A recent report highlights gaps in mortality rates between rural and urban Americans; debt relief does not improve mental health or credit scores, researchers find; worries about sun gazing effects surge.
Widening Rural-Urban Mortality Gap Raises Concerns Among Health Experts
A report from the Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service revealed a widening gap in mortality rates between rural and urban Americans aged 25 to 54 years, with rural residents experiencing significantly higher rates of death from natural causes, such as chronic diseases and cancer, according to Kaiser Health News. The analysis underscored the need for stronger policies focused on rural health, as access and quality of health care services in rural areas continue to decline. Experts emphasized the importance of addressing systemic inequities and advocating for initiatives like Medicaid expansion to improve health care access and outcomes in rural communities.
Study Reveals Limited Impact of Paying Off Medical Debt on Debtors' Lives
A recent study published by economists challenged the effectiveness of RIP Medical Debt's approach to addressing health care–related debt, suggesting that debt relief may not significantly improve the lives of those affected, according to The New York Times. Despite the nonprofit group’s efforts in eliminating over $11 billion in medical debt since 2014, the study found that beneficiaries experienced minimal improvements in mental health and credit scores, with debt relief having little impact on their access to medical care or financial stability. While the findings underscored the complexity of addressing medical debt, advocates argued that major donations focusing on individual cities could potentially enhance the effectiveness of debt relief initiatives in the future.
Concerns Rise Over Eye Health After Total Solar Eclipse
Following the recent total solar eclipse in several US communities, Google searches about "hurt eyes" spiked, reflecting concerns about potential eye damage from viewing the eclipse without proper protection, according to NBC News. While experts acknowledged the risk of eye injury from gazing at the sun, they emphasized that cases of long-term damage are rare. However, symptoms such as blind spots, blurry vision, or floaters warrant immediate medical attention, as they could indicate solar retinopathy, a condition associated with retina damage from solar exposure. Eye specialists advised prompt evaluation for any vision-related symptoms following solar eclipse viewing and cautioned against prolonged sun gazing without protective eyewear.
Real-World Data Show Sotorasib Effective for NSCLC With KRAS Mutation
May 18th 2024Data from real-world and clinical-trial settings on frontline monotherapy treatment with the KRAS inhibitor sotorasib both show similar progression-free survivals and a high likelihood that the treatment’s efficacy is not affected with dose reduction.
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Health Equity and Access Weekly Roundup: May 18, 2024
May 18th 2024The US Senate hosted a panel addressing physician and health care shortages and efforts to increase minority representation in the medical field. An expert discussed initiatives to prevent senior homelessness. Advocates called for the repeal of the Comstock Act. Regulatory reforms are called for to improve rural cancer patients' access to pharmacies. Research reveals the impact of denials on patient access to immunology treatments.
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Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: Urban Health Outreach
May 9th 2024In the series debut episode of "Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity," Mary Sligh, CRNP, and Chelsea Chappars, of Allegheny Health Network, explain how the Urban Health Outreach program aims to improve health equity for individuals experiencing homelessness.
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Study Highlights Significant Increases in Utilization, Spending on DMD Drugs in Medicaid
May 17th 2024The findings add to recent research on the growing utilization, expenditure, and prices of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) therapies in the current landscape, an area health care policy could potentially address.
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