#prescription drug costs

[capitalism-is-parasitism]

This is sick

And if your doctor prescribes Paxlovid to reduce severity of symptoms, which Dr. Schaffner hopes is the case if you are older or have underlying health conditions that increase your risk for severe disease if you get COVID-19, your health insurer may charge a copay. Previously the federal government provided the drug for free regardless of insurance status.

If you need assistance to afford Paxlovid, you might want to contact Pfizer’s assistance program or call Pfizer at 877-219-7225.

[fittingoutjane]

PSA for diabetics

If you use or have considered a GLP-1 inhibitor and live in the USA, be aware that a generic version of Victoza has just become available. GoodRx has prices as low as $245 per month, versus brand-name prices in the neighborhood of $1000.

[anotherpapercut]

I said this in tags but actually it occurs to me that a lot of people probably don't realize how easy it is to get street drugs so I'll illustrate it with a true story about myself: I've spent months trying to get my psychiatrist to prescribe a round of esketamine (made from ketamine to be used therapeutically) treatment for my anxiety and depression, but they are required by idek who to try every other type of medication possible first. so I've spent months paying to be sick with the side effects of drugs that do nothing to help and often make it worse.

by contrast, today a friend came over and I asked if she knew anyone with ket and she said "yeah I can probably get it to you within a week" and then also traded me weed, another anxiety treatment for me, for help with math

[boreal-sea]

Look.

I have made you a chart. A very simple chart.

People say "You have to draw the line somewhere, and Biden has crossed it-" and my response is "Trump has crossed way more lines than Biden".

These categories are based off of actual policy enacted by both of these men while they were in office.

If the ONLY LINE YOU CARE ABOUT is line 12, you have an incredible amount of privilege, AND YOU DO NOT CARE ABOUT PALESTINIANS. You obviously have nothing to fear from a Trump presidency, and you do not give a fuck if a ceasefire actually occurs. You are obviously fine if your queer, disabled, and marginalized loved ones are hurt. You clearly don't care about the status of American democracy, which Trump has openly stated he plans to destroy on day 1 he is in office.

EDIT:

Ok fine, I spent 3 hours compiling sources for all of these, you can find that below the cut.

I'll give at least one link per subject area. There are of course many more sources to be read on these subject areas and no post could possibly give someone a full education on these subjects.

Biden and trans rights: https://www.hrc.org/resources/president-bidens-pro-lgbtq-timeline

Trump and trans rights: https://www.aclu.org/news/lgbtq-rights/trump-on-lgbtq-rights-rolling-back-protections-and-criminalizing-gender-nonconformity

The two sources above show how Biden has done a lot of work to promote trans rights, and how Trump did a lot of work to hurt trans rights.

Biden on abortion access: https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/08/politics/what-is-in-biden-abortion-executive-order/index.html

Trump on abortion access: https://apnews.com/article/abortion-trump-republican-presidential-election-2024-585faf025a1416d13d2fbc23da8d8637

Biden openly supports access to abortion and has taken steps to protect those rights at a federal level even after Roe v Wade was overturned. Trump, on the other hand, was the man who appointed the judges who helped overturn Roe v Wade and he openly brags about how proud he is of that decision. He also states that he believes individual states should have the final say in whether or not abortion is legal, and that he trusts them to "do the right thing", meaning he supports stronger abortion bans.

Biden on environmental reform: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/10/07/fact-sheet-president-biden-restores-protections-for-three-national-monuments-and-renews-american-leadership-to-steward-lands-waters-and-cultural-resources/

Trump on environmental reform: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/climate/trump-environment-rollbacks-list.html

Biden has made major steps forward for environmental reform. He has restored protections that Trump rolled back. He has enacted many executive orders and more to promote environmental protections, including rejoining the Paris Accords, which Trump withdrew the USA from. Trump is also well known for spreading conspiracy theories and lies about global climate change, calling it a "Chinese hoax".

