Editorial writers weigh in on these public health issues.
USA Today:
If Abortions Are Outlawed In America, Women Will Go To Mexico For Care
The late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg warned what would happen if states restricted access to abortions. In the 2016 Supreme Court case Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, Ginsburg wrote in a concurring opinion, “When a State severely limits access to safe and legal procedures, women in desperate circumstances may resort to unlicensed rogue practitioners, faute de mieux, at great risk to their health and safety. “She wrote that because it had happened for many years before Roe v. Wade was decided. (Carli Pierson, 4/27)
Bloomberg:
Is Covid Spread Airborne Or Droplet? WHO’s Delay Still Muddles Precautions
We’re now being left to choose our own risks when it comes to Covid-19, but it’s clear that many people still don’t recognize the importance of fresh air. Some super-cautious people don’t seem to realize how much danger can be mitigated by socializing outdoors or opening windows. Others seem not to understand how much risk persists indoors even when others are more than six feet away. One big reason the public may still be so confused: the World Health Organization’s long delay in recognizing that Covid was spreading through airborne transmission. (Faye Flam, 4/26)
USA Today:
We’re Not Going Back To Normal. We Died In Normal: America Needs To Face Health Inequity
In April, during National Minority Health Month, community and health leaders, legislators and allies across the nation have united to secure resources and mobilize to address health disparities that have impacted the Black community and other people of color for decades and have gotten worse since the COVID-19 pandemic. Black people continue to die from COVID-19 at a rate nearly double the white population in large measure because of preexisting health conditions and low vaccination rates. (Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Calvin O. Butts III, Dr. Reed Tuckson, Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford and Debra Fraser-Howze, 4/26)
Stat:
Not Going All In On The 988 Hotline Will Ensure Its Failure
Time is not on our side. With fewer than 100 days until the scheduled rollout of 988, the new nationwide mental health and suicide prevention crisis hotline is unfortunately far from being ready. Implementing the program — think of it as 911 for mental health crises — which was signed into law by President Trump in October 2020, has been hampered by a lack of sustainable federal funding to build the capacity to respond effectively to 988 calls, which is consistent with how little the U.S. has prioritized investing in the nation’s mental health. (Benjamin F. Miller, 4/20)
Newsweek:
Championing Consumer Freedom In Health Care
The Biden administration recently announced a rule change expanding Obamacare subsidies, moving over a million Americans from employer-provided coverage to exchanges. The mainstream media dutifully reported millions would pay lower premiums, without noting health care costs would often simply be transferred from employers to taxpayers—showing, in miniature, the effect of progressives’ Medicare for All plan. Conservatives criticized these and other subsidy expansions in Biden’s American Rescue Plan for increasing dependency on government assistance. (Bobby Jindal, Former Governor, Louisiana, 4/27)
Stat:
Making Medicare, Medicaid innovation tests voluntary undermines evaluation opportunities
When the program was made voluntary, the researchers observed that the hospitals that chose to stay in the program were the ones that would benefit financially from the bundled payment program even if they didn’t change their behavior, because they had already been billing under the target price for joint replacement before the program was instituted. Indeed, before the start of the study, these hospitals spent about $1,600 less per joint replacement than hospitals that opted out. So when the program was made voluntary, it produced much smaller declines in Medicare spending than if the mandatory program had continued. (Jesse Gubb, 4/27)
The Hill:
Can Universal School Meals Be The Anchor For A New Reconciliation Bill?
Right now, prices are rising for just about everything, especially food. But a lifeline for families, now and over the past few years, has been the successful effort to feed all kids breakfast and lunch in public schools, no matter their ability to pay. This program is set to expire on June 30. This week marks the first day of the April-May Senate work period. That gives Congress just two months to act to prevent kids from going hungry over the summer and during the upcoming school year — and there is a clear path to accomplish this. (Bradley Tusk, 4/26)
This is part of the KHN Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
