npr--2020-12-03--Coronavirus Is Surging: How Severe Is Your State's Outbreak?

Coronavirus Is Surging : How Severe Is Your State 's Outbreak ?
More than 13 million people in the U.S. have had confirmed coronavirus infections and more than 270,000 have died of COVID-19 .
Tens of thousands of new cases are reported daily nationwide .
In the graphics below , explore the trends in your state .
View the data via a heat map ( immediately below ) , curve charts , a table of state-by-state trends over four weeks , or a map of total cases and deaths .
The map above shows the risk of infection in each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capita .
The consortium of researchers and public health experts who developed these risk levels advises states in the red category to issue stay-home orders .
They advise orange states to consider stay-home orders , along with increased testing and contact tracing .
Yellow states need to keep up social distancing and mask usage , and all states should continue testing and contact tracing .
To compare state outbreaks , the chart above graphs trend lines for average new daily cases and deaths against each state 's totals to date .
This type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth or decline relative to the overall size of its outbreak .
When both new and total case and death counts grow quickly , the curves bend upward .
As new cases and deaths slow , the curves level or bend down .
In New York , the curve rose sharply before reaching over 170,000 total cases in April .
New cases fell from about 10,000 per day in mid-April to under 900 a day most of the summer , before starting to rise in the fall .
Explore the map above to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country for both new confirmed cases and reported deaths from COVID-19 .
New York was the original epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. As of mid October , California , Florida and Texas surpass New York for total cases to date , though New York still has the highest death total .
Click here to see a global map of confirmed cases and deaths .
To show trends , the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state , week over week for the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of red have growing outbreaks ; those in shades of green , are declining .
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources , including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ; the World Health Organization ; national , state and local government health departments ; 1point3acres ; and local media reports .
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies .
This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and updates its feeds .
State-by-state recovery data are unavailable at this time .
There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department 's website .
Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships .
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases and or update their methodologies .
For example , in early June , Michigan health authorities started including probable cases in its totals .
This resulted in a brief spike in the state 's daily numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reconcile the historical data .
On June 25 , New Jersey included 1,854 previously-unreported probable deaths in its totals , resulting in a spike in the state 's daily death numbers .
On Sept. 2 , Massachusetts changed its methodology for counting probable cases , which lowered its overall case and death numbers .
The JHU team maintains a list of such changes .
This story was originally published on March 16 , 2020 .
Elena Renken was a co-author on that version .
Sean McMinn and Audrey Carlsen contributed to this story @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Tracking the coronavirus around the U.S.: See how your state is doing
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Note: This page was last updated on Feb. 1, 2023. It will no longer be updated. For current data on COVID cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Feb. 1, there have been more than 101 million confirmed coronavirus infections in the U.S. and more than 1 million people have died of COVID-19. In the graphics below, explore the trends in your state.
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The above charts show average new cases per 100,000 people for each state over the last 12 months.
Note: Actual cases may be substantially higher, since many who test positive with at-home tests don't report their cases.
For additional data about COVID-19 in the U.S, including cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
To show trends, the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state, week over week for the last 28 days. States marked in shades of red have growing outbreaks; those in shades of green, are declining.
Loading...
Methodology
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the World Health Organization; national, state and local government health departments; 1point3acres; and local media reports.
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies. This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds. There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department's website. Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships.
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases, process testing backlogs or update their methodologies. The JHU team maintains a list of such changes.
This story was originally published on March 16, 2020. Elena Renken was a co-author on that version. Sean McMinn and Audrey Carlsen contributed to this story. Carmel Wroth edited this story.


npr--2020-12-03--Obama, Bush, Clinton Say They're Willing To Get Coronavirus Vaccine On Camera

Obama , Bush , Clinton Say They 're Willing To Get Coronavirus Vaccine On Camera Who better to promote a product than a former president ?
How about three ?
Former Presidents Barack Obama , George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are willing to lend their star power for a good cause , saying this week that they would publicly take a coronavirus vaccine , once it 's available in the U.S. , to encourage skeptical Americans to do the same .
Obama said that if Dr. Anthony Fauci , the country 's top infectious disease expert , thought the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would get his shot .
`` I promise you that when it 's been made for people who are less at risk , I will be taking it .
I may end up taking it on TV or having it filmed , just so that people know that I trust this science , '' Obama said in an interview on SiriusXM 's The Joe Madison Show that 's set to air Thursday , audio from which was posted to YouTube on Wednesday .
Following Obama 's comments , representatives for Bush and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be on board for a public vaccination .
CNN reported that Freddy Ford , Bush 's chief of staff , said the president reached out to Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx , the White House coronavirus response coordinator , to see if he could help promote vaccination .
`` First , the vaccines need to be deemed safe and administered to the priority populations , '' Ford told CNN .
`` Then , President Bush will get in line for his , and will gladly do so on camera . ''
Clinton 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the news network that the 42nd president would be willing to take a vaccine in public on TV if that would urge Americans to do the same .
The former presidents ' comments come as pharmaceutical companies are working to get a viable coronavirus vaccine approved by U.S. regulators before the end of the year .
The quick development of vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna has drawn skepticism from members of the public who are concerned about the risks of the shots as well as their effectiveness .
Both companies say their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That skepticism and hesitancy is even more so within the Black community , Obama said during his SiriusXM interview .
Recent surveys suggest that African Americans are more hesitant to get a vaccine than other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. '' I understand you know historically — everything dating back all the way to the Tuskegee experiments and so forth — why the African American community would have some skepticism , '' Obama said .
`` But the fact of the matter is , is that vaccines are why we do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why we do n't have a whole bunch of kids dying from measles and smallpox and diseases that used to decimate entire populations and communities . ''
The U.K. announced a major step in its race to develop coronavirus immunizations on Wednesday .
The nation formally approved Pfizer and the German company BioNTech 's vaccine for emergency use with plans to begin immunizations as early as next week .
Pfizer and BioNTech said this week they believe approval in the U.S. is coming later this month .

Obama, Bush, Clinton Say They're Willing To Get Coronavirus Vaccine On Camera
Enlarge this image toggle caption Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Who better to promote a product than a former president? How about three?
Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are willing to lend their star power for a good cause, saying this week that they would publicly take a coronavirus vaccine, once it's available in the U.S., to encourage skeptical Americans to do the same.
Obama said that if Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious disease expert, thought the vaccine was safe and effective, then he would get his shot.
"I promise you that when it's been made for people who are less at risk, I will be taking it. I may end up taking it on TV or having it filmed, just so that people know that I trust this science," Obama said in an interview on SiriusXM's The Joe Madison Show that's set to air Thursday, audio from which was posted to YouTube on Wednesday.
SiriusXM via YouTube
Following Obama's comments, representatives for Bush and Clinton said they, too, would be on board for a public vaccination.
CNN reported that Freddy Ford, Bush's chief of staff, said the president reached out to Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, to see if he could help promote vaccination.
"First, the vaccines need to be deemed safe and administered to the priority populations," Ford told CNN. "Then, President Bush will get in line for his, and will gladly do so on camera."
Clinton's press secretary, Angel Urena, also told the news network that the 42nd president would be willing to take a vaccine in public on TV if that would urge Americans to do the same.
The former presidents' comments come as pharmaceutical companies are working to get a viable coronavirus vaccine approved by U.S. regulators before the end of the year.
The quick development of vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna has drawn skepticism from members of the public who are concerned about the risks of the shots as well as their effectiveness. Both companies say their vaccines are about 95% effective.
That skepticism and hesitancy is even more so within the Black community, Obama said during his SiriusXM interview. Recent surveys suggest that African Americans are more hesitant to get a vaccine than other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S.
"I understand you know historically — everything dating back all the way to the Tuskegee experiments and so forth — why the African American community would have some skepticism," Obama said. "But the fact of the matter is, is that vaccines are why we don't have polio anymore, the reason why we don't have a whole bunch of kids dying from measles and smallpox and diseases that used to decimate entire populations and communities."
The U.K. announced a major step in its race to develop coronavirus immunizations on Wednesday. The nation formally approved Pfizer and the German company BioNTech's vaccine for emergency use with plans to begin immunizations as early as next week. Pfizer and BioNTech said this week they believe approval in the U.S. is coming later this month.


