IV therapy clinics are springing up around the country, touting quick ways to recover from a hangover or a hard workout. But doctors and regulators preach caution. The services have been on a growth spurt since the COVID-19 pandemic, offering drips that promise to boost energy, gird immune systems or relieve joint pain. This is done from bags of intravenous fluids normally seen hanging next to hospital beds. Customers must be willing to fork over as much as couple hundred dollars for each session — in some cases for a mixture of vitamins and supplements that would be considerably cheaper in pill form. Proponents say this approach helps customers hydrate faster and absorb more of a vitamin or supplement than they would by swallowing pills. But Dr. Sam Torbati, co-chair of emergency medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, says the therapy mostly helps people create “expensive urine,” with the body clearing what it doesn’t use. How many IV clinics are there? They’re hard to count, partly because some businesses just provide IV therapy while others offer it as part of a medical spa. The practice grew popular during COVID-19, when access to doctors became limited and people grew more concerned about their immune system health, according to the American IV Association, an industry group. Regulators in Ohio are following the trend closely in their state, which now has around 200 clinics. These businesses were largely unheard of there before the pandemic, said Cameron McNamee, a spokesman for the Ohio Board of Pharmacy. What should customers know about IV therapy clinics? Doctors say there are some good questions to pose before any treatment starts. Customers should ask the person starting the IV how long they have been doing their job and what sort of training they have, said Torbati. They also should know what’s in the IV drip. For instance, “Wonder Juice” treatment offered by the Restore Hyper Wellness franchise combines six vitamins and supplements that are available, in oral form, on the pharmacy store shelves. Knowing all the ingredients comes in handy if someone has an allergic reaction. Also ask where the company gets its drugs, if any are used. The answer should be a licensed pharmaceutical wholesaler, according to McNamee. Otherwise, the drug could be counterfeit or substandard. Ohio regulators have suspended the licenses of businesses that purchased drugs on Facebook. Customers also should make sure the clinic is in decent shape when they visit. “If the office isn’t clean, then the IV room’s probably not clean either,” McNamee said. Why are regulators concerned? They don’t like that a nurse or a paramedic often helps a customer decide on an IV therapy and then delivers the treatment. Rules can vary, but many state regulators say a doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner should be involved. The clinics often run on standing orders, which are issued by a doctor with the idea that they give the nurse or paramedic permission to treat patients according to certain protocols. Hospital emergency rooms regularly operate on the same kind of orders, according to Dr. Chris Seitz, an emergency physician and chairman of the American IV Association’s scientific advisory board. “Many nurses saw patients before I ever could get to them in the emergency department and initiated care like IV fluids,” he […]
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday it is delaying by one month the planned cutoff of satellite data that helps forecasters track hurricanes. Meteorologists and scientists warned of severe consequences last week when NOAA said, in the midst of this year’s hurricane season, that it would almost immediately discontinue key data collected by three weather satellites that the agency jointly runs with the Defense Department. The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program’s microwave data gives key information that can’t be gleaned from conventional satellites. That includes three-dimensional details of a storm, what’s going on inside of it and what it is doing in the overnight hours, experts say. The data was initially planned to be cut off on June 30 “to mitigate a significant cybersecurity risk,” NOAA’s announcement said. The agency now says it’s postponing that until July 31. Peak hurricane season is usually from mid-August to mid-October. Spokespeople from NOAA and the Navy did not immediately respond to a request for more details about the update. NOAA — which has been the subject of hefty Department of Government Efficiency cuts this year — said Friday the satellite program accounts for a “single dataset in a robust suite of hurricane forecasting and modeling tools” in the National Weather Service’s portfolio. The agency’s “data sources are fully capable of providing a complete suite of cutting-edge data and models that ensure the gold-standard weather forecasting the American people deserve,” a spokesperson said. But Union of Concerned Scientists science fellow Marc Alessi told The Associated Press on Friday that detecting the rapid intensification, and more accurately predicting the likely path, of storms is critical as climate change worsens the extreme weather experienced across the globe. “Not only are we losing the ability to make better intensification forecasts, we are also losing the ability to predict accurately where a tropical cyclone could be going, if it’s in its development stages,” Alessi said. “This data is essential. “On the seasonal forecasting front, we would see the effects,” he added, “but also on the long-term climate change front, we now are losing an essential piece to monitoring global warming.” (AP)
