WinnDems News

Virtual classrooms are aggravating the economic disparities that plague education, with widening divides in access to supplies, workspace and parental guidance. The problem is especially acute for children with learning disabilities. http://dlvr.it/Rfgnqv

The pandemic has led medical schools to cancel many of the rotations in hospitals and clinics that students perform to see a broad mix of patients with a diverse mix of problems. http://dlvr.it/RfgnlH

Donald Trump accepted his party's nomination to seek reelection for a second term as president in front of a partisan audience that appeared to largely lack masks and opt against social distancing. http://dlvr.it/RfWzst

Vice President Mike Pence officially accepted the Republican Party's nomination for a second term. http://dlvr.it/RfSp5h

We’re off this week, but the Affordable Care Act is in the news, as the GOP holds its virtual convention and the Supreme Court recently scheduled arguments in a case challenging the law. So we’re reposting our ACA 10th anniversary episode from March. For this special episode of “What the Health?” host Julie Rovner interviews Kathleen Sebelius, who was President Barack Obama’s secretary of Health and Human Services when the law was passed. Then Rovner, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Mary Agnes Carey of KHN discuss the law’s history, impact and prospects for the future. http://dlvr.it/RfSp2G

Doctors are diagnosing a new stage of COVID-19 recovery: patients who take much longer than usual to regain consciousness after coming off a ventilator. And a growing number of doctors are worried some patients aren’t being given the time they need to wake up. http://dlvr.it/RfRXkp

Immigrant health workers help keep the U.S. health system afloat — and they’re dying of COVID-19 at high rates. http://dlvr.it/RfRXhs

The statistic is accurate but experts say other factors make it difficult to say indicators to think about that make it hard to say it's a "huge win." http://dlvr.it/RfRXcM

Tuesday night's speakers offered positive views on President Donald Trump's handling of the pandemic. The first lady and Trump, himself, took advantage of the trappings of the White House in setting the scene. http://dlvr.it/RfNvRy

In a series of July U.S. Census Bureau surveys, nearly half of California adult respondents reported levels of anxiety and gloom typically associated with diagnoses of generalized anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder, a stunning figure that rose through the summer alongside the menacing spread of the coronavirus. http://dlvr.it/RfMqyk

Cheryl and Corrina Thinn’s deaths devastated their families and their community. http://dlvr.it/RfMqyP

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center serves patients who are especially vulnerable to the coronavirus: They are essential workers, have chronic diseases and are members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. When the safety-net hospital kicks off enrollment for its COVID-19 vaccine trial Wednesday, it will look to those patients to participate. http://dlvr.it/RfMqy6

The Guardian and KHN release new figures showing that, among health care workers, a disproportionate number of immigrants and minorities have died. http://dlvr.it/RfMqq5

As the long U.S. fire season gets underway, it’s even more important for Western residents to have a good face mask. Unfortunately, most of the masks we’re wearing for COVID-19 aren’t great for smoke. http://dlvr.it/RfJ8Bt

When a colleague brings a medical billing problem to human resources director Steve Benasso — he goes to battle. “I am a bulldog on this stuff,” he said. In this episode, Benasso tells how he does it. http://dlvr.it/RfDYPj

As the nation hollowed out its public health infrastructure for decades, staffing and funding fell faster and further in Florida. Then the coronavirus ran roughshod, infecting more than half a million people and killing thousands. http://dlvr.it/RfDYPJ

Inspired to help during the COVID pandemic, a volunteer SWAT team of engineering and medical talent combines old-fashioned problem-solving and advanced 3D printing — but will it actually help? http://dlvr.it/RfDYMr

Experts say the administration’s approach with antigen tests could add cost and risk for the most vulnerable patients. http://dlvr.it/RfDYHx

Forget those thermometers. Researchers, finding a surer link between the loss of the sense of smell and a coronavirus infection, suggest the symptom may be an easy and less expensive method for screening. http://dlvr.it/RfDYFb

