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US Experiencing Covid-19 Surge In Every State 

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Every state in the US is currently experiencing a rise in Covid-19 cases, with healthcare professionals and experts warning citizens to be on the lookout for symptoms, and stay diligent with healthy lifestyle practices. 

Dr. John Brooks, an infectious disease doctor at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia who also used to work at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told NPR about how as a country, “we’re now in the midst of a growing summer surge of Covid.” 

“I think most of us kind of feel like it’s fading away and are certainly very grateful for that. But nationally we’re seeing [Covid-19] ticking up pretty much everywhere.”

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According to the CDC, the disease is mainly spreading in the South and West, but is also rising in the Northeast and Midwest. As of right now, however, the virus is still at very low levels, and the current wave of infections is following along the trend of getting milder each year, with less people being hospitalized or dying. 

“What we’re seeing is very likely evidence of growing herd immunity if you will,” Dr. Brooks said. 

“More and more people have had one or more infections that give them some immunity against the virus and have had more than one vaccination, or maybe both, and all of that really has begun to offer us a lot of protection.”

The most important thing that doctors want US residents to remember is Covid-19 never disappeared, and is still greatly impacting communities around the nation. Many are still finding themselves feeling intensely sick for up to two weeks, and for some people, Covid can still cause serious disease, hospitalizations, and in the worst of cases, death. 

Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, emphasized this point to NPR, stating that “Covid-19 is still dangerous, particularly for older adults, infants, and people who are immunocompromised.” 

“In a typical office if you have 20 colleagues, it’s likely that one or two of them are some degree of immunocompromised. So it’s very common that people have risk factors that make Covid-19 dangerous.”

Rivers also pointed out that unlike flu season, which sees a major surge in the winter months, Covid-19 has seen spikes twice a year since the initial pandemic in 2020. That biannual surge remains a mystery to experts. 

“It’s a big mystery as far as I’m concerned. It is the only seasonal respiratory virus that has a summer season. To my knowledge, we don’t know what is causing this seasonality.”

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Rivers advises the general public to stay up to date on their vaccines, and pointed out how she still wears a mask when she’s in crowded places. Staying consistent with your vaccines also allows the body to stay strong against the new and dominant strains that emerge. 

The CDC has not issued any updated recommendations for Covid-19 vaccinations due to litigation over the Trump administration’s work to overhaul immunizations in the US, according to reports. 

The administration itself no longer recommends that everyone aged 6 months and older routinely get an annual shot. Major medical groups, however, still highly recommend it. 

Major insurance companies throughout the nation have also emphasized that they will continue to cover the costs of vaccinations, and the shots themselves will also still be free through other government programs. 

Public health experts are worried about the opposing messages regarding vaccines and how they might confuse more vulnerable populations as well. 

Claire Hannan, for example, is an executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers which works to advocate for immunization and the multiple free programs that offer them throughout the US. 

“The message is that the Covid-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine will be available, they’re covered by insurers, they’re recommended by medical societies. People should get them and get them for their kids.”

Dr. Brooks also pointed out that there’s also now a new drug called Xocova that individuals can take right after they’ve been exposed to the virus to decrease their chances of getting sick from Covid-19. This will especially be useful for individuals working in the healthcare industry who are exposed to a myriad of sick patients every day. 

“It is something for people to just have in the back of their mind.”

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Doctors Skeptical Of New AI Program That Automatically Refills Prescriptions 

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A new program recently launched in Utah that uses artificial intelligence to refill prescriptions without having to talk to your healthcare provider. Doctors, lawyers, and public health experts, however, are skeptical over the safety of this new chatbot, Doctronic, and how well it will actually work to protect patients and their medical needs.

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Supreme Court Restores Access To Abortion Pill Through Telehealth, Mail, And Pharmacies 

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This week, the Supreme Court restored broad access to the abortion pill mifepristone, blocking a lower-court ruling that initially threatened to remove one of the main ways abortions are provided across the US, according to reports from AP. 

Justice Samuel Alito signed the order to temporarily allow women seeking abortions access to the pill at pharmacies or through the mail without needing an in-person visit to their doctor. These practices have been permitted for several years until a federal appeals court imposed new restrictions last week. 

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The order will remain in effect for another week while both sides work to respond and the higher courts take a deeper look into the issue. 

AP reported that a majority of abortions in the US are provided through medications. Democratic-led states have laws that work to give legal protection to individuals who prescribe the drugs via telehealth to patients in states that have abortion bans in place. 

These prescriptions have also cushioned the major impact of abortion bans in mainly Republican-led states after the 2022 Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade. “One recent report suggested that in the 13 states where abortion is banned at all stages of pregnancy, more women obtained abortions with pills prescribed by telehealth last year than by traveling to other states,” Mark Sherman and Geoff Mulvihill wrote for AP. 

