Health Care Repeal Trump vows complete end of Obamacare law despite pandemic May 6, 2020 Washington Post Share Tweet Summary: The Washington Post reports that even amid a global health crisis as serious as the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump is still promising to end Obamacare. Also known by its formal name, the Affordable Care Act, it gives urgent protections for patients with pre-existing conditions.
Health Care Repeal Vidant Health Announces Furloughs, Pay Cuts Due To COVID-19 April 23, 2020 WUNC North Carolina Public Radio Share Tweet Summary: In addition to the human toll and the strain the coronavirus pandemic is causing in our health care system, there are other problems coming to light. North Carolina Public Radio reports that Vidant Health is having significant financial stress that is being intensified by coronavirus. Vidant has had to furlough employees, cut salaries, and […]
Health Care Repeal In Black Communities’ Fight Against COVID-19, The Real ‘Pre-Existing Condition’ Is Poverty April 22, 2020 WUNC North Carolina Public Radio Share Tweet Summary: In-depth coverage from North Carolina Public Radio about the disproportionately high rates of coronavirus cases and deaths in black communities. Through interviews with experts and analysis of North Carolina and national data, a heartbreaking picture develops about how existing health disparities are being made even worse during the coronavirus.
Prescription Drugs A Potentially Deadly Case of Sticker Shock May 11, 2020 Share Tweet Summary: It’s a potentially deadly case of sticker shock. A North Carolina doctor tells us that Senator Thom Tillis’ votes to allow insurance companies to stop covering prescription drugs could have been devastating. “I spend at least a third of my day trying to help patients get the medicine they need – but they simply […]
Prescription Drugs Sen. Tillis should fight for public health, not his Big Pharma donors’ profits April 29, 2020 North Carolina Policy Watch Share Tweet Summary: Senator Thom Tillis received over $150,000 from the pharmaceutical industry for his campaign in 2019, and ranked first in Congress for donations from political action committees associated with drug companies. Margarida Jorge and Pat McCoy write a stinging analysis of the dangerous impacts on public policy due to the outsized influence of Big Pharma.
Prescription Drugs No end in sight to rising drug prices, study finds May 1, 2019 NBC News Share Tweet SUMMARY: Studies are showing what many North Carolinians already know: prescription drug prices continue to rise. NBC News reports in-depth on a Scripps Research Translational Institute study that shows the actual increase in drug prices over a six-year period from 2012-2017. Among the urgent finds were that across the most common prescription drugs the average increase […]
Medicare Nearly half of Mecklenburg’s COVID-19 deaths are connected to long-term care facilities April 30, 2020 The Charlotte Observer Share Tweet Summary: Recent coverage in the Charlotte Observer highlights the risk coronavirus is posing for long-term care facilities. Through April, a dozen long-term care facilities have had outbreaks of coronavirus and nearly half of all coronavirus related deaths in Mecklenburg County were connected to long-term care facilities.
Medicare How Medicare Cuts Will Hurt Seniors July 27, 2019 Verywell Health Share Tweet SUMMARY: Coverage from Verywell Health shows how 2016 campaign promises by Donald Trump to preserve Medicare have proven to be hollow. The Trump administration has proposed legislation cutting funding for Medicare, but it’s not just the White House. Republicans in Congress have plans to change Medicare as we know it and their tax bill very […]
Medicare House GOP 2019 budget calls for deep Medicare, Medicaid spending cuts June 19, 2018 The Hill Share Tweet SUMMARY: Funding for health care for poor, older and disabled Americans was on the chopping block when the House Republicans offered their budget proposal. Proposed cuts included $537 billion from Medicare, and $1.5 trillion from Medicaid and other health programs. Additionally, the proposal moves toward privatizing Medicare, and imposing new caps on Medicaid. The budget’s […]
Medicaid Expansion Coronavirus gains a foothold in rural North Carolina May 7, 2020 North Carolina Health News Share Tweet Summary: In-depth analysis from North Carolina Health News of the coronavirus outbreak in Columbus County highlights the difficulties North Carolinians in rural areas are facing. As of May 4th, Columbus County had the highest coronavirus rate amongst all rural counties which already suffer from lessened access to care and worse health care outcomes on average.
Medicaid Expansion Health care experts say pandemic exposed disparities in system May 5, 2020 WRAL.com Share Tweet Summary: WRAL offers in-depth coverage of the coronavirus impact on North Carolinians and explains the outsized impact the pandemic is having on minorities. African Americans have made up a disproportionate share of both coronavirus cases and deaths in North Carolina. Experts point to ongoing health disparities being exacerbated by the coronavirus.
Medicaid Expansion Cohen: Coronavirus magnifies ‘cracks’ in NC’s health care system April 29, 2020 Raleigh News Observer Share Tweet Summary: Coverage of Dr. Mandy Cohen’s press conference highlights the financial difficulties health care providers are facing in North Carolina without having expanded Medicaid. Dr. Cohen calls for additional help for health care providers who are helping North Carolinians without health insurance.