Biden on healthcare and prescription reform: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/06/09/biden-administration-announces-savings-43-prescription-drugs-part-cost-saving-measures-president-bidens-inflation-reduction-act.html

Trump on healthcare reform: https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/07/politics/obamacare-health-insurance-ending-trump/index.html

I'm rolling healthcare and prescriptions and vaccines and public health all into one category here since they are related. Biden has lowered drug costs, expanded access to medicaid, and ACA enrollment has risen during his presidency. He has also made it so medical debt no longer applies to a person's credit score. He signed many executive orders during his first few weeks in office in order to get a handle on Trump's grievous mishandling of the COVID pandemic. Trump also wants to end the ACA. Trump is well known for refusing to wear a mask during the pandemic, encouraging the use of hydroxylchloroquine to "treat" COVID, and being openly anti-vaxx.

Biden on student loan forgiveness: https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-announces-additional-77-billion-approved-student-debt-relief-160000-borrowers

Trump on student loan forgiveness: https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamminsky/2024/06/20/trump-knocks-bidens-vile-student-loan-forgiveness-plans-suggests-reversal/

Trump wants to reverse the student loan forgiveness plans Biden has enacted. Biden has already forgiven billions of dollars in loans and continues to work towards forgiving more.

Infrastructure funding:

I'm putting these links next together because they are all about infrastructure.

In general, Trump's "achievements" for infrastructure were to destroy environmental protections to speed up projects. Many of his plans were ineffective due to the fact that he did not clearly outline where the money was going to come from, and he was unwilling to raise taxes to pay for the projects. He was unable (and unwilling) to pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill during his 4 years in office. He did sign a few disaster relief bills. He did not enthusiastically promote renewable energy infrastructure. He created "Infrastructure Weeks" that the federal government then failed to fund. Trump did not do nothing for infrastructure, but his no-tax stance and his dislike for renewable energy means the contributions he made to American infrastructure were not as much as he claimed they were, nor as much as they could have been. Basically, he made a lot of promises, and delivered on very few of them. He is not "against" infrastructure, but he's certainly against funding it.

Biden was able to pass that bipartisan bill after taking office. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan that Trump tried to prevent from passing during Biden's term contains concrete funding sources and step by step plans to rebuild America's infrastructure. If you want to read the plan, you can find it here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/build/guidebook/. Biden has done far more for American infrastructure than Trump did, most notably by actually getting the bipartisan bill through congress.

Biden on Racial Equity: https://www.npr.org/sections/president-biden-takes-office/2021/01/26/960725707/biden-aims-to-advance-racial-equity-with-executive-actions

Trump on Racial Equity: https://www.axios.com/2024/04/01/trump-reverse-racism-civil-rights https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-37230916

Trump's racist policies are loud and clear for everyone to hear. We all heard him call Mexicans "Drug dealers, criminals, rapists". We all watched as he enacted travel bans on people from majority-Muslim nations. Biden, on the other hand, has done quite a lot during his term to attempt to reconcile racism in this country, including reversing Trump's "Muslim ban" the first day he was in office.

Biden on DEI: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/06/25/executive-order-on-diversity-equity-inclusion-and-accessibility-in-the-federal-workforce/

Trump on DEI: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-tried-to-crush-the-dei-revolution-heres-how-he-might-finish-the-job/ar-BB1jg3gz

Biden supports DEI and has signed executive orders and passed laws that support DEI on the federal level. Trump absolutely hates DEI and wants to eradicate it.

Biden on criminal justice reform: https://time.com/6155084/biden-criminal-justice-reform/

Trump on criminal justice reform: https://www.vox.com/2020-presidential-election/21418911/donald-trump-crime-criminal-justice-policy-record https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/05/trumps-extreme-plans-crime/678502/

From pardons for non-violent marijuana convictions to reducing the federal government's reliance on private prisons, Biden has done a lot in four years to reform our criminal justice system on the federal level. Meanwhile, Trump has described himself as "tough on crime". He advocates for more policing, including "stop and frisk" activities. Ironically it's actually quite difficult to find sources about what Trump thinks about crime, because almost all of the search results are about his own crimes.