As a trauma therapist and social worker, I’ve dedicated my career to understanding the complexities of human behavior, communication, and the devastating impact of trauma, especially in cases of child abuse. I also frequently write about cognitive biases and how they shape our perceptions. Today, I want to delve into a particularly insidious phenomenon known as the “Liar’s Dividend” and explore how it inadvertently, and dangerously, contributes to a culture where perpetrators of child abuse can evade accountability. The Liar’s Dividend is a concept that describes the benefit a liar receives from the general skepticism that exists about the truth. In simpler terms, it’s the idea that because we know false accusations can happen, genuine accusations are often met with a degree of doubt, suspicion, or even outright disbelief. This skepticism, while sometimes well-intentioned or born from a desire for fairness, can be weaponized by individuals and groups who seek to manipulate and exploit. Now, let’s connect this directly to the horrific reality of child abuse. When allegations of child abuse surface, a critical and often heartbreaking hurdle is the pervasive belief that “people get falsely accused all the time.” While it is true that false accusations, in any context, are a grave injustice and can have devastating consequences for the falsely accused, the existence of these rare occurrences is often amplified and distorted. This overemphasis on false accusations then creates a fertile ground for the Liar’s Dividend to flourish. Consider this: when a survivor bravely comes forward with an accusation, they are often met not with immediate empathy and support, but with a series of questions designed to ascertain the “truth” of their claim. These questions, while appearing to seek clarity, can quickly become an overwhelming cross-examination, forcing the survivor to defend their account rather than having the alleged perpetrator face scrutiny. This often happens because the specter of ‘false accusations’ heavily influences many people’s perceptions. This is where the Liar’s Dividend becomes a dangerous accomplice to injustice. The insidious nature of the Liar’s Dividend in these cases is that it allows individuals to give perpetrators a “pass” simply because they believe, or have heard of, instances where someone else was falsely accused. It creates a perverse equation where: Awareness of False Accusations (rare but real) + Liar’s Dividend = Discounting of Genuine Accusations. This isn’t to say we shouldn’t be concerned about false accusations or that due process isn’t essential. However, the pendulum has swung so far for some that the very possibility of a false accusation overshadows the much more prevalent reality of genuine abuse. This skewed perspective creates a shield for abusers, allowing them to hide behind the specter of “false claims” and deflect legitimate accusations. The consequences are devastating: Victim Blaming: Survivors are subjected to intense scrutiny, their credibility questioned, and their trauma re-lived and invalidated. Impunity for Abusers: Perpetrators can escape accountability, free to continue their destructive patterns, knowing that the “false accusation” narrative provides them with a convenient shield. Chilling Effect: Other potential survivors are deterred from coming forward, fearing they will not be believed and will face further trauma in the process. Erosion of Trust: The public’s trust in the justice system and in the ability to protect vulnerable populations is eroded. As a society, we must challenge this dangerous narrative. While […]
State and federal prosecutors have charged more than 320 people and uncovered nearly $15 million in false claims in what they described Monday as the largest coordinated takedown of health care fraud schemes in Justice Department history. Law enforcement seized more than $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles, cryptocurrency, and other assets as prosecutors warned of a growing push by transnational criminal networks to exploit the U.S. health care system. As part of the sweeping crackdown, officials identified perpetrators based in Russia, Eastern Europe, Pakistan, and other countries. “These criminals didn’t just steal someone else’s money. They stole from you,” Matthew Galeotti, who leads the Justice Department’s criminal division, told reporters Monday. “Every fraudulent claim, every fake billing, every kickback scheme represents money taken directly from the pockets of American taxpayers who fund these essential programs through their hard work and sacrifice.” The alleged $14.6 billion in fraud is more than twice the previous record in the Justice Department’s annual health care fraud crackdown. It includes nearly 190 federal cases and more than 90 state cases that have been charged or unsealed since June 9. Nearly 100 licensed medical professionals were charged, including 25 doctors, and the government reported $2.9 billion in actual losses. Among the cases is a $10 billion urinary catheter scheme that authorities say highlights the increasingly sophisticated methods used by transnational criminal organizations. Authorities say the group behind the scheme used foreign straw owners to secretly buy up dozens of medical supply companies and then used stolen identities and confidential health data to file fake Medicare claims. Nineteen defendants have been charged as part of that investigation — which authorities dubbed Operation Gold Rush — including four people arrested in Estonia and seven people arrested at U.S. airports and at the border with Mexico, prosecutors said. The scheme involved the stolen identities and personal information of more one million Americans, according to the Justice Department. “It’s not done by small time operators,” said Dr. Mehmet Oz, who leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “These are organized syndicates who are designing to hurt America.” (AP)
