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But while she was in the hospital, Becky contracted a bone infection that would ultimately require nine arm operations. “I wish I’d make less money so that I can get more benefits, because I’m actually more in debt now.”The challenge of a high deductibleOf all the reasons a family can face medical debt from childbirth, high deductibles are among the most common. “Many workers used to have zero-deductible health care plans, but that’s less true today. “I’m never going to pay off all of our debt, so add on the hospital debt to it. But other changes, like getting rid of deductibles altogether or even instituting universal health care, feel impractical, if not impossible.

Persons: Jessica, “, ” Lauren Crocks, SUI, Becky Munge, Jovie, Becky, Cole, Gavin, Ava, Becky Munge Jovie, ” Becky, “ We’re, we’re, I’m, ”, Adam Gaffney, Wesley Bruce, Ashley Perez’s, Ashley Perez, Ashley Perez Bruce, Perez, ’ ” Perez, “ I’m, they'd, ” Nick Olson, Sanford Health’s, Becker Organizations: Health, SIU, NBC News, Medicaid, Health Care Cost, D.C, Children’s Health, Mayo Clinic, of Illinois, Cambridge Health Alliance, Sanford Health, NBC Locations: Washington, Morton , Illinois, Rochester , Minnesota, Massachusetts

☆ Additives to food often bypass FDA oversight, critics say
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-03 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Soon, Daily Harvest had narrowed its internal investigation to a new ingredient used for its high-protein content: tara flour. Tara flour is one of two products made from the seed pods of a thorny shrub native to Peru. The pods of the tara plant are used to make tara gum and tara flour. As some consumers had discovered, tara flour was not safe, the FDA decreed in May 2024 — nearly two years after the ingredient sickened hundreds. During that time, however, other manufacturers could have used the now-“unapproved food additive.”“This incident shows how broken our food regulatory system is.

Persons: Gwyneth Paltrow, Serena Williams, “ I’ve, ” Cory Silverstein, Silverstein, Luke Wesley Pearson, tara, we’ve, Rachel Drori, GRAS, —, It’s, ”, Pieter Cohen, Cohen, “, Tara, Tragically, Alexi Giannoulias, Sarah Gallo, “ GRAS, ” Gallo, Sarah Silbiger, Melanie Benesh, BVO, Giannoulias, Benesh, ” Benesh, Jim Jones, ” Jones, Thomas Galligan Organizations: CNN, Leek Crumbles, Harvest, CNN Business, Food and Drug Administration, FDA, Daily Harvest, Daily, Cambridge Health Alliance, The New England, of Medicine, Consumer Brands Association, Office, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental, Industry, Union, Illinois Food Safety, Illinois Senate, Getty, European Union, Human Foods, Center for Science, “ Locations: Peru, United States, Somerville , Massachusetts, The, California, Illinois, Jena

Surveys indicate that health care is among the top priorities for voters in the November presidential election. Former President Donald Trump has given little detail about his health care vision; his running mate, JD Vance, has suggested deregulation. Each country was graded on five categories: access to care, care process, administrative efficiency, equity and health outcomes. “For far too many people, high-quality medical care is out of reach.”Dr. Adam Gaffney, a critical care physician at the Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts, pointed out that the U.S. differs from the other countries in one critical area: universal health care coverage. Thursday’s report also listed solutions to the country’s health care problems, including lowering the cost of care and expanding access to coverage.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, JD Vance, ” Dr, Joseph Betancourt, David Blumenthal, “, ”, ” Blumenthal, Lawrence Gostin, Gostin, ” Gostin, Dr, Adam Gaffney, ” Gaffney, Reginald Williams II Organizations: U.S, Commonwealth Fund, Affordable, Australia, New, Centers for Disease Control, O’Neill Institute for National, Global Health Law, Georgetown University, United, Cambridge Health Alliance, Fund, International Health Locations: U.S, United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Massachusetts