Biden on military support for Israel: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/biden-obama-divide-closely-support-israel-rcna127107

Trump on military support for Israel: https://www.vox.com/politics/353037/trump-gaza-israel-protests-biden-election-2024

Biden supports Israel financially and militarily and promotes holding Israel close. So did Trump. Trump was also very pro-Israel during his time in office and even moved the embassy to Jerusalem and declared Jerusalem the capitol of Israel, a move that inflamed attitudes in the region.

Biden on a ceasefire: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2024/06/05/gaza-israel-hamas-cease-fire-plan-biden/73967659007/

Trump on a ceasefire: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-israel-gaza-finish-problem-rcna141905

Trump has tried to be quiet on the issue but recently said he wants Israel to "finish the problem". He of course claims he could have prevented the whole problem. Trump also openly stated after Oct 7th that he would bar immigrants who support Hamas from the country and send in officers to American protests to arrest anyone supporting Hamas.

Biden meanwhile has been quietly urging Netanyahu to accept a ceasefire deal for months, including the most recent announcement earlier in June, though it seems as though that deal has finally fallen through as well.

[mathsbian]

32 days remaining!

Sorry I'm kind of dissociated and my vocab crashes during that can you explain the Biden drug thing in just. Shorter simple sentences.

Sure! You're not the only one who's mentioned being unclear on what it means either, and I'm happy to help

(Context for anyone else: US Sets Policy to Seize Patents of Government-Funded Drugs if Price Deemed Too High, via Good News Network, December 11, 2023)

From the very basics:

When drug companies create new drugs, they get a legal protection called a "patent." The patent means no one else can make or sell the same drug for whatever number of years.

Usually, this is about 10 years after the drug starts being sold to the public.

So, for those years, that one drug company is the only source of whatever medication. And since people need their medication, drug companies can charge however much money they want.

Meaning a lot of drugs that people need to live cost way too much money to buy.

So, with this, Biden told drug companies "Fuck you, if you keep making medicine too $$$ for people to afford, I'm giving your competition the right to make and sell those drugs too."

The US has never done anything like this before.

This is a huge threat to the whole (awful) drug industry in the US. It will save people thousands of dollars. If he does this, it will save lives.

--

Edit 12/17/23: Quick note, as people have said in the notes, this only applies to drugs made in part using taxpayer money. Which is! Literally all of them!

[masonrxpharmacy]

When it comes to managing health, understanding the differences between over-the-counter medications (OTC) and prescription medications is crucial. Each type of medication serves distinct purposes, comes with specific regulations, and is suitable for various health concerns. In this blog, we will explore the medication differences, advantages and disadvantages of both categories, and provide essential medication safety tips to help you make informed choices.

What Are Over-the-Counter Medications?

Over-the-counter medications are drugs that can be purchased without a prescription from a healthcare provider. They are typically used to treat common, mild health issues, such as:

Pain Relief: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and acetaminophen are widely used for headaches, muscle aches, and fever.

Allergy Relief: Antihistamines like diphenhydramine and loratadine help relieve allergy symptoms.

Cold and Flu Remedies: Cough suppressants, decongestants, and expectorants fall into this category.

Digestive Health: Medications for heartburn, indigestion, and constipation, like antacids and laxatives, are also OTC options.

Advantages of Over-the-Counter Drugs

Accessibility: OTC medications are readily available at pharmacies, grocery stores, and online, making them convenient for self-treatment.

Cost-Effective: In general, OTC vs. prescription costs are lower, which makes them an attractive option for patients looking to manage minor ailments without incurring high healthcare costs.

No Prescription Required: Patients can make their own decisions regarding the use of OTC medications without needing to consult a healthcare provider, promoting autonomy in healthcare choices.

Disadvantages of Over-the-Counter Drugs

Self-Diagnosis Risks: The availability of OTC drugs can lead to self-diagnosis and misuse. Patients may overlook serious health conditions that require professional evaluation.

Side Effects and Interactions: Even OTC medications can cause side effects or interact with other medications. Understanding medication labels is crucial for safe use.

