Arielle Zionts
@ajzionts.bsky.social
✏️: Rural Health Reporter @KFFHealthNews.org
📍: Rapid City
✉️: [email protected]
🚨 Signal: Zionts_RuralHealthNews.22
😍: Story ideas, outdoors, animals, reading, history, art, gravel+mtn biking
❗️: RT means worth reading/knowing, not agreement
📍: Rapid City
✉️: [email protected]
🚨 Signal: Zionts_RuralHealthNews.22
😍: Story ideas, outdoors, animals, reading, history, art, gravel+mtn biking
❗️: RT means worth reading/knowing, not agreement
Pinned
Rural Health Providers Could Be Collateral Damage From $100K Trump Visa Fee - KFF Health News
Dozens of health care organizations have asked the Trump administration to shield the doctors, nurses, and techs they need to fill shortages from the president’s new $100,000 visa fee for skilled fore...
kffhealthnews.org
Health orgs asked Sec. Noem to exempt health care workers from the new $100K H-1B visa fee. They haven't received a response.
Learn about a rural hospital that may have to pay the fee after it received job apps from international, but no American workers.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Learn about a rural hospital that may have to pay the fee after it received job apps from international, but no American workers.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Wild chain of events: A bat gave rabies to a skunk. The skunk attacked a kitten. A man rescued the kitten but was infected by the skunk. The man died and donated a kidney, before doctors realized he had rabies. The recipient then also died of rabies.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Man dies of rabies after kidney transplant from donor who saved kitten from skunk
Michigan man received kidney transplant from donor who had fought off a skunk and was later found unresponsive
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Wild chain of events: A bat gave rabies to a skunk. The skunk attacked a kitten. A man rescued the kitten but was infected by the skunk. The man died and donated a kidney, before doctors realized he had rabies. The recipient then also died of rabies.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Health orgs asked Sec. Noem to exempt health care workers from the new $100K H-1B visa fee. They haven't received a response.
Learn about a rural hospital that may have to pay the fee after it received job apps from international, but no American workers.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Learn about a rural hospital that may have to pay the fee after it received job apps from international, but no American workers.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Rural Health Providers Could Be Collateral Damage From $100K Trump Visa Fee - KFF Health News
Dozens of health care organizations have asked the Trump administration to shield the doctors, nurses, and techs they need to fill shortages from the president’s new $100,000 visa fee for skilled fore...
kffhealthnews.org
December 9, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Health orgs asked Sec. Noem to exempt health care workers from the new $100K H-1B visa fee. They haven't received a response.
Learn about a rural hospital that may have to pay the fee after it received job apps from international, but no American workers.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Learn about a rural hospital that may have to pay the fee after it received job apps from international, but no American workers.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Court docs: Parents avoided doctors, consumed pro-alkaline diet and anti-vax content, and didn't feed their kids enough protein, fats, vitamins+calories. One kid died+others now have rickets, bone density loss, vit D deficiency, and significant developmental delays.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
Child dies, siblings hospitalized after 'alkaline diet,' parents charged
Phoenix police found a 5-month old boy dead after his mother called 911. Prosecutors blame parents for the death and for illnesses of other children.
www.usatoday.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Court docs: Parents avoided doctors, consumed pro-alkaline diet and anti-vax content, and didn't feed their kids enough protein, fats, vitamins+calories. One kid died+others now have rickets, bone density loss, vit D deficiency, and significant developmental delays.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
Reposted by Arielle Zionts
This is a really important policy issue!
Iowa has the highest percentage of physicians who are on H1-B visas, not even considering other impacted health professions.
Iowa has the highest percentage of physicians who are on H1-B visas, not even considering other impacted health professions.
Health orgs wrote letters asking Sec. Noem to exempt health care workers from the new $100K H-1B visa fee. There's been no response.
Learn about a rural hospital that may have to pay the fee after it received job apps from international but no American lab techs.
My latest:
Learn about a rural hospital that may have to pay the fee after it received job apps from international but no American lab techs.
My latest:
December 8, 2025 at 4:18 PM
This is a really important policy issue!
Iowa has the highest percentage of physicians who are on H1-B visas, not even considering other impacted health professions.
Iowa has the highest percentage of physicians who are on H1-B visas, not even considering other impacted health professions.
Health orgs wrote letters asking Sec. Noem to exempt health care workers from the new $100K H-1B visa fee. There's been no response.