Iran on Sunday claimed that an Israeli airstrike last week on Tehran’s notorious Evin prison killed at least 71 people, marking what was likely the deadliest single attacks in the recent war between the two countries. The Iranian judiciary spokesperson, Asghar Jahangir, posted the casualty figures on the Mizan news agency’s website, noting that those killed included prison staff, soldiers, inmates, and visiting family members. Iranian authorities did not break down the numbers further or specify how many were wounded. The Washington-based group Human Rights Activists in Iran said its reporting indicated at least 35 staff members and two inmates died, along with others outside the facility, including a woman who had come to speak with a judge about her husband’s case. Jahangir said some of the injured were treated on site while others were taken to local hospitals, but no official count of the wounded was released. The strike on June 23 targeted what Israeli officials described as “regime targets and government repression bodies in the heart of Tehran.” Evin prison has long been notorious for housing political prisoners, journalists, activists, and dissidents. Among those killed in the attack was Iran’s top prosecutor, Ali Ghanaatkar, whose prosecution of prominent dissidents — including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi — had drawn international criticism. The Evin prison strike came as part of a 12-day Israeli military campaign that Israel claims killed around 30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists, while hitting eight nuclear facilities and more than 700 other military sites. The status of Iran’s nuclear program remains uncertain. President Donald Trump has insisted that American airstrikes on June 22 “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capacity, but Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), offered a more cautious assessment on Sunday. Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, Grossi acknowledged “severe damage” to Iran’s program but said that its industrial and technological capacities largely remain. “Frankly speaking, one cannot claim that everything has disappeared,” Grossi said, warning that Tehran could restart uranium enrichment “in a matter of months” if it chose to do so. Iran has so far refused to allow IAEA inspectors to assess the full scale of the damage. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday ending U.S. sanctions on Syria, following through on his promise to do so. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the move was designed to “promote and support the country’s path to stability and peace.” Sanctions will remain in place on ousted former President Bashar Assad, his top aides and family. The executive order is meant to “end the country’s isolation from the international financial system, setting the stage for global commerce and galvanizing investments from its neighbors in the region, as well as from the United States,” Treasury’s acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Brad Smith, told reporters on a call Monday morning to preview the administration’s action. The White House posted the text of the order on X after the signing, which was not open to the press. The U.S. granted Syria sweeping exemptions from sanctions in May, which was a first step toward fulfilling the Republican president’s pledge to lift a half-century of penalties on a country shattered by 13 years of civil war. Along with the lifting of economic sanctions, Monday’s executive order lifts the national emergency outlined in an executive order issued by former President George W. Bush in response to Syria’s occupation of Lebanon and pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, Treasury officials said. Five other previous executive orders related to Syria were also lifted. Sanctions targeting terrorist groups and manufacturers and sellers of the amphetamine-like stimulant Captagon will remain in place. Trump met with Syria’s interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Saudi Arabia in May and told him he would lift sanctions and explore normalizing relations in a major policy shift in relations between the U.S. and Syria. “This is another promise made and promise kept,” Leavitt said Monday. The European Union has also followed through with lifting nearly all remaining sanctions on Syria. Still, some restrictions remain in place. The U.S. still designates Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism and the group led by al-Sharaa as a foreign terrorist organization. A State Department official said the department is reviewing those designations. (AP)
FLATBUSH – BREAKING UPDATE: Sources tell Flatbush Scoop that a preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect who carried out an armed robbery at a Western Union in the confines of the NYPD 63rd Precinct just minutes after the USPS Post Office shooting on Coney Island Avenue may be the same individual. The NYPD is awaiting evidence to confirm whether the firearm used in the robbery matches the one used at the post office. Flatbush Scoop will provide further updates as they become available.
