Sarah Somers
@sarahsomers.bsky.social
Legal Director at the National Health Law Program. In Chapel Hill, NC, but still a Michigander at heart. Opinions my own. She/her.
Reposted by Sarah Somers
Jenna Norton has spoken critically about the Trump administration's funding cuts and mass firings at the National Institutes of Health. At the end of the shutdown, she says she was put on leave.
www.wunc.org/2025-11-14/s...
www.wunc.org/2025-11-14/s...
She criticized President Trump during the shutdown. Now she's been put on leave
Jenna Norton has spoken critically about the Trump administration's funding cuts and mass firings at the National Institutes of Health. At the end of the shutdown, she says she was put on leave.
www.wunc.org
November 14, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Jenna Norton has spoken critically about the Trump administration's funding cuts and mass firings at the National Institutes of Health. At the end of the shutdown, she says she was put on leave.
www.wunc.org/2025-11-14/s...
www.wunc.org/2025-11-14/s...
Reposted by Sarah Somers
If you think the origins of a pipe cannot make for compelling investigative reporting, boy do I have a story for you
A Stormwater Pipe Is Destroying Her Home. Who’s Responsible?
Mandy McGhee bought her Walltown home through a program designed to help low-income buyers build generational wealth. But a stormwater pipe that’s been eroding her foundation for years is putting that...
indyweek.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:54 PM
If you think the origins of a pipe cannot make for compelling investigative reporting, boy do I have a story for you
Reposted by Sarah Somers
hire all the fired political teen vogue writers and make a new magazine call teen rogue.
we’ll all subscribe en masse
we’ll all subscribe en masse
November 4, 2025 at 2:32 AM
hire all the fired political teen vogue writers and make a new magazine call teen rogue.
we’ll all subscribe en masse
we’ll all subscribe en masse
Reposted by Sarah Somers
A friend is raising money for Legal Services of North Florida, where he offers pro bono civil representation to low-income and vulnerable individuals. I volunteered with LSNF years ago and can confirm they do vital work. Would be grateful if you could chip in a bit: secure.qgiv.com/event/legals...
Dancing with the Stars Tallahassee
secure.qgiv.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:36 PM
A friend is raising money for Legal Services of North Florida, where he offers pro bono civil representation to low-income and vulnerable individuals. I volunteered with LSNF years ago and can confirm they do vital work. Would be grateful if you could chip in a bit: secure.qgiv.com/event/legals...
Reposted by Sarah Somers
Very informative story about what is going on with the Rural Health "Transformation" Fund... Corporate vendors lining up.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
States Jostle Over $50B Rural Health Fund as Trump’s Medicaid Cuts Trigger Scramble - KFF Health News
States are battling for their piece of $50 billion in federal rural health funding, but it’s not just hospitals vying for the money. Tech startups and policy demands are raising the stakes as Medicaid...
kffhealthnews.org
October 24, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Very informative story about what is going on with the Rural Health "Transformation" Fund... Corporate vendors lining up.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Reposted by Sarah Somers
Reeling from the scale of the SNAP cliff. In Orange County NC alone: 8700 individual SNAP recipients in 4683 families.
October 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Reeling from the scale of the SNAP cliff. In Orange County NC alone: 8700 individual SNAP recipients in 4683 families.
Durham’s Second No Kings Rally Draws Thousands indyweek.com/news/durham/...
Durham’s Second No Kings Rally Draws Thousands
An estimated 6,000 to 7,000 people rallied in Durham under the banner of “No Kings, No Billionaires” to protest President Trump.
indyweek.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Durham’s Second No Kings Rally Draws Thousands indyweek.com/news/durham/...
Reposted by Sarah Somers
NEW with @ruthreader.bsky.social: Nearly as many migrants have died in custody so far this year than over the 4 yrs of the Biden admin. ICE is hiring dozens more medical workers, but former insiders are skeptical the deaths will stop w/o more fundamental reforms. www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
ICE is hiring dozens of health workers as lawsuits, deaths in custody mount
Nearly as many migrants have died in detention so far this year than over the four years of the Biden administration.
www.politico.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:04 PM
NEW with @ruthreader.bsky.social: Nearly as many migrants have died in custody so far this year than over the 4 yrs of the Biden admin. ICE is hiring dozens more medical workers, but former insiders are skeptical the deaths will stop w/o more fundamental reforms. www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Sarah Somers
Top on the list of "Democrat programs" Trump/Vought just ended is the office which runs special education programs in the United States. www.k12dive.com/news/special...
RIFs rip through federal Office of Special Education Programs
With OSEP reportedly decimated, one special education expert asks: How can IDEA "possibly function"?
www.k12dive.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Top on the list of "Democrat programs" Trump/Vought just ended is the office which runs special education programs in the United States. www.k12dive.com/news/special...
