WinnDems News

The city of Durango has hired an actor to bring his Old West acting skills to tackle a current problem: the Wild West of spring break, in which visitors from states such as Texas and Oklahoma flock to town. The “lawman” cajoles them into wearing masks while vaccinators stand ready for out-of-town visitors. http://dlvr.it/Rwk3LC

Watch an intimate conversation about this workforce, which provides vital care to vulnerable people. Our panel included those doing the work and those who rely on them, as well as expert insight on improving the jobs, honoring the care and paying for it all. http://dlvr.it/RwhgZ2

Access to physician-assisted death is expanding across the U.S., but the procedure remains in Montana’s legal gray zone more than a decade after the state Supreme Court ruled physicians could use a dying patient’s consent as a defense. http://dlvr.it/RwfLQR

Experts say there's nothing new about the research underpinning the covid vaccines and that they were tested in more participants than many other approved vaccines. http://dlvr.it/RwfLQ4

A nationwide poll released by KFF also revealed which arguments are most compelling to persuade people to get a shot — and which ones are unlikely to work. http://dlvr.it/RwfLLz

Philanthropies are funding studies of cheap, existing medications like the antidepressant fluvoxamine as covid treatments. But early hype about hydroxychloroquine and other repurposed drugs leaves researchers leery of hasty conclusions. http://dlvr.it/RwZg4x

After 9/11, as our defenses against international and bioterrorism hardened, our defenses against infectious diseases shrank. By the time a deadly virus arrived on our shores last year, nearly two-thirds of Americans were living in counties that spend more than twice as much on policing as they spend on public health. http://dlvr.it/RwZg4r

The Kentucky lawmaker was right that a recent study offered evidence that vaccination and previous infection appear to neutralize covid-19. But experts say that doesn’t mean people should be complacent. http://dlvr.it/RwZg3V

Gov. Gavin Newsom is painting the effort to remove him from office as a partisan power grab. But among the tens of thousands of Californians who signed the recall petition are Democrats and independent voters frustrated by his pandemic policies, from school closures to vaccine distribution. http://dlvr.it/RwZfzk

Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio were set to roll out a bill Friday that could help unknown thousands of service members who are sick from toxic substances they were exposed to from burning garbage in Afghanistan, Iraq and other war zones. http://dlvr.it/RwQYpD

In his campaign, President Joe Biden promised to undo policies, particularly health policies, implemented by former President Donald Trump. Yet, despite immense executive power, reversing four years of action takes time and resources. http://dlvr.it/RwNPsN

After a bruising confirmation process, Xavier Becerra was sworn in as secretary of Health and Human Services this week. The Senate also confirmed the nominations of former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to return to the post he held in the Obama administration, and former Pennsylvania health secretary Rachel Levine as assistant secretary for health. Levine is the first openly transgender person to receive Senate confirmation. Meanwhile, questions continue to swirl around the AstraZeneca covid vaccine, which some public health experts worry will create more hesitancy toward other vaccines. http://dlvr.it/RwN2RW

Clinicians at pediatric hospitals are experimenting with “smell training” among children who had covid-19 and have now lost this sense. http://dlvr.it/RwL4RV

Many inmates at Western Missouri Correctional Center, like their peers in prisons across Missouri and the nation, are hesitant about getting vaccinated against covid-19 because they don’t trust prison health care. http://dlvr.it/RwL4Pv

The Tuskegee syphilis study is often cited as a reason Black Americans might hesitate to take the covid-19 vaccine. But many people say that current racism in health care and lack of access deserve more attention to move more Black Americans toward vaccine protection. http://dlvr.it/RwL4HM

The $1.9 trillion covid relief bill expands subsidies for private insurance plans. That will lighten the burden on consumers, but it locks taxpayers into yet more support for the health care industry. http://dlvr.it/RwGCzd

Democrats’ $1.9 trillion covid relief package will offer some of the most significant help for Americans to pay for health insurance in a decade. But the temporary provisions are complicated. KHN offers tips for consumers. http://dlvr.it/RwGCzF