The International Criminal Court has been targeted by a “sophisticated” cyberattack and is taking measures to limit any damage, the global tribunal announced Monday. The ICC, which also was hit by a cyberattack in 2023, said the latest incident had been contained but did not elaborate further on the impact or possible motive. “A Court-wide impact analysis is being carried out, and steps are already being taken to mitigate any effects of the incident,” the court said in a statement. The attack happened last week. “All necessary measures have been taken to ensure the business continuity,” court spokesman Fadi El Abdallah told The Associated Press. The incident happened in the same week that The Hague hosted a summit of 32 NATO leaders at a conference center near the court amid tight security including measures to guard against cyberattacks. The court declined to say whether any confidential information had been compromised. The ICC has a number of high-profile investigations and preliminary inquiries underway in nations around the world and has in the past been the target of espionage. In 2022, a Dutch intelligence agency said it had foiled a plot by a Russian spy using a false Brazilian identity to work as an intern at the court, which is investigating allegations of Russian war crimes in Ukraine and has issued a war crimes arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine. Arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, over Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza have also drawn ire. U.S. President Donald Trump slapped sanctions on its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, in February and earlier this month also sanctioned four judges at the court. The court is still feeling the effects of the last cyberattack, with wifi still not completely restored to its purpose-built headquarters. (AP)
WH PRESS SECRETARY: “It was a mistake for Canada to vow to implement that [Digital Services Tax] that would’ve hurt our tech companies here in the United States… and the Prime Minister called the president last night to let the president know that he would be dropping that tax.”
An 82-year-old Colorado woman who was injured in a Molotov cocktail attack on demonstrators in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza has died, prosecutors said Monday. Karen Diamond died as a result of severe injuries she suffered in the June 1 attack in downtown Boulder, Colorado, the local district attorney’s office said in a statement. Prosecutors have listed 29 victims, including 13 who were physically injured. Mohamed Sabry Soliman already faced dozens of counts in state court on charges including attempted first-degree murder, using an incendiary device, and animal cruelty because a dog was hurt in the attack. He has not been arraigned on the initial charges that now include first-degree murder. The Associated Press left a voicemail Monday for Soliman’s public defender in the state case. The office generally bars its lawyers from commenting on their cases to the media. A preliminary hearing to determine whether there’s enough evidence to move forward with the case is set for July 15. Separately, Soliman has been indicted on 12 federal hate crime counts. He entered a not guilty plea to those charges during a hearing Friday in federal court. Leaders of the Boulder Jewish Community announced in an email Monday that Diamond died June 25 and said she will be deeply missed “Karen was a cherished member of our community, someone whose warmth and generosity left a lasting impact on all who knew her,” executive director Jonathan Lev and board chair David Paul said. Prosecutors said Diamond’s family has asked for privacy as they grieve. “Part of what makes Colorado special is that people come together in response to a tragedy; I know that the community will continue to unite in supporting the Diamond family and all the victims of this attack,” District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in the statement. During the demonstration, Soliman posed as a gardener and wore a construction vest to get close to the group before launching the attack, prosecutors allege. Investigators say Soliman told them he intended to kill the participants at the weekly demonstration. He yelled “Free Palestine” as he threw just two of more than two dozen Molotov cocktails he had prepared. Prosecutors say the victims were targeted because of their perceived or actual national origin. An attack motivated by someone’s political views is not considered a hate crime under federal law. Soliman told investigators he tried to buy a gun but was not able to because he was not a “legal citizen.” Federal authorities have said the Egyptian national has been living in the U.S. illegally with his family. (AP)
