The majority of the job losses—919,000 jobs—would be in the healthcare industry, but there would be a ripple effect that could lead to a loss of half a million jobs in other sectors, including construction and real estate, finance, retail trade, and public employment.
Maternal Mortality Rates are Rising in the United States
The United States saw a dramatic 27 percent jump in the maternal death rate from 19 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 24 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2014. In 2015, the rate once again went up to 26.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, and it is black women who are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth related incidences than white women.
Healthcare Activists Rally as Senate GOP Delays Vote
McConnell’s June 27th announcement to delay the vote came just as healthcare advocates kicked off their three day long People’s Filibuster in an effort to put pressure on the Senators who were considering voting for a bill that would cut $772 billion from Medicaid and $408 billion from insurance subsidies in order to give a tax break to the top 1 percent of American earners and major corporations.
Black Mamas Matter Alliance Briefs on Black Maternal Health
Despite the fact that global maternal mortality rates have fallen by over a third since 2000, death rates for pregnant women in the United States are on the rise.
Officials Charged with Manslaughter over Flint Water Crisis
Nick Lyon, the head of the Michigan state health department, and four other high-ranking Michigan officials were charged by the Michigan attorney-general with involuntary manslaughter on Wednesday for their failure to maintain a safe water supply in Flint, Michigan.
Senate Republicans Crafting Healthcare Bill in Secret
Republican leaders continue to keep the bill writing process for the Senate’s version of the American Health Care Act, also known as Trumpcare, behind closed doors. It is unclear when the bill will be released to the public.
Pharmacists in New Mexico Can Now Write Birth Control Prescriptions
Pharmacists can now complete a training program and approval process developed by New Mexico physicians, nurses, and pharmacists in order to prescribe these contraceptives. As a result of this policy, women no longer need an appointment with a physician to receive a prescription. They only have to visit a pharmacy, talk to the trained pharmacist, and can receive such a prescription immediately.
FACE Act Anniversary Prompts Concerns of Enforcement Under Trump Administration
On the anniversary of the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, advocates for abortion access fear that an increase in anti-abortion violence will be met with limited enforcement by the Trump administration, which has shown unprecedented support for restricting abortion access. Signed into law by President Bill Clinton on May 26, 1994, […]
House Passes Bill to Dismantle Healthcare
On Thursday the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA), a bill that repeals the Affordable Care Act (ACA), ends Medicaid as we know it, defunds Planned Parenthood, and kicks 24 million people off of health insurance.
GOP Healthcare Bill Fails, But Could Be Reintroduced
Last week the Republicans in Congress abandoned their plan to vote on the American Health Care Act (AHCA) for fear that they would not have enough votes within their own party for it to pass.
Congressional Budget Office Releases Analysis of ACA Repeal
By 2026, 52 million Americans would be without health insurance, an additional 24 million than the CBO projected would have coverage if the Affordable Care Act were to stay.
Republicans Introduce the First ACA Repeal Bill
By Thursday it had been approved along party lines by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Ways and Means Committee.
Title X Protections Finalized during Obama Administration’s Last Days
Yesterday, the Department of Health and Human Services under the Obama administration finalized a regulation defending funding for family planning providers, such as Planned Parenthood, through Title X of the Public Health Service Act.
ACLU Sues Catholic Hospital for Putting Religion over Medical Care
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services against a Michigan Catholic hospital for refusing to perform a postpartum tubal ligation on a pregnant brain cancer patient, a violation of the nondiscrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Time to Pass Zika Funding is Running Out as Testing Backlog Grows
It’s been more than six months since President Obama called on Congress to pass a $1.9 billion emergency Zika funding bill, but they have yet to appropriate any money towards the public health epidemic that has now infected at least 21,000 individuals in the US and its territories, 1,800 of whom are pregnant.
Lawmakers Push for Zika Funding Bill that Protects Family Planning
Yesterday, the Senate blocked the House’s inadequate Zika response bill that would cut funding for Planned Parenthood.
Texas Maternal Death Rate Doubles in Wake of Family Planning Funding Cuts
Maternal mortality rates in Texas almost doubled between 2010 and 2012, according to a new study by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Chicago Passes Paid Sick Leave Ordinance
Chicago has passed an ordinance requiring that all employers whose business is located within the city limits or who has licensing agreements with the city provide their employees with paid sick leave.
President Reallocates Funding in Wake of Zika Crisis
In the wake of Congress’ refusal to pass a Zika funding bill before their five-week August recess, President Obama announced last week the administration’s intent to reallocate $81 million from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help combat the Zika virus.
Department of Justice Sues Mississippi for Failing to Provide Adequate Mental Health Care
The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the state of Mississippi for failing to provide adults with mental illness appropriate access to healthcare, a violation of their civil rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA).
