Monkeypox is the latest virus getting the attention of people around the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO) is holding a forum looking at renaming monkeypox after some say that the name is derogatory and/or has a racist connotation.  Read on to learn more about the status of the renaming of Monkeypox.  Criticism of the Name Monkeypox  The monkeypox virus was discovered in 1951 before the practices for naming diseases, and viruses were adopted. At the time that the virus was named, it was done so according to the region in which the virus was circulating, which is why the name is currently...

While there has not been a lot of “positive” change throughout this COVID era, one thing that has made a huge, positive impact is the ability to now engage in healthcare services through telehealth platforms.  Read more below to learn how telehealth has affected our healthcare system.  Recent News  On July 27, 2022, the House passed the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act, an act that continues telehealth policies that were previously established under Medicare. It eliminates any geographical requirement for receiving telehealth services to increase a patient’s access abilities. This...

President Joe Biden signed the new Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 on August 16, 2022. While this Act addresses many elements, one of the most notable sections is its impact on the field of healthcare.  This article includes NPHIC’s take on how the new Inflation Reduction Act will affect the healthcare industry.  How This Act Will Affect Healthcare  Several notable elements surround the healthcare industry in this new Act. First, this Act aims at expanding Medicare benefits. This includes free vaccines for seniors through 2023, lowered costs of drugs, such as insulin (which many people with...

We are all living and learning through this COVID era. At this point, many are not attached to the news as they once might have been. Recently, President Biden shared his case of rebound COVID, which gained the attention of many across the globe.  What is rebound COVID? How often does it occur? Read this article for all you need to know about rebound COVID.  President Biden’s Case  On July 21, 2022, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19, and then tested positive again after taking a five-day course of Paxlovid, a medication commonly used as a treatment for COVID-19. Rebound COVID sometimes...

Does helping the public defend against viruses feel like you’re playing a never-ending game of whack-a-mole these days? Just as health officials have started to get a handle on the COVID-19 pandemic—with the ongoing development of effective vaccines and treatments—information has begun to accumulate about cases of “rebound” COVID-19, as well as cases of other vaccine-preventable diseases that are now re-emerging.  From COVID-19 to measles, monkeypox, and polio, it is incumbent upon people involved in public health, and members of the general public, to stay up to date about what is going on...