☆ High lead levels found in cinnamon and spice blends from 12 brands, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The next highest level was found in cinnamon powder from EGN (2.91 ppm), followed by Mimi’s Products ground cinnamon (2.03 ppm), ShopRite Bowl & Basket ground cinnamon (1.82 ppm), Rani Brand ground cinnamon (1.39 ppm), Zara Foods cinnamon powder (1.27 ppm), Three Rivers cinnamon stick powder (1.26 ppm), Yu Yee Brand five spice powder (1.25 ppm), BaiLiFeng five spice powder (1.15 ppm), Spicy King five spices powder (1.05 ppm), Badia cinnamon powder (1.03 ppm) and Deep cinnamon powder (1.02 ppm). told CNN via email that the company’s ground cinnamon products comply with all federal and international law. These include ground cinnamon and organic ground cinnamon sold by 365 Whole Foods Market, which contained 0.12 ppm and 0.02 ppm of lead, respectively. Morton & Bassett San Francisco 100% organic ground cinnamon, Loisa organic cinnamon and Sadaf cinnamon powder tested at 0.04 ppm of lead. The latest, published in August, listed 10 different cinnamon products with levels as high as 3.93 ppm of lead.

Persons: Paras, Rani, Yu Yee, EGN, Mimi’s, Nuria Lambert, Karen O’Shea, Alina Lasta, ” Guitar, Bassett, James Rogers, ” Rogers, Rogers, ”, Dr.Pieter Cohen, Cohen, we’re, ” Cohen, Courtney Rhodes, Rhodes Organizations: CNN, Consumer Reports, Mimi’s, ShopRite, Consumer, Mimi’s Products, Wakefern Food Corp, Badia Spices, FDA, American Spice Trade Association, World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, United, New York State Department of Health, US Environmental Protection Agency, WHO, Morton, Bassett San, WanaBana, Weis, Food and Drug Administration, Cambridge Health Alliance, Biden, Food Locations: Zara, Badia, United Nations, New York, Connecticut , New Jersey, Bassett San Francisco, Ecuador, Schnucks, Somerville , Massachusetts

Harris hasn’t yet released many details about her strategy to wipe out medical debt, but policy experts say a newly implemented medical debt relief program from North Carolina could offer a roadmap. Roy Cooper announced that nearly 100 hospitals in the state had signed on to participate in the Medical Debt Relief Incentive Program, which he said will incentivize hospitals to eliminate $4 billion in medical debt for 2 million low- and middle-income patients over the next two years. At a campaign event last week in Raleigh, North Carolina, Harris thanked Cooper for canceling medical debt in his state, and Cooper introduced Harris at the convention Thursday. Hospitals will get additional federal funds if they forgive existing debt and move to prevent future medical debt. “I see medical debt as the most salient example of a health care system which isn’t working,” he said.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Harris, Harris hasn’t, Roy Cooper, Cooper, Neale Mahoney, “, ” Mahoney, ”, Adam Gaffney, Larry Levitt, Levitt, —, Mahoney, Harris ’, ” Levitt, Will, aren’t, Ciara Zachary, Zachary, it’s, Barack Obama, ” Zachary Organizations: Democratic, Convention, North Carolina Gov, Debt Relief, Stanford University, White, National Economic Council, Cambridge Health Alliance, Consumer Financial, White House, North Carolina Department of Health, Human Services, Medicaid, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Medicare, Services, Republican, Affordable Locations: United States, Chicago, U.S, KFF, North Carolina, Raleigh , North Carolina, “ North Carolina, Massachusetts, —

☆ Melatonin industry asked to voluntarily tighten standards after dramatic rise in childhood ER visits
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

As a dietary supplement, melatonin is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for safety, effectiveness or labeling before it is sold to the public. The council’s action follows recent reports of a massive rise in accidental ingestions of melatonin by children and an April 2023 study that found 25 products labeled as melatonin gummies contained dangerous levels of the hormone. Melatonin gummies were involved in nearly 5,000 of those cases. While the vast majority of unsupervised melatonin ingestions did not result in hospitalization, the number of accidental ingestions by children 5 and under may be underestimated, the report said. New and improved labelsThe council guidelines call for new labels that warn consumers about the danger of drowsiness after taking a melatonin supplement.

