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realbrambo.bsky.social
Bram Sable-Smith
@realbrambo.bsky.social
470 followers 250 following 150 posts
Writing about abortion, guns, insulin, trans health care and the Midwest for KFF Health News Signal: Brambo.11
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realbrambo.bsky.social
Bram Sable-Smith @realbrambo.bsky.social · Jun 30
NEW: Under GOP budget bill, 18.5 million Americans would need to prove they work to keep their Medicaid coverage.

One of them is likely a Kansas City woman who already had to make an excruciating choice due to Medicaid rules: give up guardianship of her disabled son to work as his caregiver.
To keep Medicaid, a mom caring for her disabled adult son may soon need to prove she works
Republicans have touted Medicaid work requirements both as a way to reduce federal spending on the program and as a moral imperative for Americans.
www.nbcnews.com
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Reposted by Bram Sable-Smith
kff.org
KFF @kff.org · 1d
KFF analysis finds 27% of farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers got health insurance through the individual market in 2023, which is mostly (over 90%) made up of the ACA Marketplaces.

🔗: https://on.kff.org/46A1Crt
KFF graphic showing about a quarter (27%) of farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers got health insurance through the individual market in 2023.
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Reposted by Bram Sable-Smith
sjtribble-reports.bsky.social
Sarah Jane Tribble @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social · 16d
"We are hurting ourselves in North Carolina way ahead of the game, way before we need to do this," NC's former Chief Medical Officer told me.

Reporting w/ @realbrambo.bsky.social for @kffhealthnews.org

kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
States Are Cutting Medicaid Provider Payments Long Before Trump Cuts Hit - KFF Health News
North Carolina and Idaho are cutting their Medicaid programs to bridge budget gaps, raising fears that providers will stop taking patients and that hospitals will close even before the brunt of a new ...
kffhealthnews.org
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Reposted by Bram Sable-Smith
amymaxmen.bsky.social
Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · 16d
🚨 "Sick to my stomach."

That's how the researcher who found a link between Tylenol and autism felt when she realized MAHA would link her analysis to vaccines.

My latest exclusive @kffhealthnews.org
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
‘Sick to My Stomach’: Trump Distorts Facts on Autism, Tylenol, and Vaccines, Scientists Say - KFF Health News
The White House’s autism announcement exaggerates links to Tylenol, misleads on vaccines, and sets back the field by ignoring decades of research, scientists say.
kffhealthnews.org
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realbrambo.bsky.social
Bram Sable-Smith @realbrambo.bsky.social · 16d
NEW: Trump's signature legislation is cutting $1 trillion from Medicaid. But even before those cuts hits, states are slashing their programs.

It's already making it harder for one North Carolina mom to find care for her disabled son
w/ @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social
States Are Cutting Medicaid Provider Payments Long Before Trump Cuts Hit - KFF Health News
North Carolina and Idaho are cutting their Medicaid programs to bridge budget gaps, raising fears that providers will stop taking patients and that hospitals will close even before the brunt of a new ...
kffhealthnews.org
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Reposted by Bram Sable-Smith
rachanadpradhan.bsky.social
Rachana Pradhan @rachanadpradhan.bsky.social · Sep 5
We previously reported that the number of people receiving treatment at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center - known as America's research hospital - declined from February-April.

Since then, I obtained newer data through mid-August. And it's gotten worse. youtube.com/shorts/yT5Vc...
Patient Numbers at NIH Hospital Continue To Decline Under Second Trump Administration
YouTube video by KFF Health News
youtube.com
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Reposted by Bram Sable-Smith
larrylevitt.bsky.social
Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · Sep 4
The Trump administration announces it is making "affordable" ACA plans available to certain groups of people, including those who lose eligibility for tax credits slated to expire at the end of the year.

These plans have lower premiums, but deductibles of over $10,000.
www.cms.gov/newsroom/pre...
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realbrambo.bsky.social
Bram Sable-Smith @realbrambo.bsky.social · Sep 2
NEW: Feel like you're reading more about hospitals fighting with insurers and even stranding patients out of network?

It's not your imagination. Almost 1 in 5 hospitals had a brawl with an insurer in the past 4 years.

Trump admin cuts mean we're likely to see even more...
kffhealthnews.org
KFF Health News @kffhealthnews.org · Sep 2
Americans increasingly find themselves caught in disputes between hospitals and insurance companies.