WATCH: “Birth certificates, college acceptance letters, the mortgage paid off – the Postal Service delivers the American dream. We cannot let it fail” Bustos continues to demand full service be restored to USPS operations WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) helped pass the Delivering for America Act to help save the United States Postal Service […] The post Bustos Helps Pass Delivering for America Act to Save USPS appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/Rf8y1j

The impact of the novel coronavirus, and the current administration's response to it, were central themes in Joe Biden's presidential nomination acceptance speech. http://dlvr.it/Rf5MhX

We are saddened to learn that Phil Johnson passed away, a great friend of the Democratic Party and Organized Labor.  Phil's obituary is posted here.I met Phil twenty years ago when I became active in the Winnebago County Democratic Central Committee. I expressed interest in running for office then and he was immediately supportive and offered tips and ideas on local campaigning. His best advice was "You'll probably lose your first race, but don't give up." Not completely inspirational to a [...] http://dlvr.it/Rf52Yr

In some states, bars and taverns have brought legal challenges to the coronavirus restrictions that have slowed sales and business. http://dlvr.it/Rf425q

2020 will be a year like no other on college campuses, as every institution makes its own rules. Some have no plans to routinely test students for the coronavirus; others aim to test every student and staff member twice a week. http://dlvr.it/Rf423g

Although it is still early, available numbers provide backup. http://dlvr.it/Rf41zn

Paul Carpenter for States Attorney FundraiserWhen:       August 20, 2020Time:         5:00- 7:00 pmWhere:      1625 East State Street, Rockford, IllinoisCovid-19 Safe:   Outside venue (weather permitting).Masks will be required, and will be available at sign in.         Suggested Donation:Individual:        &nbs [...] http://dlvr.it/Rf1ZQW

More than 550 constituents shared their stories on the impact of USPS’ recent changes WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) lifted up local stories of the impact that recent changes in United States Postal Service’s (USPS) procedure and equipment has had on residents in Northwest and Central Illinois. An informal survey sent out to constituents […] The post Bustos Highlights Local Stories of USPS Delays appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/Rf1LmD

Criminals are finding ways to reap gains under the guise of this public health intervention. http://dlvr.it/Rf0PHv

Thousands of firefighters from across the U.S. have converged on the West as the wildfire season enters its peak. The inherently dangerous job now carries the additional risk of COVID-19 transmission, and fire managers are adapting their plans for crowded fire camps in the hope of preventing outbreaks that could sideline crews and weaken the nation’s firefighting infrastructure. http://dlvr.it/Rf0PHM

Although the family patriarch did not face a life-threatening emergency, the episode was a reminder that you have to prepare for a real crisis. http://dlvr.it/Rf0PB2

Democrats continued the virtual extravaganza. Health care was a hot topic. http://dlvr.it/Rdy1vv

A case study of COVID-19 testing in Sacramento, California, shows that bottlenecks in the testing supply chain this summer limited people’s access to tests and dramatically delayed results. Similar scenarios played out in communities across the country. http://dlvr.it/RdwqFb

State officials said they urgently needed millions more masks and gowns, internal emails show. At least 80 Georgia health workers have died from COVID-19, including after the state reopened its economy. http://dlvr.it/Rdwq7G

Bustos sent letter with 170 House Democrats urging Postmaster General DeJoy to reverse recent changes to the agency WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) issued the following statement after Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced he will suspend operational changes to the United States Postal Service (USPS), which were implemented without consulting Congress and have […] The post Bustos to Postmaster General DeJoy: “The damage has already been done. Our nation’s postal service must be fully reinstated, immediately.” appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/RdvFn9

The coronavirus was a critical theme throughout the evening. http://dlvr.it/RdtqSW

Congress has allocated trillions of dollars to ease the coronavirus crisis. A joint KHN and AP investigation finds that many communities with big outbreaks have spent little of that federal money on local public health departments for work such as testing and contact tracing. Others, like Minnesota, were slow to do so. Bureaucracy has bogged things down, politics have crept into the process, and understaffed departments have struggled to take time away from critical needs to navigate the red tape required to justify asking for more money. http://dlvr.it/RdpkWT