Reposted by Sarah Somers
Someone should tell JD Vance (and the press corps) about EMTALA, which requires ER’s to treat all comers, so that people don’t literally die in the streets. It was signed into law by Ronald Reagan.
Vance: "If you're an American citizen & you've been to the hospital in the last few years, you've probably noticed wait times are especially large & very often somebody who's there in the ER is an illegal alien. Why do those people get healthcare benefits at hospitals paid for by American citizens?"
October 1, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Someone should tell JD Vance (and the press corps) about EMTALA, which requires ER’s to treat all comers, so that people don’t literally die in the streets. It was signed into law by Ronald Reagan.
Reposted by Sarah Somers
If you, like me, are the parent of a neuro-atypical child dreading this autism press conference, please remember: These are the people hurting our kids. Not us. They are the ones stigmatizing and pathologizing them. They are the ones peddling untested science. And we should be very, very angry.
September 22, 2025 at 9:03 PM
If you, like me, are the parent of a neuro-atypical child dreading this autism press conference, please remember: These are the people hurting our kids. Not us. They are the ones stigmatizing and pathologizing them. They are the ones peddling untested science. And we should be very, very angry.
Reposted by Sarah Somers
“The companies represent ‘a whole new bounty hunter,’ said David A. Lipschutz, the co-director for the Center for Medicare Advocacy, one of the groups that has urged government officials to abandon the program.”
However evil you think this is, it’s worse:
“The A.I. companies selected to oversee the program would have a strong financial incentive to deny claims. Medicare plans to pay them a share of the savings generated from rejections.”
“The A.I. companies selected to oversee the program would have a strong financial incentive to deny claims. Medicare plans to pay them a share of the savings generated from rejections.”
Medicare Will Require Prior Approval for Certain Procedures
www.nytimes.com
August 29, 2025 at 12:21 AM
“The companies represent ‘a whole new bounty hunter,’ said David A. Lipschutz, the co-director for the Center for Medicare Advocacy, one of the groups that has urged government officials to abandon the program.”
Reposted by Sarah Somers
NINE rural hospitals may close. MSU's SNAP-Ed program, which provides some schools with their ONLY phys ed program or ONLY school nurse, will be cancelled as of October 1st of THIS YEAR.
Here's more:
Here's more:
August 25, 2025 at 6:55 PM
NINE rural hospitals may close. MSU's SNAP-Ed program, which provides some schools with their ONLY phys ed program or ONLY school nurse, will be cancelled as of October 1st of THIS YEAR.
Here's more:
Here's more:
Reposted by Sarah Somers
We have reached a milestone for kids' mental health. A preliminary settlement agreement with NY means more kids will get the services they need—at home, not in institutions! @gothamist.com
gothamist.com/news/ny-agre... with @childrens-rights.bsky.social, Disability Rights NY, Proskauer Rose LLP
gothamist.com/news/ny-agre... with @childrens-rights.bsky.social, Disability Rights NY, Proskauer Rose LLP
NY agrees to bolster mental services for children on Medicaid as part of class-action settlement
The agreement, which still requires court approval, could benefit thousands of children.
gothamist.com
August 12, 2025 at 11:28 AM
We have reached a milestone for kids' mental health. A preliminary settlement agreement with NY means more kids will get the services they need—at home, not in institutions! @gothamist.com
gothamist.com/news/ny-agre... with @childrens-rights.bsky.social, Disability Rights NY, Proskauer Rose LLP
gothamist.com/news/ny-agre... with @childrens-rights.bsky.social, Disability Rights NY, Proskauer Rose LLP
Reposted by Sarah Somers
Millions of people will lose access to life-saving care due to the Medicaid cuts. This is a humanitarian crisis in the making. Congress needs to act now and repeal the cuts to prevent this disaster. #MedicaidCutsKill
July 25, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Millions of people will lose access to life-saving care due to the Medicaid cuts. This is a humanitarian crisis in the making. Congress needs to act now and repeal the cuts to prevent this disaster. #MedicaidCutsKill
Reposted by Sarah Somers
24 million women rely on Medicaid to access basic health care.
Routine physicals, maternal and postpartum care, birth control, childbirth, cancer screenings.
Republicans have sacrificed their health to make a handful of billionaires richer.
Routine physicals, maternal and postpartum care, birth control, childbirth, cancer screenings.
Republicans have sacrificed their health to make a handful of billionaires richer.
July 25, 2025 at 1:07 PM
24 million women rely on Medicaid to access basic health care.
Routine physicals, maternal and postpartum care, birth control, childbirth, cancer screenings.
Republicans have sacrificed their health to make a handful of billionaires richer.
Routine physicals, maternal and postpartum care, birth control, childbirth, cancer screenings.
