Author | Lightnews

Reposted by kiley koscinski

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 14h

BREAKING: The government shutdown entered its 36th day, breaking a record set during President Trump’s first term as impact spreads nationwide.

Government shutdown becomes the longest on record as fallout spreads nationwide

The government shutdown has entered its 36th day, breaking the record as the longest ever.

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WESA @wesa.fm · 13d

A federal government shutdown has now slumped into its third week — and unless something changes, Pittsburgh-area Democrats warn, roughly hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians are days away from learning their health insurance premiums will jump by 75%.

'Devastating' insurance premium spikes loom due to federal impasse, Deluzio warns

At the center of the government shutdown is an impasse over the extension of tax credits available under the Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare.”

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WESA @wesa.fm · 14d

The Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh’s annual two-day clinic returns to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center this weekend. The event offers free dental, vision and hearing services on Oct. 24 and 25 on a first-come, first-served basis.

Free health clinic offers dental, vision and hearing care in Downtown Pittsburgh this weekend

The goal of the clinic is to narrow gaps in health care access for people without insurance or without coverage for dental, vision and hearing care — which are often left out of traditional health…

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WESA @wesa.fm · 20d

The spike in costs is being driven, in part, by the fact that Congress hasn’t extended enhanced tax credits that currently help people afford their monthly premiums, Pennsylvania leaders and insurance companies said.

Pa. approves higher ACA health insurance premiums for 2026, with some price hikes as high as 38%

Insurance regulators say Pennie customers will see premiums rise by 21% on average, which factors in the potential loss of federal premium tax credits, or health subsidies.

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kiley koscinski @kileykoscinski.bsky.social · 19d

Pennsylvania cut funding for HIV service orgs by 25% this month + lowered income qualifications for help covering expensive HIV meds.

@wesa.fm: a story of one HIV survivor who counts himself lucky to have made it to 68. Now he faces being cut off from his state support.
www.wesa.fm/health-scien...

As Pennsylvania limits HIV support, some patients face soaring medical bills

In a memo, the state health department explained the new restrictions are the result of an “unprecedented increase in program enrollment” as well as high costs of medication. It warned the state may a...

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Reposted by kiley koscinski

STAT @statnews.com · 20d

#Breaking: Medicare payments to doctors paused as government shutdown drags on www.statnews.com/2025/10/15/c...

Medicare payments to doctors paused as government shutdown drags on

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is pausing Medicare payments to doctors, as negotiations tied to the government shutdown drag on.

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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 24d

More than 1,000 staff members at the CDC were laid off Friday, affecting units that respond to infectious-disease outbreaks, analyze science and health data to develop policy, and monitor the safety of employees.

Mass CDC cuts hit staff dealing with measles, Ebola and disease forecasting

Another round of mass layoffs has struck CDC. The agency had already been cut during a reorganization this year, and more employees are now being shed amid the government shutdown.

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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 25d

Per CDC source: At internal leadership meeting this afternoon, it was shared that 1,257 people were RIF'd at CDC. Number may not be final. Apparently, chief of staff was unaware that RIFs were going to occur so not clear who is making decisions. (Short 🧵)

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WESA @wesa.fm · 26d

In July, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency put a two-year pause on implementing hazardous air pollution standards for plants that make coke, a key component in steelmaking. But environmental groups sued, and the EPA decided on October 3 that the new rules should go into effect, after all.

EPA reverses course on rule that will force U.S. Steel to monitor for cancer-causing emissions

The Trump administration has reversed course and decided it will not delay Biden-era rules limiting air pollution from the steel industry.

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Reposted by kiley koscinski

WESA @wesa.fm · Oct 6

As Pennsylvania’s budget impasse nears 100 days, rape crisis centers are at a breaking point. Several organizations across the state are turning to layoffs, program downsizing and some may close amid the stoppage in government aid, advocates told WESA.

With state & federal governments gridlocked, Pennsylvania rape crisis centers struggle to stay open

As Pennsylvania’s budget impasse nears 100 days, rape crisis centers are at a breaking point. Several organizations across the state are turning to layoffs, program downsizing and some may close amid ...

