Like most of American healthcare, kidney care has for decades been plagued by red tape. The Trump administration says it wants to change that. On Tuesday, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his department's Kidney Care National Plan, which promises to introduce more competition, reduce regulatory barriers, expand patient choice, and overhaul America's kidney transplant system.
Much of the plan focuses on barriers to entry in dialysis care, which treats nearly 558,000 Americans. While dialysis can be performed at home, most patients receive treatment at specialized facilities, which must comply with federal certification requirements governing equipment, staffing, water quality, and patient safety in order to participate in Medicare.
Kennedy argues that regulatory barriers have discouraged competition and innovation, leaving patients with fewer dialysis treatment options. "Dialysis technology is an extraordinary technology," said Kennedy at the press conference, but "because of monopolies in the system and the barriers to new entrants, we have not seen any real improvements in that technology."
Of course, the existence of large or even monopolistic companies is not in itself evidence of a problem, but government regulation can often entrench those companies' positions in the market. "I like the fact that they're recognizing that a lot of regulatory…barriers are contributing to the problem, and that's refreshing to hear," says Jeffrey Singer, a practicing general surgeon and senior fellow at Reason Foundation, the nonprofit that publishes Reason. Singer says that removing barriers that prevent new companies from competing with established providers could not only increase choice but also drive down prices.
HHS says that two companies, DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care, control approximately 74 percent of the American dialysis market. As of 2019, roughly a third of Americans lived in areas where the only available dialysis provider was one of those two companies, according to the agency. The administration argues that government regulation has helped entrench this dominance by making it difficult for new providers to enter the market.
To address this, the Kidney Care National Plan suggests a number of reforms, including simplifying certification requirements. HHS also plans to investigate whether dominant dialysis providers have used payment arrangements and legal strategies to secure higher reimbursements without delivering better care.
The 17-page report calls for a review of existing requirements, but it does not specify which regulations will be repealed, nor does it establish a timeline for doing so. It also does not propose any significant reduction in the government's role in financing the distorted market. Instead, the plan largely seeks to make existing government-financed systems such as Medicare more competitive and efficient.
Kennedy has also correctly identified the need for reform regarding kidney donations. Nearly 90,000 people are waiting for a kidney transplant at any given time in America, and 11 people die every day waiting for a kidney. The transplant process is currently managed by Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs), which are federally certified nonprofits responsible for recovering organs from donors and coordinating their transfer. There are currently just 55 federally designated OPOs operating in the United States, and HHS argues that they behave as "regional monopolies." Since no new OPOs have been approved in the last year, the Kidney Care National Plan suggests fast-tracking certification.
The plan also seeks to make living kidney donation easier by reducing financial barriers. Following the passage of the Honor Our Living Donors Act in February, HHS revised federal reimbursement rules so that a donor's eligibility for financial assistance is no longer determined by the transplant recipient's income. Eligible donors can receive up to $6,000 to cover expenses, including travel, lost wages, and childcare.
However, the reforms proposed stop short of allowing kidney donors to receive direct compensation for the organs themselves, which remains prohibited under federal law. "I can sell my blood. Why can't I sell my kidney?" Singer asks.
Peter Jaworski, director of the Georgetown Blood and Plasma Research Group, feels similarly, arguing that financial incentives are available to nearly everyone involved in kidney transplantation except the donors themselves. "According to this plan, it's OK to use incentives to encourage them to be more productive, to actually do a better job," Jaworski tells Reason, referring to transplant surgeons, hospitals, and organ procurement organizations. "The only exception, once again, is the donor who is offering a kidney."
Better solutions exist, according to Jaworski, who points to the proposed End Kidney Deaths Act. The bill, which was introduced by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R–N.Y.) last year, would offer living kidney donors a $50,000 refundable tax credit, distributed over five years. "We have those systems in order to make sure that we can treat patients. That's the point of blood donation. That's the point of plasma donation. That's the point of kidney donation too."
America's plasma market is an excellent example of financial incentives encouraging donation. Unlike many other countries, the U.S. allows plasma donors to be compensated, and despite accounting for just over 4 percent of the world's population, it supplies approximately 68 percent of the plasma collected globally for manufacturing medicines.
"Why do you think America does it? Is it because in America there's way more altruism than in France or Italy or Belgium? No, it's because in the United States you can be paid to donate plasma," argues Jaworski.
The Trump administration appears to recognize that government overreach has stifled competition and restricted patient choice. It also recognizes that living adults donating kidneys will be part of the solution to the long, deadly waiting lists. But its plan leaves the government's outsize role in kidney care largely untouched. For patients facing years on dialysis or waiting for a lifesaving transplant, recognizing the problem is not enough.
