Medical debt is a mounting crisis in Virginia. Half of adults in the state report having faced medical debt in the past five years. Of those, nearly 30% had more than $1000 in medical debt. This burden is often the result of unavoidable illnesses-nobody chooses to get cancer or suffer a heart attack. Our state legislature can act now to protect Virginia patients from predatory medical debt by passing this bill. Note that the bill has passed the Virginia State House on Wednesday January 29th, and moves on to the Senate!

Since its inception in 2003, PEPFAR has invested over $100 billion in the global HIV/AIDS response, saving 25 million lives, preventing millions of HIV infections and supports grants for PEace Corps volunteers, all while significantly strengthening global health security.

Providence, a $30 billion corporation, is Oregon’s largest healthcare provider. This strike is an opportunity for all of us to take a stand—because a broken system hurts every patient and every family. Sign the petition to demand that Providence negotiate fair contracts with the Oregon Nurses Association and the Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association.

We are all hurt by the high cost of prescription drugs, whether at the pharmacy counter, through our insurance premiums, or through government spending of our taxpayer dollars. At a time when one in three Marylanders reports having skipped a dose or rationed medication due to cost, legislators need to hear from you to take action on SB 357/HB 424 to make prescription drugs affordable in our state.  Maryland is at a critical turning point: will we continue to lead the nation on prescription drug affordability, or will we bend to the pressures of Big Pharma’s greed?  Urge your Senator TODAY to support strengthening Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board by giving the Board the authority it needs to make high-cost drugs more affordable for all of us.

Did you know RFK Jr. wanted to stop infectious disease drug development and research for 8 years? He supports defunding lifesaving research that is used to develop treatments and cures for diseases. [1] Did you know RFK Jr. does not believe infectious diseases are an enormous threat to public health? [2] With him in charge, it could lead to a deadly resurgence in illnesses like measles and polio. Did you know RFK Jr. promoted anti-vaccine conspiracy theories in American Samoa that led to a measles outbreak which killed 83 people, mainly children? [3] His dangerous fringe beliefs have a body count. Did you know RFK Jr. has no experience running a government agency, let alone an organization this big? The Department of Health and Human Services oversees 13 sub-agencies and has a budget of well over $1 trillion and more than 80,000 employees. [4] He is too inexperienced to oversee Medicare and Medicaid for 125 million Americans each year.  RFK Jr. is a dangerous threat to America's health. Tell your Senators to oppose his nomination now! Sources: 1. "RFK Jr pushes for 'break' in infectious diseases research," The Independent, November 4, 2023 https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/robert-f-kennedy-jr-vaccines-b2441705.html 2. "RFK Jr. Claims 'Vaccine Research' Likely Responsible for HIV and the Spanish Flu," Rolling Stone, June 27, 2023 https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/rfk-kennedy-anti-vaccine-panel-conspiracies-hiv-spanish-flu-1234779689/ 3. "The controversial changes RFK Jr. could make to vaccine policy as HHS chief," PBS News, December 10, 2024 https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-controversial-changes-rfk-jr-could-make-to-vaccine-policy-as-hhs-chief 4. "'He's not a manager': Former RFK Jr. staffers on how he’d run HHS," Politico, November 28, 2024 https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/28/rfk-hhs-management-doubts-00191852

We joined Polaris Pharmacy Services with the understanding that the previous PTO policy was a standout benefit that reflected the company's commitment to employee well-being. These changes contradict that expectation and have created frustration among employees. We respectfully request that Polaris Pharmacy Services revert to the previous PTO policy, with 23 days of flexible PTO, to better support employee satisfaction and uphold the company’s commitment to fostering a positive work-life balance. Thank you for taking the time to listen to the voices of your employees. We hope to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve this matter. Sincerely, The Employees of Polaris Pharmacy Services

The Atlantic City Housing Authority Stanley Holmes Village is a humanitarian health and economic development crisis, because it endangers the health and wellness of several hundred children, seniors, and families during blistering cold weather. For example December 23, 2024, it was 12° degrees outside, and these America  families had no heat or hot water on the inside. 