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Reposted by kiley koscinski

WESA @wesa.fm · Oct 6

The Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience, or GUIDE, Model is designed to benefit people with traditional Medicare health insurance who want to age in place at home while living with dementia. All services offered through the program are fully covered by Medicare.

New Medicare dementia program offers free, enhanced support services to Pa. families

The GUIDE program pays local health and home care organizations to provide free dementia respite services, education, training and care coordination.

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Reposted by kiley koscinski

WESA @wesa.fm · Sep 30

93.7% of Pennsylvania kindergarteners got both recommended doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine before the 2024-2025 school year.

That’s lower than the recommended 95% vaccination rate for herd immunity, the threshold to provide community resistance to infectious diseases.

As measles vaccination rate continues to decline, Pa. kindergarteners below herd immunity level

According to the state, 93.7% of Pennsylvania kindergarteners got both recommended doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine before the 2024-2025 school year. That’s lower than the recommende...

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kiley koscinski @kileykoscinski.bsky.social · Sep 25

More court action this week pertaining to gender-affirming care for Pittsburgh's transgender youth. Federal court filings seek to quash a DOJ subpoena that orders UPMC to hand over the health records of teenage trans patients:

WESA @wesa.fm · Sep 25

Advocates for UPMC’s teenage trans patients filed a motion in federal court this week urging a judge to shield patient health records from a Dept. of Justice inquiry. The Public Interest Law Center is seeking to quash the subpoena on behalf of patients & former patients of UPMC and their families.

Families urge federal court to shield UPMC trans patient health records from DOJ inquiry

In court documents, the Public Interest Law Center and Ballard Spahr argue the DOJ subpoena — which seeks records, information and communications about gender-affirming care services — violates patien...

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Reposted by kiley koscinski

WESA @wesa.fm · Sep 23

A group of transgender patients and their families have filed a discrimination complaint with the state Human Relations Commission against UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, asserting that UPMC’s refusal to provide gender-affirming care for trans patients under 19 is sex-based discrimination.

Trans patients file discrimination complaint against UPMC over termination of gender-affirming care

A group of transgender patients filed a discrimination complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission against UPMC over its termination of gender-affirming care for patients under 19.

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kiley koscinski @kileykoscinski.bsky.social · Sep 17

Pennsylvania officials have confirmed the health department is part of a public health collaboration with other state health agencies in the Northeast. Though agencies have shared best practices in the past, this more formal coordination comes amid sweeping changes at the federal level under RFK Jr.

WESA @wesa.fm · Sep 17

The Northeast Public Health Collaboration — which includes all the New England states except New Hampshire plus Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York and New Jersey — formed amid rapidly changing vaccine recommendations from federal health officials.

Amid CDC turmoil, Pennsylvania joins Northeastern states in regional public health coalition

Pennsylvania health officials have confirmed the commonwealth has joined other Northeastern states to develop public health guidelines independent of the federal government.

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Reposted by kiley koscinski

Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · Sep 14

Dr. @ashishkjha.bsky.social, who led Biden’s coronavirus response, on what the Trump administration’s MAHA report leaves out.

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/12/o...

The number one cause of death for kids in America is gun violence, a fact that the MAHA report makes no mention of. It's been the leading cause of death in children since 2020. In fact, a report from Johns Hopkins found that in 2022 alone, 2,526 children under 17 years old died from firearm-related injuries. The other leading cause of child mortality is motor vehicle accidents, which have killed more than 1,000 children under the age of 14 each year since 2013.
Despite these jarring figures, the MAHA strategy report is silent on these topics, offering no solutions for preventing gun deaths or making our roads safer for kids. How do we take seriously a report on children's health that fails to acknowledge the two leading causes of death?

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Reposted by kiley koscinski

WESA @wesa.fm · Aug 28

As Trump administration health officials seek to reshape vaccine policy — which could impact insurance coverage of certain immunizations for millions of Americans — Pennsylvania lawmakers have proposed new requirements aimed at “protecting access” to those vaccines.

