Fran Smith

Fran Smith

@fransmith.bsky.social

Writer, editor, communications consultant, tap dancing wannabe. Obsessed with news, politics & health. Author, “Changing the Way we Die”

346 followers193 following139 posts

Fran Smith
@fransmith.bsky.social

If we valued right to life, we’d be doing a lot more to find better ways to prevent & treat one of the most dangerous pregnancy complications. #preeclampsia My latest for @chjreportinghealth.bsky.social centerforhealthjournalism.org/our-work/ins...

centerforhealthjournalism.orgThe Health Divide: Tierra Walker’s death points to a growing pregnancy dangerPreeclampsia doesn’t get nearly the attention it should, even though it’s a leading cause of preterm birth and maternal and fetal deaths. Black women are particularly at risk.
Fran Smith
@fransmith.bsky.social

The Presidential Fitness Test returns to school this year, even as school budget cuts and $$$$ youth sports make it harder for kids to be active. My latest for @chjreportinghealth.bsky.social. Thanks to Hannah Thompson @npi.ucanr.edu & Chad Killian. centerforhealthjournalism.org/our-work/ins...

centerforhealthjournalism.orgThe Health Divide: We’re testing kids’ fitness after taking away chances to be activeWith PE cuts and shrinking recess in many schools, why are we now testing kids on skills we never really taught them?
Fran Smith
@fransmith.bsky.social

As Medicare starts covering GLP-1s for weight loss, state Medicaid programs pull back. How do economics, stigma and bias influence who “deserves” treatment for obesity and who gets shut out? @chjreportinghealth.bsky.social centerforhealthjournalism.org/our-work/ins...

centerforhealthjournalism.orgThe Health Divide: This breakthrough obesity drug is creating a big new health disparityWhat happens when an expensive drug that works well for a condition affecting millions of people remains out of reach to many of those who would benefit?
Fran Smith
@fransmith.bsky.social

I’m old enough to have written about AIDS at the beginning. That HIV is raging despite scientific advances in treatment and prevention is an indictment of our systems of care. Hats off to those working to turn the tide. @chjreportinghealth.bsky.social centerforhealthjournalism.org/our-work/rep...

centerforhealthjournalism.orgThe Health Divide: Will pharmacies finally get HIV prevention to the people who need it most?“There’s a complete mismatch between where we see PrEP clinics, and where we see HIV,” said Natalie Crawford, a researcher at Emory who is leading an initiative to support and train pharmacies in HIV ...

Fran Smith reposted

Miranda Yaver
@mirandayaver.bsky.social

I enjoyed chatting with @fransmith.bsky.social of USC's Center for Health Journalism about my book Coverage Denied: How Health Insurers Drive Inequality in the United States. And if our Q&A left you wanting to learn more: www.amazon.com/Coverage-Den... centerforhealthjournalism.org/our-work/ins...

centerforhealthjournalism.orgQ&A: Health insurers deny care across the board, with few able to fight backInsurance denials hit many Americans, but marginalized and sicker patients suffer most because appeals are complex, delaying care and widening health inequities.

Fran Smith reposted

Wajahat Ali
@wajali.bsky.social

If celebs need Go Fund Me drives to help their family after suffering catastrophic health crises, imagine what the average American must endure? We don't need to live like this... people.com/eric-dane-go...

people.comEric Dane’s Friends Launch GoFundMe to Support His 2 Daughters After Late Actor’s Tragic Death at 53Eric Dane died at age 53, nearly one year after publicly announcing his ALS diagnosis. His friends launched a GoFundMe in the wake of his death to support his two daughters with ex Rebecca Gayheart.
Fran Smith
@fransmith.bsky.social

Big Tech is projected to invest $500 billion this year on AI infrastructure. What could go wrong? @chjreportinghealth.bsky.social @ericnost.bsky.social centerforhealthjournalism.org/our-work/ins...

centerforhealthjournalism.orgThe Health Divide: The AI data center boom will harm the health of communities that can least afford itAs the data center building spree continues and the federal government rolls back environmental and health protections, the health toll will be heaviest in marginalized communities.

