WinnDems News

MOLINE — Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) announced more than $7.7 million in federal grants to health centers in Whiteside, Henderson and Winnebago Counties. The grants were issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Health Center Cluster Grant Program. As a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on […] The post Bustos Announces More Than $7.7 Million in Grants for Local Health Centers appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/SDVfSz

This new variant has set off alarm bells in the public health community, but much remains to be learned about it. http://dlvr.it/SDTv8l

National paid sick leave provisions for covid expired, and an uncertain covid winter is around the corner. Los Angeles and Oakland are among the places trying to fill the gap, but many employees still face financial pressure to go to work while sick. http://dlvr.it/SDSqNc

MOLINE — Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) highlighted that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun accepting applications for up to $1.15 billion in loans and grants to help people in rural areas get access to high-speed internet. Funding for this grant program was announced during Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s visit to Geneseo, Illinois with […] The post Bustos Highlights Rural Broadband Grant Application Period appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/SDPYKN

MOLINE — Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) released the following statement in support of legislation to posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal honoring servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan. On August 26, 2021, during the emergency evacuation of citizens of the United States and vulnerable Afghan allies at Hamid Karzai International Airport, 13 […] The post Bustos Statement on Senate Passage of Legislation Honoring Service Members Killed in Afghanistan appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/SDPYCx

Just as Uber Eats and Grubhub revolutionized food delivery, Black tech entrepreneurs want to change the way patients connect with doctors. They are using technology to match people of color with culturally competent professionals and the transportation they need to get to them. http://dlvr.it/SDNqg7

Listen to a journalist's first-person horror story on shopping for health insurance — and learn how to avoid the pitfalls. http://dlvr.it/SDNqfQ

In California, health insurers blame long waits for therapy appointments on workforce shortages, but state lawmakers say that’s an excuse. A new law requires insurers to reduce wait times for mental health appointments to no more than 10 business days. http://dlvr.it/SDNqWg

ROCK CITY — Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) announced that Arrow Farm Meats LLC in Rock City, Illinois will receive a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant program. Funds will be used to help the facility become compliant with USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service guidelines.  “Throughout […] The post ROCK CITY: Bustos Announces $200,000 Grant for Arrow Farm Meats LLC appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/SD6Q2D

MOLINE — Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) announced more than $250,000 in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants to improve rural community infrastructure and housing in Northwest and Central Illinois. Grants were awarded to the Western Illinois Regional Council & Community Action Agency, Rebuilding Together in Henry County and the Village of Williamsfield.  “Throughout my […] The post Bustos Announces More Than $250,000 from USDA to Improve Rural Community Infrastructure, Housing appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/SD6PxG

The Republican senator says President Joe Biden’s “inflation crisis” caused Medicare to raise monthly premiums, which will add hundreds of dollars to beneficiaries’ costs. But Medicare experts say inflation was not to blame and most beneficiaries will shoulder a much smaller increase than what Rick Scott claims. http://dlvr.it/SD5lKh

Dr. Susan Massad created a “health team” after learning she had metastatic breast cancer. These friends and family members help her make difficult decisions and lead the most fulfilling life possible. http://dlvr.it/SD5lJV

President Joe Biden’s social spending budget is on its way to the U.S. Senate, where Democratic leaders are (optimistically) hoping to complete work by the end of the year. Meanwhile, covid is surging again in parts of the country, along with the political divides it continues to cause. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Joanne Kenen of Politico and the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, and Mary Agnes Carey of KHN join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner previews next week’s Supreme Court abortion oral arguments with Florida State University law professor Mary Ziegler. http://dlvr.it/SD3z1l

The Health and Human Services secretary says the administration has heard complaints from doctors and hospitals about the rules it unveiled for implementing the law to end surprise medical bills. But he says providers who have exploited a complicated system to charge exorbitant rates will have to bear their share of the cost — or close. http://dlvr.it/SCzlln

The promising antiviral drugs to treat covid can halt hospitalizations and deaths, but only if they’re given to patients within three to five days of their first symptoms, a narrow window many people won’t meet. Here’s why. http://dlvr.it/SCycJl

You probably won’t be testing everyone at your Thanksgiving table for covid because the tests are expensive and hard to find. Why? The federal government is partly to blame. http://dlvr.it/SCycHw