[arogyaaushadhi]

Medications Without Prescription: Access Quality Healthcare with Arogya Aushadhi

In today’s fast-paced world, accessing healthcare has become more convenient with the rise of online pharmacies. At Arogya Aushadhi, we understand the need for affordable and accessible medication. With our platform, you can easily get medications without prescription for common ailments, ensuring you have quick access to the medicines you need.

Here’s why Arogya Aushadhi stands out:

Wide Range of Medicines: We offer an extensive selection of over-the-counter (OTC) medications that don’t require a prescription. From pain relievers to allergy medicines, our inventory ensures that you find the right product for your needs.

Affordable Prices: At Arogya Aushadhi, we believe in providing high-quality medicines at competitive prices. Our affordable rates ensure you don’t break the bank while caring for your health.

Convenient Ordering: Our user-friendly website makes it easy to browse, select, and order medications in just a few clicks. Enjoy the convenience of home delivery across India.

Trusted Quality: All products available on our platform go through strict quality checks to ensure that you receive only safe and effective medications.

Expert Guidance: Unsure about what you need? Our platform provides helpful information to guide you toward the best choices for your symptoms and requirements.

With Arogya Aushadhi, managing your health has never been easier. Whether you’re looking for a quick remedy for a headache or regular supplements, we’re here to provide hassle-free access to medications without prescription.

Contact Information:

Address: Ground Floor, 20/DK-4, Annexie, Danish Kunj, Kolar Road, Bhopal, MP - 462042

Phone: +91 9826137122

Website: Arogya Aushadhi

Experience a seamless way to maintain your health with Arogya Aushadhi today!

[thoughtportal]

Opinion Here’s how to get free Paxlovid as many times as you need it

When the public health emergency around covid-19 ended, vaccines and treatments became commercial products, meaning companies could charge for them as they do other pharmaceuticals. Paxlovid, the highly effective antiviral pill that can prevent covid from becoming severe, now has a list price of nearly $1,400 for a five-day treatment course.

Thanks to an innovative agreement between the Biden administration and the drug’s manufacturer, Pfizer, Americans can still access the medication free or at very low cost through a program called Paxcess. The problem is that too few people — including pharmacists — are aware of it.

I learned of Paxcess only after readers wrote that pharmacies were charging them hundreds of dollars — or even the full list price — to fill their Paxlovid prescription. This shouldn’t be happening. A representative from Pfizer, which runs the program, explained to me that patients on Medicare and Medicaid or who are uninsured should get free Paxlovid. They need to sign up by going to paxlovid.iassist.com or by calling 877-219-7225. “We wanted to make enrollment as easy and as quick as possible,” the representative said.

Indeed, the process is straightforward. I clicked through the web form myself, and there are only three sets of information required. Patients first enter their name, date of birth and address. They then input their prescriber’s name and address and select their insurance type.

All this should take less than five minutes and can be done at home or at the pharmacy. A physician or pharmacist can fill it out on behalf of the patient, too. Importantly, this form does not ask for medical history, proof of a positive coronavirus test, income verification, citizenship status or other potentially sensitive and time-consuming information.

But there is one key requirement people need to be aware of: Patients must have a prescription for Paxlovid to start the enrollment process. It is not possible to pre-enroll. (Though, in a sense, people on Medicare or Medicaid are already pre-enrolled.)

Once the questionnaire is complete, the website generates a voucher within seconds. People can print it or email it themselves, and then they can exchange it for a free course of Paxlovid at most pharmacies.

Pfizer’s representative tells me that more than 57,000 pharmacies are contracted to participate in this program, including major chain drugstores such as CVS and Walgreens and large retail chains such as Walmart, Kroger and Costco. For those unable to go in person, a mail-order option is available, too.

The program works a little differently for patients with commercial insurance. Some insurance plans already cover Paxlovid without a co-pay. Anyone who is told there will be a charge should sign up for Paxcess, which would further bring down their co-pay and might even cover the entire cost.