npr--2020-12-03--Think Your Health Care Costs Are Covered? Beware The 'Junk' Insurance Plan

Think Your Health Care Costs Are Covered ?
Beware The 'Junk ' Insurance Plan Looking back , Sam Bloechl knows that when the health insurance broker who was helping him find a plan asked whether he 'd ever been diagnosed with a major illness , that should have been a red flag .
Preexisting medical conditions do n't matter when you buy a comprehensive individual plan that complies with the Affordable Care Act .
Insurers ca n't turn people down or charge them more based on their medical history .
But Bloechl , now 31 , did n't know much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 when he was shopping for that health plan in Chicago .
So when the broker told him a UnitedHealthcare Golden Rule plan would cover him for a year for less than his ACA marketplace plan — `` Unless you like throwing money away , this is the plan you should buy , '' he recalls the agent saying — he signed up .
A month later Bloechl was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin 's lymphoma after an MRI showed tumors on his spine .
To Bloechl 's dismay , he soon learned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed would be covered by his new health plan .
Instead of a comprehensive plan that complied with the ACA , he had purchased a bundle of four short-term plans ( with three-month terms ) that provided only limited benefits and did n't cover preexisting conditions .
Because they tend to look less expensive up front , short-term plans continue to find buyers , and they have been championed by the Trump administration ( which has loosened restrictions on them ) as an alternative for consumers .
With this year 's open enrollment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of people who do n't get health insurance through their employer are looking for coverage on the federal and state marketplaces .
Sometimes it 's hard to tell the difference between comprehensive plans sold on the federal and state ACA exchanges and some plans available through other insurance websites and brokers that consumer advocates call `` junk '' plans because of their limited benefits and their coverage restrictions .
`` These plans continue to proliferate , '' says Cheryl Fish-Parcham , director of access initiatives at Families USA , a consumer health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be careful , whether they 're buying by phone or on a website . ''
Bloechl assumed he was buying a comprehensive plan that would cover him for a life-threatening illness , although at the time he had no inkling he was sick .
But when doctors said Bloechl needed a stem cell transplant , Golden Rule denied the request .
The reason : He had visited a chiropractor for back pain before he bought the plan .
Bloechl had blamed his pain on the heavy lifting that came with running his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he had sought medical treatment for what turned out to be a preexisting condition — cancer — so the plan did n't have to cover it .
It did n't matter that he had n't been diagnosed with cancer when he purchased the plan .
The insurer did n't cover any of his other cancer-linked bills for chemo and radiation either .
Bloechl appealed the decision , but his appeals failed .
He had more than $ 80,000 in bills for care — and that 's before the stem cell transplant he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disgusting that these companies expect Joe Schmo or a guy like me to interpret [ these policies ] and then get screwed in the end , '' Bloechl says .
UnitedHealthcare refused to discuss this case with KHN unless Bloechl signed a statement waiving his right to privacy .
But he tells KHN he does not feel comfortable signing a legal document provided by the insurer .
`` Our agents work with individuals to help them understand their health insurance options and select a plan that best meets their needs , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shydlo , in an email .
`` We inform each individual of their coverage options , including associated costs , network size and if the selected plan covers pre-existing conditions .
We adhere to a stringent application process that helps ensure consumers understand the plan they are purchasing before they make a final decision . ''
Consumer advocates have long sounded alarm bells about short-term plans and others that do n't comply with the Affordable Care Act rules — rules that require plans to provide comprehensive benefits to all comers , regardless of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annual or lifetime dollar limits on coverage for any plan sold on the federal or state health insurance exchanges .
ACA-compliant plans can also be purchased outside the marketplace , however , and that 's where shoppers may run into trouble .
thinking they 're buying comprehensive coverage when they 're actually buying something much more limited .
`` It 's a little bit of the Wild West out there , '' says Sabrina Corlette , a research professor at Georgetown University 's Center on Health Insurance Reforms .
`` We often get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can be challenging to figure out what they even are . ''
Short-term plans have garnered much attention in recent years .
In 2017 , the Obama administration limited their duration to less than three months to discourage people from relying on these limited plans for primary coverage rather than as a temporary coverage bridge for people switching plans , as intended .
But these plans were championed by the Trump administration as a cheaper option for consumers , and it issued a rule in 2018 that permitted short-term plans with terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an option to renew for up to 36 months .
The rule requires short-term plan materials to explain that the plans are not comprehensive insurance and may not cover some medical costs .
Such plans can be appealing to healthy people who do n't expect to need medical care .
But as Bloechl 's experience shows , life can throw curveballs .
`` Our patients are often young and healthy , '' says Ryan Holeywell , senior director of advocacy communications at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society .
Some states restrict or even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the individual market .
But these short-term plans are just the tip of the iceberg .
There are fixed indemnity plans that pay out a certain amount — $ 100 a day for a limited hospital stay or $ 150 for an OB-GYN visit , for example — that may not come close to covering the actual costs .
Accident and critical illness plans provide lump-sum cash benefits when people experience medical emergencies like a heart attack or stroke under certain circumstances .
Cancer-only plans may provide hospitalization coverage but not cover other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with chemo and radiation but never go to the hospital , '' says Anna Howard , a policy principal at the American Cancer Society 's Cancer Action Network .
`` So , the policy may never pay out . ''
Then there are bundled plans that combine options , such as a short-term plan along with a prescription drug discount card and cancer coverage .
Unfortunately , consumers ca n't always rely on insurance brokers to give them accurate information or steer them to comprehensive coverage , as Sam Bloechl discovered .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published a report about the experiences of `` secret shoppers '' who called 31 health insurance sales representatives and asked about plans , saying they had preexisting conditions such as diabetes and heart disease .
In more than a quarter of cases , the sales reps `` engaged in potentially deceptive marketing practices , '' the report found , including falsely claiming that drugs such as insulin were covered , or offering a plan that did n't cover preexisting conditions .
One reason brokers might encourage consumers to buy non-ACA plans : higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brokers , they do report [ the non-ACA plans ] pay higher commissions than ACA plans , '' Corlette says .
Some brokers reported they avoid noncompliant plans , however , because they pose risks for consumers .
The National Association of Health Underwriters , an organization for health insurance and employee benefits professionals , did not respond to a request for information and comment .
Consumers can be sure they 're getting a comprehensive , ACA-compliant plan if they buy it from marketplaces set up by that health law , Howard says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options and buy a plan , including plans that comply with the ACA .
But picking a broker can be challenging .
`` Ideally go to someone in a brick-and-mortar building who has to bump into you in the grocery store , '' Corlette advises .
After his experience with Golden Rule , Sam Bloechl decided his best option was to offer a group plan to workers at his small landscaping company that he could also enroll in .
He worked with a different broker , and he had lawyers look over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be sure that whatever plan he bought would cover his stem cell transplant .
The new plan did cover it .
And by the time he went to the hospital to work out payment on his $ 800,000-plus bill , his income had declined so much because of his illness that he qualified for charity care .
The hospital wrote off his bill .
His cancer is in remission .
But the experience with the short-term policy still rankles .
`` Charity care picked up the one bill and [ UnitedHealthcare Golden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transplant , '' Bloechl says .
`` They got off the hook without paying a dime . ''
Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit , editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation and is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .

