Latest news with #healthcareaccess
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Prisons can't ‘blindly submit' to Trump's ‘whims' by denying gender-affirming care to trans inmates, judge says
A federal judge has blocked Donald Trump 's administration from denying gender-affirming care to transgender inmates, dealing another blow to the president's executive order targeting incarcerated trans people. Ronald Reagan-appointed Judge Royce Lamberth, 81, said Trump's policy isn't based on any 'reasoned' analysis, adding that 'nothing in the thin record' from the government shows that the administration 'consciously took stock of — much less studied — the potentially debilitating effects' of stripping trans people of their healthcare. He also slapped down the government's arguments that courts should allow Trump to dictate how federal agencies are run by letting the 'democratic process' play out after the election. 'Democracy is not as simple as the defendants make it sound,' Lamberth wrote. Just as the president can issue an executive order telling agencies what to do, he must abide by the Administrative Procedure Act that governs how they operate, Lamberth said. 'If democratic self-governance means anything, it means giving effect to all duly enacted laws, including those — like the APA — that were enacted decades ago,' he wrote. 'It does not mean blind submission to the whims of the most recent election-victor.' Tuesday's ruling is the first among several court orders surrounding Trump's approach to trans inmates that blocks prison officials from carrying out his executive order altogether. Trump's order also ordered trans women from women's detention centers. Several lawsuits were filed to reverse the move. Trans women make up only a small fraction of the federal prison population in women's facilities — approximately 16 people, according to the Department of Justice. More than 2,230 trans inmates in federal facilities are detained in facilities that match their sex at birth, according to court filings. In his first day in office, Trump issued an executive order denying 'any medical procedure, treatment, or drug for the purpose of conforming an inmate's appearance to that of the opposite sex.' The policy also blocked trans inmates from buying clothing or commissary items that prison officials claimed are inconsistent with a person's sex at birth. Trump's far-reaching executive orders targeting trans people claim that an ideologically driven movement to 'deny the biological reality of sex' has a 'corrosive impact not just on women but on the validity of the entire American system.' Plaintiffs include two trans men and a trans woman who were denied hormone therapy as well as items such as chest binders, cosmetics and underwear. All three plaintiffs were diagnosed with gender dysphoria by Bureau of Prisons physicians, and prescribed hormone therapy, but those treatments were suspended under Trump's policy. The loss of hormone therapy for a trans woman who has been prescribed injections since 2016 caused her to experience 'anxiety, hopelessness, panic attacks, and suicidal ideation,' according to court filings. Trans men who were denied ongoing testosterone treatments said they feared their menstrual cycles would return. Plaintiffs argue Trump's policy violates the Eighth Amendment 's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. In his ruling, Lamberth said trans people receiving hormone treatments 'do not seem interested in propagating any particular 'ideology.'' Trans inmates rely on those treatments to 'lessen the personal anguish caused by their gender dysphoria, a benefit on which they have relied for years' under longstanding Bureau of Prisons policy, according to the judge. He wrote that the administration did not provide 'any serious explanation' why the policy should change, and the executive order doesn't make 'any effort whatsoever' to explain how — as the president includes in the order — gender-affirming care damages 'scientific inquiry, public safety, morale, trust in government.' 'This administration's cruelty towards transgender people disregards their rights under the Constitution,' said Corene Kendrick, deputy director of the ACLU 's National Prison Project. 'No person — incarcerated or not, transgender or not — should have their rights to medically necessary care denied,' added Shawn Thomas Meerkamper, managing attorney at the Transgender Law Center.
CBC
7 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Calgary Refugee Health Clinic avoids closure with 2-year emergency bridge funding
After facing the threat of closure, a Calgary health clinic that treats thousands of refugees annually will be able to stay open for another two years — though on a much smaller scale. Since last fall, the Calgary Refugee Health Clinic team has been scrambling for resources after learning its long-time funding of $1.6 million a year was pulled by the Mosaic Primary Care Network because the clinic's "patient volume and complexity of care have grown significantly," according to the network at the time. The clinic, which takes in up to 1,500 new refugees a year, helps patients access health, social and settlement services and, after some time, helps them transition to permanent care. After learning the clinic was on the verge of shutting down, the Calgary Health Foundation stepped forward with a promise of $550,000, ensuring the northeast facility can keep its doors open for two more years. "It's been an absolute thrill that we've been able to make this happen," the clinic's medical director and family physician, Dr. Rachel Talavlikar, told CBC News. "It was heartbreaking, what we went through." She's referring, in part, to the loss of dozens of staff. While 27 physicians still work at the clinic part-time, they now only have five support staff — down from the 30 nurses, social workers, mental health therapists and more they used to have. Those people are still employed with Mosaic Primary Care Network, Talavlikar added, but now patients must be referred and sit on long waitlists to see them. "We are learning what it looks like to see these patients without that extra support. And we definitely have a bit of a backup starting to form," said Talavlikar. Talavlikar said that means they now have to transition patients out of their clinic and to permanent family doctors more quickly — especially if they have the English skills to navigate the health care system. They've also had to shut down their mobile support program, and they no longer have a nurse in-house at the Margaret Chisholm Resettlement Centre to treat new arrivals. For Calgary Health Foundation CEO Paul Rossmann, the clinic's work is more important than ever, now that Calgary is a direct entry point for refugees. "Many of these people arrive with complex medical and social needs. If those needs don't get met, people fall through the cracks and then ultimately they have the potential to end up in emergency rooms with more acute health challenges," said Rossmann. "This is a far more proactive way to ensure the health and settlement of the refugee population." Rossmann said the foundation is still fundraising to round up the $550,000 commitment they've made to the clinic. What happens after the two years? Talavlikar said she sees this funding scare as an opportunity to rebuild the clinic to be more effective and cost-efficient. Her goal is to treat each refugee that arrives in Calgary at least once. Meanwhile, as she actively hunts for funding opportunities to hire more nurses in the near term, she's also looking to the province for some long-term solutions. Talavlikar said she's been speaking with the leadership of Primary Care Alberta — one of the province's four new health agencies created amid the health care system overhaul — to see how a specialized clinic like hers will fit in the long-term. "The team at Primary Care Alberta were very keen to see us be part of the health system," she said. According to Talavlikar, this could be an opportunity to shape the new agency. "Those of us that did work with those communities, all those equity-deserving populations, we have to fight all the time to be like, 'Don't forget about them,' right? Whereas this new system is really being structured with them at the forefront," she said. "I'm very optimistic that we'll find a place to be anchored. I guess I won't stop until they do."
