Muni Investors Brace for Hospital-Bond Pain From Medicaid Cuts
Trump's $3.4 trillion tax and spending package makes substantial cuts to Medicaid, the public health-insurance program for low-income and disabled people. Republicans are also mulling deeper reductions to Medicaid in a follow-up bill.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
a minute ago
- CNET
This Is What Your Poop Is Trying to Tell You About Your Gut Health
While you may not regularly discuss your bowel movements with friends, it is still important to pay attention to them. After all, how often you poop, what your poop looks like and how long it takes you to poop can tell you a lot about your gut health, according to experts. To help you figure out what is normal versus unhealthy, we reached out to three gastroenterologists about everything you've ever wanted to know about your bowel movements. How often should you poop? You probably have someone in your family (if you're honest, maybe it's you) who's convinced they need to poop every morning. However, a healthy pooping schedule isn't the same for every person. You don't need to panic if you're not one of those people who goes to the bathroom like clockwork after your morning coffee. Dr. Lance Uradomo, an interventional gastroenterologist at City of Hope Orange County, explains, "The term 'regular' generally means that a person's bowel movement frequency is continuing without any change." In fact, the number of times you poop every week could vary dramatically from other people in your household with no cause for concern. Dr. Michael Schopis, gastroenterologist and attending physician at Manhattan Gastroenterology, says, "Normal poop frequency can range quite dramatically depending on the person. Pooping anywhere from every other day up to three to four times per day can be considered regular." As a general rule, Uradomo advises, "Three times a day to three times a week is considered a healthy range." However, the doctor warns, "It's important to recognize your own regular routine so that if the frequency suddenly changes, you can alert your doctor." Is it healthier to poop less or more often? Dr. Natasha Chhabra, a gastroenterologist at Gastroenterology Associates of New Jersey, says how often you poop may be less important than whether you're pooping enough. She explains, "Having adequate BMs [bowel movements] with complete evacuation is a great goal, as having a BM is one way our body rids itself of toxins and waste. Some can have a daily BM and still not feel that they have emptied." In other words, having less frequent but complete bowel movements may be healthier than having frequent small bowel movements. How often you should be pooping may also depend on how difficult it is for you to go number two. According to Schopis, "If it requires lots of straining and pushing to have a bowel movement or it requires you to spend 30 minutes on the toilet, then it's probably better for you to try and poop more often." He says you should introduce lifestyle changes to help induce pooping in this situation. The Mayo Clinic recommends eating high-fiber foods, staying hydrated and exercising as natural ways to prevent constipation. On the other hand, it's possible to poop too often. Schopis says, "If someone is going four to five times per day, it's watery and with significant urgency, then this person is probably pooping too much." The Mayo Clinic notes that everything from stomach viruses and bacterial infections to lactose intolerance may cause you to poop frequently. Antibiotics may also lead to temporary does healthy poop look like? Many doctors use the Bristol stool chart to help evaluate the health of bowel movements. The chart is a form scale, meaning that it rates stool based on factors like size and consistency. Bowel movements are rated from 1 to 7, with 1 being the most firm and 7 being entirely liquid. Bristol stool type 1-2: Rabbit or grape-like droppings that are quite hard and may be difficult to pass. Bristol stool type 3-4: Corn on the cob or sausage bowel movements that are soft and easy to pass. Bristol stool type 5-7: Mushy to liquid bowel movements that may or may not include some solid pieces. As Chhabra explains, "The middle of the chart (Bristol 3-4) describes a healthy BM, which is generally described as sausage or snake-like." Poop in these categories is also solid, while it may be either smooth or have some cracks on the surface. A healthy poop in the Bristol 3-4 categories indicates that someone is getting both enough water and enough fiber in their diet, according to Schopis. He notes that this type of stool is often easiest to pass, while "Bristol stool types 1-2 are often hard, pebbly and hard to pass, indicating constipation." If your poop floats, you could have excessive gas, be eating a diet with high-fat content or have a gastrointestinal tract issue. Your poop should sink more often than not. Color You also want to consider the color of your bowel movements. Uradomo reports that "healthy poop can be brown or even greenish but should never be black or contain blood. This could indicate the presence of cancer or other health problems." If your stool is particularly pale, you may want to talk to your doctor about your liver, pancreas and gallbladder health. Smell According to Mount Sinai Hospital, smell also matters. While poop is never meant to smell pleasant, if it suddenly has a new or particularly foul odor, you could be experiencing a condition like chronic pancreatitis or ulcerative colitis. The good news is that changes to your diet can also produce really stinky stool. So if you just have one seriously bad-smelling BM, it could be from eating or drinking something fermented or consuming a lot of garlic. How long should it take you to poop? It shouldn't take you more than a few minutes to poop. Schopis says, "Ideally, someone should spend 5 minutes or less without any pushing or straining to have a bowel movement." Chhabra agrees, explaining, "Spending more than a few minutes having a BM should raise concern for constipation, particularly if you are straining." Uradomo offers a little more leeway, saying, "It should take a person between 5 and 15 minutes on the toilet to have a bowel movement." He warns that sitting on the toilet for longer than that can "lead to problems such as hemorrhoids, reduced circulation or pelvic floor dysfunction." Dusanpetkovic/Getty Images What are the signs of an unhealthy bowel? There are several key signs that you may have an unhealthy bowel. These include: Pain: Frequent pain while pooping may be a cause for concern. This could mean your stool is too hard or there is a larger GI issue. Blood: Blood in the bowl after you poop may also signal an unhealthy bowel. Uradomo warns, "Blood in the stool can be caused by a