Notices by Josephine Lee (josephinelee@texasobserver.social)

Rural Hospitals Question Whether They Can Afford Medicare Advantage Contracts https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/rural-hospitals-private-medicare-advantage-contracts-reimbursements/

“Ultimately, you’re going to see the system collapse and an interruption of benefits,” O’Malley [former U.S. Social Security Administration Commisioner] said. ..Ahead of any interruption in benefits, “people should start saving now,” O’Malley said. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/01/doge-actions-may-cause-social-security-benefit-interruption-ex-agency-head.html

“Potter said she was performing…a surgery…when she was interrupted by a call from United Healthcare. The patient was already asleep on the operating table.”They demanded information about her diagnosis.” https://www.newsweek.com/doctor-says-unitedhealthcare-stopped-cancer-surgery-ask-if-necessary-2012069

“On Tuesday night, the GOP-controlled House passed the Laken Riley Act by a vote of 264-159, doing so with the support of 48 Democrats, a surge in anti-migrant voting that caught immigrant rights lobbyists in Washington off guard,” by @dropsitenews.com https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/democrats-in-full-retreat-on-immigration?publication_id=2510348&utm_campaign=email-post-title&r=lw1uu&utm_medium=email

CFPB Bans Medical Debt From Credit Reports—But GOP Wants to Reverse It https://www.commondreams.org/news/cfpb-medical-debt

The Shkreli awards go to these ten healthcare profiteers deemed worse in the industry. “Selling body parts without consent and billing desperate parents $97,599 for air transport among worst examples.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/07/annual-awards-healthcare-profiteering

“The country’s largest health insurers have invested over $120 billion into repurchasing their own shares since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010.” https://www.levernews.com/health-insurers-gave-120-billion-to-shareholders-while-denying-your-claim/

This article spends a lot of space bemoaning how “Protecting a chief executive [from security threats] full time costs roughly $250,000 a year” and very little space on how families who make a fraction of that are routinely denied healthcare. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/06/business/brian-thompson-insurance-executives-threats.html

Many people may not know that Taiwanese Americans exist, that we have a distinct culture and language from that of the Chinese, that the first wave of migrants here fought to end a dictatorship back home and are still fighting to maintain their freedom there. I wrote about my family’s and others’ journey here in Houston. #AAPI #Asianamericanhistory #taiwaneseamerican https://www.texasobserver.org/houston-hotbed-taiwanese-nationalism/

“There’s no guarantee that private insurance will be available to property owners if the federal program scales back.” https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/flood-insurance-donald-trump-project-19906631.php

“The ‘nonprofit killer’ bill is part of a larger Rep. effort to attack what many on the right call “woke capitalism,” incl environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, embrace more diverse workforces, and other efforts.” https://www.levernews.com/gop-takes-first-steps-to-shut-down-climate-groups/

We need a deeper examination of why large numbers of people of color, immigrants are embracing Trump. It’s easy to dismiss these voters as ignorant, but there needs to be some real analysis of why the Democratic Party hasn’t been able to capture working people across the board. https://x.com/az_turned_blue/status/1854000622800159003?s=46&t=D9oB1vGmE8uNFOak2EbQrg

At RNC, Donald Trump vows 'largest deportation operation' in U.S. history. What would that mean? https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/election/2024/article/donald-trump-mass-deportation-texas-19582798.php?utm_campaign=CMS%20Sharing%20Tools%20(Premium)&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral

SCOTUS ruling authorizes cities to ban outdoor sleeping encampments: “Cities are now further emboldened to ignore effective housing-based solutions, opting instead to punish those with no alternative but to sleep on the streets.” https://truthout.org/articles/scotus-ruling-sets-stage-for-battle-over-camping-bans-against-unhoused-people/

First the Katy ISD board goes after transgender students and now immigrant students? They should not have this power over children’s futures. “These Katy ISD board member calls for legislative action to allow tracking immigration status of students.”https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/katy/article/katy-isd-trustee-calls-tracking-student-19444072.php

“Americans Paid $11 Billion To Make Drugs You Can’t Afford-A bombshell report reveals that taxpayers spent billions developing medicines that drugmakers say shouldn’t face Medicare price negotiations.” https://www.levernews.com/americans-paid-11-billion-to-make-drugs-you-cant-afford/

Abbott-appointed billionaire helping Elon Musk acquire sensitive Texas parkland for SpaceX: SpaceX offered land already slated for conservation in return for state park land near its launchpad. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/musk-spacex-parkland-billionaire-oilman-hildebrand-18652143.php

During his presidency, Trump railed against China while personally enriching himself with their patronage: “$5.5 million…incl from China’s Embassy in the United States, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and the Hainan Airlines Holding Company.” https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/04/us/politics/trump-hotels-foreign-business-report.html?unlocked_article_code=1.LE0.XfPn.rKfZLccz_cp6&hpgrp=ar-abar&smid=url-share

This 10-mile-billion-dollar private tollway, built on state-owned land, at a rate of $106 million/mile, has exacted a high price from drivers and workers. https://www.texasobserver.org/txdot-construction-toll-workers-deaths/