Typically, mifepristone is taken with a second drug misoprostol for abortions. According to the FDA label on mifepristone, the combination completes a full medical abortion 97.4% of the time. 

Sometimes misoprostol can be used on its own to terminate pregnancy. Some studies placed its solo effectiveness at around 80% or higher. 

In certain countries where mifepristone is banned or unavailable, misoprostol is often used alone. 

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Misoprostol has never been formally approved by the FDA for abortion while mifepristone has been. 

Dr. Angel Foster, founder of The Massachusetts Abortion Access Project, said her organization “was prepared to send misoprostol only on Monday afternoon but was able to switch back to the two-drug combination.”

“Regardless of what happens with this regulatory issue, we and other groups will continue to provide high-quality abortion care to patients in all 50 states,” she said.

Foster said that her organization spent the weekend guiding different groups of patients: individuals who were sent mifepristone but have yet to receive it, and those who had been approved for the drugs but had not been paid or sent them. 

“We have a little bit more time to navigate this new landscape with the stay,” said Julie Burkhart, the founder of Wellspring Health Access, a Wyoming abortion clinic.

Elizabeth Ling, associate director of legal services at If/When/How, an organization that provides legal guidance for individuals considering abortion, said that “wherever the legal battle goes next, there’s one thing women need to understand: ‘The outcome is not going to make it a crime for people to access care.’”

“Monday’s ruling is a temporary procedural step that leaves unresolved the very real concerns about the safety of these drugs and the decision under the Biden administration’s FDA to recklessly remove longstanding safeguards,” Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life, said.

Bipartisan Bill Works To Minimize The Cost Of Insulin 

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A bipartisan group of senators is working to relieve the cost burden that comes with high insulin costs. The bill is called the INSULIN Act, and it’s working to cap the cost of the lifesaving medication at $35 per month for Americans using private insurance plans, AP reports. 

Senators Jeanne Shaheen, D-Maine, Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and John Kennedy, R-La introduced the bill last week. The INSULIN Act would also start a pilot program to provide more affordable insulin to uninsured Americans throughout 10 states. 

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In 2022, a similar bill passed as a part of the Inflation Reduction Act during the Biden-era. That bill successfully capped the drug at $35 a month for older adults on Medicare. This new legislation is the latest in an ongoing effort from both congressional parties who want to reduce the cost of the drug for the millions of Americans who rely on insulin to live. 

If passed, this bill would mark a momentous bipartisan feat at a time where health care costs are continuing to rise. Voters from both parties have voiced their concerns and frustration with health care costs increasing, and this would mark a victory in the effort to make it more affordable for the average American. 

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that around 8.1 million people in the US use insulin, including over 2 million who have Type 1 diabetes and would die without consistent access to the drug; which also helps control glucose levels for people with other types of diabetes. 

The price of insulin has always varied vastly throughout the nation. Some individuals with access to private insurance pay close to zero, while others pay hundreds of dollars monthly. For those with diabetes, insulin isn’t the only monthly cost they have to worry about. They also need to think about the price of pumps, blood glucose sensors, and other medical supplies to help manage their disease. 

Over half of the states in the US have taken matters into their own hands as well when it comes to this specific insulin cost issue. The states have passed their own insulin co-pay caps that range from $25 to $200 monthly for individuals with state-regulated insurance plans. 

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Insulin makers have also worked to help Americans with the cost. Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and Novo Nordisk all cut the cost of insulin either by cutting list prices, capping out-of-pocket costs, and expanding affordability options, AP writes. 

According to Matthew Fielder, a senior fellow with the Center of Health Policy at Brookings Institution, around 57% of Americans with private health insurance have self-insured plans that states can’t regulate, meaning they’re left out of state cost-cap bills. 

“It puts the onus on the patient, I think, to try to navigate and get the cost down,” said Dr. Leslie Eiland, an adult endocrinologist, who is also advocating for the bill.

Chanse Jones, a spokesperson for the leading trade association for pharmaceutical companies, PhRMA, said “pharmacy benefit managers and insurers are creating access and affordability barriers for patients even as manufacturers try to expand access.” 

“We look forward to working with policymakers to ensure middlemen don’t stand between patients and their medicines.”

Advocates are hopeful that the bill will pass, emphasizing the difference it will make for people who require insulin, as well as young people and the future generations who will benefit from the drug. 

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Nearly 20 States Restrict H.I.V. Assistance Programs, Threatening Access to Treatment

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About 20 states are restricting access to assistance programs that help people pay for H.I.V. treatment, a shift that could leave tens of thousands of Americans without reliable access to lifesaving medications. Several additional states are considering similar changes, according to an analysis released Monday by the health research group KFF.

The tightening rules affect the Ryan White AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, known as ADAPs, which help cover the cost of H.I.V. medications, provide drugs at no charge to some patients, and pay insurance premiums for others. Roughly a quarter of the 1.2 million people living with H.I.V. in the United States rely on these programs.

