February 2024

TL/DR - The Albanese government in Australia plans to respond to the US Inflation Reduction Act with multi-billion-dollar subsidies and co-investment in renewable energy and new industries. The move is considered part of the global green energy and manufacturing rush and its details will be announced in the upcoming budget. The US Inflation…

TL/DR - The "Defund the Police" movement has resulted in a proposed bill in Arizona that prohibits cities and towns from reducing their police budgets, with the risk of losing their state shared revenue. The bill, House Bill 2120, is sponsored by first-term Republican lawmaker David Marshall and passed its first committee by a party-line 8-7…

TL/DR - The American Hospital Association’s (AHA) 2024 Rural Advocacy Agenda is targeting Medicare Advantage plans over issues related to payments and prior authorization procedures. AHA's President and CEO, Rick Pollack, has voiced concerns about administrative workload, delayed payments, and denial of claims that impact patient care. The AHA…

TL/DR - The Guilford County Department of Public Health is asking residents to mail any ticks they encounter to North Carolina State University. The residents are being asked to participate as "community scientists" in a study documenting the various tick species found throughout the state. As part of the study, participants, who must be 18 or…