Several readers have attested that Paxcess’s process was fast and seamless. I was also glad to learn that there is basically no limit to the number of times someone could use it. A person who contracts the coronavirus three times in a year could access Paxlovid free or at low cost each time.

Unfortunately, readers informed me of one major glitch: Though the Paxcess voucher is honored when presented, some pharmacies are not offering the program proactively. As a result, many patients are still being charged high co-pays even if they could have gotten the medication at no cost.

This is incredibly frustrating. However, after interviewing multiple people involved in the process, including representatives of major pharmacy chains and Biden administration officials, I believe everyone is sincere in trying to make things right. As we saw in the early days of the coronavirus vaccine rollout, it’s hard to get a new program off the ground. Policies that look good on paper run into multiple barriers during implementation.

Those involved are actively identifying and addressing these problems. For instance, a Walgreens representative explained to me that in addition to educating pharmacists and pharmacy techs about the program, the company learned it also had to make system changes to account for a different workflow. Normally, when pharmacists process a prescription, they inform patients of the co-pay and dispense the medication. But with Paxlovid, the system needs to stop them if there is a co-pay, so they can prompt patients to sign up for Paxcess.

Here is where patients and consumers must take a proactive role. That might not feel fair; after all, if someone is ill, people expect that the system will work to help them. But that’s not our reality. While pharmacies work to fix their system glitches, patients need to be their own best advocates. That means signing up for Paxcess as soon as they receive a Paxlovid prescription and helping spread the word so that others can get the antiviral at little or no cost, too.

{source}

[watercress-words]

President Joe Biden's Healthcare Record

President Biden is not seeking a second term of office. In this post I reviewed how his administration affected American healthcare.

It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term. President Joe Biden President Biden during a visit to the National Institutes of Health First Lady…

[hislop3]

Friday Feature: Healthcare Economics Update

TGIF! A report I get and enjoy comes from Altarum (a non-profit consulting organization) looking at various economic data elements with regard to healthcare spending across a number of metrics (percent of GDP, time series growth, etc.). Granted, the report is a bit “wonky” but given what I do for a living, “wonky” is kind of my middle name. The Altarum report with data through November 2023, is…

[mahesh803]

A pharmacist's perspective on the challenges patients face today.

Rima Arora, PharmD, RPh, Director of Pharmacy at DiRx, discusses the challenges patients face in affording prescription medicines due to rising healthcare costs and limited insurance coverage. DiRx addresses these issues by offering affordable generic medicines without requiring health insurance, transparent pricing, and convenient options like auto-refill programs and an Annual Savings Plan to help consumers manage their medication expenses effectively.

[bhise9947]

 A pharmacist's perspective on the challenges patients face today.

Rima Arora, PharmD, RPh, Director of Pharmacy at DiRx, discusses the challenges patients face in affording prescription medicines due to rising healthcare costs and limited insurance coverage. DiRx addresses these issues by offering affordable generic medicines without requiring health insurance, transparent pricing, and convenient options like auto-refill programs and an Annual Savings Plan to help consumers manage their medication expenses effectively.

[emily-space]

What can we do about the soaring cost of prescription medicine?

Satish Srinivasan, CEO of DiRx, discusses the impact of soaring prescriptionmedicine costs and how DiRx is addressing this issue by offering affordablemedications directly from manufacturers and bypassing intermediaries. DiRx's modelhelps consumers save significantly on their prescriptions, making essential medicinesmore accessible to those in need.

[radheshampvt]

Safeguarding Health: The Vital Role of Corrugated Boxes in Pharmaceuticals

There are several businesses and industries across every sector in India where packaging plays a crucial role. Companies always look for a complete solution to ensure protection and security when delivering their products. This is where corrugated boxes become a valuable resource, often making it a first choice.

In the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, reliable packaging is a necessity. It plays a significant role in the product’s journey from manufacturing to end usage. Pharmaceutical packaging is not just a regular box containing medicines. It contains details about medication use and other important indications. Moreover, packaging is essential to managing the quality of healthcare products and serves as a necessary tool for business development. 

