Latest news with #testing
Health Line
2 days ago
- Business
- Health Line
Does Medicare Cover Mycotoxin Testing?
Although Medicare does not specifically mention mycotoxin testing, Medicare Part B may cover mycotoxin tests if a doctor deems it medically necessary. Mycotoxins are toxic compounds that certain types of molds and fungi produce. They occur naturally but can contaminate food and some indoor environments. Common mycotoxins include: Aflatoxins: Different types of aflatoxins grow in soil, rotting vegetation, hay, grains, cereals, corn, sorghum, wheat, rice, soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds, cotton seeds, chili and black pepper, coriander, turmeric, ginger, pistachio nuts, almonds, walnuts, coconuts, and Brazil nuts. Ochratoxins: These types can contaminate foods, including cereals and cereal products, coffee beans, dry vine fruits, wine, grape juice, spices, and licorice. Patulin: These can be found in rotting fruit, with the main dietary sources found in apples and apple juice made from affected fruit. Fusarium fungi: These are often found in cereal crops, wheat, oats, and maize. Tests for mycotoxins and Medicare coverage A doctor or healthcare professional may order tests to look for signs of myotoxicity, such as a blood serum test, skin prick testing for particular mold allergens, a bronchial challenge test, or urinalysis. Medicare Part B will typically cover these tests as long as they are medically essential. There are no out-of-pocket costs for these clinical diagnostic lab tests. Symptoms of mycotoxicity Mycotoxins can cause mild to more serious health conditions and some of the symptoms you may experience can include: coughing wheezing nasal congestion skin rashes watery eyes itching muscle aches fatigue liver damage Additionally, people with weakened immune systems may experience heightened sensitivity to mycotoxins. Reducing the risk of mycotoxins You can minimize health risks related to mycotoxins by: Inspecting your food items: Inspect whole grains like corn, wheat, rice, dried figs, and nuts, including peanuts, Brazil nuts, pistachios, walnuts, almonds, coconuts, and hazelnuts. Throw out foods that look moldy, have discoloration, or are shriveled. Ensuring freshness of food: Buy grains and nuts that are as fresh as possible. Taking care of food storage: Ensure your foods are stored correctly by keeping them dry, not too warm, and free from insects. Try not to keep foods for long periods before you use them and adhere to packing 'use by' dates. Diversifying your diet: Eating a variety of foods can help reduce your exposure to mycotoxins.
Fox News
2 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
HHS ends Biden-era COVID-19 testing program that bled taxpayers years after pandemic
FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Health and Human Services announced it is shuttering a nationwide program that offered free COVID-19 tests to community organizations, citing it bled taxpayer funds despite the pandemic's end. "With COVID-19 behaving more like the seasonal flu — rising and falling through the year — and tests widely available at retail stores nationwide, continued federal distribution is a significant waste of taxpayers' dollars," HHS told Fox News Digital Tuesday. "The COVID-19 pandemic is over and HHS is prioritizing funding projects that will deliver on President Trump's mandate to address the chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again." The government had spent more than $1 billion on the program since it was established in 2021 under the Biden administration, Fox News Digital learned. The program deployed government-purchased COVID-19 tests to community partners across the country to deliver tests at no cost to the patient. HHS cited that testing for COVID-19 now mimics seasonal flu cases, with retail shops across the country stocking their shelves with COVID tests, meaning "continued federal distribution is a significant waste of taxpayers' dollars." Americans who ordered tests through community partnership by 5 p.m. May 30 will still receive their order, according to HHS. HHS is in the midst of purchasing one million newer tests that are able to differentiate between the COVID-19 virus versus the flu, which will be deployed if there are any shortfalls or emergencies with the COVID testing, Fox Digital learned. State or local health departments, as well as community organizations that have a stockpile of tests and various local health centers may still provide free tests to Americans as the program shutters, according to HHS. The COVID-19 pandemic, which tore across the country in 2020, officially ended years ago. Then-President Joe Biden declared the pandemic was "over" back in 2022, while the World Health Organization determined the pandemic officially ended by 2023. The announcement comes as the Trump administration's top health department re-focuses its direction to addressing the nation's spiraling chronic health issues, which come in the form of health issues such as rampant obesity, spikes in autism diagnoses and teenage depression. President Donald Trump's Make America Healthy Again Commission, which is chaired by HHS chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr, released its anticipated report assessing chronic diseases that have gripped U.S. youth in recent years May 22. The report's findings include teenage depression nearly doubling from 2009 to 2019, more than one-in-five children over the age of six being considered obese, one-in-31 children diagnosed with autism by age 8 and childhood cancer spiking by 40% since 1975. "Over 40% of the roughly 73 million children (aged 0-17) in the United States have at least one chronic health condition, according to the CDC, such as asthma, allergies, obesity, autoimmune diseases, or behavioral disorders," the report stated. "Although estimates vary depending on the conditions included, all studies show an alarming increase over time." Chronic diseases have a chilling effect on national security, commission members said in a Thursday morning phone call with the media. Roughly 75% of America's youth aged 17–24 do not qualify to serve in the military due to obesity, asthma, allergies, autoimmune diseases or behavioral disorders, they said. "We now have the most obese, depressed, disabled, medicated population in the history of the world, and we cannot keep going down the same road," Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary said in the phone call with the media. "So this is an amazing day. I hope this marks the grand pivot from a system that is entirely reactionary to a system that will now be proactive." The MAHA report will be followed by a policy recommendation report for the federal government later this summer.
Car and Driver
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
The Quickest Cars We've Tested in 2025 (So Far)
Speed is addictive. We've yet to get our fill of it. Perhaps there's something in our consciousness that yearns for retribution for the centuries our ancestors spent hoofing it barefoot. Consider driving as fast payback for every broken wagon wheel or horse that stopped to think, "You know what, cowboy, we ain't boys anymore." Our reason for driving so fast is covered under the excuse known as "testing." Which we've done a lot of. So far, in 2025, we've tested more than 120 vehicles. Tire pressures are set, electric cars get charged to 100 percent, gas cars get a full tank of fuel, on goes the GPS antenna, in goes the happy test driver among their spaghetti of Racelogic VBox data logger cords and equipment, off goes the climate control, and down goes the hammer. We measure straight-line acceleration (among several other metrics) to quantify performance differences in cars rather than trusting manufacturer claims, and in many cases, we beat those claims. We also do it because it's a convenient excuse to borrow cars with 1000 horsepower, and it sure beats arguing with that horse. It's been a fruitful year of testing. There are a lot of "quickest"s and "most"s. The top three (so far) quickest cars to reach 60 mph on this list did it in 2.2 seconds or less. There's diverse representation of powertrains among the quickest, meaning this isn't just a bunch of electric cars. Rear-wheel-drive V-8-powered rides, a pickup with 35-inch tires, and no shortage of big-power plug-in hybrids make the list. All of which are easy on the eyes. None of which rest lightly on the pocketbook. Here are the quickest cars to reach 60 mph (so far) in 2025, starting with the slowest. Context is important.
The Verge
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Verge
The Alphabet-owned company is planning to set its vehicles loose in
Waymo identifies three new cities for robotaxi testing. Houston, Orlando, and San Antonio as part of its 2025 'road trip.' The vehicles will be manually driven, and the testing operations are not necessarily a precursor to the launch of a commercial robotaxi service — nor is Waymo precluded from launching a service, either. The company sees it as an opportunity to see how well its self-driving system adapts to new locales with varying weather conditions and regional driving habits. Waymo previously said it was testing its vehicles in Las Vegas, Miami, and Japan.
Forbes
26-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The College Board Exposed: Nonprofit Or $1.6 Billion Testing Monopoly In Disguise?