Mayor Eric Adams just released a blistering statement criticizing the State Education Department’s refusal to approve special education services to students at six yeshivas. Those schools were deemed non-equivalent by SED earlier this year, and on May 15 SED issued a statement declaring that these yeshivas are no longer schools and are therefore ineligible for the protections contained in the legislation enacted to protect yeshivas. Ten days ago, after the New York Court of Appeals held that SED does not have the authority to close schools that are non-equivalent or to direct parents to unenroll their children from those schools, the Adams Administration informed SED that those children should now receive the services they need. SED refused to engage, or to issue written guidance. In its statement, the Adams Administration pledged to take legal action in order to protect the rights of these yeshivas and children. The complete statement given exclusively to YWN is below: “No family in New York City should ever have to worry about whether their child with special needs will receive the education and services they need to thrive. With tomorrow’s deadline approaching for nonpublic school students to receive approval for special education services, the Adams administration is deeply concerned by the New York State Education Department’s continued refusal to update its guidance. As a result, the department has directed New York City Public Schools to stop providing special education services to students in six yeshivas. Let’s be clear: the State Education Department is misinterpreting a recent decision by the New York State Court of Appeals and, in doing so, is denying these schools even the opportunity to comply. We are committed to supporting the affected families and schools with any legal challenges that may arise.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Senators hunkered down Monday to consider proposed amendments to President Donald Trump’s big bill of tax breaks and spending cuts amid challenges including the weekend announcement from one GOP senator that he won’t run for reelection after opposing the package over its Medicaid health care cuts. The potential changes were being considered in what’s called a vote-a-rama, though most are expected to fail. With Democrats united against the Republican president’s legislation and eagerly lined up to challenge it, the voting could take all day and churn into the night. “It’s time to vote,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota as the session opened. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said the “hardest choices” for Republicans are still to come. Democrats, he said, are bringing “amendment after amendment after amendment to the floor, so Republicans can defend their billionaire tax cuts and so they can try to explain their massive cuts to Medicaid to people back home.” The day will be pivotal for the Republicans, who have control of Congress and are racing against Trump’s July Fourth deadline to wrap up work. The 940-page “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” as it’s formally titled, has consumed Congress as its shared priority with the president, with no room politically to fail, even as not all Republicans are on board. A new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found 11.8 million more Americans would become uninsured by 2034 if the bill became law. The CBO said the package would increase the deficit by nearly $3.3 trillion over the decade. House Speaker Mike Johnson’s leadership team has recalled lawmakers back to Washington for voting in the House as soon as Wednesday, if the legislation can first clear the Senate. But the outcome remains uncertain. As the first few amendments came up Monday — to strike parts of the bill that would limit Medicaid funds to rural hospitals or shift the costs of food stamps benefits to the states — some were winning support from a few Republicans. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, joined Democrats on the rural hospitals amendment, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, joined Democrats on both votes. But none of the amendments won majority support to substantially change the package. Senators to watch Few Republicans appear fully satisfied as the final package emerges. GOP Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who announced Sunday he would not seek reelection after Trump badgered him over his opposition to the package, said he has the same goals as Trump: cutting taxes and spending. But Tillis said this package is a betrayal of the president’s promises not to kick people off health care, especially if rural hospitals close. “We could take the time to get this right,” he thundered. At the same time, some loosely aligned conservative Senate Republicans — Rick Scott of Florida, Mike Lee of Utah, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming — have pushed for steeper cuts, particularly to health care, drawing their own warning from Trump. “Don’t go too crazy!” the president posted on social media. “REMEMBER, you still have to get reelected.” What’s in the big bill All told, the Senate bill includes some $4 trillion in tax cuts, making permanent Trump’s 2017 rates, which would expire at the end of the year if Congress fails to act, while adding the new ones he campaigned on, including no taxes on tips. The Senate package would roll back […]
