Explore

Democrats are weighing impeachment of RFK Jr. while courting his supporters

Democrats are weighing impeachment of RFK Jr. while courting his supporters

When Democrats take over Congress in January, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be a major oversight target

US gives states another 6 months before they have to remove people from Medicaid for not working

US gives states another 6 months before they have to remove people from Medicaid for not working

President Donald Trump's administration is giving states another six months before they must remove beneficiaries from Medicaid rolls for failing to meet new work requirements

US Congress Democrats plot 'must-have' victories in 2027

US Congress Democrats plot 'must-have' victories in 2027

By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Democrats poised to take full control of the US Congress next year are aiming for a fast start in the opening weeks of January, with what they say will be a response to voters' top concerns in the aftermath of the party's huge wins on November 3.

Lowell, Massachusetts, Initiates $300 Million Infrastructure Program to Upgrade Aging Sewer System

Lowell, Massachusetts, Initiates $300 Million Infrastructure Program to Upgrade Aging Sewer System

Lowell, Massachusetts, has launched a $300 million infrastructure program aimed at upgrading its 150-year-old sewer pipes. The initiative seeks to mitigate sewage backups into homes, reduce street flooding, and protect local rivers. A significant portion of Lowell's combined sewer pipes, which carry both stormwater and household wastewater, are over a century old and constitute 60% of the city's sewer infrastructure. Test-pit investigations are currently underway in the Lower Highlands neighborhood to gather data for new drainage pipelines. These investigations, conducted by Aqua Line Utility, involve digging trenches to assess underground materials and identify existing utilities. The program includes plans to enhance capacity at the Lowell Regional Wastewater Utility (Duck Island) and construct an overflow tank, alongside a $200 million sewer-separation project in Centralville and similar work in other neighborhoods.

Waldorf Program to Deliver Free Produce to 1,000 Adults with Hypertension in 20602 ZIP Code

Waldorf Program to Deliver Free Produce to 1,000 Adults with Hypertension in 20602 ZIP Code

Deep Launching Inc., a Waldorf nonprofit, announced a new program to provide free fresh produce to up to 1,000 adults living with high blood pressure in the 20602 ZIP code of Waldorf, Maryland. This initiative, known as the Charles County ProduceRx – Food is Medicine Program, is funded by a $1 million state grant from the Maryland Department of Health's Population Health Improvement Fund. Participants will receive boxes of fresh produce delivered every two weeks for six months, at no cost. The program is specifically for eligible adults with hypertension residing in the designated ZIP code. LifeStyles of Maryland, a La Plata-based nonprofit, is serving as the state-designated “Community Quarterback” for the ENOUGH effort in Waldorf, collaborating with Deep Launching Inc. and the Charles County Department of Health on the grant application and program implementation. The statewide effort, which includes 14 grants totaling $10 million, aims to serve residents until summer 2028, prioritizing individuals who a...

Low-Income Seniors Reduce Prescription Spending Due to Cost Sharing, Regardless of Medical Benefit

Low-Income Seniors Reduce Prescription Spending Due to Cost Sharing, Regardless of Medical Benefit

A study published in the November 2026 issue of the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, authored by economist Christopher Hollrah, reveals that low-income seniors significantly reduce their prescription spending when faced with higher out-of-pocket costs, irrespective of the medical benefit of the drugs. Hollrah examined Medicare's Low-Income Subsidy, which typically limits copays to a few dollars. By comparing similar patients who either retained or lost this subsidy due to Medicaid eligibility timing rules, the study found that losing the subsidy led to a 40 percent reduction in prescription spending and a 16 percent decrease in the quantity of prescriptions filled. The analysis showed that patients economized on higher-priced drugs, with 60 percent of the spending reduction coming from high-benefit prescriptions, compared to 15 percent from lower-benefit ones. For example, insulin purchases, which cost approximately $70 per fill without the subsidy, dropped by 35 percent. The study concluded tha...

Springfield City Council Considers Full Ban on Cryptocurrency Kiosks Following Nearly $1 Million in Scams

Springfield City Council Considers Full Ban on Cryptocurrency Kiosks Following Nearly $1 Million in Scams

The Springfield City Council is set to consider a full ban on cryptocurrency kiosks, also known as Bitcoin ATMs, in response to nearly $1 million in reported scams targeting residents. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno introduced the proposed ordinance, citing that fraudsters have utilized these machines to defraud 'innocent people, especially our senior citizens.' The Springfield Police Department has investigated nearly 50 cases between January 2025 and July 2026, totaling $968,528 in losses. The most common scheme involves scammers impersonating law enforcement to pressure victims into making immediate payments via these kiosks. If passed, the ordinance would require the removal of all cryptocurrency kiosks within 15 days, aligning Springfield with other Massachusetts communities like Gloucester, Framingham, Ludlow, and Haverhill that have already implemented similar bans.

