Shakeel Ahmed is a freelance journalist based in Islamabad, Punjab, Pakistan.

How To Cut Healthcare Costs

01 Nov 2023  |  Forbes  |  English  |  Healthcare Reform

The article addresses the significant concern of rising healthcare costs in the United States, highlighting the $4.3 trillion expenditure in 2021. It discusses various strategies to reduce costs, including increasing price transparency, promoting value-based care, encouraging the use of generic medications, implementing payment reform, increasing competition, investing in preventive care, and lowering administrative costs. The article emphasizes the need for both government and private sector actions to address these issues and improve the efficiency and affordability of healthcare.

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Kaiser Family Foundation Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services eHealth Health Affairs Institute of Medicine U.S. Department of Health and Human Services FDA National Academy of Medicine Third Way American Journal of Managed Care National Institute of Health CDC The Commonwealth Fund

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Blair is a multimedia freelance journalist and emergency and critical care doctor based in Toronto, Canada.  He received his journalism training at the Munk School of Global Affairs and his research training at the Institute for Medical Sciences, both at U of Toronto. His medical training was at ...

The Misinfodemic: Combating the Deadly Spread of COVID-19 Misinformation

05 Apr 2023  |  The Globe and Mail  |  English  |  Social Media

Blair Bigham discusses the dangers of misinformation in healthcare, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlights studies showing that falsehoods spread faster than the truth on social media and that exposure to misinformation reduces the likelihood of people getting vaccinated. Bigham emphasizes the societal costs of misinformation, including economic damage, social disruption, and loss of life. He advocates for a whole-of-society effort to combat misinformation, including prebunking strategies and social media companies acting as public-health agencies to monitor and control the spread of false information. He also refutes the argument that controlling misinformation infringes on freedom of expression, stating that there is no right to spread harmful falsehoods on private platforms.

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Kaiser Family Foundation Stanford University London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Science U.S. Surgeon General

Melissa Daniels is a journalist based in Los Angeles. She has extensive experience covering political campaigns, public policy and the judiciary — as well as feature reporting for arts and culture sections and business publications. She is available for freelance assignments as well as contract ...

Online birth control providers are booming amid restrictive care laws

01 Apr 2023  |  www.modernretail.co  |  English  |  Abortion Laws

Online birth control providers like Pandia and Nurx are experiencing significant growth amid restrictive abortion laws in the United States. Women are increasingly turning to telemedicine for reproductive care due to privacy concerns and legislative changes. The Dobbs decision and state-specific laws, such as Florida's six-week abortion ban, have led to spikes in customer enrollment. Companies are focusing on educating women about birth control's broader health benefits and navigating advertising restrictions. Despite challenges from state laws requiring video visits, the demand for telehealth contraceptive services continues to rise, driven by convenience and the current political climate.

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Kaiser Family Foundation Georgia Supreme Court

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I live in Kentish Town, north London and am a former BBC World Service radio reporter and producer, 1978 - 1984. I then went freelance and remained independent ever since but developed long term working relationships with a range of news organisations across news, sport and culture. This experience ...

Long Beach-based health plan providers are major employers

09 Feb 2014  |  Press Telegram  |  English  |  Affordable Care Act

Molina Healthcare and SCAN Health Plan, two major employers in Long Beach, are navigating the impacts of federal health policies. Molina is expected to benefit from the Affordable Care Act, anticipating revenue growth and expanding its workforce and facilities. SCAN, a nonprofit Medicare Advantage provider, faces challenges due to changes in Medicare payments but continues to grow. MemorialCare Health is also expanding its health plan operations. Both Molina and SCAN emphasize the importance of organizational culture and the need for employees with specific skills in healthcare and customer service.

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The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Medicare Covered California

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I am a freelance journalist based in Aarhus, Denmark. I previously spent five years in Washington, D.C., covering public health, policy and industry issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, maternal mortality, addiction and mental health. My work has appeared in Smart Cities Dive, Morning Consult and ...

Many Women Worried About Accessing Birth Control Amid Abortion Fight

01 Oct 2023  |  pro.morningconsult.com  |  English  |  Birth Control Access

Nearly half of women under 45 are concerned about accessing birth control if the Supreme Court weakens federal abortion protections. States are already restricting abortion, which could impact other reproductive health services. A Morning Consult survey reveals that while most women find it easy to access birth control, disparities exist, particularly for low-income women in states without expanded Medicaid. The Affordable Care Act helps cover birth control costs, but some barriers remain. Public opinion supports state actions to expand family planning support if Roe v. Wade is weakened. The uncertainty around Roe v. Wade may prompt more women to seek birth control.

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Kaiser Family Foundation Supreme Court National Women’s Law Center

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Recently relocated to London, Kit Gillet is a journalist with extensive experience covering Romania/Moldova, writing for The New York Times, Guardian, Economist and others. He's also a regular commentator for the BBC World Service, Monocle radio, Al Jazeera, France 24, Euronews and others.