A group of bipartisan lawmakers have called on CMS to increase its scrutiny and regulation of AI tools used by Medicare Advantage plans. These legislators have expressed deep concerns over the use of AI algorithms to deny care in decisions that often compromise patient health. There are many instances of AI-driven tools allegedly leading to denials of care, often contradicting the recommendations of medical professionals. CMS has a responsibility to protect access to care for Medicare beneficiaries—and that means enhanced oversight over the use of AI technology, which lawmakers have called “antithetical to the mission of the Medicare program.” CMS can take tangible steps to prevent the use of AI to make life-and-death decisions, and they have a legal and moral obligation to do so, including: • Conducting a comprehensive review on how AI tools are being used to ensure they’re not discriminating against low-income, elderly, or extremely sick Americans  • Auditing existing practices around AI and developing a national standard for how insurers should ethically use these tools  • Halting the use of AI and algorithmic technology to deny, shorten, or limit access to health care while these assessments are ongoing  Sign the petition urging CMS to increase oversight of AI and algorithmic tools that discriminate against elderly, low-income, and extremely sick patients.

As a student body, we demand immediate action to address these issues and improve mental health services at UW Madison. Specifically, we call on the administration to: 1. Hire more professional counselors: Increase the number of qualified therapists who specialize in addressing serious mental health concerns. 2. Provide face-to-face counseling: Virtual or phone-only sessions are not enough. Students need in-person services to build trust and meaningful connections. 3. Reduce wait times: Expand staffing and resources to ensure students can access help when they need it, without unnecessary delays. 4. Invest in mental health resources: Enhance outreach, workshops, and student support programs to proactively address mental health concerns. 5. We cannot allow these issues to persist. Delayed or inadequate care can lead to devastating consequences. As students, we are advocating for our right to access high-quality, accessible mental health care on campus. By signing this petition, you are joining the fight for a healthier, more supportive UW Madison. Let’s ensure that every student feels seen, valued, and supported. Together, we can build a campus culture that prioritizes mental health and well-being. Sign this petition to demand change now. Share your voice and make an impact. [Sign Here]

healthcare is a basic human right, and no one should be denied care due to financial barriers. A universal healthcare system would improve public health, reduce inequality, and create a more productive society by ensuring that everyone, regardless of income, can get the care they need when they need it. Together, we can build a more just and equitable system that benefits everyone.

• Camp displacements can cause unhoused neighbors to lose vital survival items. If replacing these items is even possible, it takes resources away from more sustainable homeless response solutions. Neighbors can also lose vital records such as photo IDs and Social Security cards, which are required for employment and housing and take heavy time and monetary resources to replace.  • Camp displacement – and the fear of displacement – can cause and worsen mental health conditions. In addition to creating feelings of dehumanization and traumatization, sweeps disrupt routine and can cause neighbors to be removed from existing social connections, which can worsen mental health stability.  • Camp displacements can cut neighbors off from life-saving medicine and care. While being displaced, neighbors can lose vital and hard-to-replace medical care for HIV, diabetes, hypertension, substance use and mental health conditions, and other conditions, harm reduction supplies, as well as equipment such as wheelchairs. If outreach staff cannot find neighbors after a camp displacement, these neighbors may also lose their only existing connection to services.  • Camp displacement can put residents into more dangerous and isolated environments. Following displacements, residents may seek safety in more isolated locations. In addition to being more difficult for service providers to access, these locations may lack safe water, bathroom facilities, and escape from the elements. This is especially dangerous if a camp displacement causes a loss of survival equipment that allows them to be protected while living outside in extreme weather.  • Camp displacements cost communities thousands of dollars. This includes personnel costs, medication and medical equipment replacement costs, and vital document replacement costs. Outreach to locate and rebuild trust with displaced neighbors requires additional costs and time. Our communities rise when we work to lift up our most vulnerable citizens. Please help us stand with our neighbors surviving outside to demand better for our city. We're all in this together! 

This is important because in their version of America “We, The People” is no longer relevant. And as an advocate for The People, I can’t in good conscience allow this to happen. And nor should you. This is their intention as per explained by Southern Poverty Law Center in their June 2024 report: https://www.splcenter.org/anti-abortion-movement Elon drove this home with his purchase and manipulation of his social media platform by allowing them to use “Your Body, My Rights” as a campaign slogan promoted there.  Please help stop this.