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CNET
7 days ago
- Health
- CNET
Broadband Deserts and Reproductive Care: The Devastating Impact on Health Resources
We don't often think about the internet as being good for our health. In fact, 'internet' and 'health' are primarily related in a negative context in online spaces -- we're getting too much screen time, we're 'chronically' online, etc. It may come as a surprise, but access to the internet is commonly recognized as a "super" determinant of health. Limited internet access has been linked to high mortality rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, and having the internet in easy reach means we can stay informed about our health, order our prescriptions with a tap, consult with doctors and get access to pregnancy and reproductive care. Sara Javaid and Lexi Rummel are among several researchers highlighting this connection. Following the repeal of Roe v. Wade, access to abortion and reproductive care has become critical nationwide, especially in places without adequate access to the internet. How the digital divide affects underrepresented communities According to the findings in Rummel and Javaid's report, published by the National Women's Law Center, nearly half of all counties in the US are abortion deserts, or counties where the travel distance to the closest abortion care facility is over 100 miles; 53% of abortion deserts are also pregnancy care deserts. Notably, over 740,000 women live in counties with both a broadband desert and an abortion care desert, and nearly one-third of those women are women of color. National Women's Law Center 'I think broadband has the potential to be the final way in which people can access abortion care,' Javaid, senior research analyst at the National Women's Law Center and lead researcher for the report, told CNET. Locating local internet providers Reproductive care is essential for services like cancer screening, gender-affirming care and the testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Black women and other women of color are overrepresented in abortion care deserts, which amplifies their vulnerability to negative health outcomes. According to a 2022 report by the Human Rights Watch, Black women are more than one and a half times as likely to die from cervical cancer as white women, a cancer which the Human Rights Watch notes is preventable with routine screenings and follow-up care. Javaid and Rummel's report explores the intersection of abortion care, pregnancy care, broadband and food deserts in America. "Women do not live single-issue lives, and this report really emphasizes that when looking at the data," said Rummel, counsel for health equity and justice at the National Women's Law Center. "There are significant, intersecting barriers that women are facing in accessing critical reproductive health care and resources across the United States." What broadband deserts mean for reproductive resources The internet plays a vital role in bridging the gap for abortion care, pregnancy care and even food deserts. The report defines an abortion desert as a county where an abortion clinic is more than 100 miles away -- but Javaid admits that doesn't fully capture the challenge. "100 miles is still a long way to go," Javaid said. "And if you don't have access to public transportation, you don't have access to a reliable car, then 25 miles could be an abortion desert for you." Additionally, the effects of one desert compound when multiple deserts overlap. In the case of broadband deserts, not being able to get preventative care via telehealth visits means being deprived of catching health issues or dangerous pregnancy conditions early. The internet effectively bridges the gap in reproductive care deserts, allowing women to consult with doctors or find an abortion care or pregnancy care facility. The report states that one in 10 US counties are broadband deserts, where more than half of residents do not have access to at least 100Mbps down/20Mbps up (a definition set by the Federal Communications Commission). National Women's Law Center While broadband deserts are technically among the report's less prevalent deserts, the definition relies on outdated FCC data from 2022. "I will say that the report is narrower in scope than we wanted because of a lack of data that exists," Javaid told me. "We know that it is likely an undercount because of the way they collect data. There's really not great broadband data collection out there." "I would guess there's probably four times more broadband deserts than they [Rummell and Javaid] recognize,' Christopher Mitchell, director of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, told CNET. While broadband may seem easily accessible for some, the truth is that for many, it's still unaffordable. Although broadband is available to 94% of US households, according to current FCC numbers, that data doesn't account for the number of homes enrolled in an internet service. "I would encourage thinking about broadband deserts from the supply side and the demand side," John Horrigan, a senior fellow at the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society, told CNET. "The other side of the coin is the number of households that are adopting broadband in a particular area." It's not just about internet access, but affordability While broadband availability has drastically improved in recent years, adoption rates are still low in low-income communities and communities of color. A 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that only 57% of adults making less than $30,000 a year have an internet subscription, compared to 95% of adults making at least $100,000. US Census data from 2021 noted that low-income households, seniors and communities of color were more likely to be "smartphone-only" households. Recent data from Ookla reported that the broadband divide worsened in 32 states in 2024, potentially due in part to the ending of the Affordable Connectivity Program, which offered a significant discount of $30 on monthly internet bills for low-income families. (Disclaimer: Ookla is owned by Ziff Davis, the same company that owns CNET.) "There are a lot of broadband deserts where there are connections available, but people are not able to use them," Mitchell said. "High price, lack of a device, past debt, are