Persons: —, ”, Pieter Cohen, ” Cohen, it’s “, Cohen, Catherine McQueen, ” Dr, Cora Collette Breuner, “ It’s, Breuner, Amanda Musa Organizations: CNN, Council for Responsible Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration, Cambridge Health Alliance, US Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, Food and Drug Administration, Getty, Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington Locations: Somerville , Massachusetts, Seattle

☆ Is taurine the ‘elixir of life’? Maybe, if you’re a worm, mouse or monkey
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“This study suggests that taurine could be an elixir of life within us,” Yadav said in an earlier news release on the study, which published Thursday in the journal Science. Considered a non-essential amino acid, taurine exists in the brain, retina and nearly every muscle and organ tissue in the body. Taurine-fed worms lived longer and appeared healthier, but taurine “had no effect on yeast,” Yadav said. More than one solutionThe field of anti-aging is exploding, with taurine just one of many potential pathways to the holy grail of longer life. In the end, science is going to need “100 different kinds of taurine,” Lithgow said.

Persons: CNN —, taurine, Vijay Yadav, ” Yadav, Henning Wackerhage, “, ”, Walter Willett, Harvard T.H, ” Willett, Gordon Lithgow, I’m, it’s, Lithgow, ” Lithgow, “ You’ve, taurine “, Wackerhage, Yadav, Taurine, Pieter Cohen, Cohen, ” Cohen, There’s, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, Columbia University, Technical University of Munich, Harvard, of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, Buck Institute, Disease, US Food and Drug Administration, Research, Cambridge Health Alliance, taurine Locations: New York City, Germany, Chan, Novato , California, Somerville , Massachusetts

☆ Sleep gummies: Possibly harmful doses of melatonin, CBD found
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Testing of over two dozen melatonin “gummies” sold as sleep aids found some had potentially dangerous amounts of the hormone that helps regulate sleep, according to a new study. “Four of the tested products contained levels of CBD that were between 4% and 18% higher than on the label,” Cohen said. “We choose gummies over other products because we thought parents would chose edibles to give to their children,” Cohen said. Gummies sold as sleep aids had much higher levels of melatonin than stated on the label, as well as CBD, according to the study. “However, that doesn’t mean melatonin products are going to work or they’re a good idea to take.

How much does insulin cost? People with Type 1 diabetes need, on average, one to three vials of insulin per month, according to the American Diabetes Association. Patients with Type 2 diabetes don't always need to take insulin, but those who do can sometimes require more than people with Type 1 diabetes. Even people with what's considered good health insurance coverage can face steep costs in certain situations. In addition to insulin and insurance premiums, Gibson also must spend $550 every three months for glucose monitors and $1,100 for insulin pumps.

☆ California expected to partner with nonprofit Civica Rx to produce its own low-cost insulin, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Berkeley-Lovelace-Jr.Jpg | Berkeley Lovelace Jr. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

California plans to partner with Civica Rx, a nonprofit generic drug company, in the state's effort to produce its own low-cost insulin, according to two people familiar with the matter. Gavin Newsom announced in July that he had approved a budget that would allocate $100 million to allow the state to begin making its own insulin. It'll be the first state to produce insulin for its residents, which experts see as a road map for other states to make the lifesaving medication more affordable. California expects to announce the partnership in mid-December, although it hasn't been finalized and the state could select a different company, the sources said. A Civica Rx spokesperson didn't confirm the plan but said the company welcomes "the opportunity to partner with California."

The cost of insulin remains a barrier for many Americans with diabetes who depend on the drug, research published Monday suggests. It was the first time that the CDC had included questions about insulin use, though concerns about sky-high insulin prices have been reported for years. Meanwhile, those with public health coverage, such as Medicaid and Medicare, had the lowest rates of rationing. According to the American Diabetes Association, people with type 1 diabetes need, on average, two to three vials per month. He said the "most ambitious" proposal he would like to see in the U.S. is universal health coverage with no copays for consumers.

☆ Insulin: 1.3 million Americans with diabetes rationed their supply in the past year, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Naomi Thomas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

They looked at how commonly these people rationed insulin because of how much it cost. “What we found was that nationwide, about 1.3 million Americans with diabetes rationed insulin annually, and that’s about 16.5% of all those people who use insulin,” Gaffney said. Although there’s no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes, type 2 can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes, including losing weight and being active. Her own research into a single diabetes center found high rates of insulin rationing. T1 International is led by people with type 1 diabetes who support local communities, giving them the tools they need to access insulin and diabetes supplies.

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