Think Your Health Care Costs Are Covered? Beware The 'Junk' Insurance Plan
Enlarge this image toggle caption David McNew/Getty Images David McNew/Getty Images
Looking back, Sam Bloechl knows that when the health insurance broker who was helping him find a plan asked whether he'd ever been diagnosed with a major illness, that should have been a red flag. Preexisting medical conditions don't matter when you buy a comprehensive individual plan that complies with the Affordable Care Act. Insurers can't turn people down or charge them more based on their medical history.
But Bloechl, now 31, didn't know much about health insurance back in December of 2016 when he was shopping for that health plan in Chicago. So when the broker told him a UnitedHealthcare Golden Rule plan would cover him for a year for less than his ACA marketplace plan — "Unless you like throwing money away, this is the plan you should buy," he recalls the agent saying — he signed up.
A month later Bloechl was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after an MRI showed tumors on his spine.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Megan Bloechl Megan Bloechl
To Bloechl's dismay, he soon learned that none of the expensive care he needed would be covered by his new health plan. Instead of a comprehensive plan that complied with the ACA, he had purchased a bundle of four short-term plans (with three-month terms) that provided only limited benefits and didn't cover preexisting conditions.
Because they tend to look less expensive up front, short-term plans continue to find buyers, and they have been championed by the Trump administration (which has loosened restrictions on them) as an alternative for consumers.
With this year's open enrollment period for health insurance well underway, millions of people who don't get health insurance through their employer are looking for coverage on the federal and state marketplaces. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between comprehensive plans sold on the federal and state ACA exchanges and some plans available through other insurance websites and brokers that consumer advocates call "junk" plans because of their limited benefits and their coverage restrictions.
"These plans continue to proliferate," says Cheryl Fish-Parcham, director of access initiatives at Families USA, a consumer health care advocacy organization. "People need to be careful, whether they're buying by phone or on a website."
Bloechl assumed he was buying a comprehensive plan that would cover him for a life-threatening illness, although at the time he had no inkling he was sick. But when doctors said Bloechl needed a stem cell transplant, Golden Rule denied the request.
The reason: He had visited a chiropractor for back pain before he bought the plan. Bloechl had blamed his pain on the heavy lifting that came with running his landscaping business. But Golden Rule argued that he had sought medical treatment for what turned out to be a preexisting condition — cancer — so the plan didn't have to cover it. It didn't matter that he hadn't been diagnosed with cancer when he purchased the plan.
The insurer didn't cover any of his other cancer-linked bills for chemo and radiation either. Bloechl appealed the decision, but his appeals failed. He had more than $800,000 in bills for care — and that's before the stem cell transplant he desperately needed.
"It's just disgusting that these companies expect Joe Schmo or a guy like me to interpret [these policies] and then get screwed in the end," Bloechl says.
UnitedHealthcare refused to discuss this case with KHN unless Bloechl signed a statement waiving his right to privacy. But he tells KHN he does not feel comfortable signing a legal document provided by the insurer.
"Our agents work with individuals to help them understand their health insurance options and select a plan that best meets their needs," said UnitedHealthcare's communications director, Maria Gordon Shydlo, in an email. "We inform each individual of their coverage options, including associated costs, network size and if the selected plan covers pre-existing conditions. We adhere to a stringent application process that helps ensure consumers understand the plan they are purchasing before they make a final decision."
Consumer advocates have long sounded alarm bells about short-term plans and others that don't comply with the Affordable Care Act rules — rules that require plans to provide comprehensive benefits to all comers, regardless of their health. The ACA also prohibits annual or lifetime dollar limits on coverage for any plan sold on the federal or state health insurance exchanges.
ACA-compliant plans can also be purchased outside the marketplace, however, and that's where shoppers may run into trouble. thinking they're buying comprehensive coverage when they're actually buying something much more limited.
"It's a little bit of the Wild West out there," says Sabrina Corlette, a research professor at Georgetown University's Center on Health Insurance Reforms. "We often get calls about these products, and sometimes it can be challenging to figure out what they even are."
Short-term plans have garnered much attention in recent years. In 2017, the Obama administration limited their duration to less than three months to discourage people from relying on these limited plans for primary coverage rather than as a temporary coverage bridge for people switching plans, as intended. But these plans were championed by the Trump administration as a cheaper option for consumers, and it issued a rule in 2018 that permitted short-term plans with terms of up to 364 days, with an option to renew for up to 36 months. The rule requires short-term plan materials to explain that the plans are not comprehensive insurance and may not cover some medical costs.
Such plans can be appealing to healthy people who don't expect to need medical care. But as Bloechl's experience shows, life can throw curveballs.
"Our patients are often young and healthy," says Ryan Holeywell, senior director of advocacy communications at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Some states restrict or even prohibit the sale of short-term plans on the individual market.
But these short-term plans are just the tip of the iceberg.
There are fixed indemnity plans that pay out a certain amount — $100 a day for a limited hospital stay or $150 for an OB-GYN visit, for example — that may not come close to covering the actual costs.
Accident and critical illness plans provide lump-sum cash benefits when people experience medical emergencies like a heart attack or stroke under certain circumstances.
Cancer-only plans may provide hospitalization coverage but not cover other services. "You may be treated with chemo and radiation but never go to the hospital," says Anna Howard, a policy principal at the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network. "So, the policy may never pay out."
Then there are bundled plans that combine options, such as a short-term plan along with a prescription drug discount card and cancer coverage.
Unfortunately, consumers can't always rely on insurance brokers to give them accurate information or steer them to comprehensive coverage, as Sam Bloechl discovered.
In August, the federal Government Accountability Office published a report about the experiences of "secret shoppers" who called 31 health insurance sales representatives and asked about plans, saying they had preexisting conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. In more than a quarter of cases, the sales reps "engaged in potentially deceptive marketing practices," the report found, including falsely claiming that drugs such as insulin were covered, or offering a plan that didn't cover preexisting conditions.
One reason brokers might encourage consumers to buy non-ACA plans: higher commissions.
"In our survey of brokers, they do report [the non-ACA plans] pay higher commissions than ACA plans," Corlette says. Some brokers reported they avoid noncompliant plans, however, because they pose risks for consumers.
The National Association of Health Underwriters, an organization for health insurance and employee benefits professionals, did not respond to a request for information and comment.
Consumers can be sure they're getting a comprehensive, ACA-compliant plan if they buy it from marketplaces set up by that health law, Howard says.
Brokers can help people understand their options and buy a plan, including plans that comply with the ACA. But picking a broker can be challenging.
"Ideally go to someone in a brick-and-mortar building who has to bump into you in the grocery store," Corlette advises.
After his experience with Golden Rule, Sam Bloechl decided his best option was to offer a group plan to workers at his small landscaping company that he could also enroll in. He worked with a different broker, and he had lawyers look over the policies he was considering. He wanted to be sure that whatever plan he bought would cover his stem cell transplant.
The new plan did cover it. And by the time he went to the hospital to work out payment on his $800,000-plus bill, his income had declined so much because of his illness that he qualified for charity care. The hospital wrote off his bill.
His cancer is in remission.
But the experience with the short-term policy still rankles. "Charity care picked up the one bill and [UnitedHealthcare Golden Rule's] competitor paid for the transplant," Bloechl says. "They got off the hook without paying a dime."
Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit, editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation and is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.