all common things." "The lowest 20% of households in the United States, in terms of income distribution, is really where you begin to see substantial fall-offs in home internet adoption rates," echoed Horrigan. Recent policies, like President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, pose challenges for those affected by broadband, food and reproductive deserts due to cuts in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. Care workers with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) participated in a living cemetery protest at the US Capitol on June 23, 2025, in Washington, the passing of Dobbs v. Jackson, access to safe reproductive care is more threatened than ever: Infant mortality rates increased after the passing of Dobbs, specifically in states that instituted complete or 6-week abortion bans. "We still don't know the true impact of the Dobbs decision," Javaid told me. "I don't know that we will know for several years, and that's where it's so important to rely on the community and the experience of people to inform our understanding of what's going on." Some possible solutions to making broadband more affordable and ensuring access to telehealth include state low-income requirements, like New York's $15 low-income plan required for ISPs serving 20,000 households or more. While the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment program hasn't resulted in buildouts yet, Horrigan notes that BEAD permits funding for nondeployment purposes, which could potentially improve connectivity by investing in anchor institutions like libraries or hospitals. How you can help Nondeployment funding is "under review," per the latest notice from the federal agency that oversees BEAD, the National Telecommunications Information Administration. While the NTIA and BEAD are being restructured, community-based solutions are more critical than ever for ensuring overlooked communities can get back online. To get involved, you can easily contact your state's broadband office and learn what statewide or community-focused initiatives are being implemented near you. Your local representatives need to know that the broadband divide is a topic of concern for you -- that's why it's always important to reach out and call. You can find contact information for your local representatives here.
CNET
19-07-2025
- Health
- CNET
Mapping the Margins: The Internet's Invisible Hand in Reproductive Care
We don't often think about the internet as being good for our health. In fact, 'internet' and 'health' are primarily related in a negative context in online spaces -- we're getting too much screen time, we're 'chronically' online, etc. It may come as a surprise, but access to the internet is commonly recognized as a "super" determinant of health. Limited internet access has been linked to high mortality rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, and having the internet in easy reach means we can stay informed about our health, order our prescriptions with a tap, consult with doctors and get access to pregnancy and reproductive care. Sara Javaid and Lexi Rummel are among several researchers highlighting this connection. Following the repeal of Roe v. Wade, access to abortion and reproductive care has become critical nationwide, especially in places without adequate access to the internet. According to the findings in Rummel and Javaid's report, published by the National Women's Law Center, nearly half of all counties in the US are abortion deserts, or counties where the travel distance to the closest abortion care facility is over 100 miles; 53% of abortion deserts are also pregnancy care deserts. Notably, over 740,000 women live in counties with both a broadband desert and an abortion care desert, and nearly one-third of those women are women of color. National Women's Law Center 'I think broadband has the potential to be the final way in which people can access abortion care,' Javaid, senior research analyst at the National Women's Law Center and lead researcher for the report, told CNET. Locating local internet providers Reproductive care is essential for services like cancer screening, gender-affirming care and the testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Black women and other women of color are overrepresented in abortion care deserts, which amplifies their vulnerability to negative health outcomes. According to a 2022 report by the Human Rights Watch, Black women are more than one and a half times as likely to die from cervical cancer as white women, a cancer which the Human Rights Watch notes is preventable with routine screenings and follow-up care. Javaid and Rummel's report explores the intersection of abortion care, pregnancy care, broadband and food deserts in America. "Women do not live single-issue lives, and this report really emphasizes that when looking at the data," said Rummel, counsel for health equity and justice at the National Women's Law Center. "There are significant, intersecting barriers that women are facing in accessing critical reproductive health care and resources across the United States." The internet plays a vital role in bridging the gap for abortion care, pregnancy care and even food deserts. The report defines an abortion desert as a county where an abortion clinic is more than 100 miles away -- but Javaid admits that doesn't fully capture the challenge. "100 miles is still a long way to go," Javaid said. "And if you don't have access to public transportation, you don't have access to a reliable car, then 25 miles could be an abortion desert for you." Additionally, the effects of one desert compound when multiple deserts overlap. In the case of broadband deserts, not being able to get preventative care via telehealth visits means being deprived of catching health issues or dangerous pregnancy conditions early. The internet effectively bridges the gap in reproductive care deserts, allowing women to consult with doctors or find an abortion care or pregnancy care facility. The report states that one in 10 US counties are broadband deserts, where more than half of residents do not have access to at least 100Mbps down/20Mbps up (a definition set by the Federal Communications Commission). National Women's Law Center While broadband deserts are technically among the report's less prevalent deserts, the definition