Air-cleaning companies with limited oversight are targeting a growing market of schools desperate for covid-19 protection. Donald Trump’s former covid adviser lands with one that built its business, in part, on ozone-emitting technology. http://dlvr.it/RwGCvn

A Trump administration Medicare rule will push some hospital patients into a Catch-22: The government says several hundred procedures no longer need to be done in a hospital, but it did not approve them to be performed elsewhere. So patients will still need to use a hospital while not officially admitted — and may be charged more out-of-pocket for the care. http://dlvr.it/RwBP2W

Progressive and conservative Democratic lawmakers, as well as President Joe Biden, are in favor of authorizing federal officials to negotiate with drugmakers over what Medicare pays for at least some of the most expensive brand-name drugs and to base those prices on the drugs’ clinical benefits. Such a measure could put Republicans in the uncomfortable position of opposing an idea that most voters from both parties generally support. http://dlvr.it/RwBNvx

It’s the second spring break of the pandemic, and rumors abound about people exploiting loopholes to get vaccinated in order to party. But some students who’ve been immunized were eligible because of where they work or underlying health conditions. http://dlvr.it/Rw6jYw

Across the country, a mishmash of rules to qualify for a precious covid shot is creating nightmares for consumers. Criteria including age, occupation and medical conditions vary dramatically. http://dlvr.it/Rw6jYm

The once-promising therapy that infuses blood plasma from recovered covid-19 patients into newly infected people, theoretically to boost immunity, has suffered setbacks. But some proponents say it’s too early to abandon the treatment. http://dlvr.it/Rw6jXW

The vaccination rollout has been unsteady, but the vaccines seem very effective, raising hopes that the pandemic will subside by later this year if enough Americans get their shots. Meanwhile, remain cautious. http://dlvr.it/Rw6G5z

This Women’s History Month, Bustos re-authorizes VAWA and votes to eliminate arbitrary time limit on historic ERA WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) helped pass a package of historic bills to protect against gender discrimination, in equality, and violence, and honor Women’s History Month. PHOTOS: Congresswoman Bustos joins women in the House in honor of […] The post PHOTOS: Bustos Helps Pass Historic Package to Protect Against Gender Discrimination, Violence appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/Rvzqzf

Insurance giant Blue Shield of California has made millions in charitable and political donations to Gov. Gavin Newsom over nearly two decades, largely to his dearly held homeless initiatives. In turn, Newsom has rewarded the insurer with a $15 million no-bid contract to lead the state’s covid vaccination distribution. http://dlvr.it/Rvz790

Sick with ailments similar to those suffered by 9/11 first responders, military service members exposed to toxic burning garbage in Iraq and Afghanistan may finally see Congress address their plight. President Joe Biden believes his son Beau’s brain cancer may have been caused by such exposure. http://dlvr.it/Rvxf3S

Montana is looking to join most other states in requiring small businesses to offer laid-off employees temporary continuity of their health care plans. But the bill, if it passes, likely won’t take effect in time to help people directly affected by the pandemic. http://dlvr.it/Rvxf36

For now, there’s not enough vaccine for the U.S., but that could change within a few months. Vaccinating other nations will be key to stopping the pandemic – and keeping it away from our shores. http://dlvr.it/Rvxdy2

The covid relief bill signed by President Joe Biden includes a long list of new health benefits for consumers. But many eligible people may have difficulty taking advantage of them because of the interaction with the income tax system and a lack of expert guidance. Meanwhile, Democrats are debating internally about what should come next on the health agenda. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call and Rachana Pradhan of KHN join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. http://dlvr.it/RvvktR

Hunger among kids is skyrocketing, even in America’s wealthiest counties. But given the nation’s highly uneven charitable food system, affluent communities have been far less ready for the unprecedented crisis than places accustomed to dealing with poverty and hardship. http://dlvr.it/RvsmWc

The law provides money to enhance coronavirus testing and contact tracing, support federal efforts on vaccine distribution and hire more public health workers. But advocates worry support will wane when the pandemic is over. http://dlvr.it/RvsmLY