npr--2020-12-03--Quarantined Health Workers Compound Staffing Shortages At California Hospitals

The number of coronavirus cases in California has topped 1.2 million , leaving the state 's hospitals near a breaking point .
There are projections that the state could run out of intensive care beds before Christmas .
And Gov .
Gavin Newsom says he 's considering another statewide stay-at-home order to stop the surge .
Central California 's San Joaquin Valley is under particular strain .
With a spike in COVID-19 infections , the region 's hospitals are suffering from a staffing shortage .
It 's only made worse because hundreds of local health care workers are quarantined .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and country are also seeing peaking caseloads and ca n't send more medical staff to help , says Dan Lynch , director of emergency medical services for Fresno County .
`` We just do n't have someone to reach out to to help at this time , which is concerning because we have n't been through something like this , '' Lynch says .
Until a vaccine arrives and the caseload goes down , `` I think our hands will be full , '' he says .
Here are excerpts of Lynch 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How is the ICU capacity in Fresno now ?
The hospitals are pretty full .
In our county , especially in central California here , we tend to run at a higher level during this time of the season anyways with cold and flu symptoms that are entering the system .
And so the addition of COVID to our system just adds that additional pressure .
At this time , our hospitals are very full .
And the same thing with our ICUs .
Two of our largest hospitals out of probably five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full .
So it 's really a challenge with the hospital system now , mainly because of staffing .
Because you do n't have enough doctors and nurses to help with the surge .
Not only that , it 's the fact that the health care staff are becoming infected and also being placed out on quarantine because they are coming in close contact with some of these individuals and need to be quarantined .
In one instance , our large hospital has over 300 health care workers that are actually on quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of not having enough beds , it 's an issue of not having enough staff to staff those beds .
More patients , less staff .
What are your options ?
Our only option is to get more health care assistance so that we can get more staffing into our hospitals .
We can move people to what we call an alternate care site , which is our convention center where we 've set up about 250 beds .
But when we have beds in the hospital , that 's where people need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a convention center , because that takes staffing , too .
How worried are you though because we 're now almost 9 months into this pandemic and we are seeing record infections in California and across the country ?
I am very concerned this time around because we went through this in our first surge , if you want to call it , back in July and August .
But California was kind of late in the game compared to the rest of the country and what advantage that gave us was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffing from other areas , to come in to help us .
Right now we 're seeing a lot of the country and the rest of the state of California increasing at the same time .
So those available resources are n't there anymore .
So that 's the concern .
Bo Hamby , Taylor Haney and Mohamad ElBardicy produced and edited the audio version of this story .
Avie Schneider produced for the Web .

Quarantined Health Workers Compound Staffing Shortages At California Hospitals
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mario Tama/Getty Images Mario Tama/Getty Images
The number of coronavirus cases in California has topped 1.2 million, leaving the state's hospitals near a breaking point. There are projections that the state could run out of intensive care beds before Christmas. And Gov. Gavin Newsom says he's considering another statewide stay-at-home order to stop the surge.
Central California's San Joaquin Valley is under particular strain. With a spike in COVID-19 infections, the region's hospitals are suffering from a staffing shortage.
It's only made worse because hundreds of local health care workers are quarantined. And many other places around the state and country are also seeing peaking caseloads and can't send more medical staff to help, says Dan Lynch, director of emergency medical services for Fresno County.
"We just don't have someone to reach out to to help at this time, which is concerning because we haven't been through something like this," Lynch says. Until a vaccine arrives and the caseload goes down, "I think our hands will be full," he says.
Here are excerpts of Lynch's interview with NPR's Morning Edition.
How is the ICU capacity in Fresno now?
The hospitals are pretty full. In our county, especially in central California here, we tend to run at a higher level during this time of the season anyways with cold and flu symptoms that are entering the system. And so the addition of COVID to our system just adds that additional pressure.
At this time, our hospitals are very full. And the same thing with our ICUs. Two of our largest hospitals out of probably five hospitals, our ICU beds are completely full. So it's really a challenge with the hospital system now, mainly because of staffing.
Because you don't have enough doctors and nurses to help with the surge.
Not only that, it's the fact that the health care staff are becoming infected and also being placed out on quarantine because they are coming in close contact with some of these individuals and need to be quarantined. In one instance, our large hospital has over 300 health care workers that are actually on quarantine. So it's not an issue of not having enough beds, it's an issue of not having enough staff to staff those beds.
More patients, less staff. What are your options?
Our only option is to get more health care assistance so that we can get more staffing into our hospitals. We can move people to what we call an alternate care site, which is our convention center where we've set up about 250 beds. But when we have beds in the hospital, that's where people need to be — not on a cot in a convention center, because that takes staffing, too.
How worried are you though because we're now almost 9 months into this pandemic and we are seeing record infections in California and across the country?
I am very concerned this time around because we went through this in our first surge, if you want to call it, back in July and August. But California was kind of late in the game compared to the rest of the country and what advantage that gave us was that we could actually recruit resources, staffing from other areas, to come in to help us.
Right now we're seeing a lot of the country and the rest of the state of California increasing at the same time. So those available resources aren't there anymore. So that's the concern.
Bo Hamby, Taylor Haney and Mohamad ElBardicy produced and edited the audio version of this story. Avie Schneider produced for the Web.


npr--2020-12-03--Trump's Conspiracy Theories Raise Turnout Challenges In Georgia Senate Runoffs

High-profile supporters of President Trump took the stage in Georgia Wednesday to spread conspiracy theories and tell the state 's Republicans not to vote in the crucial U.S. Senate runoffs there next month .
The outcome of those races will determine which party controls the Senate next year .
At the rally in Atlanta , pro-Trump attorney Lin Wood took the microphone , telling the crowd that last month 's election , won by President-elect Joe Biden , had been manipulated .
`` Do not be fooled twice .
This is Georgia , we ai n't dumb .
We ai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5th on another machine made by China , '' said Wood , who has no formal affiliation with Trump 's campaign .
`` You 're not gon na fool Georgians again . ''
Poll suggest that many Republican voters have been swayed by Trump 's baseless talk that last month 's election was rigged against him .
Tuesday 's rally was one of several that have taken place since Nov. 3 .
At another recent rally , Missy Landers was one of hundreds of pro-Trump demonstrators who showed up outside Georgia 's capitol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unproven allegations of widespread election fraud .
`` I 've always voted and things like that , but I think we need to know what 's going on , '' said Landers .
She 's the kind of reliable Republican voter Georgia 's GOP establishment is counting on to hold the two Senate seats held by Sen. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler .
Both senators failed to receive more than 50 % of the vote last month and face Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock in runoff elections on Jan. 5 .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's false rhetoric that the election was stolen .
And party leaders have begun to worry that message could deter voters .
`` All of the news about the ballots , the electronic systems , all the different things that happen during the election and is continuing to come out .
I do n't feel secure about it , '' said Landers .
Georgia 's Republican election officials say there 's no evidence of any widespread fraud and say these conspiracy theories are `` crazy , '' and like a game of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its election results on Nov. 20 after a hand recount of approximately five million paper ballots .
A second recount requested by the Trump campaign was completed Wednesday night and did not appreciably change Biden 's more than 12,000 vote lead .
`` We 've got to get a grip on ourselves people , '' said former state Sen. Chuck Clay , who also once served at the state GOP chair .
`` What we ca n't have is this sense of just conspiratorial madness that I think certainly does the body politic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our candidates . ''
Clay enthusiastically supports both Perdue and Loeffler .
But as candidates , they 've embraced Trump 's election fraud theories , calling Georgia 's 2020 elections `` an embarrassment '' and going so far as to demand that Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger resign .
These messages , along with President Trump 's tweets , have clearly reached some Georgia voters .
During a recent visit here , Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel responded to voters asking why they should participate in an election they no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is the key .
It 's not decided , '' McDaniel insisted to the crowd .
Chuck Clay says that Republicans who were upset by the general election results should dust themselves off and vote .
`` Yeah , there are some people there that wo n't go vote as a form of protest or frustration .
I do n't think that will be many and I do n't find that to be productive . ''
On Wednesday , a group of 18 former state GOP leaders signed an open letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the elections .
Signatories included former Governor Nathan Deal and former U.S .
Senators Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss .
While many Republicans are concerned , it 's not yet clear what sort of impact the conspiracy theories will have on voter turnout .
'But we have seen it be exacerbated in this particular election , '' said David Lavine , a fellow with the Alliance for Securing Democracy , part of the German Marshall Fund of the United States .
`` One of the things that was interesting about the November general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turnout in spite of the vast amounts of false information . ''
In front of the Georgia capitol , surrounded by American flags and pro-Trump merchandise , Missy Landers said she still plans to vote next month .
`` It is my right as an American citizen to vote and I 'm gon na honor that right by voting , '' she said .
Republicans will have to hope her faith in the system remains solid enough through Election Day on January 5 .