Fran Smith reposted

Aaron Schwartz
@aschwartz.bsky.social

It was a pleasure to speak with @fransmith.bsky.social about our recent @jamahealthforum.com study. centerforhealthjournalism.org/our-work/ins...

centerforhealthjournalism.orgThe Health Divide: Q&A — Why are doctors getting paid less to see patients of color?Physicians receive lower payments for taking care of Black and Hispanic patients than white patients, according to a new study. Dr. Aaron Schwartz, the study’s lead, explains what may be driving the d...
Fran Smith
@fransmith.bsky.social

Had a great conversation with @sho-walter.bsky.social about her eye-opening new book, Rehab: An American Scandal. Highly recommend for anyone who cares about addiction. centerforhealthjournalism.org/our-work/ins...

centerforhealthjournalism.orgThe Health Divide: Q&A: Why does rehab keep failing those who need it most?In her new book, journalist Shoshana Walter revelas how many programs exploit patients, bar mothers, underuse buprenorphine, and worsen racial and gender disparities.
Fran Smith
@fransmith.bsky.social

States take a step forward on maternal and child health while the country takes dangerous steps backward. My latest for @chjreportinghealth.bsky.social centerforhealthjournalism.org/our-work/ins...

centerforhealthjournalism.orgThe Health Divide: These states are expanding Medicaid coverage for doulas, as major federal cuts loomThe embrace of doula support even in Republican-led states is colliding with sweeping federal cuts to health care, public health and research on health disparities.

Fran Smith reposted

The Washington Post
@washingtonpost.com

The United States has recorded its highest annual measles cases in 33 years. The milestone marks a public health reversal in defeating a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease as the anti-vaccine movement gains strength.

washingtonpost.comU.S. measles cases reach 33-year record high as outbreaks spreadJohns Hopkins University data reflects the public health reversal in defeating the vaccine-preventable disease since measles was officially eliminated from the U.S. in 2000.
Fran Smith
@fransmith.bsky.social

The harm is the point.

Tina Smith@smith.senate.gov

I worked at Planned Parenthood. They diagnose cancers while still treatable. They help women decide what birth control works for them. They help those working through mental health challenges.   Defunding them just harms people who already struggle to find places to get care.

Fran Smith
@fransmith.bsky.social

We often speak of gun violence as an epidemic. Yet the problem fits the definition of chronic: continuing or occurring again and again. If only the current obsession with chronic illness aimed at the leading killer of kids. centerforhealthjournalism.org/our-work/ins...

centerforhealthjournalism.orgThe Health Divide: What state gun laws can tell us about the shooting deaths of children“The academic in me is never going to say causality,” said Harvard's Jeremy Faust. “But the person with a functioning brain is going to say I’m worried about a causal relationship.”
Fran Smith
@fransmith.bsky.social

Excited to be writing for the USC Center for Health Journalism on the sweeping changes in health care policy, massive budget cuts, and how it’s all playing out in communities. Here’s my first. centerforhealthjournalism.org/our-work/rep...

centerforhealthjournalism.orgThe Health Divide: Nobody expected this would happen after the Dobbs decision"This is the story post-Dobbs, that people are doing everything within their power and expertise to make sure that people can still get care," said David Cohen, a law professor at Temple University.

Fran Smith reposted

MaddowBlog
@maddowblog.bsky.social

The president of the U.S. appears to be improving his own health through access to great medical care and great medical science. That's what he gets. Simultaneously, his administration is doing so much to hurt regular Americans' opportunity to achieve those same good health outcomes the same way.

Fran Smith
@fransmith.bsky.social

Texas measles outbreak: Culling the herd, I guess. Awful to see people gambling with children’s lives out of some warped sense of freedom or misreading of science. I almost died from measles as a kid, just months before the vaccine came out.

You are up to date.