There’s no debating this: COVID-19 has created a health crisis and an economic crisis of a magnitude that hasn’t been experienced in any living person’s lifetime. But fierce debates about how to work our way…
The song, Seasons of Love, from the Broadway musical Rent poses the question: 525,600 minutes How do you measure, measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee In inches, in miles, in laughter,…
Michigan continues to make progress in its fight against COVID-19 according to key data metrics. In light of the progress, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued updated COVID-19 orders that took effect March 5th and…
Remember when presidential candidate Bill Clinton proclaimed, “It’s the economy, stupid”? That phrase resonated with folks as an obvious truth, and he won that election. So now, a new study from the Rand Corporation think…
February 2021 is nearly in the books! Nationally, the average weekly number of new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths declined during the month. Public health officials urge continuation of public health measures, noting that the number of new…
The word of the week: perseverance. The appropriately named NASA rover Perseverance, became a new national superhero with its flawless landing on Mars. In Texas, millions of American showed their ingenuity and grit to survive frigid temperatures, with no…
When Benjamin Franklin penned the phrase, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” he was urging citizens to use preventive measures to stop fires in houses and commercial shops. It was good…
Strides are being made in the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines. As part of the first phase the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, one million vaccine doses were directly sent to 6,500 pharmacies and grocery…
Yes, it is evening and not afternoon. Weekend Reading was delayed due to a man born in 1928, lost in the healthcare maze that we call a healthcare system. Hours later, he will no longer…
It’s not hard to run across negative claims about the coronavirus vaccine. The wide reach of the internet has been especially effective in “super spreading” misinformation, but using some common sense can go a long…
The U.S., like other countries, continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic on multiple fronts. Over 25 million Americans have been infected with the virus, resulting in mild to severe illness, sometimes with lasting health effects. The virus has…
With the inauguration of President Biden, health policy wonks are busy with predictions of the what, when and how of healthcare reform. Will there be a government option? Changes to the ACA? Answers to these and other questions will have…
On Monday, our country will honor the life and life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther Day (MLK) is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer…
Welcome to the first weekend reading series of 2021! While 2020 is behind us, COVID-19 has entered the new year with ever increasing numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Yet, the new year brings hope that…
It has been a long year. The February 7, 2020 Weekend Reading series noted that the twelfth coronavirus case was confirmed in the U.S. Today, the number of US cases exceed 17 million. As Robert Frost said…
About half of the population in the U.S. gets health insurance through employer-sponsored coverage. If you belong to a union, it’s much more likely you have it. Ninety-five percent of unionized workers have health insurance…
For this Weekend’s Reading, explore The Messenger’s Arrival for informative articles about mRNA and the incredible story of scientist Katalin Karikó who never gave up on the mRNA approach. Next, check out On the Road to Normal for a look at some of the…
COVID-19 altered Thanksgiving traditions for millions of Americans – it is likely to do the same for the upcoming holiday season. Hospitalizations, daily case counts and deaths continue to hit record levels. The promise of a vaccine is rapidly…
Follow the science. That’s the guiding principle we’ve been encouraged to use when deciding what information to listen to about COVID-19, and it’s a sound one. So that same principle is what should guide us…
Thanksgiving, like other 2020 holidays, will be different this year due to COVID-19. Yesterday, the CDC urged Americans not to travel for Thanksgiving and not to spend the holiday with people from outside their household as COVD-19 cases surge out of control. If…
The number of COVID-19 cases and related hospitalizations are growing exponentially. On Friday the U.S. reported more than 169,000 new coronavirus cases, a record high for the third straight day. Eighteen states, predominantly in the Midwest, are reporting a catastrophic…
As with most things today, COVID-19 has impacted the reporting of vote tallies from Tuesday’s Presidential election. As anticipated, some states have been delayed in reporting results due to the counting of the large number of mail ballots due to…
For this Weekend Reading Series, check out #Vote2020 for articles on two of the top issues of the 2020 election: affordable health care coverage and the COVID-19 pandemic. Next, #Perspectives provides articles about the impact of COVID-19 on individuals’…
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on November 10th in a case that could topple the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Despite claims throughout his time in office that the Trump Administration would offer a…
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local police departments and some drug stores across Michigan are providing central free disposal of unwanted prescription drugs. According…
The short answer: everyone. Whether you currently don’t have health insurance but may wish to buy it some day; you purchase insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace; are on Medicare or Medicaid; or…
Fred R. Barnard is often credited with the origin of the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words “ in the early 1920s. He used the phrase to commend the use of graphics and photos in…
Beginning in 1992, October 10th is observed as World Mental Health day. The goal of this world-wide effort is promote awareness of mental health, educate the public, and try to prevent the stigma which is still often associated with…
The COVID-19 pandemic is precisely the time when we need factual health information to be communicated with clarity and compassion. Our fears, anxieties and sense of urgency to address this problem have led nearly all…
The pandemic continues to slow economic recovery in the US. The Labor Department reported today that job growth slowed sharply in September, with the hiring of just 661,000 new workers. While unemployment in September dropped to 7.9%, from 8.4% in…
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