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HEALTH WORKER STRIKES ON THE RISE — Health staff are hanging extra thus far this yr in contrast with earlier years in the pandemic, based on new information.
Depending on the remainder of the yr, the variety of work stoppages could prime different years in the previous decade, Daniel experiences.
But why? Labor consultants, union leaders and health firm managers pointed to a number of the identical causes for the rise.
— Staffing shortages: A standard concern amongst every group is that there aren’t sufficient health care staff to deal with the workload. Even as Covid-19 has retreated from the headlines, the suppliers’ caseloads haven’t lightened — they’ve generally elevated as they see an inflow of sufferers who delay procedures throughout the pandemic. The stress from the pandemic additionally led to many staff leaving the trade, worsening the issue.
— Strong labor actions via the economic system: Across sectors, labor teams have seen a resurgence of motion, together with rail staff, producers and Hollywood manufacturing crews. A scorching job market, a supportive White House and a disruptive pandemic have all contributed to the trend, consultants mentioned.
— Slowing urgency from the pandemic: Though workloads haven’t essentially slowed for a lot of suppliers, some health staff really feel the scenario is now completely different from the early months of the pandemic when hospitals have been overwhelmed with Covid-19 sufferers. Now into the third yr of the pandemic, relative stability has led some staff to see now because the time to behave.
Labor and administration teams alike want to lawmakers for assist — significantly to deal with staffing issues. Two payments on the Hill immediately tackle the scarcity, however their paths to passage are unsure and aid wouldn’t be instant.
Providers have additionally famous labor prices rising — saying it’s outpacing reimbursement charges and furthering monetary strains.
“During the pandemic, we predicted that once people were safe, once people were vaccinated … that there would be both an explosion of organizing and potential strikes,” mentioned Sal Rosselli, president of the National Union of Healthcare Workers. “A lot of folks are having a second thought about their careers because of the safety issues and the demands and the short staffing.”
Welcome to Friday Pulse, the place we lately realized fetuses in the womb made completely different faces relying on what their moms had eaten (smiles for carrots, scowls for kale). Have a enjoyable — or bizarre — truth to share? What about a tip or an unique? Drop us a line at [email protected] and [email protected].
Want extra Pulse? This week’s Pulse Check podcast options Ben Leonard and Adam Cancryn on the aftereffects of President Joe Biden’s Sunday declaration that the pandemic is over. Plus, Alice Miranda Ollstein supplies a actuality verify from Capitol Hill, the place the chance of Congress passing any further Covid-19 funding appears slim. Listen to the Pulse Check podcast.
$45.6 BILLION — That’s how a lot the Department of Labor’s inspector basic estimates could have been paid out fraudulently via pandemic unemployment insurance coverage.
On Thursday, the inspector basic’s workplace launched a report estimating the quantity of fraud. More than 1,000 persons are being charged with crimes related to the report.
“Hundreds of billions in pandemic funds attracted fraudsters seeking to exploit the UI program — resulting in historic levels of fraud and other improper payments,” Inspector General Larry Turner mentioned in a assertion saying the report.
USER FEE AGREEMENT DEAL REACHED — The leaders of the Senate HELP Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee got here to an settlement Thursday to reauthorize the FDA’s person price packages for 5 years, POLITICO’s David Lim experiences.
The reauthorization and smaller coverage riders are set to be connected to a short-term authorities funding invoice later this month, however Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is seeking to block the smaller riders from the invoice, a particular person conversant in the matter mentioned.
The present deal would push points like how the FDA regulates diagnostics, dietary dietary supplements and cosmetics to an end-of-year bundle.
Still, the ultimate deal’s path via the House and Senate is difficult by different legislative fights, like a controversial power infrastructure allowing invoice supported by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).
ADMIN’S ACTION ON OPIOIDS — Today, as a part of National Recovery Month, the Biden administration is rolling out a sequence of recent measures to sort out the nation’s ongoing overdose epidemic, which killed at the least 108,000 Americans final yr. Some of the plan’s highlights:
Money to states and legislation enforcement: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is awarding grants value $1.6 billion to 58 states, territories and tribal entities for use to fund a broad vary of “prevention, treatment and recovery, and harm reduction services” throughout the nation.