Trump's Conspiracy Theories Raise Concerns About Turnout In Georgia Senate Runoffs
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lisa Hagen/WABE Lisa Hagen/WABE
High-profile supporters of President Trump took the stage in Georgia on Wednesday to spread conspiracy theories and tell the state's Republicans not to vote in the crucial U.S. Senate runoffs there next month. The outcome of those races will determine which party controls the Senate next year.
At the rally in Atlanta, pro-Trump attorney Lin Wood took the microphone to tell the crowd that last month's election, won by Joe Biden, had been manipulated.
"Do not be fooled twice. This is Georgia, we ain't dumb. We ain't gonna go vote on Jan. 5 on another machine made by China," said Wood, who has no formal affiliation with Trump's campaign. "You're not gonna fool Georgians again."
Polls suggest that many Republican voters have been swayed by Trump's baseless talk that last month's election was rigged against him.
Tuesday's rally was one of several that have taken place since Nov. 3. At another recent rally, Missy Landers was one of hundreds of pro-Trump demonstrators who showed up outside Georgia's Capitol in Atlanta, unmasked and angry about unproven allegations of widespread election fraud.
"I've always voted and things like that, but I think we need to know what's going on," said Landers.
She's the kind of reliable Republican voter Georgia's GOP establishment is counting on to hold the two Senate seats held by Sen. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. Both senators failed to receive more than 50% of the vote last month and face Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock in runoff elections on Jan. 5.
But like many Republican voters, she believes Trump's false rhetoric that the election was stolen. And party leaders have begun to worry that message could deter voters.
"All of the news about the ballots, the electronic systems, all the different things that happen during the election and is continuing to come out. I don't feel secure about it," said Landers.
"Crazy" and "whack-a-mole" theories
Georgia's Republican election officials say that there's no evidence of any widespread fraud and that these conspiracy theories are "crazy" and like a game of "whack-a-mole."
The state certified its election results on Nov. 20 after a hand recount of approximately 5 million paper ballots. A second recount requested by the Trump campaign was completed Wednesday night and did not appreciably change Biden's lead of more than 12,000 votes.
"We've got to get a grip on ourselves people," said former state Sen. Chuck Clay, who also once served at the state GOP chair. "What we can't have is this sense of just conspiratorial madness that I think certainly does the body politic harm and I don't think helps our candidates."
Clay enthusiastically supports both Perdue and Loeffler. But as candidates, they've embraced Trump's election fraud theories, calling Georgia's 2020 elections "an embarrassment" and going so far as to demand that Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger resign.
These messages, along with Trump's tweets, have clearly reached some Georgia voters.
During a recent visit here, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel responded to voters asking why they should participate in an election they no longer trust.
"It's not decided. This is the key. It's not decided," McDaniel insisted to the crowd.
Clay says that Republicans who were upset by the general election results should dust themselves off and vote.
"Yeah, there are some people there that won't go vote as a form of protest or frustration. I don't think that will be many and I don't find that to be productive."
On Wednesday, 18 former state GOP leaders signed an open letter urging their fellow Republicans to stop undermining the elections. Signatories included former Gov. Nathan Deal and former U.S. Sens Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss.
Impact on turnout?
While many Republicans are concerned, it's not yet clear what sort of impact the conspiracy theories will have on voter turnout.
Disinformation experts emphasize that mistrust of American elections long predates 2020.
"But we have seen it be exacerbated in this particular election," said David Levine, a fellow with the Alliance for Securing Democracy, part of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. "One of the things that was interesting about the November general election is that we saw such high turnout in spite of the vast amounts of false information."
In front of the Georgia Capitol, surrounded by American flags and pro-Trump merchandise, Missy Landers said she still plans to vote next month.
"It is my right as an American citizen to vote and I'm gonna honor that right by voting," she said.
Republicans will have to hope her faith in the system remains solid enough through Election Day on Jan. 5.


npr--2020-12-03--Why Biden Budget Pick Neera Tanden Already Faces Republican Opposition