Republicans have sacrificed their health to make a handful of billionaires richer.
Reposted by Sarah Somers
This is worth a read about what lies ahead - very troubling.
White House Leads Push to Block Watchdog’s Inquiries Into Spending Cuts www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/u...
White House Leads Push to Block Watchdog’s Inquiries Into Spending Cuts www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/u...
White House Leads Push to Block Watchdog’s Inquiries Into Spending Cuts
www.nytimes.com
July 22, 2025 at 4:55 PM
This is worth a read about what lies ahead - very troubling.
White House Leads Push to Block Watchdog’s Inquiries Into Spending Cuts www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/u...
White House Leads Push to Block Watchdog’s Inquiries Into Spending Cuts www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/u...
Reposted by Sarah Somers
While Republicans celebrate the passage of the largest Medicaid cut in history, the Curtis Medical Center in Nebraska announced it will shut down as a result of these horrific cuts — the first of many hospitals to close.
This is a dark day for rural America and for our country.
This is a dark day for rural America and for our country.
July 3, 2025 at 7:37 PM
While Republicans celebrate the passage of the largest Medicaid cut in history, the Curtis Medical Center in Nebraska announced it will shut down as a result of these horrific cuts — the first of many hospitals to close.
This is a dark day for rural America and for our country.
This is a dark day for rural America and for our country.
Reposted by Sarah Somers
Under reconciliation bill in 2028 states face 2 huge budget hits: more restrictions on existing #Medicaid provider taxes and SNAP cost shifts. In 2027 (if not sooner) they will need to close big budget holes likely by slashing Medicaid and SNAP maybe even dropping Medicaid expansion & SNAP entirely.
July 3, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Under reconciliation bill in 2028 states face 2 huge budget hits: more restrictions on existing #Medicaid provider taxes and SNAP cost shifts. In 2027 (if not sooner) they will need to close big budget holes likely by slashing Medicaid and SNAP maybe even dropping Medicaid expansion & SNAP entirely.
Reposted by Sarah Somers
The administration's attacks on immigrants are straight out of Project 2025’s playbook.
We're suing to end the President's unlawful deal with El Salvador, to release unaccompanied children trapped in govt custody, and to protect asylum seekers at the border.
We came prepared – and we're winning.
We're suing to end the President's unlawful deal with El Salvador, to release unaccompanied children trapped in govt custody, and to protect asylum seekers at the border.
We came prepared – and we're winning.
Project 2025 Would Target Immigrants, Expand Executive Power
democracyforward.org
July 2, 2025 at 2:46 PM
The administration's attacks on immigrants are straight out of Project 2025’s playbook.
We're suing to end the President's unlawful deal with El Salvador, to release unaccompanied children trapped in govt custody, and to protect asylum seekers at the border.
We came prepared – and we're winning.
We're suing to end the President's unlawful deal with El Salvador, to release unaccompanied children trapped in govt custody, and to protect asylum seekers at the border.
We came prepared – and we're winning.
Reposted by Sarah Somers
My colleagues and I blogged about what went down in the Senate.
Sen. Tillis (R-NC) exposed the lies in the R messaging about Medicaid.
Read more here:
ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/07/01/t...
Sen. Tillis (R-NC) exposed the lies in the R messaging about Medicaid.
Read more here:
ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/07/01/t...
Truth to Power: A Republican Senator Stands Up for Medicaid and His Constituents; Then Announces Retirement
With Vice President breaking the tie, the U.S. Senate just voted 50-50 “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, the crown jewel of President Trump’s legislative agenda. With final text not even availabl…
ccf.georgetown.edu
July 2, 2025 at 2:12 PM
My colleagues and I blogged about what went down in the Senate.
Sen. Tillis (R-NC) exposed the lies in the R messaging about Medicaid.
Read more here:
ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/07/01/t...
Sen. Tillis (R-NC) exposed the lies in the R messaging about Medicaid.
Read more here:
ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/07/01/t...
Reposted by Sarah Somers
Partyka: My son, like so many people on Medicaid, works over 40 hours a week. People on Medicaid are not the “parasite class,” as this horrible, out-of-touch administration has described them. They are your friends and your neighbors—and in this case, he is my son.
July 1, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Partyka: My son, like so many people on Medicaid, works over 40 hours a week. People on Medicaid are not the “parasite class,” as this horrible, out-of-touch administration has described them. They are your friends and your neighbors—and in this case, he is my son.
Reposted by Sarah Somers
How dire is the BBB to rural hospitals? Very dire: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The Senate's “Big, Beautiful Bill” will create a disaster for rural moms and babies
Medicaid cuts could endanger maternity services at more than 140 rural hospitals.
www.motherjones.com
July 1, 2025 at 10:41 PM
How dire is the BBB to rural hospitals? Very dire: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...