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The federal government has finally addressed the shortage of infant formula. I realized that more and more families had nothing to feed their babies. However, infants need to be fed daily, although it can take several weeks before the effects of federal action can be felt.
Meanwhile, one-third of the country has experienced covid-19 activities that justify the expansion of precautionary measures, but public health and elected officials urge the public to return to what appears to be inconvenient. It seems that he hates that.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner from KHN, Alice Miranda Ollstein from Politico, Tami Luhby from CNN, and Rachel Cohrs from Stat.
Among the points from this week’s episode:
- Faced with a serious shortage of infant formula, thousands of parents across the country are upset and the government is trying to find a workaround to restore supply. Distribution problems and shortages were seen in some parts of the country, even before the milk formula maker Abbott closed a major manufacturing plant in Michigan in February. The manufacturing industry is very concentrated in a small number of companies.
- Still, in the last few weeks, the administration or Congress has taken steps to help families feed their babies. The slow reaction led to burning criticism. But at least at Capitol Hill, hesitating to react may reflect demographics that are older, male, wealthier, and less likely to be closely affected by shortages.
- Increasing cases and hospitalizations of Covid have warned that some officials need to return to masking and testing to maintain safety. However, if a new surge threatens the country a few months ago, it seems unlikely that it will return to duty, despite guarantees that the requirements will be re-enacted.
- The end date has not been disclosed, despite widespread suspicions that the Biden administration may announce this month that a public health emergency will end in July. Authorities have promised to notify the state 60 days in advance before ending the emergency so that it can be prepared. Some analysts suggest that the emergency will continue after the midterm elections and may not end until the end of the year.
- One of the biggest impacts of ongoing public health emergencies is that the state receives additional federal Medicaid funds and is unable to push members out of low-income health insurance programs. During the pandemic, the number of registrants surged and the state’s cost of sharing the program increased. Some conservative states are comparing Medicaid rolls and considering whether it would be better to abandon the pandemic relief fund from the federal government.
- As the country awaits a final abortion decision from the Supreme Court, the abortion rights group is considering possible strategies if the judge overturns 49 years. Roe v. Wade Decision to guarantee access to abortion nationwide. They use the court argument that limiting abortion affects the freedom of religion of some groups and protect individual constitutions by increasing the number of medical professionals who can provide early abortion. I am considering a possible state.
In addition, as an additional credit, panelists also recommend talking about your favorite health policy for the week that you think you should read.
Julie Robner: Fortune and KHN “Frequently waiting for pre-approval of insurance frustrates physicians and patients in need of treatment,” Michel Andrews
Alice Miranda Olstein: JAMA Health Forum’s “The Costs of Long COVID”, David Cutler
Rachel Coles: ProPublica’s “COVID testing company that missed 96% of cases”, Anjeanette Damon
Tami Ruby: KHN’s “State has not yet spent hundreds of millions of dollars to address Covid’s health inequalities,” Phil Galewitz, Lauren Weber, Sam Whitehead.
Also discussed in this week’s podcast:
The New York Times “As the milk powder shortage worsens, mothers ask:” Why not breastfeed? “” Catherine Pearson
“These families buy about half of the infant formula across the country, which is how the Biden administration is trying to help them,” CNN said.
Politico’s “What Abort Advocates Plan If an Egg Falls” by Alice Miranda Olstein and Laura Barron Lopez
Politico’s “Blue States Expands Who Can Provide Abortion in Preparation for Patient Floods,” Alice Miranda Olstein and Megan Messerley
“Missing COVID hospitalization” in the Atlantic Ocean by Ed Young
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