Covid News: Fear of Delta Is Motivating Americans to Get Shots More Than Mandates, Survey Finds

28 Sept 2021  |  www.nytimes.com  |  English  |  Delta Variant

The Delta variant of Covid-19 has been a significant motivator for Americans to get vaccinated, more so than mandates, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey. The survey also highlighted a divide in attitudes towards booster shots between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Vaccination rates have increased, particularly among Latinos, while a political divide remains, with higher vaccination rates among Democrats compared to Republicans. Pfizer and BioNTech are seeking approval for their vaccine for children aged 5 to 11. New York State's healthcare worker vaccine mandate has led to increased vaccination rates but also staffing concerns. Japan is ending its state of emergency as cases decline and vaccination rates rise. Romania is experiencing a surge in cases as it begins offering booster shots. The article also touches on misinformation about ivermectin and the challenges faced by hospitals in Wyoming due to low vaccination rates.

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Kaiser Family Foundation Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Food and Drug Administration Harvard Business School International Rescue Committee World Health Organization United Nations Covax National Guard Liberal Democratic Party Republican Party Democratic Party

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Matt Haines is a journalist based in New Orleans, United States of America.

State, Local Agencies in US Prepare for End of COVID-19 Emergency

10 May 2023  |  www.voanews.com  |  English  |  Government Policy

State and local agencies in the U.S. are preparing for the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), which will officially expire on Thursday. While many health officials agree that the time is right to end the national emergency, concerns remain about the impact on vulnerable populations, particularly regarding access to vaccinations and Medicaid coverage. The transition will shift the management of COVID-19 from a pandemic to an endemic, with state and local governments taking on more responsibility. Some see this as an opportunity to strengthen public health systems and address health disparities, while others worry about the potential for chaos and reduced access to essential services.

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Vaccinate Your Family Kaiser Family Foundation U.S. Government Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Maryland Department of Health

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Allison Keyes is an award-winning multi-media journalist with more than 25 years of experience. Formerly a substitute host and National Desk reporter for NPR, Keyes works both at CBS News Radio and the digital arm of Smithsonian Magazine. Her more than 20 journalism awards are from organizations ...

As GOP Plans to Repeal Obamacare, It’s Unclear What’s Next for Millions Who Need It

28 Dec 2016  |  The Root  |  English  |  Politics

Senate Republican leaders plan to start repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) next month without a clear replacement plan. President-elect Donald Trump and other Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan, emphasize the need for a patient-centered healthcare system. Concerns arise from Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and organizations like the Urban Institute and Planned Parenthood, about the potential negative impacts on millions of Americans, particularly people of color. The ACA has significantly reduced uninsured rates among racial and ethnic groups, and its repeal could reverse these gains. The transition period and the specifics of the replacement plan remain uncertain.

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Kaiser Family Foundation Senate Department of Health and Human Services Urban Institute Planned Parenthood

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Austin Landis is a video & digital journalist covering migration and Latin America from Colombia, using her experience closely covering the United States' evolving immigration policy for the last four years.

Austin spent the last five years reporting on national politics in Washington for ...

Biden, Clinton celebrate family leave law's 30th anniversary

02 Feb 2023  |  baynews9.com  |  English  |  U.S. Politics

President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) at the White House. Biden reiterated his commitment to securing paid family leave across the U.S., despite previous legislative setbacks. Clinton shared personal stories highlighting the impact of the FMLA. The White House is currently supporting state-level efforts to implement paid leave policies, with 11 states and the District of Columbia having such policies in place. White House Gender Policy Council Director Jen Klein expressed optimism about ongoing legislative efforts in various states.

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Kaiser Family Foundation White House Congress White House Gender Policy Council

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Linord Moudou is a journalist based in Washington, United States of America.

Africa's Youth Population, Poverty Spur Gates Foundation's Giving

18 Sept 2018  |  www.voanews.com  |  English  |  Philanthropy

Africa's rapidly growing youth population and high poverty levels make it a critical focus for global investment, according to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's annual Goalkeepers Data Report. The foundation emphasizes the need for investments in health, education, and agriculture to unlock the potential of Africa's young generation. The report highlights successful health interventions in Rwanda and Zimbabwe, educational improvements in Vietnam, and agricultural advancements in Ghana. Melinda Gates stresses the importance of continued global investment to sustain progress and prevent setbacks, particularly in the face of a growing population.

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Kaiser Family Foundation United Nations U.S. Government Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

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Jacob Russell is a freelance writer, photographer and video journalist based in the Middle East. He trained as a press photographer in the UK and then moved to Iraqi Kurdistan to become picture editor and trainer at Metrography, Iraq's first photo agency. There he mentored Iraqi photographers and ...

Let’s put the straw man of pandemic denial out of his misery

23 Dec 2020  |  www.statnews.com  |  English  |  Pandemic Response

The article argues that the notion of widespread pandemic denial among Americans is a straw man, citing polls and behaviors that show the majority recognize the reality of COVID-19 and comply with health recommendations. It criticizes the conflation of dissent with misinformation, which stifles debate and shifts blame away from policy failures. The authors emphasize the importance of distinguishing skepticism from denial and engaging with vaccine hesitancy through dialogue rather than labeling. They also critique the misuse of the term 'denial' by public health elites and the misrepresentation of evidence in the media.

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Kaiser Family Foundation JAMA

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