Obamacare has now survived three major Supreme Court challenges, all threatening to overturn the law entirely. The first did some pretty big damage (making Medicaid expansion optional). The other two, including today's, leave the law untouched.

Good riddance, indeed. (This whole thread is very helpful btw).

"HCA’s expansion into trauma centers alarms health policy analysts who suggest its motive is more about chasing profit than improving patient care..." All of this is so infuriating. miamiherald.com/news/health-ca…

"Nearly 70% of America's physicians were employed by hospitals or corporations by the end of 2020, and nearly half of physician practices were owned by them," which is a concern as more health care consolidation leads to even higher prices. axios.com/doctor-hospita…

The murder of a 6-year-old & injuries to at least 7 others in DC in last 24 hours as a result of drive-bys is not senseless shooting; it is because guns are easily accessed for hurting and killing people in our city & country. There are too many guns & they are too easy to get.

Unpaid medical bills are now the largest source of debt held by collection agencies. That wasn't true a decade ago. nytimes.com/2021/07/20/ups…

Two were shot tonight on 14th. But this story pubbed today, shows that 40 % of gunfire in DC, 2,759 bullet casings (just the ones cops found!) is concentrated in a small 151 block area in Southeast. For these residents, fear is part of everyday life. washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/…

Helpful overview from Katherine J. Wu, Ph.D. on antigen v. PCR testing during Delta. theatlantic.com/science/archiv…

Anyone looking for a one bedroom one bath apartment near Logan Circle this fall? I absolutely love my place but am moving in with my bf so it will be available!

What’s in Build Back Better for health care - Capping insulin at $35/month - Capping seniors’ out-of-pocket drug spending at $2,000/yr - Medicare drug-price negotiations - Expanding Medicare to cover hearing benefits - Boosting ACA subsidies - Closing Medicaid gap in 12 states

Thinking about (and agreeing with) this piece a lot today, randomly. "Charging unvaccinated people more reopens the door for insurers to sanction other health behaviors and preexisting conditions, undermining a bedrock ACA achievement."

Appreciated this thread.

The most important thing about this surge: It comes *after all the others*, & finds a workforce that’s exhausted, demoralized, & smaller because of waves of resignations. Today’s system can’t handle what it used to handle. It must now handle a LOT. 2/ theatlantic.com/health/archive…

Circling back to Melissa Murray (@ProfMMurray on Threads 🧵)'s excellent NYT article on the working mother bona fides of Ketanji Brown Jackson. One thing I didn't know until the process, she was already a mom when she went to her federal public defender gig. nytimes.com/2022/03/07/opi…

President Joe Biden hugs Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as they watch the historic vote from the White House.

If Alito gets a majority for his opinion in current form, the dissents are going to be very powerful. Saying women shouldn’t have rights today b/c it wasn’t custom & history in this country for men to grant them to them may not turn be the compelling argument he thinks it is.

"Bodily autonomy should not be granted to women because of 'history and traditions,' Justice Alito. It should be recognized because of their innate dignity as human beings." washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022…

Just the most beautiful rainbow in DC tonight. Capital Weather Gang Doug Molof

THIS right here. Abortion is not the only major issue on the Court's docket this term. There's also a HUGE gun case that is poised to make public carrying of guns easier (super-weird that SCOTUS doesn't seem inclined to leave gun control to the states... but I digress).

Excellent investigation from Chris Hamby showing how health insurers and MultiPlan $MPLN reap massive fees by low-balling payments to out-of-network doctors and hospitals. Another example of patients (and employers) getting hosed. nytimes.com/2024/04/07/us/…