RFK Jr. claims food stamps are fueling diabetes epidemic, wants to block their use for soda, candy
'Taxpayers should not be financing that,' Kennedy said on the 'Cats Roundtable' on WABC 770 AM radio.
He said 18% of federal food stamps to poor families is spent 'on candy and sugared drinks' even as nearly 40% of children now have juvenile diabetes.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed that food stamps are fueling the rise in diabetes.
Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
'We are actually paying for people to get diabetes,' RFK told host John Catsimatidis.
Sugary and fatty foods also contribute to obesity.
American taxpayers are paying twice, RFK said — beginning with funding the purchase of food stamps, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The program issues electronic benefits that can be used like cash to purchase food.
'We're paying again when they get [treated] through Medicaid and, ultimately, Medicare. We are poisoning them with sugars and ultra-processed food,' RFK said.
Kennedy called on SNAP recipients to be barred from using it to pay for things like soda or candy.
Christopher Sadowski
SNAP helps low-income working people, senior citizens, the disabled and others feed their families. Eligibility and benefit levels are based on household size, income and other factors.
Kennedy said the Trump administration is making headway, noting that 14 states have signed waivers that restrict the purchase of non-nutritious items like soda and candy.
'These waivers are a key step in ensuring that taxpayer dollars provide nutritious options that improve health outcomes within SNAP,' the US Dept. of Agriculture said.
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The Hill
12 minutes ago
- The Hill
Ex-Trump surgeon general slams RFK's ‘tepid' response to CDC shooting
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This effect has not been proven with intranasal administration of "We thank FDA for its thoughtful review of our Fast Track designation request, and believe this regulatory determination is a significant step forward in our goal to address the national crisis of suicide among soldiers, first responders, veterans, and civilians alike." said Dr. Jonathan Javitt, Chairman and CEO of NRx Pharmaceuticals. "Large-scale government-supported trials have demonstrated a robust and statistically significant reduction in suicidal ideation and depression with administration of ketamine. This drug was also proven to be non-inferior to electroshock therapy in treating depression without the negative side effects of ECT. We look forward to working closely with the FDA in our quest to Bring Hope to Life." 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The Company has instituted US-based high-volume manufacture of sterile, preservative-free ketamine. Regarding Fast Track designation, FDA's website states: A drug that receives Fast Track designation is eligible for some or all of the following: More frequent meetings with FDA to discuss the drug's development plan and ensure collection of appropriate data needed to support drug approval. More frequent written communication from FDA about such things as the design of the proposed clinical trials and use of biomarkers Eligibility for Accelerated Approval and Priority Review, if relevant criteria are met. Rolling Review, which means that a drug company can submit completed sections of its Biologic License Application (BLA) or New Drug Application (NDA) for review by FDA, rather than waiting until every section of the NDA is completed before the entire application can be reviewed. BLA or NDA review usually does not begin until the drug company has submitted the entire application to the FDA. NRX-100 is poised to address the >$3 billion Suicidal Depression market in the US. References i Grunebaum, et al. Ketamine for rapid reduction of suicidal thoughts… Am J Psychiatry 2018;175: Abbar, et al. Ketamine for the acute treatment of severe suicidal ideation… BMJ 2021;167:194-203 About NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. NRx Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics based on its NMDA platform for the treatment of central nervous system disorders, specifically suicidal depression, chronic pain, and PTSD. The Company is developing NRX-100 (preservative-free intravenous ketamine) and NRX-101, (oral D-cycloserine/lurasidone). NRX-100 has been awarded Fast Track Designation for the treatment of Suicidal ideation in Depression, including Bipolar Depression. NRX-101 has been awarded Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the treatment of suicidal bipolar depression. NRx has recently filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) and initiated a New Drug Application filing for NRX-100 (IV ketamine) with an application for the Commissioner's National Priority Voucher Program for the treatment of suicidal depression. The filing is based on results of well-controlled clinical trials conducted under the auspices of the US National Institutes of Health and the Government of France, licensed under a data sharing agreement. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThe information contained herein includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as "may," "will," "should," "would," "expect," "plan," "believe," "intend," "look forward," and other similar expressions among others. These statements relate to future events or to the Company's future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The Company has reported regulatory milestones as they have been achieved but has not predicted the outcome of any future regulatory determination. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, including uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Company's operations, results of operations, growth strategy, and, among other things, liquidity. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's website at Except as may be required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information: Matthew Duffy Chief Business Officer, NRx Pharmaceuticals mduffy@ Brian Korb Managing Partner (917) 653-5122 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
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Medical debt can still appear on credit reports, judge rules
A federal judge blocked a rule from the Biden-era Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that would have kept medical debt from appearing on credit reports. Mind Your Money host Julie Hyman reports on the latest. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Mind Your Money. A judge has blocked a Biden era ban on medical debt in credit reports. Now, technically, the rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau never took effect, but if it had, it would have stopped medical bills from appearing on credit reports and barred lenders from using that data to make lending decisions. The CFPB says removing medical bill information could have wiped $49 billion off credit reports of about 15 million Americans and increased their credit scores by an average of 20 points. But a judge ruled in favor of two trade associations that argued the CFPB overstepped its authority in issuing that rule. This comes at a precarious time in health care, with millions of Americans expected to lose health insurance by 2034 due to changes in Medicaid under President Trump's new tax bill. So how does medical debt and your credit report work without this rule? Say you get medical care. The provider will send your bill to insurance, and you're responsible for whatever your insurance does not cover. If you don't pay that balance, the provider will likely send you reminders. If you still don't pay, they may send that debt to a collection agency. Once it's with the agency, they own that debt. They'll start calling and sending you letters, and they may report it to credit bureaus. Once reported, it can appear on your credit report. Now, it may not hurt your credit score right away. Medical debt must be one year old before it shows up on your credit report. Debt under $500 is not reported. And 14 states have provisions in place to remove medical collection debt from credit reports. But still, consumers are left with the responsibility to stay on top of changes to their credit as they face mounting bills.
