More Kids Are in ERs for Tooth Pain. Trump Cuts and RFK Jr.’s Anti-Fluoride Fight Aren’t Helping.
Eight‑year‑old Jonah’s severe tooth infection forced his family into two emergency‑room visits, highlighting a national surge in pediatric dental emergencies. ER visits for non‑traumatic dental issues among children rose roughly 60% from 2019 to 2022, with some hospitals reporting increases over 100% since 2010. The crisis is driven by a rural shortage of pediatric dentists, pandemic‑related hygiene lapses, and policy shifts that cut Medicaid dental benefits and promote anti‑fluoride legislation. As a result, families face costly, inadequate care and children miss school and development milestones.
Banks Are Becoming Bulwarks Against Scams for Vulnerable Seniors
Elder financial exploitation continues to surge, with the FTC reporting $2.4 billion in losses in 2024 and AARP estimating $28 billion annually. A 76‑year‑old Rhode Island retiree narrowly avoided a $250,000 fraud after a bank teller escalated the case to police. In...
Newsom Picks a Dogfight With Trump and RFK Jr. On Public Health
California Governor Gavin Newsom is positioning the state as a national public‑health bulwark by hiring former CDC officials, forming the West Coast Health Alliance with Oregon, Washington and Hawaii, and becoming the first state to join a WHO‑coordinated outbreak network....
Red and Blue States Alike Want To Limit AI in Insurance. Trump Wants To Limit the States.
A bipartisan wave of state legislation is targeting the use of artificial intelligence in health‑insurance decisions, with at least nine states passing or proposing limits on AI‑driven claim denials and prior authorizations. President Trump’s December executive order seeks to preempt...