Healthcare

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints urges its members to get vaccinated

Published

2 years ago

August 12, 2021

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By Jenny Goldsberry

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, otherwise known as the Mormon church, urged its congregation to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and wear masks. The Church addressed its Thursday statement to all its global members. The First Presidency, consisting of the prophet and his two counselors signed the letter. All three have received the vaccine and broadcasted the process on social media.

“We find ourselves fighting a war against the ravages of COVID-19 and its variants, an unrelenting pandemic,” the statement begins. “We want to do all we can to limit the spread of these viruses. We know that protection from the diseases they cause can only be achieved by immunizing a very high percentage of the population.” The Church’s prophet, Russel M. Nelson, was a career heart surgeon until 1984.

“To limit exposure to these viruses, we urge the use of face masks in public meetings whenever social distancing is not possible,” the statement read. “To provide personal protection from such severe infections, we urge individuals to be vaccinated. Available vaccines have proven to be both safe and effective.”

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent the following message today to Church members around the world: https://t.co/rMWiCngVnC
— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (@Ch_JesusChrist) August 12, 2021

Finally, they wrote of their hope to end the pandemic. “We can win this war if everyone will follow the wise and thoughtful recommendations of medical experts and government leaders,” they wrote. “Please know of our sincere love and great concern for all of God’s children.”

You can follow Jenny Goldsberry on Twitter @jennyjournalism.

Nation

Elizabeth Warren Acknowledges Unintended Consequences of Obamacare

Published

1 week ago

November 27, 2023

Alexander Carter

Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a longtime supporter of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, is now acknowledging the unintended consequences of the healthcare legislation, particularly its impact on industry consolidation and rising healthcare prices.

Warren, who has been a vocal proponent of Obamacare, has recently had what the Wall Street Journal reported as an “epiphany” regarding the consequences of the healthcare law. In a letter addressed to the Health and Human Services Department inspector general, Warren, along with Senator Mike Braun of Indiana, expressed concerns about vertically-integrated healthcare companies potentially increasing prescription drug costs and evading federal regulations.

According to reports from Fox News, the bipartisan letter highlighted issues with the nation’s largest health insurers allegedly bypassing Obamacare’s medical loss ratio (MLR). According to Warren, these insurers, through vertical integration, have manipulated the system, leading to “sky-high prescription drug costs and excessive corporate profits.”

The senators detailed how conglomerates, like UnitedHealth Group, with ownership across various healthcare sectors, could inflate medical payments to pharmacies and, by realizing those payments on the pharmacy side, appear to comply with MLR requirements while retaining more profits.

Moreover, despite the Democrats’ argument that the MLR would benefit patients, it has incentivized insurers to merge with or acquire pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), retail and specialty pharmacies, and healthcare providers. This, in turn, has made healthcare spending less transparent, as insurers can allegedly shift profits to their affiliates by increasing reimbursements.

Warren, who has consistently voted against Obamacare repeal efforts, notably advocated for a “Medicare for All” proposal during her 2020 presidential campaign. Despite her prior support for the healthcare law, Warren’s recent concerns about its unintended consequences have raised questions about the long-term effects of Obamacare and its impact on the healthcare industry.