Elevance Health's Anthem Brand Faces Network Changes with Sentara Facilities in 2027

Beginning in 2027, certain Anthem health plans will no longer consider Sentara facilities as in-network providers. This change impacts Anthem Medicare Advantage, ACA Exchange plans, and Medicaid plans, with effective dates starting January 1, 2027, and January 28, 2027, respectively. Commercial or employer-sponsored Anthem plans are also expected to be affected starting January 1, 2027, though negotiations are ongoing. This development means that patients with these Anthem plans who seek care at Sentara facilities, including The CarePlex Orthopaedic Ambulatory Surgery Center, may face out-of-network costs. Tidewater Orthopaedics, while continuing to see Anthem patients at its clinic locations, notes that surgical procedures at The CarePlex Orthopaedic Ambulatory Surgery Center will be impacted. Patients are advised to contact Anthem directly to confirm their specific plan's coverage and network status for 2027.

National Health Law Program Brief Examines AI Use in Medicaid Prior Authorization, Citing Equity and Due Process Concerns

National Health Law Program Brief Examines AI Use in Medicaid Prior Authorization, Citing Equity and Due Process Concerns

The National Health Law Program has released a brief titled 'Prior Authorization in Medicaid: Regulating Artificial Intelligence.' This publication delves into the application of artificial intelligence (AI) within Medicaid's prior authorization processes. The brief highlights specific concerns regarding equity and due process that arise from the use of AI in this context. It argues that existing safeguards are insufficient to address these issues. Furthermore, the brief reviews recent regulatory efforts by individual states to manage AI in healthcare and discusses the current federal administration's actions, which it characterizes as undermining state autonomy on this matter. The document aims to shed light on the complexities and potential pitfalls of integrating AI into critical healthcare authorization systems, particularly for vulnerable Medicaid populations.

Massachusetts Legislators Debate Energy Bills to Address Affordability and Climate Goals

Massachusetts Legislators Debate Energy Bills to Address Affordability and Climate Goals

Massachusetts legislators are currently debating energy bills in both the House and Senate, aiming to address energy affordability and climate change. A key focus of these bills is reforming 'Basic Service,' the default electricity supply option provided by utilities. Currently, Basic Service customers face higher premiums due to utilities' reliance on short-term contracts and limited power suppliers, leading to increased bills. Synapse Energy Economics estimates these premiums add $22 per month for residential customers. Both legislative chambers have included provisions to give utilities more flexibility in signing power supply contracts, which could reduce price volatility and dependency on a few suppliers. Additionally, both bills propose requiring major utilities to offer 'flexible interconnection' for clean energy projects, a method that has successfully boosted solar, wind, and battery installations in Texas by reducing connection costs.

Clamshell Alliance Protests Pro-Nuclear Gathering of Northeastern Governors in Massachusetts

Clamshell Alliance Protests Pro-Nuclear Gathering of Northeastern Governors in Massachusetts

The Clamshell Alliance, an anti-nuclear group, recently protested a pro-nuclear gathering of northeastern governors at UMass Lowell in Massachusetts. The protest, which included about three dozen anti-nuclear and pro-democracy activists from New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts, aimed to voice opposition to the promotion of next-generation nuclear power in the Northeast. The governors had been invited to attend a conference advocating for nuclear energy, though none of the governors, including Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, ultimately attended, sending aides instead. This event echoes past anti-nuclear movements from the 1970s and 80s, which focused on stopping the construction of the Seabrook nuclear plant and decommissioning the Vermont Yankee reactor. The protest highlighted concerns about nuclear safety, waste disposal, and the economic viability of nuclear power, particularly in light of recent studies linking proximity to nuclear reactors with increased cancer fatalities.

Governor Healey Appoints Aladdine Joroff as New Massachusetts Climate Chief

Governor Healey Appoints Aladdine Joroff as New Massachusetts Climate Chief

Governor Maura Healey has announced the appointment of Aladdine Joroff as Massachusetts' new climate chief. Joroff, who previously served as the deputy in the Governor's Office of Climate Innovation and Resilience for the past two years, will succeed Melissa Hoffer, who is departing to become president of Vermont Law and Graduate School on December 1. Hoffer was the first Cabinet-level climate chief in Massachusetts. Joroff joined Governor Healey's administration in August 2024, having previously been the director of climate policy for Boston. Her background also includes a decade of teaching at Harvard Law School's Emmett Environmental Law and Policy Clinic, where she collaborated with Massachusetts municipalities, nonprofits, and advocacy groups on environmental and climate issues. Earlier in her career, Joroff practiced environmental, energy, and land use law at Goodwin and Beveridge & Diamond. The climate chief position, established by an executive order signed by Governor Healey on her first day in of...