Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

When Republicans write Legislation, Low-Income People will suffer the most

The impact on individuals . . . Of course, this is maintaining Trump’s 2017 Tax breaks Reconciliation legislation. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act did not pay for itself within the 10-year period of time required. Not paying for itself through increasing economic activities left deficits. However, the legislation did favor the upper income […]

Would you buy a blood testing device from this guy?

Remember Theranos, the phony blood testing company fronted by made-for-TV wuderkind Elizabeth Holmes? “Elizabeth Holmes’s romantic partner – the father of her children – reportedly has raised millions of dollars to start up a new blood-testing company that is strikingly similar to the one that landed the Theranos founder in federal prison. “The fundraising comes […]

Trump’s flim-flam pharmaceuticals plan

Trump announced that he’ll sign an executive order today that will lower drug costs in the US. ““I will be instituting a MOST FAVORED NATION’S POLICY whereby the United States will pay the same price as the Nation that pays the lowest price anywhere in the World,” the president posted Sunday on his social media […]

Mostly About Social Security – Briefly

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) re-introduced a bicameral bill, “The Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act.” The aim of the bill is to require taxpayers with yearly incomes of more than $400,000 to contribute a fairer share of their income to the two programs. This is the opposite of what […]

Measles Still an Issue in the US

Environment, Energy, and Related News from the week ending May 3rd. – by R. J. Sigmund Measles Texas measles total grows to 663 as Arkansas reports local spread, CIDRAP  The Texas Department of State Health Services today reported 17 more measles cases from the West Texas outbreak, bringing the state’s total to 663. Along with more […]

The price of Trump’s war on universities

For decades, the United States has been the world leader in scientific research. Even as China has been catching up, the US has managed to remain a magnet for scientists world-wide, and its universities are the most desirable destinations for undergrads and graduate students. Until now. “There are significant economic consequences to spiking medical research […]

Some Politics and Help on Understanding the Public’s View on Medicaid

An overview of recent KFF polling on the public’s views of and connections to Medicaid, the federal-state government health insurance for certain low-income adults and children and long-term care program for adults 65 and older and younger adults with disabilities. In the end, it appears America is quite happy with Medicaid and are not prepared […]

Three-year medical school?

When I started teaching medical students, our MD curriculum was four years. The entire first two years were pre-clinical. Students advanced to clinical clerkships at the beginning of their third year. For seven years, I was course director for a 2.5 trimester, 95 lecture course called “Medical Biochemistry.” When I retired last July, pre-clinical training […]

SNAP Funding Cuts Would Harm Children and the Economy

The Snap cuts coming from a rather large president who over eats, just seems wrong to me. But, with this Snidely Whiplash as the President, one can be certain cuts will occur where they should not occur. My apology to Snidely, I meant Trump. Right now? Pres. Trump is thinking of cutting back on the […]

Heathcare Insurance Companies Abandoning Medicare Advantage redux

There are changes coming to the Medicare market place and Medicare Advantage. Healthcare Insurance companies are leaving the Medicare Advantage market. “Market exits by Humana, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare will collectively affect nearly 70% of those 1.8 million individuals.” The remainder of the 1.8 million will be looking at new plans with the same insurance provider. […]