Learn about a rural hospital that may have to pay the fee after it received job apps from international but no American lab techs.
My latest:
Learn about a rural hospital that may have to pay the fee after it received job apps from international but no American lab techs.
My latest:
December 8, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Health orgs wrote letters asking Sec. Noem to exempt health care workers from the new $100K H-1B visa fee. There's been no response.
Learn about a rural hospital that may have to pay the fee after it received job apps from international but no American lab techs.
My latest:
Learn about a rural hospital that may have to pay the fee after it received job apps from international but no American lab techs.
My latest:
Reposted by Arielle Zionts
Always important to remember that this is because these robots are "faking" being human
Theyre actually capable of way more and way weirder stuff
Theyre actually capable of way more and way weirder stuff
December 4, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Always important to remember that this is because these robots are "faking" being human
Theyre actually capable of way more and way weirder stuff
Theyre actually capable of way more and way weirder stuff
Reposted by Arielle Zionts
Some findings:
➡️OR proposed an entire initiative devoted to Native American health care that would get 10% of its funding.
➡️ND wants to expand tribal residency slots but declined to devote 5% of funding to tribes.
➡️Some states held tribal-specific listening sessions.
➡️OR proposed an entire initiative devoted to Native American health care that would get 10% of its funding.
➡️ND wants to expand tribal residency slots but declined to devote 5% of funding to tribes.
➡️Some states held tribal-specific listening sessions.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act created a $50 billion fund for rural health but doesn’t require states to consult Native American tribes.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Republicans Left Tribes Out of Their $50B Rural Fund. Now It’s Up to States To Share. - KFF Health News
The Trump administration has championed its Rural Health Transformation Program as an investment in American families who have been left behind. But Native American tribes, whose communities have a si...
kffhealthnews.org
December 4, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Some findings:
➡️OR proposed an entire initiative devoted to Native American health care that would get 10% of its funding.
➡️ND wants to expand tribal residency slots but declined to devote 5% of funding to tribes.
➡️Some states held tribal-specific listening sessions.
➡️OR proposed an entire initiative devoted to Native American health care that would get 10% of its funding.
➡️ND wants to expand tribal residency slots but declined to devote 5% of funding to tribes.
➡️Some states held tribal-specific listening sessions.
When you find a rural health story that intersects with your knowledge of how the mid-century Pick-Sloan dam program devastated Native American communities ...
December 4, 2025 at 5:26 PM
When you find a rural health story that intersects with your knowledge of how the mid-century Pick-Sloan dam program devastated Native American communities ...
Reposted by Arielle Zionts
University of Alabama suspended publication of two student-run magazines, claiming they weren’t in compliance with federal guidance on DEI
“This is an attack on the student press and nothing less”
“This is an attack on the student press and nothing less”
University of Alabama shuts down student magazines for Black students, women students
University officials told editors of Alice and Nineteen Fifty-Six that they believed they were out of compliance with Trump administration guidance on anti-DEI policies.
www.whatimreading.net
December 4, 2025 at 12:37 AM
University of Alabama suspended publication of two student-run magazines, claiming they weren’t in compliance with federal guidance on DEI
“This is an attack on the student press and nothing less”
“This is an attack on the student press and nothing less”
Reposted by Arielle Zionts
In another immigration crackdown, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is in the process of creating an urgent and massive new internal database of non-US citizens who are “employed or affiliated” with the government department.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Leaked memo reveals US veterans affairs officials vetting non-citizen workers
Exclusive: Compilation of data to be shared with ‘appropriate agencies’ prompts fears of immigration crackdown
www.theguardian.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:24 PM
In another immigration crackdown, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is in the process of creating an urgent and massive new internal database of non-US citizens who are “employed or affiliated” with the government department.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Arielle Zionts
Our story has a map/database of state applications to the Rural Health Transformation Program! Proposals include using drones to deliver meds, installing produce refrigerators, + bringing telehealth to libraries+senior centers.
W/ @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
W/ @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
December 2, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Our story has a map/database of state applications to the Rural Health Transformation Program! Proposals include using drones to deliver meds, installing produce refrigerators, + bringing telehealth to libraries+senior centers.
W/ @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
W/ @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
"Elon Musk’s charitable foundation grew larger than ever in 2024. But, for the fourth year in a row, the huge charity failed to give away the minimum amount required by law — and the donations it did make went largely to charities closely tied to Mr. Musk himself."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/u...