@realbrambo.bsky.social writes that the fights could become more common as hospitals brace for cuts from Trump policies. kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
When Hospitals and Insurers Fight, Patients Get Caught in the Middle - KFF Health News
About 90,000 people spent months in limbo as central Missouri’s major, and often only, provider fought over insurance contracts. Patients getting caught in the crossfire of disputes has become a famil...
kffhealthnews.org
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Reposted by Bram Sable-Smith
dhm.bsky.social
Dan McQuade @dhm.bsky.social · Jul 22
Just heard a guy on the beach say “Microsoft Teams.” This is unacceptable.
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Reposted by Bram Sable-Smith
rachanadpradhan.bsky.social
Rachana Pradhan @rachanadpradhan.bsky.social · Jul 8
"It's a crap show"

"People will die"

The Trump administration’s broadsides against scientific research are causing unprecedented upheaval at the National Cancer Institute, which has spearheaded advances against the disease for decades. Me + @arthurallen202.bsky.social

www.cnn.com/2025/07/08/h...
World’s premier cancer institute faces crippling cuts and chaos | CNN
The Trump administration’s broadsides against scientific research have caused unprecedented upheaval at the National Cancer Institute, the storied federal government research hub that has spearheaded ...
www.cnn.com
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Reposted by Bram Sable-Smith
adrianna.bsky.social
Adrianna McIntyre @adrianna.bsky.social · Jul 3
Wisconsin passed a budget in the middle of the night that, among other things, increased provider taxes to the maximum permitted value, so they would be grandfathered before the House votes on reconciliation

www.wpr.org/news/tony-ev...
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realbrambo.bsky.social
Bram Sable-Smith @realbrambo.bsky.social · Jun 30
NEW: Under GOP budget bill, 18.5 million Americans would need to prove they work to keep their Medicaid coverage.

One of them is likely a Kansas City woman who already had to make an excruciating choice due to Medicaid rules: give up guardianship of her disabled son to work as his caregiver.
To keep Medicaid, a mom caring for her disabled adult son may soon need to prove she works
Republicans have touted Medicaid work requirements both as a way to reduce federal spending on the program and as a moral imperative for Americans.
www.nbcnews.com
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Reposted by Bram Sable-Smith
christine.21st.show
Christine Hatfield @christine.21st.show · Jun 18
In the wake of today's Supreme Court ruling in Skrmetti, looking for trans teens and parents of trans youth based in Illinois willing to talk about their experiences with gender-affirming care.

Hoping to have a conversation about this in the coming weeks on @21st.show.

My DMs are open.
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Reposted by Bram Sable-Smith
larrylevitt.bsky.social
Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · Jun 16
When the House budget resolution first came out, moderate Republicans raised concerns about Medicaid. But, the House-passed bill cut Medicaid by $793 billion.

There was an expectation the Senate might moderate cuts. Now, they're looking at even bigger Medicaid cuts.
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Reposted by Bram Sable-Smith
larrylevitt.bsky.social
Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · Jun 16
To be clear, undocumented immigrants are not eligible for federally-funded benefits, including Medicaid.
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simonepopperl.bsky.social
Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · Jun 13
In the middle of this wild week of other news, the amazing Jackie Fortiér and I were running down this story that published today on @npr.org and @kffhealthnews.org

Here's what happened, and why I think it's worth paying attention even with all of....this....going on 👇
RFK Jr. sent Congress 'medical disinformation' to defend COVID vaccine schedule change
A document circulated to members of Congress misinterprets studies and cites debunked research, scientists say. It could influence congressional perceptions of vaccine safety.
www.npr.org
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Reposted by Bram Sable-Smith
rachanadpradhan.bsky.social
Rachana Pradhan @rachanadpradhan.bsky.social · Jun 9
NEWS this morning: Hundreds of NIH workers sent a sharply worded letter to Trump officials this morning protesting their actions regarding the agency, saying they are causing a "dramatic reduction in life-saving research.”

kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
‘We Dissent’: NIH Workers Protest Trump Policies That ‘Harm the Health of Americans’ - KFF Health News
A letter signed by more than 300 National Institutes of Health workers — some still working, others who were fired this year — is an extraordinary public rebuke of actions taken under Director Jay Bha...
kffhealthnews.org
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realbrambo.bsky.social
Bram Sable-Smith @realbrambo.bsky.social · Jun 3
NEW: Violent crime was already trending down when Trump campaigned on addressing unbridled crime in America.

