long COVID puzzle pieces are falling into place – the picture is unsettling
Via LLRX – Long COVID puzzle pieces are falling into place – the picture is unsettling – Long COVID is a term that describes the constellation of long-term health effects caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These range from persistent respiratory symptoms, such as shortness of breath, to debilitating fatigue or brain fog that… Continue Reading
2024 State Scorecard on Women’s Health and Reproductive Care
The Commonwealth Fund: Our Scorecard ranks every state’s health care system based on how well it provides high-quality, accessible, and equitable health care. Read the report to see health care rankings by state. Scorecard Highlights: Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island top the rankings for the 2024 State Scorecard on Women’s Health and Reproductive Care, which… Continue Reading
A terrific primer on all things Long Covid
Via Boing Boing: “If you have an hour to spare and want to learn more about Long Covid, here’s a great, thorough overview by a public health and science communicator who goes by the name of “Lola Germs” on social media. They describe their educational project on their YouTube: “I’m a public health and science… Continue Reading
Overcoming Hurdles And Shaping The Future Of Legal Tech In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence
Above the Law – Legal professionals are confronted with challenges such as technological barriers, ethical concerns, and evolving legal frameworks and regulations, by Iman Badri. “One of the cornerstones of the United States’ (US) legal system is stare decisis, a principle established in the early 1800s. Stare decisis mandates that courts and judges should uphold… Continue Reading
Pharmacy Benefit Managers – Middlemen Inflating Drug Costs, Squeezing Main Street Pharmacies
StatNews: FTC report finds PBMs profit at the expense of patients and independent pharmacies Pharmacy Benefit Managers: The Powerful Middlemen Inflating Drug Costs and Squeezing Main Street Pharmacies Interim Staff Report July 2024 U.S. Federal Trade Commission Office of Policy Planning. Continue Reading
Insurers Pocketed $50 Billion From Medicare for Diseases No Doctor Treated
WSJ via MSN: “…Insurer-driven diagnoses by UnitedHealth for diseases that no doctor treated generated $8.7 billion in 2021 payments to the company, the Journal’s analysis showed. UnitedHealth’s net income that year was about $17 billion. UnitedHealth’s Wiggin said the Journal’s calculations appear accurate. He said the added payments are “not simply earnings for the company,”… Continue Reading
No surprises act
ProPublica: “In 2020, Congress passed the No Surprises Act to protect patients from exorbitant medical bills that had burdened Americans with tens of thousands of dollars in debt. The law was designed to decrease the charges for patients treated by an out-of-network doctor during medical emergencies. Such ER visits often left people vulnerable to so-called… Continue Reading