Associated Press
10 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
MTM Health Celebrates 30 Years of Improving Health Outcomes Nationwide
LAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO / ACCESS Newswire / June 3, 2025 / MTM Health, the nation's largest privately-held non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) broker, is proudly celebrating its 30th anniversary. Since its founding in 1995, MTM Health has been committed to ensuring access to care by eliminating barriers to healthcare and social services - and improving health outcomes, one ride at a time. What began as a two-person operation in a one-room office has grown into a national leader in health access solutions. Founded in 1995 by Peg and Lynn Griswold, who recognized the challenges health plans faced in coordinating transportation for their members, MTM Health pioneered the brokered NEMT model. Their vision: leverage existing transportation networks instead of purchasing or owning vehicles - a model that remains central to the company's operations today. Fast forward 30 years, MTM Health now operates in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, employing more than 6,000 team members and coordinating over 35 million trips annually for more than 25 million people. 'As we reflect on three decades of service, I'm overwhelmed with pride in what we've built-not just a company, but a mission-driven organization that has transformed how people access healthcare,' said Alaina Macia, the 20-year President and CEO of MTM Health and daughter of the company's founders. 'We've grown from a small family operation into a national powerhouse, but what hasn't changed is our heart. We remain a privately held company committed to the communities we serve, and that legacy will continue with future generations.' To mark the milestone, the company recently rebranded from Medical Transportation Management (MTM) to simply MTM Health - signaling the organization's expanded focus beyond transportation. In addition to core NEMT services, the company delivers a wide range of solutions including: MTM Health is also leading the charge in NEMT technology and innovation with its MTM Link scheduling platform, rideshare-enabled VeyoRide model, and AI-driven analytics that enhance care delivery and operational efficiency. As the company enters its next chapter, MTM Health remains dedicated to its mission of innovation, equity, and empowering healthier communities. 'Looking ahead, we are more energized than ever to continue breaking down barriers and creating connections that matter,' added Macia. 'The future of healthcare is evolving - and MTM Health will be at the forefront, one ride, one connection, and one outcome at a time.' About MTM Health MTM Health is a trusted leader in innovative healthcare solutions, empowering communities since 1995. Specializing in services like non-emergency medical transportation, HCBS therapies, and mobile integrated health, we partner with state and county governments, managed care organizations, health systems, and programs that serve disabled, underserved, and elderly populations. Through cutting-edge technology and a client-focused approach, our services enhance health outcomes, foster independence, and decrease healthcare costs. MTM Health provides 35 million+ trips annually, helping 20.5 million individuals nationwide access their communities. Contact InformationAshley Wright Senior Manager, Marketing SOURCE: MTM, Inc. press release
ABC News
3 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Women bearing the cost of obstructed abortion access
Australian women seeking abortions, particularly in regional areas, are bearing the cost of obstructed access and stigma in healthcare.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Health Net and Centene Corporation (CNC) Commit Over $7.2 Million to Boost Healthcare Access Through Mobile Clinics in California
Health Net and the Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC)'s philanthropic arm, Centene Foundation, have announced a major $7.2 million investment to expand healthcare access for underserved Californians through a new fleet of mobile health clinics. The initiative, part of the Mobile Outreach for Value, Equity and Sustainability (MOVES) program, will deliver preventative care, screenings, health education, and social support directly to communities facing barriers such as limited transportation and lost wages from time off work. Local partners, including AltaMed, Community Medical Centers, Kaweah Health, and Vision y Compromiso, will deploy pop-up clinics and mobile medical vans at parks, community events, and other gathering spots, aiming to reach thousands who might otherwise go without care. A doctor exchanging files with a patient in a clinical setting, highlighting the company's commitment to rare diseases treatment. Leaders say these mobile clinics are more than vehicles; they are lifelines that bring compassionate, equitable care to where people live and gather, building trust and fostering long-term relationships between healthcare providers and the communities they serve. The grants also position recipient organizations as conveners, bringing together local partners to address a full spectrum of physical, behavioral, and social needs. This investment by Health Net and Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC)'s Centene Foundation builds on their broader commitment, over $158 million in funding for community-based organizations since 2017, and reflects a long-term strategy to strengthen California's health infrastructure and improve outcomes statewide. While we acknowledge the potential of CNC to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CNC and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this READ NEXT: and Disclosure: None. 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