Maintaining Product Integrity

To keep product integrity, pharma packaging needs to be done with the utmost care, especially for delicate items like medicines and medical devices. The effectiveness and stability of pharmaceuticals can be risked by outside effects such as moisture, light, and temperature differences. Corrugated boxes offer a barrier against these elements. For instance, corrugated boxes can be used to package pharmaceuticals that need to be protected from light because they are light-sensitive.

Safe Handling and Shipping

Safe handling and shipping of medical supplies is one of the most important parts of pharmaceutical logistics. Because of its strength and longevity, corrugated boxes guarantee that goods arrive at their destination intact. This is especially important for medicines that are sensitive to temperature changes or fragile medical equipment that have to be handled carefully throughout the supply chain. Remember that the possibility of product damage during transit is greatly decreased with strong corrugated packing.

Regulatory Standards

The pharmaceutical and healthcare industry is heavily regulated, which includes labelling and packaging. Regulations pertaining to product safety, hygiene and tamper-evident features are all met by corrugated boxes made especially for medicines and healthcare packaging. In addition to ensuring legal compliance, it also helps customers believe that the items they use are genuine and safe.

Environmental Responsibility and Sustainability

Corrugated boxes provide environmentally fitting packaging options at a time when sustainability is a major concern for many industries, including healthcare. Corrugated boxes follow the industry’s pledge to environmental responsibility since a large number of them are recyclable and made from recycled materials. This ecologically friendly packaging strategy not only lessens carbon footprint but also appeals to people who care about the environment.

Types of Corrugated Boxes in Pharma Packaging

Blister pack boxes – Used for tablets and capsules

Cartons –  Required for larger medication bottles and vials

Speciality boxes –  Used to package temperature-sensitive medicines

Corrugated dividers –  Required to prevent product movement within the box

How to choose the right corrugated box for pharma packaging?

Think about the product’s weight and size – The size and strength of the corrugated box you want will depend on the dimensions and weight of your pharmaceutical items. You’ll need a bigger, more durable box to offer sufficient protection if your product is huge or heavy. When choosing a box, make sure to measure your products precisely.

Consider the environment for shipping and storage – Think about the conditions your items will be exposed to during transportation and storage. Will they be exposed to high humidity or temperatures? Will they be kept for a long time in a warehouse, stacked? These elements may affect the kind of box you require. For instance, you’ll need a box with a moisture-resistant covering if your items are going to be exposed to dampness.

Consider customisation – Numerous customisation options are available for corrugated boxes, such as size, shape, colour, and branding. Pharmaceutical packaging with your company’s logo printed on it or one with a customised size should be considered.

Conclusion

Corrugated boxes are not just cardboard containers, they are more than that. They protect the integrity of life-saving goods and are an essential part of the pharmaceutical and healthcare supply chain. Pharmaceutical companies may contribute to a healthier India by ensuring patient safety and the productive delivery of their goods through the use of high-quality pharmaceutical packaging.

Radhesham Wellpack distinguishes itself as a dependable partner when it comes to reliable and superior corrugated boxes for pharmaceuticals packaging and healthcare packaging. Having a history of providing excellent packaging solutions that are specifically adapted to the demands of the pharmaceutical business, Radhesham Wellpack ensures that your medical items are packaged securely and sustainably.

Faq's:

1. How to choose the right corrugated box for your pharmaceutical product?

To choose the right corrugated box for your pharmaceutical product, consider factors such as product size and weight, fragility, storage and transportation conditions, regulatory requirements, branding and labelling needs, and sustainability goals. Ensure the box provides adequate protection, is compliant with industry standards, supports your branding efforts, and aligns with your environmental commitments.

2. Are corrugated boxes cost-effective for small-scale pharmaceutical companies?

Yes, corrugated boxes are cost-effective for small-scale pharmaceutical companies. They offer a balance between affordability and quality, providing adequate protection for products while being economical in terms of production and shipping costs. Additionally, corrugated boxes are customizable, allowing companies to choose options that meet their specific needs and budget constraints.

