Rural Hospitals and Patients Are Disconnected From Modern Care
By Sarah Jane Tribble and Holly K. Hacker and Caresse Jackman, InvestigateTV
Technological gaps handicap rural hospitals as billions in federal funding to modernize infrastructure lags. The reliance on outdated technology and piecemeal systems challenge staffs and erode patient care.
Slashed Federal Funding Cancels Vaccine Clinics Amid Measles Surge
By Bram Sable-Smith and Arielle Zionts and Jackie Fortiér
Federal funding cuts, though temporarily blocked by a judge, have upended vaccination clinics across the country, including in Arizona, Minnesota, Nevada, Texas, and Washington state, amid a rise in vaccine hesitancy and a resurgence of measles.
Federal Judge Blocks Mandate on Nursing Home Staffing
By Tarena Lofton
A federal judge in Texas blocked a Biden administration rule to boost staffing at nursing homes. The decision comes even though many homes lack enough workers to maintain residents’ care.
Daily Edition for Tuesday, April 8, 2025
DOGE Cuts Force Shutdown Of Wastewater Testing In San Diego County: Since February 2021, the San Diego Epidemiology and Research for COVID Health program (SEARCH) has used advanced science to analyze wastewater samples, eventually expanding to include other infectious diseases. But those efforts ground to a halt Monday after researchers received word that the roughly $400,000 per year provided by the county’s public health department would cease. Read more from The San Diego Union-Tribune. Keep reading for more on the federal budget cuts.
For Opioid Victims, Payouts Fall Short While Governments Reap Millions
By Aneri Pattani
Lookup tool by Lydia ZurawData analysis by Henry Larweh
Pharmaceutical companies accused of fueling the nation’s opioid crisis are paying state and local governments billions of dollars in legal settlements. But how much are victims who suffered addiction and overdoses getting?
Rural Hospitals Question Whether They Can Afford Medicare Advantage Contracts
By Arielle Zionts
Some rural hospitals have canceled — or are considering ending — contracts with insurance companies that offer Medicare Advantage plans, saying the private policies jeopardize their finances and impede patient care.
Firings at Federal Health Agencies Decimate Offices That Release Public Records
By Rachana Pradhan and Brett Kelman
The Department of Health and Human Services’ mass firings included people who fulfill Freedom of Information Act requests for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, and FDA, which result in the release of records about government handling of infectious diseases, medical products, and safety problems in health facilities.
Daily Edition for Monday, April 7, 2025
Newsom Decries ‘Irrational And Malicious’ USDA Funding Cuts: Gov. Gavin Newsom sent an urgent appeal to the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Saturday, imploring the department to reverse the abrupt cancellation of a Biden-era program that feeds millions of California families. The cuts "will not only hurt our farmers, but also the families who need food banks,” Newsom said in a release announcing the appeal. Read more from the Los Angeles Times.
Blockbuster Deal Will Wipe Out $30 Billion in Medical Debt. Even Backers Say It’s Not Enough.
By Noam N. Levey
Undue Medical Debt is retiring unpaid medical bills for 20 million people. The debt trading company that owned them is leaving the market.
This Bill Aims To Help Firefighters With Cancer. Getting It Passed Is Just the Beginning.
By Mark Kreidler
Amid the Los Angeles wildfires, California’s U.S. senators co-sponsored legislation that would provide support to first responders who develop or die from service-related cancers. But those involved with similar efforts say the road to implementation is rough and paved with long waits, restrictive eligibility requirements, and funding issues.