Health care — and how much it costs — is scary. But knowledge is power. Take a master class in winning insurance appeals. In the case of Matthew Lientz, taking on his insurance also meant going up against his employer. http://dlvr.it/SCycHH

Some business owners, wondering whether it’s too soon to ease the requirement, long for more guidance and support from the mayor. http://dlvr.it/SCycC1

With kids back in school, business is picking back up for professional nitpickers. But how are kids getting head lice if they’re physically distancing in the classroom? http://dlvr.it/SCp85B

The scientific term is “postvention,” and it informs how to navigate the emotional challenges that follow such a tragedy. http://dlvr.it/SCp84w

But state and local officials embrace the requirement because it creates a safer workplace while allowing employees to continue working. http://dlvr.it/SCp84W

With few options for health care in their rural community, a Tennessee couple’s experience with one outrageous bill could have led to a deadly decision the next time they needed help. http://dlvr.it/SCp82l

Federal health officials appear poised to extend a recommendation for covid boosters to all adults, following moves by some governors and mayors to broaden the eligible booster pool as caseloads rise. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration finally has a nominee to head the agency: former FDA chief Robert Califf. And Medicare premiums for consumers will likely rise substantially in 2022, partly due to the approval of a controversial drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Tami Luhby of CNN, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Dan Weissmann, host of the “An Arm and a Leg” podcast. http://dlvr.it/SCmM28

Although it’s possible to buy travel insurance that provides some health coverage, the devil is in the fine print. Obama-era laws that prevent refusal of payment for preexisting conditions don’t apply to travel insurance. http://dlvr.it/SCkV38

Health officials hope the rollout of covid shots for young children and other initiatives will boost routine vaccine rates that dropped during the pandemic and narrow socioeconomic disparities. http://dlvr.it/SCkV0H

Politicians and many health experts have done their best to see the glass half-full in the plan put forward by congressional Democrats and the president. But it’s “a far cry” from what other nations do to rein in drug prices, and polls show most voters demand more protection. http://dlvr.it/SCkTwc

Today’s passage marks a major step forward in passing the bill out of Congress Bipartisan bill passed unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos’ (IL-17) bipartisan, bicameral legislation to end forced arbitration for sexual harassment and assault survivors took a critical step forward when it was […] The post Bustos’ Bill to End Forced Arbitration for Sexual Assault and Harassment Passes House Judiciary Committee appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/SCjDp6

WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) highlighted her bipartisan, bicameral legislation to end forced arbitration for sexual harassment and assault survivors in anticipation of tomorrow’s mark-up in the House Judiciary Committee. The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault & Sexual Harassment Act recently passed unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Ahead of tomorrow’s […] The post WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Bustos’ Arbitration Bill Passes Senate Judiciary Committee, Will Receive House Markup on Wednesday appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/SCgLtx

Congress last year shielded consumers from unexpected out-of-network charges, but hospitals and doctors have decried the arbitration plan put forward by the Biden administration for negotiating these bills as favoring insurers. More than 150 members of the House agree. http://dlvr.it/SCfrzG

WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) highlighted her bipartisan, bicameral legislation to end forced arbitration for sexual harassment and assault survivors in anticipation of tomorrow’s mark-up in the House Judiciary Committee. The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault & Sexual Harassment Act recently passed unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Ahead of tomorrow’s […] The post WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: Bustos’ Arbitration Bill Passes Senate Judiciary Committee, Will Receive House Markup on Wednesday appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/SCdXrC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers guidance but calls for localities to set quarantine rules for unvaccinated children exposed to someone with covid-19. That's led to a pandemic patchwork of rules. http://dlvr.it/SCbGYY

The number of pharmacies dispensing 340B discounted drugs soared to more than 31,000 this year. Drugmakers struck back by halting some discounts. Hospitals say they are losing millions of dollars — and cutting back services to patients — as a result. http://dlvr.it/SCbGXg

An estimated 275,000 Missouri adults can get dental insurance now as the state has expanded who is eligible for Medicaid. But with so few dentists participating in the program, the state’s already-backlogged dental clinics are facing a glut of new clients. http://dlvr.it/SCbGRh

MOLINE — Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) joined Mike Emanuel on Fox News Live to discuss how the Build Back Better Act will create jobs, support working families and help reduce inflation.  “I believe that when we pass this Build Back Better Act — and I see it as a jobs act, I don’t call […] The post Bustos on Fox News: Build Back Better Act “An Investment in America” appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/SCXHws

WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) released the following statement honoring Veterans Day.  “Each Veterans Day, we have the opportunity to honor the service of our heroic Armed Forces – both those serving today and those no longer in uniform – and the chance to thank them for the tremendous sacrifice made to protect […] The post Bustos Statement Honoring Veterans Day appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/SCXHtb

Theater companies and musical ensembles are restarting live performances after a crippling pandemic pause. In some conservative states, artists find creative ways to get around state laws that go against public health recommendations. http://dlvr.it/SCWs0X

A new California law requires health insurance companies to notify consumers how much remains on their deductibles and how close they are to their annual out-of-pocket spending limits. http://dlvr.it/SCWrw6

More than 1,000 independent rural pharmacies have closed since 2003, leaving 630 communities with no retail drugstore. As 41 million people stuck in pharmacy deserts make do, the remaining drugstores struggle to survive. http://dlvr.it/SCWrrv

Many small hospitals have shuttered their labor and delivery units as births decline. For those who resist the trend, some studies suggest that hospitals with low deliveries are more likely to see complications for patients. Doctors and public health experts say there is no magic number to determine when it is best to close an obstetrics unit. http://dlvr.it/SCMtPY

KHN gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories. http://dlvr.it/SCMtJS

Congress is making slow progress toward completing its ambitious social spending bill, although its Thanksgiving deadline looks optimistic. Meanwhile, a new survey finds the average cost of an employer-provided family plan has risen to more than $22,000. That’s about the cost of a new Toyota Corolla. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Rebecca Love, a nurse academic and entrepreneur, about the impending crisis in nursing. http://dlvr.it/SCL8ZK

Medicare officials say complaints are rising from seniors lured into private plans with misleading information or enrolled without their consent. In response, officials have threatened to penalize the private companies selling Medicare Advantage and drug plans if they or agents working on their behalf mislead consumers. http://dlvr.it/SCJZJc

Some insurers pocketed ‘eye-popping’ overpayments, billing records show. http://dlvr.it/SCJZG3

Many job-based health plans broadened their mental health and substance use coverage to make sure workers had the support they needed this year as pandemic stress lingered, the annual KFF survey finds. Also, the proportion of employers offering health insurance to their workers remained steady, and increases for premiums and out-of-pocket health expenses were moderate. http://dlvr.it/SCGcvP

Vehicle emissions, oil and gas drilling and climate change have combined to create more days with unhealthy levels of the colorless, odorless gas from Denver to Phoenix. http://dlvr.it/SCF1dc

A health center with clinics on Chicago’s southwest side that serves mostly Hispanic patients has provided the most covid shots to kids in the city by being accessible, (literally) speaking the language of the community and setting up pop-up clinics at schools and parks. It provides a few lessons as the nation gears up to vaccinate 5- to 11-year-olds. http://dlvr.it/SCF1dD

Kids who need a hormone-blocking drug to delay puberty have lost an off-label option. The nearly identical drug the company still sells costs eight times more. http://dlvr.it/SCF1Xg

The infrastructure bill passed Friday funnels $15 billion into lead pipe remediation. Water quality experts say the cost of getting rid of all lead pipes could ultimately cost $60 billion. Still, some health advocates say the new funding will be transformative in allowing communities such as Houston’s Fifth Ward to fix its pipes. http://dlvr.it/SC6lWq

“Base what you do on serving people and getting results… that’s the Joe Biden model” WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) joined Ali Velshi on MSNBC to discuss the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the need to pass the Build Back Better Act to advance economic recovery and support middle-class families.  During […] The post Bustos on MSNBC: “We have to start talking to more people at Tractor Supply than Trader Joe’s” appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/SC6chg

House Takes Critical Step Forward on Build Back Better Act WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) cast her vote to help pass the transformational bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This historic package makes the largest investment in the nation’s roads, bridges, broadband, energy grids, and more, since the Eisenhower presidency. “America’s success has […] The post Bustos Helps Pass Transformational Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill appeared first on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. http://dlvr.it/SC6cd4

But providers do not expect contraception to blunt the law’s effects. http://dlvr.it/SC5qLW

Hospitals and doctors are facing more demands for ivermectin as a covid-19 treatment, despite a lack of proof it works. In some Republican-dominated states, pushing for ivermectin interventions has become a conservative rallying cry. http://dlvr.it/SC5qHW