Trump’s Medicaid work rules force states to scrap plans and rework systems
The Trump administration’s rollout of a federal mandate that millions of Americans on Medicaid must work or risk losing health benefits will force states to scrap months of preparation, according to advocates for Medicaid enrollees and consultants advising states. And they say an overhaul — less than seven months before states must start enforcing the requirement — will be costly. Regulations issued June 1 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services dictate many granular details about how the new work requirements will play out. They cover how states should check whether Medicaid enrollees are following the rules, and how people can claim an exemption so that their health benefits...
More than $100 million billed for medically questionable vascular procedures, government watchdog finds
Dozens of doctors are routinely performing risky vascular procedures in medical offices, generating tens of millions of dollars in Medicare payments for potentially unnecessary procedures, according to a federal report released last month. The review, completed by the Office of the Inspector General at the Department of Health and Human Services, flagged nearly 140 doctors across the country as having “concerning” billing patterns. The analysis parallels a 2023 ProPublica investigation that revealed how high Medicare reimbursements for office-based vascular treatments had fueled a surge of unnecessary procedures, putting patients at risk of amputation or even death. The inspector general’s...
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Baptist Health Foundation announces historic $100 million gift from Dr. Herbert Wertheim
Baptist Health Foundation recently announced the largest single philanthropic gift in the 66-year history of Baptist Health South Florida: a $100 million donation from internationally recognized optometric physician, inventor, entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. Herbert (“Herbie”) Wertheim, who views the gift as a continuation of his commitment to public service. By focusing exclusively on this partnership and prioritizing this investment, he aims to create a scalable model for increasing healthcare access and innovation across America. Dr. Herbie Wertheim is the founder of Brain Power Incorporated, a Miami-based optical products manufacturer and visionary member of the Florida Inventors...
From medieval plague ships to hantavirus: How outbreaks at sea helped to shape the international public health system
Passengers on the the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius watch epidemiologists board the boat in Praia, Cape Verde, on May 6, 2026. AP Photo/Uncredited ~~~~~ Cruise ships are convenient floating hotels by which to see far-flung parts of the world – but as an epidemiologist, I know they are also everything an infectious pathogen could want: thousands of strangers packed into enclosed spaces for days or weeks, sharing dining rooms and high-touch surfaces such as elevator buttons and handrails, breathing recirculated air. Each new port of call where passengers can explore for a few days is an opportunity for germs to embark – and once they do, they encounter a highly efficient setting...
