Defense Department Is Boxing Parents Out Of Their Children’s Medical Care And Records

It’s more important than ever for parents to push back on DOD policies, check in with their kids, and resolve to stay in the exam room with their children.

Health task force proposes screening all adults under 65 for anxiety, even if they have no symptoms



For the first time in its history, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force has proposed that all adults under the age of 65 be screened for anxiety, even if they have no anxiety symptoms.

According to a Draft Recommendation Statement which USPSTF released on Tuesday, conducting anxiety screenings on all adults between 18 and 64 — including women who are pregnant or postpartum — takes "the first step" in connecting potentially vulnerable people to health care professionals who can help diagnose and treat a possible mental health condition.

"To address the critical need for supporting the mental health of adults in primary care, the Task Force reviewed the evidence on screening for anxiety, depression, and suicide risk," said Task Force member Lori Pbert, Ph.D. "The good news is that screening all adults for depression, including those who are pregnant and postpartum, and screening adults younger than 65 for anxiety can help identify these conditions early so people can be connected to care."

USPSTF claimed that the benefits of universal adult anxiety screenings until age 65 outweigh any risks, which may include inaccurate screenings and recommending mental health interventions for people who are mentally well.

The AP reported that anxiety remains one of the most common health complaints, affecting 40% of women and 25% of men. Even though mental health became a regular topic of conversation during the government shutdowns of 2020, USPSTF stated that its findings regarding anxiety and mental health are based on a review that was conducted before the spread of COVID-19.

Though Pbert mentioned that USPSTF considered "screening for anxiety, depression, and suicide risk," the group said it needs to conduct more research about the possible risks of screening adults 65 and older for anxiety and of screening all adults for suicide risk before making a recommendation about these practices.

The task force does believe that certain groups within the 18-64 age range are more likely to suffer from anxiety and other mental health disorders than others.

"Racism and structural policies have contributed to wealth inequities in the United States, which also affects mental health in underserved communities," the Draft Recommendation Statement reads in part.

USPSTF also expressed concern that "misdiagnosis of mental health conditions occurs more in black and Hispanic/Latino patients compared with White patients" and that black people do not receive mental health services at the same rate as their white and Asian counterparts.

In its statement, the USPSTF made the disclaimer that it is entirely "independent of the U.S. government" and that its recommendations should not be "construed as an official position" of any government agency.

USPSTF is accepting comments from the public about this proposal until October 17. However, the AP states that the task force usually formalizes its draft proposals.

Ohio governor rolls out 'lottery' for vaccinated adults, offering $1M payouts



Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced Wednesday that the state will soon hold lottery drawings exclusively for vaccinated adults, and winners will take home $1 million each.

What are the details?

DeWine revealed the new plan during an address to his state, touting the progress Ohioans have made in the fight against COVID-19 and announcing that state government's coronavirus restrictions would end as of June 2 — outside of nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

He then offered incentives for more people to get vaccinated against the virus.

"Two weeks from tonight on May 26th, we will announce a winner of a separate drawing for adults who have received at least their first dose of the vaccine," DeWine explained in a tweet. "This announcement will occur each Wednesday for five weeks, and the winner each Wednesday will receive one million dollars."

The Republican noted that the drawings would be conducted by the Ohio Lottery, sponsored by the Ohio Department of Health, and "the money will come from existing federal Coronavirus Relief funds."

"I know that some may say, 'DeWine, you're crazy! This million-dollar drawing idea of yours is a waste of money,'" he wrote in a later tweet. "But truly, the real waste at this point in the pandemic -- when the vaccine is readily available to anyone who wants it -- is a life lost to COVID-19."

The governor also announced that 12 to 17-year-olds who get vaccinated (now that Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine is approved for that age group) will be offered a lottery of their own, where winners "will receive a full, four-year scholarship at our State of Ohio universities," including "tuition, room and board, and books."

DeWine noted that 78% of Ohioans 65 and older have been vaccinated, and he is making a push for more of the rest of the population to get the shots.

"Our cases are down, but that's only because 42% of our population can no longer get the virus and can no longer spread it" due to vaccination, DeWine said, according to WOIO-TV.

How are people reacting?

The feedback on DeWine's lottery was mixed on social media.

Some people praised the scheme, with one tweeting, "This is genius. That 5 million dollar cost is much less than what the marketing cost would be to convince even half the amount of people to get a dose of the vaccine that a **very slim** chance at one million dollars would convince. Props to whoever thought of that."

Another wrote, "It's a crazy idea, but it will almost certainly get *a lot* of people who otherwise would not get the vaccine to do so. If it gets a few 100,000 extra people vaccinated, it will save the state a ton of money in the long run."

Others slammed the move. One person reacted, "So now we're using tax payers money to bribe parents into getting Covid shots for kids. Lol. DeWine has got to go. This guy is a clown. We have such terrible leadership at the highest levels in Ohio. @GovMikeDeWine role as Governor will terminated next election. Mark my words."

Someone else wrote, "What the hell is this, Mike? I mean, we're used to Republicans wasting our tax money, but I'm pretty sure a lottery wasn't part of the stimulus deal. A million dollars could be used so much better elsewhere. Does Washington know you're misappropriating our money?"

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Biden: 'Good chance' that 'small groups' of Americans can gather by Fourth of July



President Joe Biden announced a series of plans for the continued fight against COVID-19 during his first primetime speech to the nation Thursday night, saying there is a "good chance" Americans will be able to gather in "small groups" by the Fourth of July.

As part of his agenda, Biden is directing every state to make coronavirus vaccines available to all adults by May 1.

What are the details?

The president said that he is "directing all states, tribes, and territories to make all adults eligible to be vaccinated no later than May 1," and his administration is launching a new website that will assist citizens in making appointments for getting the shots.

"The U.S. is expecting delivery of enough doses for those 255 million adults by the end of that month, but the process of actually administering those doses will take time," the Associated Press reported.

'"A July 4th with your loved ones is the goal," Biden said in his speech, adding that every American's assistance is needed in continuing to wear masks, socially distancing, and listening to Dr. Anthony Fauci.

.@POTUS: If everyone follows protocols and gets vaccinated and LISTENS TO DR. FAUCI, we will all have the chance to… https://t.co/ipxD1NBjLS
— Pod Save America (@Pod Save America)1615512217.0

That message was reiterated by White House chief staff Ron Klain, who told CNN, "This is a whole of country effort. The president's deploying our entire government to do its part. The American people are going to have to do their part, too."

According to The New York Times:

Mr. Biden announced a series of new actions to speed up vaccinations, including new federal mass vaccination sites, an expanded partnership with pharmacies to distribute the vaccine, and the use of dentists, veterinarians, medical students and others to actually deliver the shots.

Biden stated that as of Thursday, 527,726 Americans had died from COVID-19, which is "more deaths than WWI, WWII, the Vietnam War and 9/11 combined."

Anything else?

The president's address came hours after he signed a huge $1.9 trillion spending package billed as COVID-19 relief, which he said in his speech could "cut child poverty in half."

The legislation, dubbed the "American Rescue Plan," was passed without the support of a single GOP lawmaker. Two earlier coronavirus spending packages were passed with bipartisan support under President Donald Trump.

Democrats have hailed the latest legislation as a lifeline that will boost the economy, but Republicans argue the bill does little to fight the pandemic and is largely a pork-filled vehicle for fulfilling leftist wishes while further driving up the national debt.