Tinker Ready
@tinkerr.bsky.social
Freelance health and science journalist. Medscape, Health Leaders, Nature, Boston Globe, Washington Post, Fast Company, Parents, News & Observer and more.
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Reposted by Tinker Ready
on this week's #WTHealth podcast: The latest on the fight over ACA subsidies and changes to vaccine policy. With @annaedney.bsky.social, @maya-goldman.bsky.social, and our newest panelist, @sherylnyt.bsky.social.
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...
Crunch Time for ACA Tax Credits - KFF Health News
Dec. 15 is the deadline to sign up for Affordable Care Act plans that begin Jan. 1, and Congress remains at odds over letting expanded tax credits for the plans’ premiums expire and increasing the cos...
kffhealthnews.org
December 12, 2025 at 8:22 PM
on this week's #WTHealth podcast: The latest on the fight over ACA subsidies and changes to vaccine policy. With @annaedney.bsky.social, @maya-goldman.bsky.social, and our newest panelist, @sherylnyt.bsky.social.
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...
Please read all of these: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/u...
Kids Rarely Read Whole Books Anymore. Even in English Class.
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Please read all of these: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/u...
Reposted by Tinker Ready
Read to the end. NPR asked why the Trump team ended a low-cost program that cured millions of tropical diseases w drugs donated by pharma. The spokesperson replied with an NPR headline—“Farewell to USAID”—and said: “What do you think farewell meant?” www.npr.org/sections/goa...
The fight to beat neglected tropical diseases was going well. 2025 could change that
The campaign to prevent and treat these diseases has seen great success thanks to a USAID program. Now that program is gone.
www.npr.org
December 11, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Read to the end. NPR asked why the Trump team ended a low-cost program that cured millions of tropical diseases w drugs donated by pharma. The spokesperson replied with an NPR headline—“Farewell to USAID”—and said: “What do you think farewell meant?” www.npr.org/sections/goa...
Reposted by Tinker Ready
Covid vaccines released last fall sharply decreased the risk of ER and urgent care visits in children, according to new data released by the CDC — providing a striking counterpoint to Trump administration rhetoric about the shots
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/h...
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/h...
Covid Vaccines Reduced Children’s Likelihood of E.R. and Urgent Care Visits, the C.D.C. Reported
www.nytimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Covid vaccines released last fall sharply decreased the risk of ER and urgent care visits in children, according to new data released by the CDC — providing a striking counterpoint to Trump administration rhetoric about the shots
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/h...
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/h...
Khmer Rouge-Era Land Mines Have a Big Role in Thailand-Cambodia Conflict www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/w...
Khmer Rouge-Era Land Mines Have a Big Role in Thailand-Cambodia Conflict
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Khmer Rouge-Era Land Mines Have a Big Role in Thailand-Cambodia Conflict www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/w...
Reposted by Tinker Ready
The twelfth installment in the @nytimes.com Lost Science series is up: an entomologist who helped protect people from malaria. Story by @alexaroblesgil.bsky.social Gift link: nyti.ms/4pBdYbk
She Studied Mosquitoes to Prevent Malaria
www.nytimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:44 PM
The twelfth installment in the @nytimes.com Lost Science series is up: an entomologist who helped protect people from malaria. Story by @alexaroblesgil.bsky.social Gift link: nyti.ms/4pBdYbk
Reposted by Tinker Ready
A grim story of rural exploitation, shared by Sam the rural health advoCATe. Not the kind of provider rural needs.
#PowerOfRuralCats
#PowerOfRuralCats
Phoebe Memorial, the sole hospital in Albany, GA, was founded on the idea that all patients be treated, regardless of their ability to pay.
So why do some residents — including many hospital staffers — turn to a free clinic for care?
THREAD 🧵
So why do some residents — including many hospital staffers — turn to a free clinic for care?
THREAD 🧵
December 12, 2025 at 2:42 AM
A grim story of rural exploitation, shared by Sam the rural health advoCATe. Not the kind of provider rural needs.
#PowerOfRuralCats
#PowerOfRuralCats
Reposted by Tinker Ready
See a NACCHO resource featuring current trends and useful communication and funding strategies identified by local public health staff to support and sustain future environmental health efforts. https://ow.ly/fb7950XHqSA
December 12, 2025 at 3:01 PM
See a NACCHO resource featuring current trends and useful communication and funding strategies identified by local public health staff to support and sustain future environmental health efforts. https://ow.ly/fb7950XHqSA
Reposted by Tinker Ready
On consolidation of the health care marketplace: “A lot of what they are attributing to the ACA would have happened anyway,” an expert tells KFF Health News. kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Health Care Consolidation and Rising Costs Happen, but Obamacare Is Not the Key Culprit - KFF Health News
The debate over expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits has given Republicans room to resurface old criticisms — such as blaming the ACA for mergers and consolidation within the health care industry.