3. How do corrugated boxes contribute to brand identity and marketing efforts?

Corrugated boxes contribute to brand identity and marketing efforts by offering opportunities for customization, branding, and storytelling through unique designs, logos, colours, and messaging. They create a memorable unboxing experience for customers, enhance brand recognition, and communicate brand values, leading to increased brand loyalty and customer engagement.

4. What is the Role of Packaging in the Pharmaceutical Industry?

The role of packaging in the pharmaceutical industry is to ensure product safety, integrity, compliance with regulatory standards, and effective communication of important information to healthcare professionals and consumers. It also plays a key role in protecting medications from external factors such as light, moisture, and temperature fluctuations, ensuring their efficacy and shelf life.

[batboyblog]

Things the Biden-Harris Administration Did This Week #37

Oct 4-11 2024

President Biden announced a new EPA rule that will require all lead pipes in America's drinking water systems to be replace with-in 10 years. This builds on the $15 billion the Biden-Harris Administration has already invested in replacing lead pipes nation wide. The administration's focus on this issue has allowed local governments to greatly execrate their lead pipe replacement plans, before Biden took office the city of Milwaukee's timeline for replacing its lead pipes was 60 years, they're now on track to do it in 10. The EPA says there's no safe level of lead in the human body.

Vice President Harris announced she plans to expand Medicare to cover home health care. Currently those who need long term care, are covered by Medicaid, the health program for the poor so have to spend all their savings before they can qualify. This change would allow more seniors to stay in their homes and offer support to caregiving family members. Medicare also covers the disabled thus proving a game changer for the disabled Americans and their families. The Vice President also endorsed expanding Medicare to cover the costs of hearing and vision care.

Medicare released a preliminary list of 101 generic drugs which it would cover that would cost no more than $2 for a month for enrollees. People have long lobbied to allow Medicare to pay for generic drugs which has been resisted by drug companies. Thanks to President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, and in line with a Biden Executive Order Medicare is now working on bring low cost generic drugs to seniors. The list targets some of the most common prescriptions thus will bring savings to the most people.

Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden announced that the Biden-Harris Administration had blown past its goal of hiring 250,000 student support staff for 2024. The joint effort by the Department of Education, AmeriCorps and Everyone Graduates Center managed to hire 320,000 tutors, mentors, student success coaches, postsecondary transition coaches, and student support coordinators nationwide, its goal for the end of 2025.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced $420 million to help get rid of lead paint and other lead hazards from homes. HUD estimates that over 3 million households that have children under the age of 6 live with lead hazards. HUDs grants will go to all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico with particular focus on low income housing.

[odinsblog]

🗣️THIS IS WHAT INCLUSIVE, COMPASSIONATE DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE

Minnesota Dems enacted a raft of laws to make the state a trans refuge, and ensure people receiving trans care here can't be reached by far-right governments in places like Florida and Texas. (link)

Minnesota Dems ensured that everyone, including undocumented immigrants, can get drivers' licenses. (link)

They made public college free for the majority of Minnesota families. (link)

Minnesota Dems dropped a billion dollars into a bevy of affordable housing programs, including by creating a new state housing voucher program. (link)

Minnesota Dems massively increased funding for the state's perpetually-underfunded public defenders, which lets more public defenders be hired and existing public defenders get a salary increase. (link)

Dems raised Minnesota education spending by 10%, or about 2.3 billion. (link)

Minnesota Dems created an energy standard for 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. (link)

Minnesota already has some of the strongest election infrastructure (and highest voter participation) in the country, but the legislature just made it stronger, with automatic registration, preregistration for minors, and easier access to absentee ballots. (link)

Minnesota Dems expanded the publicly subsidized health insurance program to undocumented immigrants. This one's interesting because it's the sort of things Dems often balk at. The governor opposed it! The legislature rolled over him and passed it anyway. (link)

Minnesota Dems expanded background checks and enacted red-flag laws, passing gun safety measures that the GOP has thwarted for years. (link)