Now his administration has cut about $500 million for crime prevention.

My latest for @cnn.com and @kffhealthnews.org

www.cnn.com/2025/06/03/h...
Trump decried crime in America, then gutted funding for gun violence prevention | CNN
The U.S. Department of Justice canceled $500 million in grants to public safety organizations nationwide, including some that address gun violence. One clinic in St. Louis lost a $2 million award to d...
www.cnn.com
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Reposted by Bram Sable-Smith
peggylowe.bsky.social
Peggy Lowe @peggylowe.bsky.social · Jun 3
Three mothers whose children were shot during the Chiefs' Super Bowl rally in 2024 are suing a host of entities, saying the mass shooting shows systemic failure and could have been prevented. www.kcur.org/news/2025-06...
Kansas City Super Bowl rally victims file suit, saying shooting was a ‘preventable calamity'
Three mothers who were shot, along with their children, filed the lawsuit in Jackson County Court, saying “systemic failures” by the firearms sellers, the city, Union Station and the Greater Kansas Ci...
www.kcur.org
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stlpublicradio.bsky.social
St. Louis Public Radio @stlpublicradio.bsky.social · May 24
A Kennett, Missouri, woman went to St. Louis last month for what she thought was a routine meeting with immigration officials to renew her immigration documents.

Instead, they shackled her and are now trying to deport her to Hong Kong.
'Bring Carol home:' ICE snatches rural Missouri mom at immigration check-in
A Kennett, Missouri, woman went to St. Louis last month for what she thought was a routine meeting with immigration officials to renew her immigration documents. Instead, they shackled her and are now...
www.stlpr.org
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Reposted by Bram Sable-Smith
kffhealthnews.org
KFF Health News @kffhealthnews.org · May 22
Kevin Hines has been living in a house without a roof in the days since a tornado devastated his community.

He has seen some of his neighbors sleeping in their cars.

The twister caused more than $1.6 billion in estimated property damage. But the community is still waiting for federal aid.
A man, Kevin Hines, stands in front of one of the many trees uprooted in St. Louis during a tornado.
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ajzionts.bsky.social
Arielle Zionts @ajzionts.bsky.social · May 19
What happens when rural birthing units close?
➡️Sophie doesn't want an induction but is worried if she can't make it to the hospital (1.5-hours away) on time + has to deliver in the car
➡️A winter storm made it too dangerous to drive to a birthing hospital so Nanette delivered in an ER w/o an epidural
kffhealthnews.org
KFF Health News @kffhealthnews.org · May 19
More than 100 rural hospitals have stopped delivering babies since 2021, including a South Dakota hospital that serves small towns, farming communities, and a Native American reservation. Patients there now travel at least an hour to give birth. kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Rural Patients Face Tough Choices When Their Hospitals Stop Delivering Babies - KFF Health News
More than 100 rural hospitals have stopped delivering babies since 2021, including a South Dakota hospital that serves small towns, farming communities, and a Native American reservation. Patients the...
kffhealthnews.org
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realbrambo.bsky.social
Bram Sable-Smith @realbrambo.bsky.social · May 19
Also surprising is how being even just one block further removed from the path of the storm is the difference between total devastation and life continuing almost normally.
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realbrambo.bsky.social
Bram Sable-Smith @realbrambo.bsky.social · May 19
The wreckage from the tornado in St. Louis on Friday was unbelievable and I've been surprised how little attention and coverage it's received nationally.
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realbrambo.bsky.social
Bram Sable-Smith @realbrambo.bsky.social · May 19
Tornado response update: Mayor doesn't know reason for 'holdup' in federal emergency response
The price tag on the storm damage in the city has reached a conservative estimate of $1.6 billion.
www.stltoday.com
Reposted by Bram Sable-Smith
larrylevitt.bsky.social
Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · May 16
Some context here: Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for federally-funded Medicaid coverage, though some states use their own money to cover them. CBO estimates 1.4 million immigrants would become uninsured and lose STATE-FUNDED coverage as a result of the bill.
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