The nation is diversifying even faster than predicted, according to new census data
(Brookings)
The U.S. is becoming more diverse more rapidly than anyone predicted. New census data—the last before this year’s full census is complete—show that nearly 1 in 4 Americans identify as non-white. In 1980, white residents were 80 percent of the U.S. population. Today they are 60 percent. Members of racial and ethnic minority groups have accounted for all U.S. population growth over the past 9 years. They also comprise the gains in some areas where a decline in the white population would have meant an overall population decline. The younger the age group, the greater the population of Black, Asian, and/or Latino or Hispanic members. In 2019, more than half of those under age 16 identify as a racial or ethnic minority, for the first time in U.S. history.
Four months into the pandemic in the U.S., amid a resurgence of the virus in some states, health care workers still encounter shortages of supplies necessary to keep themselves and their patients safe—masks, gowns, face shields and gloves. Surveys of nurses show they are re-using masks not meant to be re-used. Doctors wanting to re-open private practices can’t do so. State officials report suppliers cannot or will not fulfill their orders. Each of these groups blame the lack of a federal, coordinated response to the shortages. The American Medical Association has complained to FEMA. NH’s Senator Maggie Hassan pressed FEMA to release a report on supplies. The report showed alarming shortages with no increase in production since March. It remains unclear if the problems are production backlogs, distribution breakdowns, or the lack of raw materials. The AMA has urged the White House to invoke the Defense Production Act, compelling the nation’s manufacturers to ramp up production. Congressional hearings continue on this topic.
Bill Gates: Coronavirus treatments should go to those who need them, not 'highest bidder’
(
The Hill)
When a vaccine for Coronavirus becomes available, a key question will be its distribution. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said recently that a vaccine must go where most needed, not where the population has the ability to pay for it. Selling access to the vaccine will prolong the pandemic, he predicted. Decisions must be based on equity, not market factors. Currently, hundreds of vaccine trials are underway.
Black employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention experience “ongoing and recurring acts of racism and discrimination,” according to a June 30 letter signed by 1,200 current employees of the federal agency. The letter cites the lack of diversity among the CDC's workforce as one problem area; Black employees are only 10 percent of senior leadership and only 6 percent of an internal leadership training program. The letter states that hundreds of EEO complaints have been filed, but most go unresolved.
Racial bias is apparent throughout health care, but it’s perhaps greatest in the assessment and treatment of pain, research shows. In a study of pain treatment in emergency room settings, Black children who presented with severe pain from appendicitis were given painkillers only one-fifth as often as white children, regardless of other factors. Studies suggest doctors are less likely to trust their Black patients’ own assessments of their pain levels. Many studies have proven that we all lack empathy toward people who are different from us. Since only 5 percent of U.S. physicians and 6 percent of nurses are Black, most Black patients are seen by white health care providers. Experts say this implicit bias should be addressed in medical school curricula.
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Sununu lays down rules for school reopening
(UL)
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu announced a school reopening plan with input from an education task force seeking to create a safe environment while giving local districts maximum flexibility to meet their needs. “If you create mandates that are so tough,… you are really setting yourselves up for failure,” Sununu said while releasing
the 54-page report
. State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said the plan seeks “layers” of protections for students and staff to include encouraging mask wearing outside the classroom, maintaining social distancing, good hand-washing hygiene and plenty of personal protective equipment supplies. “The goal is for schools, if they can, to try to get to six-feet distancing,” Chan said. “Our biggest concern is the spaces in classrooms, to get the number of students in that space,” said Concord Superintendent Kathleen Murphy. She said the district is considering options like setting up tents on school grounds to create a little extra space for classes.
NH seeing rising Covid infections in young residents
(Fosters)
With hotspots of coronavirus infections popping up in states that opened up before infections were under control, NH public health officials are concerned with an uptick in infections among NH’s children and young adults. From June 8 to July 8, infections in those under age 30 increased 22 percent. People age 50 to 59 remain the largest share of infected people at 16.7 percent.