The Office of National Drug Control Policy will give a further $12 million to legislation enforcement in so-called excessive depth drug trafficking areas “to reduce violent crime, improve data sharing and dismantle the illicit finance operations of drug traffickers” on prime of $275 million designated for legislation enforcement in trafficking areas in the spring.
Targeting the availability chain: The Treasury Department will escalate sanctions towards contributors in the worldwide provide chain of artificial opioids, significantly in Mexico. The transfer will use the identical instruments the federal government has used in different sanctions packages, akin to towards terrorism.
Widening entry to naloxone: On Thursday, the FDA issued new steerage to broaden entry to FDA-approved naloxone merchandise in underserved communities. The transfer could assist community-based packages order FDA-approved medication immediately from producers and distributors.
FIRST IN PULSE — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores despatched a letter to the White House asking the administration to maintain some pandemic flexibilities in place as soon as the general public health emergency declaration is lifted.
Requests embrace preserving pharmacy personnel flexibilities in place via mid-2024 and creating everlasting pathways for Medicare to reimburse vaccines, testing and therapeutics at pharmacies.
The letter additionally asks for a plan to offer vaccines, testing and therapeutics to those that are uninsured and broaden entry to therapeutics via pharmacies.
ABORTION BAN BLOCKED — Indiana’s abortion ban was quickly blocked by a choose Thursday as a part of a lawsuit from abortion suppliers difficult the legislation.
The ban was signed into legislation in August; Indianan is one among many states to make abortions largely unlawful with a few exceptions. The resolution alters the advanced, continually altering patchwork of legal guidelines all through the U.S. after the autumn of Roe.
AFRICA’S JUMP TO J&J — The African Union is getting shipments of the Covid-19 vaccine that the FDA discouraged Americans from getting, POLITICO’s Carmen Paun experiences.
The area initially relied on backed pictures from the COVAX vaccine facility, however the shipments from Johnson & Johnson mark a shift in how leaders provide the hassle to spice up the continent’s low vaccination charges.
The AU signed a take care of Johnson & Johnson in March 2021 to make as much as 400 million doses accessible for buy — and has already obtained 70 million doses.
PROVIDER GROUPS SUE OVER SURPRISE BILLING DETAILS — The Texas Medical Association, President of Banner State Emergency Physicians Adam Corley and Tyler Regional Hospital LLC filed a lawsuit difficult the Biden administration over its coverage for the way in which disputes about shock payments are resolved.
The American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association voiced help for the swimsuit, including they’d file an amicus transient explaining the necessity for the legislation to vary.
The AMA and AHA emphasised their backing of the legislation to minimize shock billing however argued the administration’s guidelines for implementing the legislation should change.
The swimsuit comes simply days after the teams dropped an earlier lawsuit over the identical problem, saying the ultimate rule’s launch made the problem moot however supplier teams would proceed to pursue the difficulty.
MENTAL HEALTH JUSTICE ACT PASSES THE HOUSE — The House handed the Mental Health Justice Act, a invoice that may help sending psychological health professionals as a substitute of law enforcement officials to answer some 911 calls.
The invoice, which might create grants to states and Native American tribes, handed with the help of all Democrats and three Republicans. Its path via the Senate is unsure.
The Government Accountability Office introduced Wednesday the appointment of six new members of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute board of governors.
Howard University introduced Andrea Hayes Dixon will turn out to be the primary Black lady to function dean of the College of Medicine. Last yr, she grew to become the primary lady chair of the division of surgical procedure at Howard University.
Potential consumers, together with Humana, are circling Cano Health, The Wall Street Journal’s Laura Cooper and Dana Cimilluca report.
A panel of medical consultants recommends screening all adults beneath 65 for nervousness, The New York Times’ Emily Baumgaertner experiences.
Maternal health disparities exist throughout business insurance coverage enrollees and Medicaid beneficiaries alike, Fierce Healthcare’s Paige Minemyer writes.