relies on outdated FCC data from 2022. "I will say that the report is narrower in scope than we wanted because of a lack of data that exists," Javaid told me. "We know that it is likely an undercount because of the way they collect data. There's really not great broadband data collection out there." "I would guess there's probably four times more broadband deserts than they [Rummell and Javaid] recognize,' Christopher Mitchell, director of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, told CNET. While broadband may seem easily accessible for some, the truth is that for many, it's still unaffordable. Although broadband is available to 94% of US households, according to current FCC numbers, that data doesn't account for the number of homes enrolled in an internet service. "I would encourage thinking about broadband deserts from the supply side and the demand side," John Horrigan, a senior fellow at the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society, told CNET. "The other side of the coin is the number of households that are adopting broadband in a particular area." While broadband availability has drastically improved in recent years, adoption rates are still low in low-income communities and communities of color. A 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that only 57% of adults making less than $30,000 a year have an internet subscription, compared to 95% of adults making at least $100,000. US Census data from 2021 noted that low-income households, seniors and communities of color were more likely to be "smartphone-only" households. Recent data from Ookla reported that the broadband divide worsened in 32 states in 2024, potentially due in part to the ending of the Affordable Connectivity Program, which offered a significant discount of $30 on monthly internet bills for low-income families. (Disclaimer: Ookla is owned by Ziff Davis, the same company that owns CNET.) "There are a lot of broadband deserts where there are connections available, but people are not able to use them," Mitchell said. "High price, lack of a device, past debt, are all common things." "The lowest 20% of households in the United States, in terms of income distribution, is really where you begin to see substantial fall-offs in home internet adoption rates," echoed Horrigan. Recent policies, like President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, pose challenges for those affected by broadband, food and reproductive deserts due to cuts in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. Care workers with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) participated in a living cemetery protest at the US Capitol on June 23, 2025, in Washington, the passing of Dobbs v. Jackson, access to safe reproductive care is more threatened than ever: Infant mortality rates increased after the passing of Dobbs, specifically in states that instituted complete or 6-week abortion bans. "We still don't know the true impact of the Dobbs decision," Javaid told me. "I don't know that we will know for several years, and that's where it's so important to rely on the community and the experience of people to inform our understanding of what's going on." Some possible solutions to making broadband more affordable and ensuring access to telehealth include state low-income requirements, like New York's $15 low-income plan required for ISPs serving 20,000 households or more. While the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment program hasn't resulted in buildouts yet, Horrigan notes that BEAD permits funding for nondeployment purposes, which could potentially improve connectivity by investing in anchor institutions like libraries or hospitals. Nondeployment funding is "under review," per the latest notice from the federal agency that oversees BEAD, the National Telecommunications Information Administration. While the NTIA and BEAD are being restructured, community-based solutions are more critical than ever for ensuring overlooked communities can get back online. To get involved, you can easily contact your state's broadband office and learn what statewide or community-focused initiatives are being implemented near you. Your local representatives need to know that the broadband divide is a topic of concern for you -- that's why it's always important to reach out and call. You can find contact information for your local representatives here.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Most Medicare Advantage markets controlled by few insurers: KFF
This story was originally published on Healthcare Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Healthcare Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Medicare Advantage markets are highly concentrated, leaving many beneficiaries with few choices for insurers even as enrollment in the privatized Medicare program climbs, according to an analysis published Monday by the KFF. Last year, 9 in 10 Medicare enrollees lived in a county where at least half of MA beneficiaries were covered by plans sponsored by just one or two insurers, the health policy researcher found. Major MA insurers UnitedHealthcare or Humana had the largest market share in two-thirds of counties, making up nearly 60% of total MA enrollment in 2024. Dive Insight: More seniors are choosing MA plans, where the federal government pays private insurers a set amount to manage healthcare for Medicare beneficiaries. MA enrollees have access to 34 plans with prescription drug coverage on average this year, double the number on offer in 2018, according to the KFF. However, the number of insurers sponsoring these plans only slightly increased during this time, suggesting these payers aren't operating in a competitive market. Last year, nearly 80% of counties were considered highly concentrated MA markets, while another 18% were very highly concentrated. Only 30 counties, or less than 1% of the total, were moderately concentrated, according to the KFF analysis. None were unconcentrated. Beneficiaries in rural areas have fewer MA insurer options. Nearly 40% of the most rural counties were highly concentrated, compared with just 15% of rural areas near urban counties and 6% of urban counties. The large market share controlled by UnitedHealthcare and Humana was particularly pronounced in the least competitive markets. UnitedHealthcare was