Overview of Proposed Changes The Trump administration has announced a plan to revamp how Medicare pays for outpatient care. Officials believe this could help reduce costs for millions of older Americans. However, hospitals caution that the changes might threaten funding for providers serving low-income and vulnerable patients. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)...
The death rate in the United States hit its lowest level ever recorded in 2025. This was due to widespread declines in mortality across all age groups, even as heart disease and cancer persist as leading causes of death. New provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates a 4.6 percent...
As the July 4 holiday approaches, officials are urging Americans planning beach trips to take safety precautions due to warnings about Vibrio vulnificus, a potentially deadly bacterium known as “flesh-eating bacteria.” This bacterium may be present in coastal waters around New York. Advisory Issued The Southampton Town Trustees issued an advisory in April to alert...
The Park Ridge Zoning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals approved several measures in June to enable Advocate Lutheran General Hospital to expand its cancer treatment center. This development aims to transform it into a ‘comprehensive cancer center’ where all the hospital’s cancer care services, including diagnosis and treatment, will be consolidated in one...
My father once stated, “of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” These words remain relevant as America faces a significant public health challenge. Many families across the nation are dealing with obesity, a chronic disease that disproportionately impacts low-income communities and people of color. Despite this,...
High temperatures are pushing people to seek relief at beaches and pools. Dave Benjamin, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, delivers crucial warnings about water safety. The Need for Water Safety Education Benjamin emphasizes that while everyone is aware of fire survival tactics, few know water survival strategies. “Water safety education should...
Across the Midwest and East Coast, intense heat conditions are creating challenges for residents. This week, as a heat dome expands, many are searching for refuge from the high temperatures and humidity. In cities like Chicago, some turn to simple solutions for relief. Crowds gathered around hydrants spraying water, offering brief moments of respite from...
BUNIA, Democratic Republic of Congo — Moise Bulabantu faces constant stress over contracting Ebola. As a community nurse in an area hit by the outbreak in eastern Congo, he is highly exposed to the virus. Since the outbreak was declared on May 15, Bulabantu has interacted with affected individuals daily. “We lack protective equipment,” he...
Health officials are urging the public to take precautionary measures, including using bug spray, to combat mosquitos as the West Nile virus season begins with an unprecedented start. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been 48 confirmed cases by June 30, with 38 of these being severe. Historically, the...
Communities across the central and eastern United States are currently facing a record-breaking heat wave. The extreme heat is becoming more hazardous as it combines with high humidity ahead of the Fourth of July celebrations. In several locations, the heat index, which includes humidity in its calculations, could rise between 105 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit,...