Pennsylvania and New Jersey are leaving the federal marketplace this fall to save money and will start their own insurance exchanges. Kentucky, New Mexico, Virginia and Maine are looking to join them in 2021 or beyond. http://dlvr.it/Rdnlt4

Polio terrified Americans, and in 1955, when Jonas Salk’s vaccine became available, they snapped it up like candy. Sixty-five years later, COVID is the latest dread virus, but many undercurrents could inhibit its acceptance. http://dlvr.it/Rdnlst

A small allergy clinic in Medford, Oregon, might seem an unlikely place to recruit hundreds of volunteers to test the Moderna vaccine against COVID-19. But its steward has a record of leading hundreds of clinical trials. http://dlvr.it/RdnlsP

The rolling shortages of personal protective gear continue even in hospitals, as buyers look directly for manufacturers — often through a maze of companies that have sprung up overnight. http://dlvr.it/Rdnlm4

Two emergency room doctors, one in New York and the other in Houston, discuss their cities’ coronavirus outbreaks — and responses. http://dlvr.it/RddHqd

Poor information-sharing between hospitals and public health agencies has hurt the response to the pandemic. Some health care systems and IT companies are making inroads, but an overhaul would cost billions. http://dlvr.it/RddHqS

The first known coronavirus patient in the U.S. to undergo a double lung transplant is now strong enough to share the story of her ordeal. http://dlvr.it/RddHpK

Bustos signs onto letter with 170 House Democrats urging Postmaster General DeJoy to reverse recent changes to the agency WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) issued the following statement after the President admitted to blocking funding for USPS to prevent mail-in voting and White House Economic Advisor Larry Kudlow stated that voting rights is […] The post Bustos Joins Call to Save USPS: “‘Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers’ – and on my watch, neither will the Trump Administration.” appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/RdbfLw

The Democratic presidential ticket is complete, with Joe Biden’s selection of California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate. Health has not been a major issue for Harris, whose career priority has been the criminal justice system. But expect Republicans to pounce on her on-again, off-again support for “Medicare for All.” Meanwhile, with Congress still in a stalemate over another round of COVID-19 relief, President Donald Trump is trying to use his executive power to do what lawmakers have not — with mixed success. Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Mary Agnes Carey of KHN join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health stories of the week they think you should read, too. http://dlvr.it/RdbPsK

About 70 college students are enrolled this summer in a program developed by San Francisco researchers and funded by the National Institutes of Health that allows them to explore the pandemic’s impact on communities facing health disparities. http://dlvr.it/RdYY9j

Even before he was elected, the president talked about a plan that would be released soon. Now he is saying the end of August. http://dlvr.it/RdYY5T

New research suggests the pandemic’s deaths are taking an enormous toll on surviving family members and worrisome ripple effects may linger for years. http://dlvr.it/RdTsxZ

Many physicians were forced to close their offices — or at least see only emergency cases — when the pandemic struck. Because they are generally paid piecemeal for every service, they suffered big losses, leading to layoffs and pay cuts. Some doctors say they now are looking to overhaul the way they get paid. http://dlvr.it/RdTsxG

Hospital employees say they must choose between their paychecks and their health or that of their families. Returning to work with symptoms also risks infection among the patients they are meant to heal. http://dlvr.it/RdTsrj

KHN and The Guardian unveil an interactive database documenting front-line health care worker deaths. The majority of them are people of color — and nurses face the highest toll. http://dlvr.it/RdPgY9

The COVID-19 pandemic brought knee and hip replacements to a virtual halt because they aren’t usually considered emergency procedures. But they are profitable, and hospital systems are now counting on the surgeries to help restore their financial health. http://dlvr.it/RdLRmH

Starting in August 2020, a new episode every other week. No time like a pandemic to learn more about how to fight the high cost of health care. http://dlvr.it/RdLRkf

Half of the money the Trump administration gave dialysis companies was collected by Fresenius, an international juggernaut with a robust balance sheet, a KHN analysis has found. http://dlvr.it/RdLRjt