Minnesota Dems gave the state AG the power to block the huge healthcare mergers that have slowly gobbled up the state's medical system. (link)

Minnesota Dems restored voting rights to convicted felons as soon as they leave prison. (link)

Minnesota Dems made prison phone calls free. (link)

Minnesota Dems passed new wage protection rules for the construction industry, against industry resistance. (link)

Minnesota Dems created a new sales tax to fund bus and train lines, an enormous victory for the sustainability and quality of public transit. Transit be more pleasant to ride, more frequent, and have better shelters, along more lines. (link)

They passed strict new regulations on PFAS ("forever chemicals"). (link)

Minnesota Dems passed the largest bonding bill in state history! Funding improvements to parks, colleges, water infrastructure, bridges, etc. etc. etc. (link)

They're going to build a passenger train from the Twin Cities to Duluth. (link)

I can't even find a news story about it but there's tens of millions in funding for new BRT lines, too. (link)

A wonky-but-important change: Minnesota Dems indexed the state gas tax to inflation, effectively increasing the gas tax. (link)

They actually indexed a bunch of stuff to inflation, including the state's education funding formula, which helps ensure that school spending doesn't decline over time. (link)

Minnesota Dems made hourly school workers (e.g., bus drivers and paraprofessionals) eligible for unemployment during summer break, when they're not working or getting paid. (link)

Minnesota Dems passed a bunch of labor protections for teachers, including requiring school districts to negotiate class sizes as part of union contracts. (Yet another @SydneyJordanMN special here. (link)

Minnesota Dems created a state board to govern labor standards at nursing homes. (link)

Minnesota Dems created a Prescription Drug Affordability Board, which would set price caps for high-cost pharmaceuticals. (link)

Minnesota Dems created new worker protections for Amazon warehouse workers and refinery workers. (link)

Minnesota Dems passed a digital fair repair law, which requires electronics manufacturers to make tools and parts available so that consumers can repair their electronics rather than purchase new items. (link)

Minnesota Dems made Juneteenth a state holiday. (link)

Minnesota Dems banned conversion therapy. (link)

They spent nearly a billion dollars on a variety of environmental programs, from heat pumps to reforestation. (link)

Minnesota Dems expanded protections for pregnant and nursing workers - already in place for larger employers - to almost everyone in the state. (link)

Minnesota Dems created a new child tax credit that will cut child poverty by about a quarter. (link)

Minnesota Democrats dropped a quick $50 million into homelessness prevention programs. (link)

And because the small stuff didn't get lost in the big stuff, they passed a law to prevent catalytic converter thefts. (link)

Minnesota Dems increased child care assistance. (link)

Minnesota Dems banned "captive audience meetings," where employers force employees to watch anti-union presentations. (link)

No news story yet, but Minnesota Dems forced signal priority changes to Twin Cities transit. Right now the trains have to wait at intersections for cars, which, I can say from experience, is terrible. Soon that will change.

Minnesota Dems provided the largest increase to nursing home funding in state history. (link)

They also bumped up salaries for home health workers, to help address the shortage of in-home nurses. (link)

Minnesota Dems legalized drug paraphernalia, which allows social service providers to conduct needle exchanges and address substance abuse with reduced fear of incurring legal action. (link)

Minnesota Dems banned white supremacists and extremists from police forces, capped probation at 5 years for most crimes, improved clemency, and mostly banned no-knock warrants. (link)

Minnesota Dems also laid the groundwork for a public health insurance option. (link)

I’m happy for the people of Minnesota, but as a Floridian living under Ron DeSantis & hateful Republicans, I’m also very envious tbh. We know that democracy can work, and this is a shining example of what government could be like in the hands of legislators who actually care about helping people in need, and not pursuing the GOP’s “culture wars” and suppressing the votes of BIPOC, and inflicting maximum harm on those who aren’t cis/het, white, wealthy, Christian males. BRAVO MINNESOTA. This is how you do it! And the Minnesota Dems did it with a one seat majority, so no excuses. Forget about the next election and focus on doing as much good as you can, while you still can. 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

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