Before President-elect Joe Biden had even formally introduced his intended nominee for budget director , the pushback started rolling in .
Neera Tanden would make history as the first woman of color to head the Office of Management and Budget , but she 's also been an outspoken partisan warrior , and that could complicate her confirmation process , especially if Republicans maintain control of the Senate after Georgia 's two runoff races in early January .
Tanden is president and CEO of the prominent left-leaning Center for American Progress , a think tank that promotes Democratic ideas .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was a key player in Hillary Clinton 's 2008 campaign , and worked in the Obama administration , helping craft the Affordable Care Act .
But it is n't her resume that 's generating all the heat ; it 's the fights she 's waged on Twitter and elsewhere .
During the Trump years , she 's been highly critical of Senate Republicans for enabling the president .
`` She 's been pretty partisan in some of her previous positions and in many cases with respect to Republican senators who would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota , alluding to the tweets .
Texas Sen. John Cornyn , also a Republican , noted Tanden has deleted a lot of tweets recently .
`` I just think she 's gon na be radioactive , '' Cornyn said .
His spokesperson said Tanden `` stands zero chance '' of being confirmed if the GOP holds the Senate .
And it 's not just Republicans .
In 2016 and again in 2019 , Tanden tangled with Bernie Sanders ' supporters .
She was unabashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onetime presidential primary rival , and many people in Sanders ' world see her as too centrist .
But already progressive Sens .
Elizabeth Warren and Sherrod Brown have rushed to express support for Tanden , in essence shoring her up from the left .
As Biden introduced her Tuesday at an event in Wilmington , Del.
, the strategy for securing her confirmation came into focus .
He described her as having a `` brilliant policy mind with critical practical experience across government . ''
Then he quickly turned to her childhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother , an immigrant from India who , for a time , relied on government assistance to get on her feet after a divorce .
The story of Tanden 's childhood is n't something most casual observers of politics would know , but Biden 's team is making sure everyone knows about these formative experiences .
`` We relied on food stamps to eat , '' Tanden said in remarks after Biden introduced her .
`` We relied on Section 8 housing vouchers to pay the rent .
We relied on the social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet .
This country gave her a fair shot to reach the middle class and she made it work . ''
People who know her say Tanden 's approach to policy is driven by her childhood experiences being lifted up by government assistance .
It 's a story she may retell from the Senate witness stand , if she ultimately has a confirmation hearing in the chamber .
As budget director , Tanden 's primary role would be to put Biden 's promises and priorities into a budget document that is as much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Budgets are not abstractions , '' Tanden said in her remarks on Tuesday .
`` They are a reflection of our values .
They touch our lives in profound ways and sometimes they make all the difference . ''
Her compelling personal story may help Tanden peel off a Republican vote or two in order to win confirmation , says Jennifer Palmieri , who worked with Tanden in the Clinton administration and at the Center for American Progress .
`` I have noted that women , and particularly women of color , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire first , '' Palmieri said .
`` But there 's no doubt that she is qualified . ''
Palmieri adds that yes , Tanden is partisan , passionate and has been vocal about her views , but she questions whether Senate Republicans would really want to `` get in the way of the first woman of color , the first Asian American , to hold the budget post when she 's obviously very qualified for it . ''
John Podesta , whom Tanden succeeded at the Center for American Progress , argues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they 're going to have to come up with something better than tweets .
`` Donald Trump 's tweets do n't seem to bother them , so they may want to get over that and look at her for the tremendous talent that she is , '' Podesta said .
If partisanship is the question , there is precedent .
Mick Mulvaney , Trump 's first budget director , was a partisan combatant in Congress before joining the administration .
He faced a difficult confirmation and a narrow vote , but was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tanden may face a similar fate .
The tradition of the Senate largely deferring to a president 's cabinet choices ( within reason and barring major controversy ) appears to be yet another vestige of the past .
If confirmed , Tanden will likely face budget fights with a narrowly divided Congress as the nation emerges from the pandemic next year .
Podesta and Palmieri both say that while Republicans wo n't agree with Tanden , she is someone they 'll be able to negotiate with because she knows the policy and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Why Biden Budget Pick Neera Tanden Already Faces Republican Opposition
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Wong/Getty Images Alex Wong/Getty Images
Before President-elect Joe Biden had even formally introduced his intended nominee for budget director, the pushback started rolling in.
Neera Tanden would make history as the first woman of color to head the Office of Management and Budget, but she's also been an outspoken partisan warrior, and that could complicate her confirmation process, especially if Republicans maintain control of the Senate after Georgia's two runoff races in January.
Tanden is president and CEO of the prominent left-leaning Center for American Progress, a think tank that promotes Democratic ideas. She served in President Bill Clinton's administration, was a key player in Hillary Clinton's 2008 campaign, and worked in the Obama administration, helping craft the Affordable Care Act.
But it isn't her resume that's generating all the heat; it's the fights she's waged on Twitter and elsewhere. During the Trump years, she's been highly critical of Senate Republicans for enabling the president.
"She's been pretty partisan in some of her previous positions and in many cases with respect to Republican senators who would have to vote on her potential nomination," said Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, alluding to the tweets.
Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, noted Tanden has deleted a lot of tweets recently. "I just think she's gonna be radioactive," Cornyn said. His spokesperson said Tanden "stands zero chance" of being confirmed if the GOP holds the Senate.
And it's not just Republicans. In 2016 and again in 2019, Tanden tangled with Bernie Sanders' supporters. She was unabashed in her support of Clinton, his onetime presidential primary rival, and many people in Sanders' world see her as too centrist.
But already progressive Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Sherrod Brown have rushed to express support for Tanden, in essence shoring her up from the left.
As Biden introduced her Tuesday at an event in Wilmington, Del., the strategy for securing her confirmation came into focus. He described her as having a "brilliant policy mind with critical practical experience across government." Then he quickly turned to her childhood. She was raised by a single mother, an immigrant from India who, for a time, relied on government assistance to get on her feet after a divorce.
The story of Tanden's childhood isn't something most casual observers of politics would know, but Biden's team is making sure everyone is aware of these formative experiences.
"We relied on food stamps to eat," Tanden said in remarks after Biden introduced her. "We relied on Section 8 housing vouchers to pay the rent. We relied on the social safety net to get back on our feet. This country gave her a fair shot to reach the middle class, and she made it work."
People who know her say Tanden's approach to policy is driven by her childhood experiences being lifted up by government assistance. It's a story she may retell from the Senate witness stand if she ultimately has a confirmation hearing in the chamber.
Tanden's primary role as budget director would be to put Biden's promises and priorities into a budget document that is as much about message as dollars and cents.
"Budgets are not abstractions," Tanden said in her remarks Tuesday. "They are a reflection of our values. They touch our lives in profound ways, and sometimes they make all the difference."
Her compelling personal story may help Tanden peel off a Republican vote or two to win confirmation, said Jennifer Palmieri, who worked with Tanden in the Clinton administration and at the Center for American Progress.
"I have noted that women, and particularly women of color, often draw the most fire and draw fire first," Palmieri said. "But there's no doubt that she is qualified."
Palmieri added that yes, Tanden is partisan, passionate and has been vocal about her views, but she questions whether Senate Republicans would really want to "get in the way of the first woman of color, the first Asian American, to hold the budget post when she's obviously very qualified for it."
John Podesta, whom Tanden succeeded at the Center for American Progress, argues that if Republicans intend to block her, they're going to have to come up with something better than tweets.
"Donald Trump's tweets don't seem to bother them, so they may want to get over that and look at her for the tremendous talent that she is," Podesta said.
If partisanship is the question, there is precedent. Mick Mulvaney, Trump's first budget director, was a partisan combatant in Congress before joining the administration. He faced a difficult confirmation and a narrow vote but was eventually confirmed in a GOP-led Senate. Tanden may face a similar fate.
The tradition of the Senate largely deferring to a president's Cabinet choices (within reason and barring major controversy) appears to be yet another vestige of the past.
If confirmed, Tanden will likely face budget fights with a narrowly divided Congress as the nation emerges from the pandemic next year. Podesta and Palmieri both said that while Republicans won't agree with Tanden, she is someone they'll be able to negotiate with because she knows the policy and will be able to speak for the president.


npr--2020-12-03--Google Illegally Fired And Spied On Workers Who Tried To Organize, Labor Agency Says