H.I.V. medications can suppress the virus to undetectable levels, preventing transmission to others. Interruptions in treatment, however, may increase the number of new infections and lead to more cases of AIDS.

Some patients facing shortages may try to stretch their prescriptions by skipping doses or sharing pills, a practice that can allow the virus to replicate and develop resistance to medication. Drug-resistant strains can then spread to others.

The H.I.V. Medicine Association released a statement warning the cuts “will threaten the lives of people with HIV and will lead to spikes in new HIV diagnoses and a rise in health care costs as people with HIV develop serious infections requiring hospitalization.”

“H.I.V. treatment disruptions of this magnitude will result in a public health disaster. Florida must follow due process and work with health care professionals, people with H.I.V. and the state legislature to address any funding challenges.”

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The changes are being driven largely by financial pressure. ADAPs are funded through the federal Ryan White H.I.V. program, but the amount of federal support has remained largely unchanged for more than a decade, even as drug prices and insurance premiums have risen. Enrollment has also increased, with participation climbing about 30 percent from 2022 to 2024 after states began removing people from Medicaid rolls that had been expanded during the pandemic.

“Effectively, programs are being asked to do more with less federal funding,” said Lindsey Dawson, associate director of H.I.V. policy at KFF.

So far, 18 states have adopted at least one cost-cutting measure, including lowering income eligibility limits or reducing the number of covered medications. Five more states are weighing changes that could take effect as early as next month. Experts say additional states may follow, especially as new work requirements push some people off Medicaid and into ADAP programs.

“We’re expecting to see more states anticipating or contending with budget deficits, and we do anticipate a growing number of states having to implement cost-containment measures,” said Tim Horn, director of medication access at the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors.

The alliance began tracking state policy changes last fall, when Pennsylvania reduced its income eligibility threshold from 500 percent of the federal poverty level to 350 percent.

Florida has enacted the most sweeping rollback so far. On Sunday, the state ended benefits for at least 16,000 residents living with H.I.V. and stopped covering Biktarvy, the most commonly prescribed H.I.V. medication. The move is part of a broader overhaul of the state’s ADAP program, the largest in the country, which serves more than 32,000 people.

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Earlier this year, Florida officials notified participants that the income limit for eligibility would drop from 400 percent of the federal poverty level to 130 percent — about $20,748 a year for an individual, down from $63,840.

The consequences, advocates say, could extend far beyond those directly affected.

“This is really an economic disaster, a public health disaster, a moral disaster,” said Esteban Wood, director of advocacy and legislative affairs at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which has filed for an injunction to stop the changes.

“We’re seeing patients across the state full of anxiety and fear rationing their lifesaving medication. These are people who have no other safety net. ADAP is the safety net.”

State health officials have said the changes are necessary to address a projected $120 million budget shortfall. However, the department has not released detailed figures and did not respond to requests for comment.

On Friday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services opened a special enrollment period for Floridians losing help with insurance premiums, allowing them to choose new plans through April 30.

Advocacy groups attempted to block the restrictions, arguing that the state had not followed proper procedures in changing the rules. On Tuesday, Florida filed an emergency regulation allowing the limits to take effect.

Animal-To-Human Organ Transplantation Is Advancing, And Could Save Millions Of Lives

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Getting an organ transplant is an incredible feat of medical advancement, however, it’s incredibly hard to achieve. With over 100,000 people on the national waiting list in the US, thousands of patients die every year while waiting, and thousands of others aren’t even able to be added to the list.

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Loss Of Top Officials In CDC Could Harm US Health, Experts Say 

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Many top officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have left the agency under Robert F Kennedy Jr’s leadership. Now, many of those leaders and healthcare officials are saying that “Americans should be alarmed” about the future and rising public health threats.

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Group Of Health Professionals Call For Removal Of RFK Jr From Department Of Health And Human Services

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Defend Public Health, a grassroots organization of health professionals, recently released a report outlining the multitude of health challenges in the US and called for the removal of Robert F Kennedy Jr from the US Department of Health and Human Services.

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First Maternity Fund Created For Professional Tennis Players, Victoria Azarenka Celebrates

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Players in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) will now receive financial support and resources to start or expand their families, according to the group. Two-time grand slam champion Victoria Azarenka said that this new maternity fund for tennis players is a “game-changing” moment for athletes in the sport. 

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Mevlude Markasjh Markashi Home Health Consulting LLC

Embracing Technology and Transforming Homecare | Mevlude Markashi

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The healthcare landscape is evolving rapidly, catalyzed by unprecedented challenges and opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic not only shook the foundations of healthcare delivery but also accelerated the shift towards technological integration—highlighting the critical need for agility and resilience in the face of crisis. Mevlude “Mev” Markashi RN, CHFP, CSBI, whose career path exemplifies the essence of flexibility and foresight in healthcare, is at the vanguard of this transformation.

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