Public Health News Round Up, July 4, 2025
Not a good day! Let me flag a few things we’ve published recently.
Destined to Suffer. How Prosperity Theology Is Shaping U.S. Health Policy. There has long been a history in America of bootstraps, Calvinism, and “deserves.” People with good health have been blessed and thus deserve care. People without should bear their cross. And this is exactly the philosophy espoused in the ghoulish bill passed yesterday. Enjoy your 4th!
By the $: Medicaid Cuts. We took some Kaiser data to see the impact of the cuts on a state level (apologies to Mississippi and West Virginia, for which no data was available, and to Alaska and Hawai’i, which I omited from the map.
Here’s what’s been in the news
Forever changed by diseases that vaccines can prevent, families share their stories
The resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough in the U.S. is a growing public health concern, largely fueled by declining immunization rates and vaccine misinformation. Historical perspectives from individuals affected by these diseases before the widespread introduction of vaccination highlight the devastating impact of such illnesses and emphasize the critical role of vaccines in preventing severe health outcomes. As vaccine hesitancy increases, addressing factors such as misinformation and accessibility, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, is crucial for safeguarding public health and maintaining herd immunity.
Medicare recipients confused, scared.
A discussion in an article highlights confusion and concern over Medicare’s pricing and reimbursement mechanisms, specifically questioning how Medicare can approve significantly lower payment amounts for medical procedures compared to the billed charges. This is important because it illuminates the complexities of Medicare’s pricing strategy, which balances between controlling costs for millions of beneficiaries and ensuring healthcare providers are fairly compensated, thereby impacting decisions on supplemental coverage like Medigap Plan G and the willingness of providers to accept Medicare patients.
Many forget childhood deaths, disabilities from diseases before widespread vaccination. Not these families
Despite the success of vaccines in eradicating diseases like polio and measles over the past century, declining immunization rates fueled by vaccine hesitancy and misinformation are causing a resurgence of preventable diseases in the U.S. Personal stories of those affected by diseases like rubella, polio, measles, and whooping cough highlight the severe repercussions of these illnesses and underscore the critical importance of maintaining high vaccination rates to protect public health. The article reveals the potential consequences of neglecting vaccination, urging societal awareness and action to preserve the gains made.
And the scientific theme most prominent over the past week. I feel we’re going to be reading articles on COVID 19 for the next decade.