The post RFK Jr. Wants To Cut Red Tape in Kidney Care. He Should Go Further. appeared first on Reason Magazine.
Omonia e Benfica se enfrentam nesta quinta-feira, às 16h (de Brasília), em jogo válido pela terceira rodada da fase de classificação da Uefa Europa League 2026-27, com transmissão exclusiva ao vivo e com imagens de CNN Esportes e Itatiaia.
Uma das atrações do duelo — não pelos melhores motivos — é Prestianni, lateral-direito argentino que se envolveu em polêmica com Vinicius Júnior em partida da última edição da Liga dos Campeões. Na ocasião, o brasileiro acusou o jogador do Benfica de racismo.
O argentino está relacionado pelo técnico Marco Silva para a partida de logo mais. Tanto Benfica quanto Omonia estão com 100% de aproveitamento na Liga Europa: dois jogos e duas vitórias.
A polêmica entre Vini Jr. e Gianluca Prestianni ganhou destaque no futebol após um episódio envolvendo uma denúncia de racismo durante uma partida entre Real Madrid e Benfica. O caso gerou grande repercussão entre torcedores, jogadores e profissionais do esporte.
Vini Jr., jogador brasileiro do Real Madrid, é conhecido por se posicionar contra o racismo no futebol. Ao longo de sua carreira, ele já denunciou diferentes episódios de discriminação e defendeu punições mais rigorosas para quem pratica esse tipo de atitude.
O episódio aconteceu em fevereiro de 2026, durante um jogo da Liga dos Campeões. Depois de marcar um golaço, Vini Jr. comemorou dançando perto da bandeirinha de escanteio, o que provocou reclamações dos jogadores do Benfica. Na discussão que se seguiu, o brasileiro acusou Prestianni de chamá-lo de “macaco”, em espanhol.
Prestianni negou ter cometido racismo. Segundo relatos sobre seu depoimento à UEFA, o argentino afirmou ter usado um insulto homofóbico, e não uma ofensa racial. O caso, portanto, passou a envolver acusações de discriminação que precisavam ser investigadas pelas autoridades do futebol.
A UEFA abriu uma investigação e suspendeu provisoriamente Prestianni por uma partida, impedindo sua participação no jogo de volta contra o Real Madrid. A decisão não representou, por si só, uma conclusão definitiva sobre o caso, mas demonstrou a seriedade das acusações. A polêmica reacendeu o debate sobre o combate ao racismo e a outras formas de preconceito no futebol.
Conheça Gianluca Prestianni, argentino acusado de racismo contra Vini Jr
O atacante Vinícius Júnior, do Real Madrid, se pronunciou nas redes sociais nesta quarta-feira (21). O jogador brasileiro não vive boa fase com a camisa do time merengue e foi substituído por Diomandé na goleada de 4 a 1 sobre o RB Leipzig, pela Uefa Champions League.
O último gol de Vinícius Jr. pelo Real Madrid aconteceu no dia 26 de agosto, no triunfo de 4 a 1 sobre a Real Sociedad, pelo Campeonato Espanhol. O jogador não esconde a frustração pelo momento vivido, mas mostra confiança em dar a volta por cima.
“Vivendo cada momento. Tudo passa”, disse Vinícius Júnior em postagem no Instagram.
O brasileiro foi substituído pela quarta partida consecutiva no Real Madrid. Mesmo assim, o atleta tem recebido o apoio do técnico José Mourinho para recuperar o melhor futebol.
“Fez um jogo do qual eu gostei. Ele não fez gol, não foi o melhor da partida, mas fez um bom jogo para a equipe”, declarou Mourinho em entrevista à “TNT Sports”.
“Só ele pode dizer se está triste, mas o seu treinador está contente com ele”, assegurou o português, de acordo com a imprensa espanhola.
O francês Kylian Mbappé também disse palavras de incentivo ao jogador brasileiro neste momento.
“Se ele está triste, é porque quer dar muito para a equipe e para a torcida. Tem que estar orgulhoso do que ele é, um grande jogador. Tem qualidade e precisa estar tranquilo”, ensinou.
One of the grandchildren of Robert F. Kennedy, Kyle Kennedy, died at the age of 42, according to multiple reports.
The post Granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy, Kyle Kennedy, Dead at 42 appeared first on Breitbart.
Morning erections are the gold standard for gauging testosterone, according to several male-oriented forums on Reddit, where an entire subcategory is devoted to the hormone, which is referred to online simply as T. In those groups—some aligned with the manosphere and others not—members swap and compare blood tests every six months. Being labeled in that universe as low T (low in testosterone) is a stigma that taps into several male anxieties: weak sexual drive, low energy, a certain timorous attitude toward life and a precarious bank balance.
