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The ERs that can turn patients away — and are reaping millions
Tara Bannow, STAT News, June 29
It is illegal in the United States for emergency departments to turn away patients because of an inability to pay. There is a loophole, however. The rule only applies to hospitals that contract with Medicare. Nutex Health, a Houston-based health system, opts not to contract with Medicare at most of its hospitals. As a result, they can charge emergency department prices while avoiding the responsibilities that come with being an ER, including taking all patients. This, combined with funneling most of its bills through a surprise billing ban’s arbitration process, has led to the company more than tripling its revenue in less than a year.
The U.S. health care system is in crisis. A Supreme Court ruling could make things worse
Vanessa Romo, NPR, July 2
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling that cleared the way for the Trump administration to cancel Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians could be catastrophic for the health care sector, according to experts. The health care workforce is largely dependent on immigrant labor. “The thing that has to be said is that the health care of everybody is going to be compromised by this. If you start throwing out workers that play a key role in the whole continuum of care … it tends to create a bottleneck or a backup,” said Steffie Woolhandler, a distinguished professor of health policy at City University of New York at Hunter College.
Black maternal health: A 360-degree look at Black midwives
Jennifer Porter Gore, Word in Black, June 30
Dr. Kaytura Felix is leading the Black Birthing Futures study, a multi-city research project examining how Black midwives are addressing the Black maternal health crisis through community-based care. Their care extends beyond the pregnancy to families, neighborhoods, and the social conditions that shape health. Through her research, Felix found that one of the most valued aspects of care that clients received was education on diet, nutrition, and physical health. This type of support is part of the holistic approach Black midwives take to create better outcomes for new mothers.
Extreme heat is not an equal-opportunity killer
Willy Blackmore, Word in Black, July 2
It was 88 degrees the day Shauna Thomas’ electricity was shut off for falling behind on her bills. But in the weeks that followed, the temperature skyrocketed and Thomas was found dead in her sweltering apartment. Thomas, like many victims of heat-related deaths, was Black. A 2025 report found that those who are most vulnerable to heat-related health effects include working-class, low-income, and majority Black or Latino communities. High temperatures are the deadliest form of extreme weather, but deaths from extreme heat are difficult to identify and are frequently misattributed to other causes.
New work requirements could end Medicaid for thousands in CT. What to know
Keith M. Phaneuf, The Connecticut Mirror, July 6
Starting January 1, hundreds of thousands of Connecticut Medicaid recipients will have to comply with new work requirements, prove they are exempt, or risk losing their health coverage. The work requirements will apply to those covered by HUSKY D, the state and federal Medicaid program that provides health coverage to low-income adults, ages 19 to 64, without dependent children. These individuals will have to work 80 hours per month, or meet that standard through some combination of other approved activities. The Department of Social Services has created a toolkit to help answer questions about these upcoming changes.