kffhealthnews.org
December 11, 2025 at 4:47 PM
On consolidation of the health care marketplace: “A lot of what they are attributing to the ACA would have happened anyway,” an expert tells KFF Health News. kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Reposted by Tinker Ready
One ACA enrollee described being on the phone with healthcare.gov marketplace representatives to sort out a fraudulent plan sign-up in his name. During that call, he said, “literally, there was someone opening a new policy without my consent.” kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Plan-Switching, Sign-Up Impersonations: Obamacare Enrollment Fraud Persists - KFF Health News
Investigators from the Government Accountability Office were able to register nearly 20 fake ACA enrollments in a probe of healthcare.gov. The federal government paid subsidies to insurers for some of...
kffhealthnews.org
December 10, 2025 at 4:57 PM
One ACA enrollee described being on the phone with healthcare.gov marketplace representatives to sort out a fraudulent plan sign-up in his name. During that call, he said, “literally, there was someone opening a new policy without my consent.” kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Reposted by Tinker Ready
Children who appear to have similar traumatic brain injuries may actually be responding very differently at the cellular level, according to new research. Scientists say understanding these epigenetic changes could eventually lead to more personalized treatment plans for recovery. buff.ly/7flsmKH
Newly discovered link between traumatic brain injury in children and epigenetic changes could help personalize treatment for recovering kids
Some children recover better after traumatic brain injury than others, despite appearing similarly to doctors. Looking at the genetic and cellular level, however, reveal key differences.
theconversation.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Children who appear to have similar traumatic brain injuries may actually be responding very differently at the cellular level, according to new research. Scientists say understanding these epigenetic changes could eventually lead to more personalized treatment plans for recovery. buff.ly/7flsmKH
Losing confidence in the #CDC? Look to your state, county or city for health advice. Maybe not in in FLA. www.naccho.org/membership/l...
Directory of Local Health Departments - NACCHO
www.naccho.org
December 10, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Losing confidence in the #CDC? Look to your state, county or city for health advice. Maybe not in in FLA. www.naccho.org/membership/l...
Reposted by Tinker Ready
We’re offering free vaccine clinics in Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Back Bay, and the North End. No appointment, insurance, or identification required.
Vaccines are safe, effective, and protect against serious illness. Find upcoming clinics at boston.gov/vaccine-clinics.
Vaccines are safe, effective, and protect against serious illness. Find upcoming clinics at boston.gov/vaccine-clinics.
Free Vaccine Clinics in Boston
Everyone ages six months and older is encouraged to get the updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Pregnant parents, babies, and older adults should consult their health care professional about RSV vaccin...
boston.gov
December 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
We’re offering free vaccine clinics in Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Back Bay, and the North End. No appointment, insurance, or identification required.
Vaccines are safe, effective, and protect against serious illness. Find upcoming clinics at boston.gov/vaccine-clinics.
Vaccines are safe, effective, and protect against serious illness. Find upcoming clinics at boston.gov/vaccine-clinics.
Reposted by Tinker Ready
ProPublica is hiring and we have a slew of great job opportunities:
* Copy editor
* Texas reporter
* Senior editor, Business
* Senior editor, LRN
* YouTube senior producer
* YouTube producer (two-year)
job-boards.greenhouse.io/propublica
* Copy editor
* Texas reporter
* Senior editor, Business
* Senior editor, LRN
* YouTube senior producer
* YouTube producer (two-year)
job-boards.greenhouse.io/propublica
December 9, 2025 at 5:28 PM
ProPublica is hiring and we have a slew of great job opportunities:
* Copy editor
* Texas reporter
* Senior editor, Business
* Senior editor, LRN
* YouTube senior producer
* YouTube producer (two-year)
job-boards.greenhouse.io/propublica
* Copy editor
* Texas reporter
* Senior editor, Business
* Senior editor, LRN
* YouTube senior producer
* YouTube producer (two-year)
job-boards.greenhouse.io/propublica
Reposted by Tinker Ready
🎉 Announcing CitiesLEAD, a new national network that helps cities turn life-expectancy data into action. Thanks to a $1.5M investment from @rwjf.org, cities will get tools + training to help close health gaps across neighborhoods. www.bigcitieshealth.org/citieslead-l... @publichealth.boston.gov
December 8, 2025 at 8:30 PM
🎉 Announcing CitiesLEAD, a new national network that helps cities turn life-expectancy data into action. Thanks to a $1.5M investment from @rwjf.org, cities will get tools + training to help close health gaps across neighborhoods. www.bigcitieshealth.org/citieslead-l... @publichealth.boston.gov
Reposted by Tinker Ready
It’s back to the future as Trump and congressional Republicans push for more health accounts and high deductibles.
https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/trump-health-accounts-hsa-cash-patient-debt-high-deductible-insurance/
https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/trump-health-accounts-hsa-cash-patient-debt-high-deductible-insurance/
Trump's Idea for Health Accounts Has Been Tried. Millions of Patients Have Ended Up in Debt. - KFF Health News
Republican calls to give Americans cash instead of health insurance subsidies double down on a decades-old strategy of moving people into high-deductible plans with health savings accounts.