Zohran Mamdani’s triumph in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary has jolted the political establishment, but what’s even more surprising is the degree of Jewish support he secured despite his openly anti-Zionist – and arguably antisemitic – record. Mamdani, a Muslim progressive who has championed boycotts of Israel and made no secret of his sympathies for Palestinian activism, nonetheless attracted an estimated 20% of the city’s Jewish vote — a stunning figure given New York’s reputation as a global center of pro-Israel advocacy. Mamdani, whose platform includes plans to dramatically expand housing access and slash transit costs, positioned himself as a champion of social and racial justice. That message, combined with his promise to boost funding for anti-hate initiatives by 800% and to protect the independence of Jewish religious schools, resonated among a younger generation of Jewish voters skeptical of Israel’s policies but focused on bread-and-butter city concerns. “He talks about rent, he talks about fairness, he talks about safety — and that’s what people want,” said Jeremy Feldman, a Reform Jewish voter in Harlem. “I might not share his Middle East views, but he’s honest about what he believes.” Mamdani’s wife, Rama Dawaji, has drawn her own share of headlines. An artist with a long record of provocative pro-Palestinian imagery, she has been unapologetic in her criticism of Israel, going so far as to showcase images of keffiyeh-wearing demonstrators trampled by riot police. Yet Jewish voters seemed more focused on Mamdani’s domestic priorities than Dawaji’s art. Lest you think this is just a Reform issue: It isn’t clear how many Orthodox Jewish voters cast a ballot for Mamdani, but voting records make it clear that the number is far from zero. With the general election approaching, Mamdani appears well positioned to defeat independent incumbent Eric Adams. But observers say the true test will come during moments of crisis, such as a new wave of protests over Gaza or a high-profile Israeli visit. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
WH Press Secretary on the “One Big Beautiful Bill”: “This is one of the most fiscally conservative pieces of legislation that has ever made its way through Capitol Hill… It will cut taxes, putting more money back into the American people’s pockets.”
President Donald Trump’s big bill to cut taxes and reduce federal spending on some social safety net programs could have large implications for states, but for many it’s too late to do much about it this year. Tuesday marks the start of a new budget year in 46 states. Though some legislatures are still working, most already have adjourned and finalized their spending plans without knowing whether federal funding will be cut and, if so, by how much. “The ebb and flow of rumors and reality have created great uncertainty and some anxiety in state governments,” said David Adkins, executive director of The Council of State Governments. Several states have taken preemptive steps, setting aside money in reserves or tasking committees to monitor the impact of federal funding reductions. Others are tentatively planning to return in special sessions this year to account for potential funding cuts to joint federal-state programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Others will have to wait until their legislatures are back in session next year. What’s at stake for states? “If there are significant cuts, states wouldn’t be able to fully absorb those,” said Brian Sigritz, director of state fiscal studies at the National Association of State Budget Officers. Nationally, the Medicaid health care program for lower-income residents accounts for 30% of total state expenditures, according to the health policy research organization KFF. That makes it the costliest program in many states, ahead of even K-12 education. The bulk of Medicaid money comes from the federal government, meaning any changes in federal policy can create big ripples for states. Legislation pending in Congress would affect Medicaid in several ways. New work requirements are expected to reduce enrollment by millions of people, while other proposed changes also could reduce federal payments to states. Until now the federal government also has covered the full cost of SNAP benefits and half the administrative costs. Trump’s bill would shift more of those costs to states, leaving them to either divert money from other purposes or trim back their food assistance programs. The Medicaid and SNAP changes are just the latest in a series of Trump policies affecting state finances, including the rollback of grants for transportation and high-speed internet projects and attempts to withhold federal funds from sanctuary jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Some legislatures are stocking up on savings A surge in federal aid and state tax revenue during the coronavirus pandemic led to booming budgets and historic cash surpluses in many states. As revenues slow and those surpluses get spent, some states now are trying to guard against federal funding reductions. New Mexico enacted a law this year creating a Medicaid trust fund gradually stocked with up to $2 billion that can be tapped to prop up the program if federal funding cuts would otherwise cause a reduction in coverage or benefits. Hawaii lawmakers, in crafting the state’s budget, left an extra $200 million in the general fund as a contingency against federal funding uncertainty. They plan to return for a special session. And Vermont’s budget sets aside up to $110 million in case federal funding is cut. That includes $50 million that can be spent while the Legislature is not in session and up to $60 million that could be appropriated in the future to address federal funding shortfalls. Though not necessarily tied to federal cuts, […]
REPORTER: “What is the White House’s response to Sen. Tillis’ criticism articulated from the Senate floor yesterday…?” WH PRESS SECRETARY: “He is just wrong and the president and the vast majority of Republicans who are supportive of this legislation are right. This bill protects Medicaid…”