Sununu Vetoes Family Leave, Voting Rights and Housing Protection
(InDepth NH)
Gov. Chris Sununu last week vetoed a paid family and medical leave bill approved by lawmakers this year. He vetoed a similar bill last session calling it an income tax. But House Finance Committee chair Mary Jane Wallner, D-Concord, said family leave allows someone to be with their loved ones when they most need it. “It is a fact that employees with access to this type of leave report higher job satisfaction, are more likely to stay in their jobs for longer, and even work more hours in the years following taking the time they need to care for themselves or a loved one,” she said.
My Turn: Pro-Black is pro-White
(Monitor)
Sindiso Mnisi Weeks is Assistant Professor of Public Policy of Excluded Populations at the School for Global Inclusion and Social Development, University of Massachusetts Boston. She lives in Nashua with her husband and three children. In this op-ed, Ms. Weeks reflects on misguided world views and cites research that proves that inequality is bad for all people. "In sum, the well-being of any one of us is dependent upon the well-being of the rest of us. Thus, when we invest in improving the health, justice and security of Black people, we make progress toward achieving the health, justice and security of White people, too," she says.
North Country: High-Speed Internet
(NHPR)
In a 2018 survey by Pew Research Center, about 60 percent of Americans living in rural areas had access to high-speed internet at home. Since spring when NH schools were closed, residents of the North Country have worked to improve internet service that is spotty or non-existent. Residents there say service has impeded the ability of teachers to teach, workers to work at home, and students to access online learning. Improving service is not easy; it can cost the private companies offering it $30,000 per mile to install, resulting in prohibitive fees to the users. If internet service companies were regulated, service would be consistent and less expensive, advocates say.
Food help demand increases in NH
(Valley News)
The New Hampshire Food Bank is seeing a record amount of food being distributed to families in need across the state, and officials say the need is largely the result of the pandemic. Many being served are newly unemployed and for the first time have no household income. They estimate 20 million pounds of food will be distributed by the end of the year, a record.
Consumer advocate seeks emergency rules on utility disconnections
(InDepth NH)
The state’s Office of Consumer Advocacy says emergency rules are needed to govern when and how utilities can be shut off if residents cannot pay. A repayment program has already been outlined by the governor’s office, the Public Utilities Commission and the electric companies, but the plans did not involve the Consumer Advocate. A moratorium on disconnection was established March 17, but rescinded June 30. The process is now subject to a rule that ends the moratorium July 15, allowing disconnections beginning Sept .16 if customers have not made payment arrangements.
Fewer COVID patients, but financial recovery far off for Manchester, Nashua hospitals
(
UL)
The number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in NH hospitals has declined since May, and other medical services are turning to normal levels. Though hundreds of hospital staff were furloughed in April, about 84 percent have returned to work. However, hospital budgets are still reeling from having curtailed non-COVID services. Officials at Manchester hospitals, which served two-thirds of all those hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms, say federal funding meant to help is being routed mainly to more rural, smaller hospitals. Larger hospitals have received 10 percent of the available funds. Loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) went to hospitals in Berlin, Wolfeboro, and Plymouth. The larger hospitals did not qualify. More federal aid is promised, yet policy makers have yet to say where it might be allocated.
Exeter Hospital forms clinical partnership with ClearChoiceMD Urgent Care
(Fosters)
Three Seacoast organizations have formed a clinical affiliation they say will improve the quality and coordination of care for their patients. ClearChoiceMD has urgent care centers in Portsmouth and Epping, and will now expand to Plaistow, where Core Physicians and Exeter Hospital will open Plaistow Regional Healthcare. Core Physicians will provide adult, pediatric and specialty services, and Exeter Hospital will have imaging and physical therapy services at that location. With more people connecting to health care via an urgent care setting, the three entities say they can better coordinate patient follow-up care.
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EH News Roundup is a weekly publication of the Endowment for Health. Its purpose is to monitor national and statewide media coverage that may be pertinent to our work as a health foundation including policy issues surrounding health and health care. EH News Roundup is intended to inform, but does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or priorities of the Endowment for Health. We offer EH News Roundup to EH staff, Board and
Advisory Council members as well as to interested community partners. The publication is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of all media coverage.
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