Biden administration COVID-19 action plan

The American Nurses Foundation Says Action is Still Needed to Address Serious Nursing Workforce Challenges

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Well, American Nurses Foundation, Nursing, MD, Workforce, Empowerment, COVID-19, Emotion, Stress, Anxiety, Biden administration COVID-19 action plan, Workload, Mental health, Pulse

Insufficient staffing was a top reason selected by nurses who have less than 10 years of experience in the profession.

Key Points:

Insufficient staffing was a top reason selected by nurses who have less than 10 years of experience in the profession.
The findings in this survey call for renewed attention and continued action to address today’s challenging nursing workforce dynamics.
Another disturbing statistic is that younger nurses and less tenured nurses – a key demographic in shoring up the nursing pipeline – are more negatively affected by burnout, turnover and mental health challenges,” said Executive Director of the American Nurses Foundation Kate Judge.
The Foundation also provides resources and support through its Well-Being Initiative for all nurses as they seek to overcome the stress caused by various workforce challenges.

Dialysis Patient Citizens Responds to Disappointing Final CMS Rule That Will Harm Patient Healthcare

Retrieved on:

Monday, October 30, 2023

Dialysis, DPC, ESRD, End Stage Renal Disease Program, Workforce, Patient, Kidney, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Biden administration COVID-19 action plan, CMS, Medicare, Multimedia, Itch, Health insurance

"The End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) final rule released on Friday paints a chilling picture of an agency that is completely indifferent to the suffering of dialysis patients," said DPC President Andrew Conkling.

Key Points:

"The End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) final rule released on Friday paints a chilling picture of an agency that is completely indifferent to the suffering of dialysis patients," said DPC President Andrew Conkling.
"The rule also refuses to acknowledge the injustice of dialysis patients who experience pruritis (itching) being unable to obtain a new, effective treatment for this condition, due to the agency's inflexible dialysis payment methodology.
The rule further solidifies an outrageous status quo, perpetuating unnecessary suffering and deterring researchers and venture capitalists from pursuing improvements to kidney care.
CMS needs to do more than just acknowledge the plight of dialysis patients – it should take concrete steps to increase access to life-saving treatments."

SBA Data Show Major Increase in Loans to Black-Owned Businesses under Biden-Harris

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Thursday, September 21, 2023

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“Black businesses are helping to power a nationwide small business boom that is creating jobs, advancing equity in communities across America, and uplifting our economy,” said Administrator Guzman.

Key Points:

“Black businesses are helping to power a nationwide small business boom that is creating jobs, advancing equity in communities across America, and uplifting our economy,” said Administrator Guzman.
“Today’s benchmark loan numbers show our work under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda making inroads to support more of America’s Black small business owners.
“I applaud the efforts of the Biden Administration and the SBA to help Black small business owners succeed and grow.
Total loan dollars ($1.3 billion) and overall share of SBA approved loans (7.5%) to Black-Owned businesses have also more than doubled since 2020.

NCLA Asks U.S. Supreme Court Not to Stay Injunction Against Government Social Media Censorship

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Surgeon General’s office from pressuring social media platforms to censor constitutionally protected speech.

Key Points:

Surgeon General’s office from pressuring social media platforms to censor constitutionally protected speech.
On September 8, a Fifth Circuit panel upheld the most significant components of U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty’s preliminary injunction prohibiting the aforementioned officials from pressuring, coercing, or significantly encouraging social media companies to suppress constitutionally protected speech.
The government has failed to present a single convincing argument for staying the injunction any further.
The Supreme Court is unlikely to reverse the Fifth Circuit’s injunction against such abridgment of the First Amendment.

Feds For Medical Freedom Expands Mission, Announces Rebrand to Feds For Freedom

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Friday, September 8, 2023

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Feds for Medical Freedom, a group of over 9,000 workers who came together to fight vaccine mandates, has changed its name to "Feds For Freedom" and is expanding its scope and mission.

Key Points:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Feds for Medical Freedom, a group of over 9,000 workers who came together to fight vaccine mandates, has changed its name to "Feds For Freedom" and is expanding its scope and mission.
FFF will work to reform the federal service to be more representative of the values of the American people.
"Our goal is to ensure that federal workers are truly serving the American people, rather than operating as partisan enforcers."
To complement its expanded mission and to serve as a conduit for conversation and debate, Feds For Freedom is also launching a new podcast available on iTunes and other platforms.

NCLA Asks Fifth Circuit to Affirm Injunction Against Government Social Media Censorship

Retrieved on:

Monday, August 7, 2023

Coercion, Federation, COVID-19, Constitutional right, DRS, Biden administration COVID-19 action plan, Government, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Water, NCLA, First Amendment to the United States Constitution, Social media

have appealed to the Fifth Circuit to overturn the injunction, which protects Americans’ free speech rights on social media.