Elon Musk’s Foundation Grows to $14 Billion, but Gives Little to Outsiders
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:30 PM
"Elon Musk’s charitable foundation grew larger than ever in 2024. But, for the fourth year in a row, the huge charity failed to give away the minimum amount required by law — and the donations it did make went largely to charities closely tied to Mr. Musk himself."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/u...
Reposted by Arielle Zionts
NEWS: Before it cuts $900 billion-plus from Medicaid, Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" sends $50 billion to states for rural health care.
Who wants the money and what they'd do with it is less than transparent. But @ajzionts.bsky.social + @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social are on the case.
Who wants the money and what they'd do with it is less than transparent. But @ajzionts.bsky.social + @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social are on the case.
Our story has a map/database of state applications to the Rural Health Transformation Program! Proposals include using drones to deliver meds, installing produce refrigerators, + bringing telehealth to libraries+senior centers.
W/ @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
W/ @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
December 2, 2025 at 7:50 PM
NEWS: Before it cuts $900 billion-plus from Medicaid, Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" sends $50 billion to states for rural health care.
Who wants the money and what they'd do with it is less than transparent. But @ajzionts.bsky.social + @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social are on the case.
Who wants the money and what they'd do with it is less than transparent. But @ajzionts.bsky.social + @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social are on the case.
Reposted by Arielle Zionts
"The purpose of this policy [not to release applications during review] is to protect the integrity of evaluations, applicant confidentiality..."
Applicant confidentiality for states that are to be responsive to their constituents? These aren't academic faculty or private companies.
Applicant confidentiality for states that are to be responsive to their constituents? These aren't academic faculty or private companies.
Our story has a map/database of state applications to the Rural Health Transformation Program! Proposals include using drones to deliver meds, installing produce refrigerators, + bringing telehealth to libraries+senior centers.
W/ @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
W/ @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
December 2, 2025 at 5:36 PM
"The purpose of this policy [not to release applications during review] is to protect the integrity of evaluations, applicant confidentiality..."
Applicant confidentiality for states that are to be responsive to their constituents? These aren't academic faculty or private companies.
Applicant confidentiality for states that are to be responsive to their constituents? These aren't academic faculty or private companies.
Our story has a map/database of state applications to the Rural Health Transformation Program! Proposals include using drones to deliver meds, installing produce refrigerators, + bringing telehealth to libraries+senior centers.
W/ @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
W/ @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
December 2, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Our story has a map/database of state applications to the Rural Health Transformation Program! Proposals include using drones to deliver meds, installing produce refrigerators, + bringing telehealth to libraries+senior centers.
W/ @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
W/ @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Reposted by Arielle Zionts
A 60 year old in Charleston, WV making $65,000 would see their annual out-of-pocket premium increase from $5,525 to $27,864 if the enhanced ACA tax credits expire.
The same 60 year old living in Charlottesville, VA would see their out-of-pocket premium go from $5,525 to $12,616.
The same 60 year old living in Charlottesville, VA would see their out-of-pocket premium go from $5,525 to $12,616.
December 1, 2025 at 4:08 PM
A 60 year old in Charleston, WV making $65,000 would see their annual out-of-pocket premium increase from $5,525 to $27,864 if the enhanced ACA tax credits expire.
The same 60 year old living in Charlottesville, VA would see their out-of-pocket premium go from $5,525 to $12,616.
The same 60 year old living in Charlottesville, VA would see their out-of-pocket premium go from $5,525 to $12,616.
Reposted by Arielle Zionts
An individual ACA enrollee making $25,000 would see their annual out-of-pocket premium increase about 12 fold, from $98 to $1,165, if the enhanced ACA premium tax credits are allowed to expire at the end of the year.
December 1, 2025 at 4:07 PM
An individual ACA enrollee making $25,000 would see their annual out-of-pocket premium increase about 12 fold, from $98 to $1,165, if the enhanced ACA premium tax credits are allowed to expire at the end of the year.
Reposted by Arielle Zionts
One of the challenges in explaining the impact of enhanced ACA tax credits expiring on premium payments is that it varies so much, depending on income, age, family size, and geography. The average increase would be 114%, or $1,016, but there is a wide range.