© EL PAÍS
There is still over an hour before the protagonist appears, but the line already wraps around the block. Dozens of people wait patiently for their turn to see the man who has become the great hope of the Democratic left wing. When he begins to speak, pandemonium breaks out: “My name is Abdul El‑Sayed and I am going to be your next senator in Washington.” Over the next hour, the hundreds gathered in this venue will applaud, laugh, and cheer every word from the mouth of the new star of American politics, who has already made a fitted black T‑shirt and jeans his trademark look. We are in Lansing, Michigan’s capital, where one of the most gripping battles of the midterm elections — just over two weeks away — is being fought.
© Paul Sancya (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
O apresentador Craque Neto, de 60 anos, comentou o fim do relacionamento entre Virginia Fonseca, 27, e Vini Jr., 26, durante uma entrevista ao podcast “PodPah”, exibida na terça-feira (13). Na conversa, ele apresentou uma possível explicação para a separação e afirmou que a influenciadora teria encontrado uma mensagem enviada pelo jogador à ex-namorada.
“Parece que ela viu no WhatsApp dele ele falando para a ex dele: ‘Nossa, que saudade que eu tô de você’. Aí acho que ela viu”, declarou Neto, dizendo que havia lido a informação.
Além de comentar o suposto episódio, o apresentador fez diversos elogios a Virginia e destacou sua trajetória profissional. Para ele, a influenciadora se tornou uma das grandes empreendedoras do país e transformou a maneira como muitas pessoas enxergam o crescimento nos negócios.
“Eu acho ela [Virginia] uma mulher extraordinária, monstruosa naquilo que faz. Ela é uma das maiores empreendedoras desse país”, afirmou.
Durante o podcast, o ex-jogador também opinou sobre a dinâmica do namoro. Na avaliação dele, Virginia demonstrava mais iniciativa no relacionamento do que Vini Jr. Como exemplo, citou a presença da influenciadora em eventos, como a Copa e a Fórmula 1, nos quais, segundo ele, a atenção do público se voltava principalmente para ela.
“E ela que terminou”, disse Neto, ao defender que a influenciadora teria decidido encerrar a relação.
O apresentador ainda afirmou acreditar que o jogador teria se beneficiado mais da exposição do namoro do que Virginia. “No relacionamento, para mim, ele [Vini Jr.] usou mais ela do que as pessoas falam que ela usou ele. Ela é um milhão de vezes melhor do que ele”, concluiu.
Após a repercussão das declarações, Virginia republicou o vídeo nas redes sociais e agradeceu ao apresentador pelos comentários. “Gratidão pelos elogios”, escreveu, acompanhando a mensagem com emojis de rosto emocionado e coração.
A assessoria de Virginia confirmou no último fim de semana, que ela e Vini Jr. não estavam mais juntos. Os dois haviam assumido o namoro em 2025 e já tinham enfrentado uma crise que levou ao término em maio de 2026.
Na ocasião, a equipe da influenciadora afirmou que a separação aconteceu sem brigas ou conflitos, mas por uma decisão de não continuarem como casal.
Os rumores sobre o rompimento começaram a circular no sábado (10). Conforme informações divulgadas pelo jornalista Léo Dias e pelo perfil Daily do Garotinho, Virginia e o atleta teriam tido um desentendimento na sexta-feira (9), em Madri, na Espanha, onde ele joga pelo Real Madrid.
A viagem da influenciadora para Miami, nos Estados Unidos, sem a companhia do jogador, também alimentou as especulações. Ela foi ao encontro do ex-marido, Zé Felipe, para levar os filhos, enquanto o cantor permanece no exterior trabalhando em novos projetos musicais.
The post Craque Neto revela suposto motivo do término entre Virginia e Vini Jr. e elogia influenciadora appeared first on Diário da Manhã - O Jornal do leitor Inteligente.
by Brian Shilhavy
Health Impact News
The headlines in the corporate news the past couple of days regarding an Executive “Order” that Trump signed regarding the current vaccine schedule made it sound like the world was coming to an end, due to Trump’s vaccine “order” that they claimed would bring back childhood diseases that are believed to have been eradicated by vaccines.
Here are some sample headlines from the past couple of days:
If these headlines were actually publishing the truth, this would actually be great news for those who oppose vaccines.
But I have learned that anytime something is published in the corporate media about a presidential “Executive Order” (EO), the best thing to do first is to look up the actual EO to see what it actually says.
