President Biden ending COVID emergencies: https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-covid-public-health-2a80b547f6d55706a6986debc343b9fe . This decision reflects politics over sound public health policy. However, these actions have major consequences for the US healthcare system. With the planned end of the emergencies on May 11, free COVID tests and vaccines will come to an end. The federal government will stop buying the vaccines, and the cost of vaccines will likely increase considerably.
Also, because of the federal spending package passed in December, states will be able to kick people off Medicaid starting April 1: https://apnews.com/article/health-covid-304d921beee43d29f1862cd4d6ab5297 . So the GOP War on the Poor shifts gears. Of course, the pandemic is not actually over. As readers regularly remind me, natural selection is also at play here. Since Republicans are much less likely to get boosters than are Democrats, we will have fewer Grumpy Old People to deal with each “passing” day. Way to go, Kevin.
WSJ: COVID hammers China’s rural poor: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-hits-chinas-rural-poor-the-impact-on-the-village-economy-is-huge-11675085235 . As we have repeatedly yelled, this consequence was completely foreseeable. In my view, this is mass murder.
WSJ: Medicare Advantage plans face expensive audits: https://www.wsj.com/articles/private-medicare-plans-face-tough-new-audits-that-could-cost-billions-11675112977 . One would presume that these expenses could limit the attractiveness of many Medicare Advantage plans.
Dense breasts increase breast cancer risk: https://www.today.com/health/what-are-dense-breasts-fda-wants-women-know-about-breast-t151225 . The article indicates that the majority of US women have dense breasts, so this finding has wide application.
WSJ: More potential COVID business aid fraud uncovered: https://www.wsj.com/articles/sketchy-social-security-numbers-possibly-landed-billions-in-covid-aid-11675124163 .
Federal court tosses J&J talc bankruptcy filing: https://www.reuters.com/legal/jjs-ltl-units-bankruptcy-dismissed-by-us-appeals-court-filing-2023-01-30/ . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/j-js-talc-bankruptcy-case-thrown-out-by-appeals-court-11675096308 . I completely agree with the judge. Packing your liability cases into a subsidiary you then declare bankrupt improperly shields the parent from liability it should reimburse.
WSJ: US consumers burn through savings: https://www.wsj.com/articles/consumer-spending-inflation-economy-11675093472 .
WSJ: Peru protests continue: https://www.wsj.com/articles/peru-protests-hit-mining-sector-and-impede-exports-11675085770 .
Three Memphis Fire Department employees fired over the Tyre Nichols beating death: https://www.aol.com/news/memphis-fires-two-emts-responded-225516258.html . The Fire Department employees were not involved in the beating but apparently failed to render appropriate medical assistance. Additionally, two more police officers have been suspended from their jobs. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tyre-nichols-sixth-memphis-police-officer-relieved-from-duty-11675101066 .
Pelosi attacker seals his conviction: https://www.aol.com/news/paul-pelosi-attack-suspect-calls-201007347.html . Yes, calling a TV station from jail to confess is completely nuts. However, legally the question of competence is whether the defendant understands the nature of his actions. He clearly understands, so off to prison he goes.
Orange Julius sues Bob Woodward over release of his interview tapes: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-30/trump-sues-journalist-bob-woodward-over-rage-book-interview-recordings?utm_campaign=bn&utm_medium=distro&utm_source=MSN&leadSource=uverify%20wall . So who thinks that sitting down with Bob Woodward for 19 interviews somehow gives them control over the use of the interview tapes? This lawsuit is going nowhere. Since OJ has already been forced to pay defendants’ legal costs for filing frivolous lawsuits, I do hope Simon & Schuster will take him to the rack with the prior precedent. Even WSJ sees OJ’s suit as a loser: https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-sues-bob-woodward-over-use-of-recordings-in-audiobook-11675121583 .
WSJ: Maya settlement network unmasked in Guatemala: https://www.wsj.com/articles/vast-maya-kingdom-is-revealed-in-guatemalan-jungle-11675082088 .
Lisa Loring, Wednesday on “The Addams Family”, passes at 64: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lisa-loring-wednesday-addams-the-addams-family-dies-at-64/ .
Cindy Williams – Shirley of “Laverne and Shirley” – passes at 75: https://www.npr.org/2023/01/30/1152707633/cindy-williams-laverne-shirley-actor-dies-at-75 . Penny Marshall (Laverne) died in 2018; her brother Garry, who created the series, died in 2016. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/laverne-shirley-actor-cindy-williams-dies-at-75-11675126401 .
NHL Hall of Famer Bobby Hull passes at 84: https://apnews.com/article/bobby-hull-dies-78205480b86961baee2a5d517d7e6910 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bobby-hull-hockey-golden-jet-11675101424 .