December 1, 2025 at 4:07 PM
One of the challenges in explaining the impact of enhanced ACA tax credits expiring on premium payments is that it varies so much, depending on income, age, family size, and geography. The average increase would be 114%, or $1,016, but there is a wide range.
“Miles said her son and uncle were both detained by ICE agents who initially did not accept their tribal IDs before they were eventually let go.”
Indigenous actress Elaine Miles of "Northern Exposure" was detained by ICE at a Redmond bus stop. When she showed them her Tribal ID, they told her it was fake
‘Northern Exposure’ actor gave ICE agents in Redmond her tribal ID. They called it ‘fake,’ she says
Indigenous actor Elaine Miles of "Northern Exposure" was detained by ICE at a Redmond bus stop. When she showed them her Tribal ID, they told her it was fake.
www.seattletimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:06 AM
“Miles said her son and uncle were both detained by ICE agents who initially did not accept their tribal IDs before they were eventually let go.”
Reposted by Arielle Zionts
The CDC has turned off its vaccine search tool.
The vaccines.gov site now gives an error when you enter a valid zip code.
They also removed text saying “Vaccines can help you stay healthy” and added a banner saying the site is being updated.
The vaccines.gov site now gives an error when you enter a valid zip code.
They also removed text saying “Vaccines can help you stay healthy” and added a banner saying the site is being updated.
November 26, 2025 at 5:50 AM
The CDC has turned off its vaccine search tool.
The vaccines.gov site now gives an error when you enter a valid zip code.
They also removed text saying “Vaccines can help you stay healthy” and added a banner saying the site is being updated.
The vaccines.gov site now gives an error when you enter a valid zip code.
They also removed text saying “Vaccines can help you stay healthy” and added a banner saying the site is being updated.
Up to 90 tortoises and alligators died in the fire, according to Cowboy State Daily 😞
cowboystatedaily.com/2025/11/24/1...
cowboystatedaily.com/2025/11/24/1...
November 24, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Up to 90 tortoises and alligators died in the fire, according to Cowboy State Daily 😞
cowboystatedaily.com/2025/11/24/1...
cowboystatedaily.com/2025/11/24/1...
Reposted by Arielle Zionts
Three charts reveal details of the 351 workplace injuries experienced by turkey industry workers in 2024, which include severed fingers, injured corneas and musculoskeletal disorders. @greymoran.bsky.social and @miriamquick.bsky.social report:
Heat Exhaustion, Amputated Fingers, Crushed Limbs: The Hidden Cost of American Turkey
Three charts reveal details of the 351 workplace injuries experienced by turkey industry workers in 2024, which include severed fingers, injured corneas and musculoskeletal disorders.
buff.ly
November 24, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Three charts reveal details of the 351 workplace injuries experienced by turkey industry workers in 2024, which include severed fingers, injured corneas and musculoskeletal disorders. @greymoran.bsky.social and @miriamquick.bsky.social report:
Reposted by Arielle Zionts
Chicagoland hospitals initiated 100s of guardianship petitions in just 18 months. In many cases, that eased the way for hospitals to discharge patients to subpar nursing homes, sometimes bypassing family members who disagreed with the hospital’s choice. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/23/g...
November 23, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Chicagoland hospitals initiated 100s of guardianship petitions in just 18 months. In many cases, that eased the way for hospitals to discharge patients to subpar nursing homes, sometimes bypassing family members who disagreed with the hospital’s choice. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/23/g...
"More than 1 in 4 physicians surveyed by the American Medical Association in December said that prior authorization had led to a serious adverse event for a patient in their care. And 8% responded that prior authorization led to a disability, birth defect, or death."
Eric Tennant’s doctors recommended histotripsy, which would target, and potentially destroy, a cancerous tumor in his liver. But by the time his insurer approved the treatment, Tennant was no longer considered a good candidate. He died in September. kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
After Series of Denials, His Insurer Approved Doctor-Recommended Cancer Care. It Was Too Late. - KFF Health News
Eric Tennant’s doctors recommended histotripsy, which would target, and potentially destroy, a cancerous tumor in his liver. But by the time his insurer approved the treatment, Tennant was no longer c...
kffhealthnews.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:57 PM
"More than 1 in 4 physicians surveyed by the American Medical Association in December said that prior authorization had led to a serious adverse event for a patient in their care. And 8% responded that prior authorization led to a disability, birth defect, or death."