Key Points:

have appealed to the Fifth Circuit to overturn the injunction, which protects Americans’ free speech rights on social media.
NCLA will participate in oral arguments for this landmark case on August 10 in New Orleans.
Judge Doughty has been very specific in detailing what conduct the government defendants may and may not participate in, never preventing them from addressing criminal speech on social media.
Plaintiffs are confident that the government violated the First Amendment and that the lower court crafted an appropriate injunction.”

Final Inflation Reduction Act Guidance Risks Stifling Innovation for Rare Disease Community

Retrieved on:

Friday, June 30, 2023

Congress, Orphan Drug Act of 1983, Inflation, Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Orphan drug, Rare, CMS, Caregiver, FDA, Research, Biden administration COVID-19 action plan, Patient, Disease, NORD, Pharmaceutical industry, Saltonstall

Unfortunately, today's guidance threatens vital innovation for the thousands of rare diseases that lack FDA-approved therapies.

Key Points:

Unfortunately, today's guidance threatens vital innovation for the thousands of rare diseases that lack FDA-approved therapies.
"History tells us without the right incentives, rare disease therapies are not developed, which is why the Orphan Drug Act was created 40 years ago," adds Saltonstall.
We will also continue to work with the Biden Administration to ensure the Inflation Reduction Act can best support people living with a rare disease," commits Saltonstall.
While certain aspects of today's guidance are deeply disappointing, NORD is committed to ensuring the Inflation Reduction Act helps meet the complex needs of the more than 25 million Americans living with a rare disease.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota adding Mental Health Peer Support Specialist Coverage to Commercial Plans in 2024

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Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Substance Abuse, Human services, Parent, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, HMO, DHS, Blue Cross, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Biden administration COVID-19 action plan, Blue Shield, Marks, Child, National Model Railroad Association, Federation, Mental health, Family, SAMHSA, Health insurance, Nursing

EAGAN, Minn., June 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) today announced that access to peer support specialists – trained individuals with lived experiences who provide support, encouragement and connections to resources for others facing recovery and mental health challenges – will be a covered benefit starting next year for members enrolled in fully-insured commercial plans.

Key Points:

All peer support specialists covered by Blue Cross will be credentialed according to the new national certification model standards.
Blue Plus, the HMO arm of Blue Cross, has been administering a peer support specialist benefit since it first became available in 2009 for members enrolled in health programs offered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Minnesota.
In 2022, Blue Cross began discussions with DHS on best practices to develop similar coverage for Blue Plus members enrolled in commercial Individual and Family plans as well as Blue Cross members with coverage through fully insured employer-based plans.
Self-insured commercial groups will have the option to add peer specialist support coverage to the health plan benefit design starting with the 2024 plan year.

SBA Implements Law Enhancing Ability to Declare Disasters and Deliver Support to Rural Communities

Retrieved on:

Monday, June 5, 2023

Small Business Administration, Survivor, Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act of 2013, Act, Disaster recovery, Biden administration COVID-19 action plan, Government, Disaster, Climate change, Welfare, SBA, Rural area, Legislation, Insurance

Rural communities often face more severe impacts from natural disasters due to limited access to resources and infrastructure, which limits a community's ability to recover and avert long-lasting economic hardship.

Key Points:

Rural communities often face more severe impacts from natural disasters due to limited access to resources and infrastructure, which limits a community's ability to recover and avert long-lasting economic hardship.
The Act, signed by President Joe Biden on December 20, 2022, authorizes the SBA to remove burdensome requirements for declaring disasters in rural communities.
The law authorizes the SBA to simplify the process for a governor or tribal government chief executive to request an agency disaster declaration in counties with rural communities that have experienced significant damage.
Effective today, we are ready to further assist rural communities in the aftermath of disasters, Francisco Sánchez, Jr., Associate Administrator, SBA Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience .

New Non-Profit, "We Called Her America," with Unique Solution to Preventing Gun Violence, Launches June 5, 2023

Retrieved on:

Monday, June 5, 2023

WILMINGTON, Del. and TORONTO, June 5, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- We Called Her America (WCHA) launched today, June 5, 2023, with a mission to deliver these services anywhere in North America, anytime, and as frequently and for as long as required by each individual's treatment plan.

Key Points:

The primary objective of We Called Her America is to provide a combination of training and access to mental health therapeutic services.
This training aims to enable participants to recognize young people in crisis and take immediate proactive action by providing appropriate mental health services.
Founder and Executive Director Debi Vance said, "I am tired of hearing the expression, "Common Sense Gun Laws."
By combining stakeholder training, proactive mental health services, and community involvement, We Called Her America aims to make a difference in preventing gun violence and addressing its underlying issues.