Google Illegally Fired And Spied On Workers Who Tried To Organize , Labor Agency Says Google illegally fired two employees involved in labor organizing last year , the National Labor Relations Board alleged in a complaint on Wednesday .
The tech giant also violated federal labor law , the agency said , by surveilling employees who viewed a union organizing presentation , interrogating others , unfairly enforcing some rules and maintaining policies that `` discourage '' workers from protected organizing activities .
The complaint said Google 's actions amounted to `` interfering with , restraining and coercing employees in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Labor Relations Act , the 1935 law that guarantees workers the right to unionize and to band together to improve their working conditions .
Google is `` confident in our decision and legal position , '' the company said in a statement .
While the company supports workers ' protected labor rights , the employees in question had taken actions that were `` a serious violation of our policies and an unacceptable breach of a trusted responsibility , '' it said .
Google , which is owned by Alphabet Inc. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent years over issues including sexual harassment , its work with the U.S. government , and the company 's treatment of its large contract workforce .
The federal labor agency has been investigating Google for a year , after several employees fired in late 2019 filed charges of unfair labor practices .
Wednesday 's complaint accused Google of violating the rights of two of those employees , Laurence Berland and Kathryn Spiers .
Berland was one of four employees fired days before Thanksgiving 2019 for what Google described at the time as data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information from other employees ' work materials and calendars .
Spiers was fired soon after .
After the company hired a consulting firm known for anti-union work , Spiers created a pop-up notification reminding Google employees of their right to organize .
Google said Spiers was fired for abusing her access to internal tools .
`` This complaint makes clear that workers have the right to speak to issues of ethical business and the composition of management , '' Berland said in a statement on Wednesday .
If Google does not settle the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be brought to trial in front of an administrative judge , who could order the company to reinstate Berland and Spiers and give them back pay with interest and stock options to make them whole .
`` Colleagues and strangers believe I abused my role because of lies told by Google management while they were retaliating against me , '' Spiers said in a statement .
`` The NLRB can order Google to reinstate me , but it can not reverse the harm done to my credibility . ''
The agency 's complaint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the other three employees dismissed at the same time as Berland , who had also filed charges with the NLRB .
They had protested Google 's work with Customs and Border Protection and the hiring of a former Trump administration official , according to Laurie Burgess , the employees ' lawyer .
Burgess said in a statement those employees intend `` to vigorously appeal the dismissed charges to the NLRB to ensure that the right to engage in this type of protected activity is not encroached upon . ''
Editor 's note @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters .

Google Illegally Fired And Spied On Workers Who Tried To Organize, Labor Agency Says
Enlarge this image toggle caption Noah Berger/AP Noah Berger/AP
Google illegally fired two employees involved in labor organizing last year, the National Labor Relations Board alleged in a complaint on Wednesday.
The tech giant also violated federal labor law, the agency said, by surveilling employees who viewed a union organizing presentation, interrogating others, unfairly enforcing some rules and maintaining policies that "discourage" workers from protected organizing activities.
The complaint said Google's actions amounted to "interfering with, restraining and coercing employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed" by the National Labor Relations Act, the 1935 law that guarantees workers the right to unionize and to band together to improve their working conditions.
Google is "confident in our decision and legal position," the company said in a statement. While the company supports workers' protected labor rights, the employees in question had taken actions that were "a serious violation of our policies and an unacceptable breach of a trusted responsibility," it said.
Google, which is owned by Alphabet Inc., has been rocked by employee activism in recent years over issues including sexual harassment, its work with the U.S. government and the company's treatment of its large contract workforce.
The federal labor agency has been investigating Google for a year, after several employees fired in late 2019 filed charges of unfair labor practices. Wednesday's complaint accused Google of violating the rights of two of those employees, Laurence Berland and Kathryn Spiers.
Berland was one of four employees fired days before Thanksgiving 2019 for what Google described at the time as data security violations, including accessing and sharing information from other employees' work materials and calendars.
Spiers was fired soon after. After the company hired a consulting firm known for anti-union work, Spiers created a pop-up notification reminding Google employees of their right to organize. Google said Spiers was fired for abusing her access to internal tools.
"This complaint makes clear that workers have the right to speak to issues of ethical business and the composition of management," Berland said in a statement on Wednesday.
If Google does not settle the complaint, the agency's case will be brought to trial in front of an administrative judge, who could order the company to reinstate Berland and Spiers and give them back pay with interest and stock options to make them whole.
"Colleagues and strangers believe I abused my role because of lies told by Google management while they were retaliating against me," Spiers said in a statement. "The NLRB can order Google to reinstate me, but it cannot reverse the harm done to my credibility."
The agency's complaint did not include allegations about the firings of three other employees dismissed at the same time as Berland, who had also filed charges with the NLRB. They had protested Google's work with Customs and Border Protection and the hiring of a former Trump administration official, according to Laurie Burgess, the employees' lawyer.
Burgess said in a statement those employees intend "to vigorously appeal the dismissed charges to the NLRB to ensure that the right to engage in this type of protected activity is not encroached upon."
Editor's note: Google is among NPR's financial supporters.


npr--2020-12-02--U.S. Hits 100,000 COVID-19 Hospitalizations; More Than 3,100 Deaths

U.S .
Hits 100,000 COVID-19 Hospitalizations ; More Than 3,100 Deaths Updated at 5:50 a.m .
ET on Thursday More than 100,000 Americans are in the hospital with COVID-19 , at the same time the nation recorded its single-worst daily death toll since the start of the pandemic .
Data from the COVID Tracking Project show 100,226 people were hospitalized on Wednesday with the disease caused by the coronavirus — a figure that has been steadily rising for weeks .
Meanwhile , 3,157 new deaths were recorded on Wednesday , surpassing the previous peak of 2,607 deaths on April 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The number of hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients far outpaces peaks in mid-April and July of about 59,000 .
Early last month , the number of hospitalizations again reached that mark and has been on an upward progression ever since .
More than 273,000 people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19 since the first cases were detected in January .
News of the record-breaking statistic comes the same day the U.K. announced a major step in its race to develop coronavirus immunizations , formally approving Pfizer and the German company BioNTech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a vaccine in sight , the U.S. continues to grapple with a major surge in new coronavirus infections .
Health officials are imploring Americans to stay home for the holidays .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert R. Redfield warned Wednesday that things are likely to get worse over the winter months .
He predicted deaths could reach `` close to 450,000 '' by February if Americans fail to take more health precautions , such as wearing a mask .
This month though February will be `` the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation , '' he said .
Los Angeles County , with the highest number of cumulative confirmed infections in the country , reported 408,396 cases , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Illinois 's Cook County had 310,722 confirmed cases .
The Los Angeles area also reported the highest total death toll at 7,700 .
On Wednesday , Mayor Eric Garcetti told residents to `` hunker down '' through the winter .
`` It 's time to cancel everything .
And if it is n't essential , do n't do it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The mayor 's strongly worded order calls on `` all persons living within the City of Los Angeles ... to remain in their homes , '' and to venture out only for prescribed essential reasons .
Meanwhile , the NBA , gearing up to start its season , is dealing with its own coronavirus outbreak among players .
The NBA and the National Basketball Player 's Association announced Wednesday night that 48 out of 546 players tested positive for COVID-19 when they returned to a league-wide testing program last week .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement , `` Anyone who has returned a confirmed positive test during this initial phase of testing in their team 's market is isolated until they are cleared for leaving isolation '' under rules established by both organizations .