relatively minor problem like hemorrhoids, but it may also be an indicator of cancer, bowel disease or major internal bleeding." You should monitor bleeding closely and consult your doctor. Loss of bowel control: If you experience bowel (fecal) incontinence, you may be experiencing weakened rectal or anal muscles. Muscle and nerve damage resulting from childbirth may also affect your ability to control bowel movements. Black stool: Uradomo warns that black or tarry-looking stools can indicate bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. This includes your esophagus, stomach and small intestine. Chronic diarrhea: If you often have diarrhea lasting more than a few days, you may be dealing with irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn's disease. Celiac disease can also cause frequent, pale diarrhea. When to talk to your doctor about your poop Any time you're experiencing painful pooping or the inability to have a bowel movement, it's worth talking to your doctor. The NHS warns that chronic constipation can lead to dangerous fecal impaction, and Healthline recommends seeking medical attention if it's been a full week without a bowel movement. Schopis says, "If you're finding that bowel movements control your life, either due to lack of frequency or going too much," it's a great idea to see a doctor. Black or bloody poop also signals that it's time for a medical evaluation. How to keep your poop healthy Sometimes lifestyle changes are all it takes to create healthier poop habits. For instance, make sure you drink enough water. Dehydration may lead to constipation or make your stool harder to pass. Chhabra also recommends eating fiber daily through whole fruits and vegetables. She says this "helps keep your bowel movements fuller and easier to pass." More specifically, Schopis advises people to aim for 2 to 3 liters of water per day and 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day to achieve healthy, normal bowel movements. Aside from this advice, you may want to consider exercising more to help your bowel run smoothly. The bottom line You don't need to poop every day, but you should track your habits and notice when there is a dramatic change. Symptoms like straining to poop or experiencing chronic diarrhea are signs that it's time to make an appointment with your doctor. In the meantime, eating fiber and drinking a lot of water are easy ways to help yourself to poop regularly.
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
IRS offers $2.895 million settlement with Maple Lawn over COVID-19 funding
COLDWATER, MI — County owned Maple Lawn Medical Care Facility received written confirmation Tuesday, July 22 of a settlement offer of $2.895 million from the IRS of an appeal of COVID-19 grants owed from the Employee Retention Credit program. Director Jayne Sabaitis told her board July 16 if confirmed, she would accept the offer after appealing denial of the original $3.6 million request filed three years ago during the pandemic. The money will help Maple Lawn make up for its current $1.3 million operating deficit caused by reduction in Medicaid funding for the current federal fiscal year. Prior story Maple Lawn to appeal IRS denial of $3.6 million in COVID-19 relief funds Sabaitis told her board she would consult with accountants Plante-Moran. 'We'll be discussing how that's going to affect our cost report. We want to make sure that we keep our expenses so that our Medicaid rate stays the same to make sure the use of the funds would not hurt next year's Medicaid funding," she said. Sabaitis told the board there are some capital projects which were delayed. 'We're not going to take this money and blow it. We want to hold cash as much as we can' with questions about future funding, she said. Related story With a current $1.2 million loss, Maple Lawn faces concerns with federal Medicaid cuts Sabaitis said five other Michigan nursing homes hired Washington legal counsel to sue the IRS over ERC denial. Maple Lawn was a late applicant for ERC funding only learning near the end of the pandemic the non-profit nursing facilities were eligible. The program was created for eligible businesses and tax-exempt organizations that had employees and saw increased costs or losses affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subscribe Support local to the Coldwater Reporter Maple Lawn is licensed for 114 beds but fluctuates by staffing. The nursing care and rehabilitation regularly reports over 90% occupancy. Contact Don Reid: dReid@ This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Maple Lawn to receive $2.895 million ERC program settlement from IRS Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
GP surgery rated outstanding by inspectors
A GP practice in Hull has been praised by health inspectors for "embracing new technology" and providing "the best possible care". The Laurbel Surgery, in Bilton, Hull, has been rated as "outstanding" by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an inspection in June. The report said the surgery had "continuously" met the 95% World Health Organisation target for childhood immunisations and "made it easy for people to access appointments". The surgery, which provides services to around 3,600 people, thanked staff for their "exceptional care" and said it was pleased with the report. Susan Moody, practice manager, said: "The CQC report reflects the high quality of patient centred commitment of the entire team in providing good quality patient care." After a survey of patients, the CQC found 89% of people found it easy to contact the practice by phone, 95% found it easy to contact through the website and 92% using the NHS app. 'Impressive' Inspectors also found the practice "understood and met people's personal, cultural, social, religious and equality characteristics". Alan Stephenson, CQC deputy director of operations in South and East Yorkshire, said the surgery "embraced learning and innovation to provide the best possible care to people". He said: "It was impressive to see how many residents they had encouraged to take up cervical cancer screenings and childhood immunisations, which was recognised by the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board." CQC said the survey also found that 95% of people who use the surgery felt their needs were met during their last appointment, which was higher than the national average of 90%. "Other practices should look to Laurbel Surgery and this report as an example of good care and to see what they could learn," Mr Stephenson added. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices Related internet stories New technology to help in brain tumour surgery New £48m wound research centre to open Care home placed in special measures Related internet links Care Quality Commission