Amid CDC, FDA changes, Pennsylvania bill could require insurers to cover certain vaccines

Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering new regulations for health insurance providers aimed at protecting access to vaccines. The bill comes amid changing vaccine regulations from federal health agenc...

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Reposted by kiley koscinski

WESA @wesa.fm · Aug 15

The health department began deploying mobile air units Thursday provided by Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection and Carnegie Mellon University. The units will travel around Clairton to test for dozens of hazardous air pollutants.

Allegheny County deploys mobile air quality monitors near Clairton Coke Works

The health department began deploying mobile air units Thursday provided by Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection and Carnegie Mellon University. The units will travel around Clairton ...

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Reposted by kiley koscinski

ProPublica @propublica.org · Aug 12

NEW: In June, ProPublica reported that the FDA has given more than 20 foreign factories a special pass to send drugs to the U.S. even though they were made at plants the agency had banned.

Today, we’re publishing a list of those exempted drugs.

The FDA Let Substandard Factories Ship These Medications to the U.S.

ProPublica identified more than 150 products that were exempted from import bans since 2013. Our list provides the names of the drugs or ingredients and their manufacturers, many of which are no longe...

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Reposted by kiley koscinski

WESA @wesa.fm · Aug 4

Tentative 2026 health insurance rates for individual plans show a 19% average increase and small business group plans show a 13% jump, according to Pennsylvania regulators.

Health insurance in Pennsylvania may see biggest hike in years

Tentative 2026 health insurance rates for individual plans show a 19% average increase and small business group plans show a 13% jump, according to Pennsylvania regulators.

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Reposted by kiley koscinski

WESA @wesa.fm · Aug 4

About 1,000 nurses at Pittsburgh's Magee-Womens Hospital are set to decide whether they’d like to be represented by SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania later this month. The organizing effort is the latest in a growing labor movement among health care professionals in Pennsylvania.

Nurses union advances at UPMC’s Magee-Womens Hospital

About 1,000 nurses at Magee-Womens Hospital will vote to decide whether they’d like to be represented by SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania. The organizing effort is the latest in a growing labor movement a...

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Reposted by kiley koscinski

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · Jun 24

Health groups are mobilizing behind the scenes to preserve access for vaccines as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. works to upend the nation’s decades-old vaccine system, according to public health experts.

The plan to vaccinate all Americans, despite RFK Jr.

The extraordinary effort to create a parallel system of recommending and perhaps even providing vaccines faces major challenges.

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kiley koscinski @kileykoscinski.bsky.social · Jun 23

UPMC is winding down gender-affirming care for young trans patients this month, citing “federal directives.”

Now, more than 100 UPMC doctors, therapists and staff are demanding the health system reverse course and use its “immense resources” to “fight back.”
www.wesa.fm/health-scien...

Therapists, doctors urge UPMC to ‘fight back,’ reinstate gender-affirming care for trans youth

In an open letter to UPMC administrators, physicians, therapists, nurses and specialists call on the health system to continue to provide gender-affirming care services for young patients. Providers t...

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Reposted by kiley koscinski

ProPublica @propublica.org · Jun 18

NEW: ProPublica has sued the FDA, accusing the agency of withholding information about the safety and availability of generic drugs critical to millions of Americans.

ProPublica Sued the FDA for Withholding Records About the Safety of Generic Drugs

The agency declined to quickly release documents that would identify drugs made at some of the most troubled foreign factories. The request was part of ProPublica’s ongoing investigation into the safe...

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Reposted by kiley koscinski

ProPublica @propublica.org · Jun 17

NEW: A ProPublica investigation found that for more than a decade, the FDA gave substandard factories banned from the United States a special pass to keep sending drugs to an unsuspecting public.

Threat in Your Medicine Cabinet: The FDA’s Gamble on America’s Drugs

A ProPublica investigation found that for more than a decade, the FDA gave substandard factories banned from the United States a special pass to keep sending drugs to an unsuspecting public.

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