Healthcare Policy

Texas Banned Abortion. Then Sepsis Rates Soared.

ProPublica's data analysis reveals a significant increase in pregnancy-related complications in Texas following the 2021 abortion ban, with sepsis rates rising over 50% for second-trimester pregnancy losses. Hospital data shows maternal deaths increased by 33% in Texas between 2019 and 2023, while the national rate decreased by 7.5%, prompting calls for legislative reform.

How Trump’s Medical Research Cuts Would Hit Colleges and Hospitals in Every State

The Trump administration's proposal to reduce NIH grant funding for indirect costs to 15% would significantly impact medical research institutions nationwide, potentially cutting $4-5 billion annually. Major research universities and hospitals could face individual losses exceeding $100 million per year, affecting their ability to maintain research infrastructure and continue current research levels. The policy change could particularly affect complex research areas like genetics and disproportionately impact institutions in states like North Carolina, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.

USAID funding freeze disrupts global tuberculosis control efforts

The Trump administration's sudden freeze on USAID funding and subsequent agency dismantling has severely disrupted global tuberculosis control efforts, affecting diagnosis, treatment, and research programs worldwide. As USAID accounts for approximately one-third of international TB funding ($406 million in 2024), the freeze has forced the closure of critical TB services in high-burden countries, leaving patients without access to essential medications and diagnostics. Multiple lawsuits have been filed against the administration while experts warn about potential increases in drug-resistant TB cases and heightened risks to global public health.