I knew right away, for example, that these headlines could NOT be true, because the office of the President of the United States cannot dictate vaccine policy, and, in fact, there are no alternatives to the 3-vaccine combo of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine, and it is impossible to get them individually, EO or not, because the drug companies do not even make them.
You can read the EO for yourself here.
Some excerpts:
Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Delivers Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations for Americans
DELIVERING GOLD STANDARD CHILDHOOD VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to recognize Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations that maximize parental choices over vaccinations for their children and align three categories of childhood immunizations with scientific evidence and best practices from peer, developed countries.
The Order provides recommendations that give parents more information and options when making immunization decisions for their children.
- The Order recommends all children get immunizations to provide protection for 11 diseases – a decrease from the 18 diseases recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2024. Immunizations no longer recommended for all children are now recommended for shared clinical decision-making, ensuring that parents have all options available to them.
- The Order recommends separating out the combined MMR vaccine into three single-disease shots and recommends administering all vaccines during separate medical visits to give parents more options regarding the timing and frequency of this vaccine administration.
- States that enact school vaccine requirements are advised to consider the Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations and consider updating their laws to reflect the recommendations.
- All Federal agencies are advised to advance the Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations based on their relevant authorities to ensure Americans have the best scientific information.
It is quite evident that this “order” orders NOTHING. It is simply a document with “recommendations.”
How can an Executive Order order recommendations??
I have no idea.
As I have repeatedly published over the past decade or so, the President of the United States has no authority over vaccine policies.
It is a State issue, and the enforcement of vaccine policy published by the CDC is by State and local health departments.
The only President that I am aware of who tried to mandate vaccine policy from the White House, was President Joe Biden, who tried to order OSHA to mandate the COVID vaccines at the national level to all federal government workers.
Of all of the vaccine mandates implemented during the COVID scam, this EO by Biden is the only COVID vaccine mandate that was shot down by the U.S. Supreme Court, as the Supreme Court upheld EVERY OTHER COVID VACCINE MANDATE implemented, such as for healthcare workers, university students, military members, etc.
But the U.S. Supreme Court was not willing to give that power to the President of the United States.
So there is no “order” implemented by Trump.
Many States were quick to reply that they were NOT taking Trump’s recommendations, and that the childhood vaccine schedule would remain unchanged.
As to “ordering” the pharmaceutical industry to provide three separate vaccines to replace Merck’s blockbuster MMR vaccine, that will never happen.
Trump wants to split the MMR vaccine. Experts say that’s unlikely
Excerpts:
President Donald Trump’s latest executive order calls for splitting the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine into three separate shots – but doctors and other experts say that effort has no scientific basis and is unlikely to get off the ground.
Manufacturers of the MMR vaccine – Merck and GSK – seem to have little incentive to develop standalone shots, which would take significant time and resources away from their other crucial work toward treating and finding cures to other diseases. Those vaccines would likely reach the market long after Trump’s term ends.
“I don’t see any world in which vaccine manufacturers have any interest in developing and going through the rigorous regulatory process, getting FDA approval, doing the trials for monovalent measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines,” said Moss.
“It would be a foolish investment to make.”
AAP’s Racine also said that it would likely take more than a decade to develop those standalone shots.
This show at the White House earlier this week was probably just a campaign stunt heading into the midterm election cycle. I have already seen Republican ads targeting “liberals” by claiming “Trump kept his promises”.
That’s a hard sell, even among Republicans, many of whom are dropping out of the Republican party (like Marjorie Taylor Greene) due to Trump’s failed promise of not starting any new wars, which the current war in Iran proves is a broken promise.
The former Epstein associate and heroine drug addict, and life long liberal, pro-abortion Democrat, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was specifically recruited by Trump to bring in the “anti-vax” voters, whom they clearly fear losing support from heading into the midterm elections in November.
So now the Trump Republicans can claim that Trump “kept his promise” to change the CDC vaccine schedule and get rid of the MMR vaccine.
But, he actually did not.
He just hosted a campaign event at the White House to try and convince people that he kept his promise on changing CDC vaccine policy.
Trump is responsible for murdering more children and adults through toxic vaccines than anyone else in American history, with his Operation Warp Speed military campaign and the experimental COVID shots.
He should be tried for war crimes, and sedition, NOT passing out fake recommendations under the guise of an “Executive Order”, a full blown propaganda campaign that the corporate media was all too happy to comply with.
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)
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The post Trump Signs Meaningless Executive “Order” on Childhood Vaccine Schedule – Midterm Election Campaign Stunt? first appeared on Health Impact News.
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