Millions of teens and preteens help care for ill parents or grandparents. The pandemic has boosted their numbers while making it harder for them to get social and emotional support outside the home. http://dlvr.it/RvnwVh

A financial research firm offered its take on when states might be reaching the sought-after status of herd immunity. But some experts say the analysis is oversimplified. http://dlvr.it/RvnwVV

One group of maternal health experts in 2016 urged doctors to give all women heparin shots after C-sections, barring specific medical risks for individual patients. But many physicians disagree, questioning whether wide use of the drug is effective, worth the cost and safe, since it carries the risk of bleeding. http://dlvr.it/RvnwTH

President Joe Biden may want to continue the previous administration’s efforts to lower drug prices and make medical costs transparent. http://dlvr.it/Rvk3NZ

The numbers of people wearing these monitors are soaring as prices have fallen and device-makers promote them to doctors and patients. But few studies show the devices lead to better outcomes for the nearly 25 million Americans with Type 2 diabetes who don’t inject insulin to regulate their blood sugar. http://dlvr.it/Rvk3Hz

Health provider conflicts, fraud and access disparity temper the covid telehealth revolution. http://dlvr.it/RvfMzC

Federal records show a steep decline in staff covid cases since December, when health care workers at thousands of nursing homes began getting their shots. Still, many are reluctant to get vaccinated. http://dlvr.it/RvfMys

The Aldaco family of Phoenix suffered more than most in this year of unfathomable losses. Three brothers perished in the pandemic: Jose in July, Heriberto in December and Gonzalo in February. http://dlvr.it/RvfMvQ

Our newsroom has some of the best and smartest health care and health policy reporters in the business. We’ve created a new video series — “Explained by KHN” — in which our correspondents and editors answer common health care and policy questions. In this edition we cover consumer concerns over the covid-19 vaccines. http://dlvr.it/RvTbSq

The University of Missouri settled a collection of 22 medical malpractice and false advertising lawsuits over knee surgeries for $16.2 million. One doctor involved in the cases is among Missouri’s highest-paid state employees; the other is a veterinarian. http://dlvr.it/RvTbSZ

Although vaccine supply is ramping up, the supply gap puts pressure on vaccinating teams to extract every drop they can. Some are asking the FDA to waive guidance against extracting vaccine from two vials with the same needle. It’s worth a shot. http://dlvr.it/RvTbMW

Beyond the billions of dollars aimed squarely at the pandemic, the covid relief bill cleared by Congress this week includes significant changes to health policy. Among them are the first major expansions to the Affordable Care Act since its enactment 11 years ago and changes that could expand coverage for the Medicaid program. Tami Luhby of CNN, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too. http://dlvr.it/RvRbsk

In Appropriations hearing, Bustos highlights story of heartbreaking work conditions where positive COVID-19 cases are not disclosed, stresses importance of strong response from OSHA to protect workers  WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, advocated for strong federal health and safety protections for meatpacking, poultry and agriculture workers, […] The post VIDEO: Bustos Advocates for Strong Federal Health and Safety Protections for Meatpacking, Poultry and Agriculture Workers appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/RvQk65

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) hosted a small business webinar with more than 60 participants, which included small business owners, lenders, local chambers of commerce and economic development organizations from across Illinois’ 17th Congressional District to provide resources for those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a special focus on businesses with less […] The post Bustos Hosts Small Business Assistance Webinar appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/RvN26f

Hesitancy toward routine childhood vaccines doesn’t necessarily predict hesitancy toward a covid shot. http://dlvr.it/RvL7cX

After nearly a decade’s worth of federal inspections, reprimands and corrective action plans, has Pfizer fixed the facility that will be filling vials of its covid vaccine? http://dlvr.it/RvL7bj

Early in the pandemic, many patients couldn’t be tested. The lack of a covid diagnosis complicates disability insurance for those whose illness continues. http://dlvr.it/RvL7b3

As the recent winter storm disaster in Texas showed, many long-term care sites aren’t required to have backup power supplies or other redundancies to keep residents safe when disaster strikes. http://dlvr.it/RvL7WT