Students testing on computers Founded 1900 to democratize college access, the College Board now straddles an uncomfortable line between its nonprofit mission and corporate-scale revenues. While technically structured as a member organization—with 6,000 high schools and colleges paying annual dues—its financial reality tells a different story. The math reveals a stark imbalance. Since its inception, cumulative membership dues may total $1.5 billion when adjusted for inflation, but that pales next to the $10+ billion reaped from SATs and AP exams since 1990. This reliance on testing revenue has reshaped the organization's priorities, transforming it from a collaborative membership alliance into a de facto corporate entity with a testing monopoly. Three strategies underpin the College Board's financial dominance. First, its testing empire operates like a well-oiled machine. The SAT suite—taken by 2 million students annually—generates $200–300 million from base fees and ancillary charges like $15 score reports. Meanwhile, the Advanced Placement (AP) program, which administered 5 million exams at $99 each in 2025, rakes in nearly $500 million, supplemented by millions from course materials and teacher training . Even middle schoolers are monetized through the PSAT 8/9, a controversial exam for 13-year-olds that locks schools into multi-year testing contracts. Second, the organization has funneled $1.32 billion to Caribbean subsidiaries since 2011; a maneuver critics allege minimizes taxes on its approximately almost $2 billion in assets. Third, perhaps most ethically fraught, is its reliance on underpaid educators. Teachers grade AP exams for about $30/hour—less than half the rate of private tutors—similar to the honorarium paid to SAT proctors. Schools generally pay the cost of proctoring the PSAT. This labor model saves the College Board millions of dollars annually, often subsidizing profits through public school budgets. Recent controversies highlight how financial incentives increasingly override educational goals. The 2025 digital SAT rollout was plagued by technical failures, the launch stranded students mid-test, with critics accusing the College Board of rushing to outpace its rival, the ACT . Technical issues with AP Classroom and this year's AP Psychology exam further erodes confidence. Its handling of the AP African American Studies curriculum sparked outrage when the organization diluted course content amid political pushback. Even the pandemic failed to curb revenue-first thinking. Despite 1,900 colleges adopting test-optional policies post-COVID, the College Board lobbied aggressively to preserve SAT mandates. Such decisions align with CEO David Coleman's over $2.5 million compensation package—triple the average for nonprofit leaders—raising questions about whom the organization truly serves. The Advanced Placement program embodies the College Board's contradictions. While studies show AP courses improve college readiness for underserved students, barriers persist. Exams cost $99 each—a burden for low-income districts—and recent recalibrating of test scores have sparked concerns about score inflation. Moreover, schools often narrow curricula to align with AP frameworks, sidelining electives and critical thinking. AP's benefits are real but uneven. The program's success hinges on equitable access, yet the College Board profits from the very inequities it claims to address. The College Board does offer discounts for documented low income students, but the over $50 fee is still steep for low-income students. The College Board's legacy is a study in contrasts. On one hand, AP courses correlate with higher college graduation rates, and standardized metrics help colleges evaluate applicants across diverse educational backgrounds. On the other, its products perpetuate systemic inequities. SAT scores, for instance, continue to be highly correlated with family income. At the same time, the PSAT 8/9 exemplifies profit-driven priorities, subjecting 13-year-olds to high-stakes testing with scant evidence of academic benefit. Compounding these issues is the organization's labor exploitation. By outsourcing proctoring and grading to underpaid educators, the College Board extracts value from public schools while privatizing profits—a dynamic that mirrors gig economy practices more than educational stewardship. The College Board must undergo a radical transformation to reclaim its nonprofit mission. Executive pay should align with nonprofit norms (under $500,000), not corporate benchmarks. Testing for students under 16 ought to be eliminated entirely, freeing schools from costly, developmentally inappropriate mandates. Proctoring and grading labor must be fairly compensated, and offshore financial dealings must be disclosed to the public. Until these reforms materialize, the organization's 125-year legacy will remain shadowed by a question at the heart of its identity: Who benefits most—students or shareholders? The College Board's nonprofit status hinges on a delicate balance—one increasingly tilted toward Wall Street, not classrooms. As education evolves, stakeholders must demand accountability from an organization that shapes millions of futures… and profits immensely from uncertainty.