kffhealthnews.org
December 9, 2025 at 5:15 PM
It’s back to the future as Trump and congressional Republicans push for more health accounts and high deductibles.
https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/trump-health-accounts-hsa-cash-patient-debt-high-deductible-insurance/
https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/trump-health-accounts-hsa-cash-patient-debt-high-deductible-insurance/
Reposted by Tinker Ready
Brand new research shows U.S. health insurance premiums climbed 3x faster than worker earnings since 1999. And premiums are set to jump again in the new year. buff.ly/y4hKrZZ
December 8, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Brand new research shows U.S. health insurance premiums climbed 3x faster than worker earnings since 1999. And premiums are set to jump again in the new year. buff.ly/y4hKrZZ
A Threat to Evidence-Based Vaccine Policy and Public Health Security at the FDA | New England Journal of Medicine www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
A Threat to Evidence-Based Vaccine Policy and Public Health Security at the FDA | NEJM
Twelve former commissioners of the FDA express concern that the agency’s recent moves will undermine a regulatory model designed to ensure vaccine safety, effectiveness, and availability.
www.nejm.org
December 6, 2025 at 3:47 PM
A Threat to Evidence-Based Vaccine Policy and Public Health Security at the FDA | New England Journal of Medicine www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
His lab was humming with discovery. After one year under Trump, it’s almost silent www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/r... via @statnews.com
His lab was humming with discovery. After one year under Trump, it’s almost silent
John Quackenbush built a lab that is at the forefront of human genetics research and bioinformatics. Trump administration cuts have put it in danger of collapse.
www.statnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:33 PM
His lab was humming with discovery. After one year under Trump, it’s almost silent www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/r... via @statnews.com
Reposted by Tinker Ready
What do 17th-century wooden boards have to do with @realgdt.bsky.social's "Frankenstein"? 🎬
Find out the answers to questions like this by subscribing to SciFri's Science Goes To The Movies newsletter: buff.ly/3IWxu4Y
Find out the answers to questions like this by subscribing to SciFri's Science Goes To The Movies newsletter: buff.ly/3IWxu4Y
December 4, 2025 at 11:56 PM
What do 17th-century wooden boards have to do with @realgdt.bsky.social's "Frankenstein"? 🎬
Find out the answers to questions like this by subscribing to SciFri's Science Goes To The Movies newsletter: buff.ly/3IWxu4Y
Find out the answers to questions like this by subscribing to SciFri's Science Goes To The Movies newsletter: buff.ly/3IWxu4Y
Reposted by Tinker Ready
The UK reached an “agreement in principle” with the U.S. to raise its spending on prescription drugs.
This outrageous giveaway to Big Pharma does nothing to lower prices for American consumers.
It's just another example of the Trump admin trying to disguise a bad deal as a win.
This outrageous giveaway to Big Pharma does nothing to lower prices for American consumers.
It's just another example of the Trump admin trying to disguise a bad deal as a win.
December 4, 2025 at 6:33 PM
The UK reached an “agreement in principle” with the U.S. to raise its spending on prescription drugs.
This outrageous giveaway to Big Pharma does nothing to lower prices for American consumers.
It's just another example of the Trump admin trying to disguise a bad deal as a win.
This outrageous giveaway to Big Pharma does nothing to lower prices for American consumers.
It's just another example of the Trump admin trying to disguise a bad deal as a win.
Reposted by Tinker Ready
🦟 #Malaria funding is less than half of what @who.int says is required.
Cuts to surveillance threaten early detection, outbreak response & accurate data.
🚨“We cannot fight an enemy we do not know."
@mmv.org @novartis.bsky.social
📖⬇️ & 🙏🔁
Cuts to surveillance threaten early detection, outbreak response & accurate data.
🚨“We cannot fight an enemy we do not know."
@mmv.org @novartis.bsky.social
📖⬇️ & 🙏🔁
Global Malaria Threat Deepens As Drug Resistance Rises - Health Policy Watch
Global malaria programmes have helped to save an estimated 14 million lives between 2000 and 2024, but growing drug resistance is threatening to undermine
healthpolicy-watch.news
December 4, 2025 at 5:27 PM
🦟 #Malaria funding is less than half of what @who.int says is required.
Cuts to surveillance threaten early detection, outbreak response & accurate data.
🚨“We cannot fight an enemy we do not know."
@mmv.org @novartis.bsky.social
📖⬇️ & 🙏🔁
Cuts to surveillance threaten early detection, outbreak response & accurate data.
🚨“We cannot fight an enemy we do not know."
@mmv.org @novartis.bsky.social
📖⬇️ & 🙏🔁
A New Kind of Primary Care Comes to America tradeoffs.org/2024/06/06/n...
A New Kind of Primary Care Comes to America
A group of nurses in East Baltimore is piloting a bold plan to bring basic primary care to everybody no matter their age, income or insurance. Can this idea from abroad take root in the United States?
tradeoffs.org
December 4, 2025 at 3:40 PM
A New Kind of Primary Care Comes to America tradeoffs.org/2024/06/06/n...