The Federal Government declared a COVID-19 public health emergency in January of 2020 and decreed many changes in healthcare and healthcare insurance to help people better cope with the pandemic. The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020 provided $6.7 billion for the federal and state governments to respond to the COVID epidemic in the United States. An additional $1.6 billion was included to contribute to the international response. The majority of the funds were used to control the virus in the form of research into treatment and prevention measures; keeping track of all aspects of the […]
National Women’s Health Week 2023
This past Mother’s Day launched the 24th annual National Women’s Health Week. Led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office on Women’s Health, the goal is to empower women to make their health a priority and raise awareness of the steps one can take to improve their health. Advocates say the rate of death and illness, along with mounting conditions affecting access to care, have risen to the level of a state of emergency for women’s health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends many common measures such as proper health screenings, staying […]
Mental Health Month 2023
The month of May has been observed as Mental Health Month for over 70 years. Mental health is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” Mental health is equally important to maintain as our physical health, though often goes untreated to a degree that can manifest as (or exacerbate existing) mental illness. Mental illness can range from anxiety to mood disorders like […]
Mifepristone: Science vs Politics
The overruling of Roe v. Wade made a personal medical decision even more of a contentious political battle. Despite the majority of the population being in favor of abortion rights, far-right politicians and judges are intent on passing legislation and making rulings to empower state and federal governments to make these decisions for their citizens. The usurpation of the right of people who can become pregnant to make their own decisions about their healthcare and well-being has gotten even more political with a new ruling from an extremist federal judge in Texas. While the original focus of the abortion […]
Health Savings News – Episode 27: Patient Assistance Programs and Other Resources
Note: This is a rough transcript of episode 27 of Health Savings News and has been lightly edited for clarity. It may not be in its final form. Evan (00:10): Hello and welcome to Health Savings News, the podcast about healthcare costs in America and how to save money on the often expensive care all kinds of people need. I’m your host Evan O’Connor, joined by retired doctors Rich Sagall and Mike Woods. Each episode we discuss healthcare costs in America, offer tips for saving money, and relevant news that affects and reflects the expensive landscape of healthcare in […]