Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Congress Can Help Fix The Doctor Shortage; People Are Confused By The Word 'Tripledemic'
The Baltimore Sun: Primary Care Crisis: Congress Must Invest In Training New Physicians In Underserved Communities
Primary care physicians have never been more integral to our health care system. Patients in communities across the country rely on them for preventive services and emergency care. However, physicians and families continue to struggle because our health care system is unaffordable, riddled with inequities and inaccessible for so many. (R. Shawn Martin and Frederick Isasi, 9/26)
Chicago Tribune: The Term 'Tripledemic' Is Misleading And Unhelpful
The term “tripledemic” is being used to express the concerns about the collective spread of COVID-19, influenza and the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, during this fall and winter. Yet each of these infectious diseases has their own risk profile. Placing them under the same epidemic umbrella may inadvertently overstate the impending dangers — perhaps to the point of crying wolf when a calmer descriptor would be more beneficial and appropriate. (Sheldon H. Jacobson, 9/27)
The Washington Post: The Pandemic Is Over … Depending On Who You Ask
The pandemic is … over? A year and change ago, at a brainstorm of Post Opinions editors, one of us threw out the idea of asking our readers when the pandemic ended for them. Or, at the very least, what would signal its end down the road? (Drew Goins, 9/26)
Miami Herald: Medicaid Unwinding Ousting 7 Million Americans From Medicaid
Health insurance. It’s something we need, but usually don’t want to think about. However, if you or a loved one has Medicaid in Florida, you need to make sure — now — that you don’t lose coverage. (Cindy George, 9/26)
Seattle Times: Suicide Prevention Starts With Each One Of Us
Every 11 minutes, a person dies by suicide in the U.S. In 2021, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 12.3 million adults contemplated suicide, 3.5 million made a plan, and 1.7 million made an attempt (in addition to the 9% of high school students who also made an attempt). (Umair A. Shah, 9/25)
