Bird Flu Lands as the Next Public Health Challenge – KFF Health News

host

Public health officials are watching with concern as a variant of bird flu has spread among dairy cows and at least one dairy worker in at least nine states. But in the wake of Covid-19, many farmers are reluctant to let health officials go for testing.

Meanwhile, another large healthcare company – Catholic hospital chain Ascension – has been the target of a cyberattack, causing serious problems at some facilities.

This week’s panelists are KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner, STAT’s Rachel Kohrs Zhang, POLITICO’s Alice Miranda Olstein and CQ Roll Call’s Sandhya Raman.

Highlights from this week’s episode:

• The faltering of the initial response to bird flu is as uncomfortable as the early days of Covid, including the problems it caused in protecting workers exposed to the disease. In particular, the Agriculture Department benefited from millions in COVID relief funds designed to strengthen disease surveillance.
• Congress is working to expand telehealth care; The question is how to pay for it? Lawmakers appear to have settled on a two-year deal, though much else about the extension — including how much it will cost — is unknown.
• Speaking of telehealth, a new report shows that nearly 20% of medication abortions are monitored through telehealth care. State-level restrictions are forcing those in need of abortion care to turn to options away from home.
• And new reporting on Medicaid sheds light on the number of people slipping through the cracks of the government health system for low-income and disabled Americans — including how insurance companies profit from individuals’ illusion that they have Medicaid. Whether there is coverage or not.

Also this week, Rovner interviewed Atul Grover of the Association of American Medical Colleges about his recent analysis showing that graduate medical students are avoiding training in states with abortion bans and major restrictions.

Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they think you should also read this week:

Julie Rovner: NPR’sWhy writing by hand is better than typing for thinking and learningBy Jonathan Lambert.

Alice Miranda Olstein: “of time”‘I no longer trust doctors.’ Women say they were pressured to take birth control for a long time,” by Alana Samuels.

Rachel Kohrs Zhang: State’sAfter fighting big tobacco for decades, Cliff Douglas now leads a foundation funded by his former opponentsBy Nicholas Florko.

Sandhya Raman: of the “Baltimore Banner”People with serious mental illness get stuck in jail. Montgomery County is the epicenter of the problemBy Ben Konark.

Also mentioned in this week’s podcast:

To listen to all our podcasts, Click here,

And subscribe to KFF Health News “What’s the Health?” But spotify, apple podcasts, pocket castOr wherever you listen to podcasts.