the biggest MA insurer in half of very highly concentrated counties and 41% of highly concentrated counties last year. Meanwhile, Humana was the largest MA insurer in 22% of very highly concentrated counties and 26% of highly concentrated areas, the KFF found. MA has come under increased scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators for driving up costs in the Medicare program. MedPAC, which advises Congress on Medicare policy, estimates the federal government will spend $84 billion more on MA enrollees this year than it would if those beneficiaries were enrolled in traditional fee-for-service Medicare, in part due to upcoding, where insurers exaggerate members' health needs to increase reimbursement. The CMS moved to expand audits on MA plans to catch overpayments in May, after Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz promised to more heavily scrutinize the program. Still, this spring the Trump administration finalized MA payment rates for 2026 that were significantly higher than the Biden administration had earlier proposed, in part due to more recent data of rising costs. Recommended Reading Insurer ownership of U.S. primary care practices is small but growing: study
The Guardian
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Hundred sell-off saved up to six counties from possible collapse, new report finds
The windfall generated by the sale of shares in the eight Hundred franchises may have saved as many as six first-class counties from imminent crisis and possible collapse, according to an expert in sport finance who co-wrote a new report into county cricket. The Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report analysed the finances of each of the 18 first-class counties over a decade, identifying a 'yawning gap' between the results of the most successful teams – with Surrey by some distance the most profitable – and the less well-off. Of the £306.13m generated by the 18 counties in 2023 just three teams – Surrey, Lancashire and Warwickshire, with income boosted in all three cases by hosting Ashes Tests that year – were responsible for 44%. By contrast the three poorest counties – Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire – between them generated just 5.56% of the total. The ECB's annual payment to counties, a total of just over £88m in 2023, made up 27% of their combined income, but while it constituted just 6% of Surrey's it made up 71% of Northamptonshire's, and 67% of Leicestershire's. The report suggests that the fact counties do not themselves control such a vital revenue stream could threaten their financial sustainability, particularly given concerns that it will be reduced if income from future domestic and international media rights sales decreases. 'We would probably have been talking about 18 counties going down to 14, 13, 12 even,' said professor Rob Wilson, the report's co-author. 'Essentially the picture is counties overly reliant on ECB funding. And if you take that ECB funding out, they are technically insolvent. They simply do not make enough money to wash their face. Then you have this unicorn that is the Hundred which will to a degree solve some of those short and medium-term financial issues.' Wilson described the arrival of the Hundred money as 'a crucial turning point in the domestic game … an extraordinary opportunity, but it has to be managed with real prudence'. 'It's really easy if you just look at the numbers to say those four counties are almost insolvent because they don't generate enough to sustain themselves. So without that grant, they disappear,' he said. 'The reality is that the ECB revenue structure enables the counties to exist in the formats they're in. And that's going to be turbocharged with the Hundred money. What's important is that the ECB look after that money and how they distribute it so the clubs don't waste it.' But while counties are due to profit from the £520m generated by the sale of Hundred franchises, 65% of that would disappear instantly if they simply paid off the debt they held in 2023, a combined £338.6m, most of it concentrated in the clubs with the highest annual incomes. Sign up to The Spin Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week's action after newsletter promotion The difference between the financial might of different counties is such that though Durham's annual spend on staff salary costs, as a percentage of their revenue, was almost the same as Surrey's (17% and 18% respectively), their total salary bill was £1.39m, to Surrey's £11.6m. Given that disparity it is perhaps no surprise that the report's analysis of competitive balance in domestic cricket is not encouraging. 'Overall the general trend appears to be declining,' it concludes, 'and this should present a cause of concern.'
BreakingNews.ie
14-07-2025
- Climate
- BreakingNews.ie
Thunderstorm warning issued for 14 counties
Met Éireann has issued a thunderstorm warning to 14 counties following the end of the recent sunny weather. A yellow thunderstorm warning is currently in place for Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, and Wicklow until 4 pm. Advertisement Met Éireann has warned this could lead to lightning damage. Separately, a yellow rain and thunderstorm warning has been issued for Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Galway. This will come into effect at 7pm, and will be in place until 7am on Tuesday warning. Met Éireann has warned of Surface water flooding, lightning damage, and difficult travelling conditions. Monday will be cooler than recent days with sunny spells and heavy thundery showers and some thunderstorms. Later in the afternoon, cloud will further increase across the West and Southwest with showers merging to longer spells of rain in these parts. Highest temperatures of 15 to 21 degrees. Monday night will see rain turning heavy and thundery at times, especially across western counties with spot flooding. Further thunderstorms will occur with the potential for lightning damage. Lowest temperatures of nine to 13 degrees. Tuesday will see further thundery spells of rain early on Tuesday with local thunderstorms. Brightening up from the west through the morning with a mix of sunny spells and showers, with mainly dry conditions developing in the west for the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 16 to 20 degrees.