U.S. Hits 100,000 COVID-19 Hospitalizations, Breaks Daily Death Record
Enlarge this image toggle caption Go Nakamura/Getty Images Go Nakamura/Getty Images
Updated Thursday at 11:20 a.m. ET
More than 100,000 Americans are in the hospital with COVID-19, at the same time the nation recorded its worst daily death toll since the start of the pandemic.
Data from the COVID Tracking Project show 100,226 people were hospitalized on Wednesday with the disease caused by the coronavirus — a figure that has been steadily rising for weeks.
Johns Hopkins University, which tracks coronavirus case data, reported that 2,804 new deaths were recorded on Wednesday. It initially reported 3,157 new deaths on that day, but revised the number down due to a "tech glitch," a JHU representative tells NPR.
The death toll surpasses the previous peak of 2,607 deaths on April 15.
The number of hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients far outpaces peaks in mid-April and July of about 59,000. Early last month, the number of hospitalizations again reached that mark and has been on an upward progression ever since.
More than 273,000 people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19 since the first cases were detected in January.
News of the record-breaking statistic comes the same day the U.K. announced a major step in its race to develop COVID-19 vaccines, formally approving Pfizer and the German company BioNTech's vaccine for emergency use.
Even with a vaccine in sight, the U.S. continues to grapple with a major surge in new coronavirus infections. Health officials are imploring Americans to stay home for the holidays.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert R. Redfield warned Wednesday that things are likely to get worse over the winter months. He predicted deaths could reach "close to 450,000" by February if Americans fail to take more health precautions, such as wearing a mask.
This month through February will be "the most difficult in the public health history of the nation," he said.
The local battle
Los Angeles County, with the highest number of cumulative confirmed infections in the country, reported 408,396 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Illinois' Cook County had 310,722 confirmed cases.
The Los Angeles area also reported its highest total death toll at 7,700. On Wednesday, Mayor Eric Garcetti told residents to "hunker down" through the winter.
"It's time to cancel everything. And if it isn't essential, don't do it," he said during a news conference.
The mayor's strongly worded order calls on "all persons living within the City of Los Angeles ... to remain in their homes," and to venture out only for prescribed essential reasons.
Meanwhile, the NBA, gearing up to start its season, is dealing with its own coronavirus outbreak among players.
The NBA and the National Basketball Player's Association announced Wednesday night that 48 out of 546 players tested positive for the coronavirus when they returned to a league-wide testing program last week.
The league and the player's union said in a statement, "Anyone who has returned a confirmed positive test during this initial phase of testing in their team's market is isolated until they are cleared for leaving isolation" under rules established by both organizations.
NPR's Merrit Kennedy contributed to this report.


npr--2020-12-02--Leaked Files Show Trump's Ability To Alter Census May Come Down To The Wire

Leaked Files Show Trump 's Ability To Alter Census May Come Down To The Wire Documents obtained by the House Oversight and Reform Committee confirm the Census Bureau may not be able to release a key set of numbers from this year 's national head count until after the end of President Trump 's term .
The files , which the committee says it obtained from an unnamed source , suggest Trump 's unprecedented effort to exclude unauthorized immigrants from those numbers could be undermined by inconvenient timing regardless of how the Supreme Court rules in a case the justices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can carry out a memo Trump issued earlier this year , as NPR and other news outlets have reported .
Three lower courts have already blocked Trump 's directive after finding it violated a federal law that calls for the counts used to reallocate votes in Congress and the Electoral College to be based on the `` whole number of persons '' in each state , as the Constitution also requires .
Still , the timeline for the census results remains a `` fairly fluid '' situation , as the administration 's attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the Supreme Court during oral arguments on Monday .
Wall noted that senior officials at the bureau have indicated it `` remains possible '' to produce some of the data needed to carry out Trump 's memo in January .
The internal documents released by the committee on Wednesday show the exact release dates are moving targets and appear to be edging closer to Trump 's last day in office on Jan. 20 .
A slide deck dated Nov. 19 confirms the earliest previous release date was Jan. 26 , but another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 27 — shows that date moved up to Jan. 23 .
Still , the Nov. 27 schedule shows that the state-by-state count of unauthorized immigrants needed to carry out Trump 's plan is not expected to be finished until Feb. 3 — two weeks into the administration of President-elect Joe Biden , who said on Tuesday he hopes the Supreme Court `` does the right thing '' by rejecting Trump 's memo .
Even if Trump manages to get the needed data before leaving office , however , it is an open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Representatives , which remains under Democratic control , would certify altered apportionment counts after the president completes the legally required handoff to Congress .
The other documents shed more light on what the bureau continues to publicly describe as `` processing anomalies '' that are expected and `` similar '' to the bureau 's past experience .
The bureau has identified more than a dozen irregularities affecting over a million records from the 2020 census .
One anomaly involving records of students living in dorms could result in a `` significant overcount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to one document .
A coding error , the Nov. 19 slide deck warns , could affect the final population counts and the demographic data generated by the census if it is n't corrected .
The document outlines an 11-step process for using `` patches '' to try to fix these errors .
`` If the sequencing of patch deployment is n't executed properly , '' the slide deck says that `` may result in other data anomalies . ''
Newly uncovered irregularities , the document also notes , would require more time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Census Bureau says the anomalies `` are being resolved as expeditiously as possible . ''
Michael Cook , the bureau 's chief spokesperson , tells NPR that the agency has deployed more computer servers , developers , testers and subject matter experts to help with processing the census results .
`` No shortcuts are being taken when it comes to patching the software to correct these anomalies , or others that may be discovered as data processing continues , '' the bureau 's statement adds .
The House Oversight Committee had asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internal documents related to these anomalies by Nov. 24 .
But the bureau missed that deadline and told the committee that the documents were not approved for release in time because of `` concerns about ongoing litigation , '' according to a letter from the committee 's chair , Rep. Carolyn Maloney ( D-N.Y. ) , to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross , who oversees the bureau .
Maloney , who has also scheduled a hearing on the census for Thursday , has now set Dec. 9 as a new deadline for Ross to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subpoena .

Leaked Files Show Trump's Ability To Alter Census May Come Down To The Wire
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick Semansky/AP Patrick Semansky/AP
Documents obtained by the House Oversight and Reform Committee confirm the Census Bureau may not be able to release a key set of numbers from this year's national head count until after the end of President Trump's term.
The files, which the committee says it obtained from an unnamed source, suggest Trump's unprecedented effort to exclude unauthorized immigrants from those numbers could be undermined by inconvenient timing regardless of how the Supreme Court rules in a case the justices heard this week over whether the administration can carry out a memo Trump issued earlier this year, as NPR and other news outlets have reported.
Three lower courts have already blocked Trump's directive after finding it violated a federal law that calls for the counts used to reallocate votes in Congress and the Electoral College to be based on the "whole number of persons" in each state, as the Constitution also requires.
Still, the timeline for the census results remains a "fairly fluid" situation, as the administration's attorney, acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall, told the Supreme Court during oral arguments on Monday.
Wall noted that senior officials at the bureau have indicated it "remains possible" to produce some of the data needed to carry out Trump's memo in January.
The internal documents released by the committee on Wednesday show the exact release dates are moving targets and appear to be edging closer to Trump's last day in office on Jan. 20.
A slide deck dated Nov. 19 confirms the earliest previous release date was Jan. 26, but another document dated about a week later — Nov. 27 — shows that date moved up to Jan. 23.
Still, the Nov. 27 schedule shows that the state-by-state count of unauthorized immigrants needed to carry out Trump's plan is not expected to be finished until Feb. 3 — two weeks into the administration of President-elect Joe Biden, who said on Tuesday he hopes the Supreme Court "does the right thing" by rejecting Trump's memo.
Even if Trump manages to get the needed data before leaving office, however, it is an open question whether the clerk of the House of Representatives, which remains under Democratic control, would certify altered apportionment counts after the president completes the legally required handoff to Congress.
The other documents shed more light on what the bureau continues to publicly describe as "processing anomalies" that are expected and "similar" to the bureau's past experience.
The bureau has identified more than a dozen irregularities affecting over a million records from the 2020 census.
One anomaly involving records of students living in dorms could result in a "significant overcount" in some college towns, according to one document. A coding error, the Nov. 19 slide deck warns, could affect the final population counts and the demographic data generated by the census if it isn't corrected.
The document outlines an 11-step process for using "patches" to try to fix these errors. "If the sequencing of patch deployment isn't executed properly," the slide deck says that "may result in other data anomalies."
Newly uncovered irregularities, the document also notes, would require more time to fix.
In a statement, the Census Bureau says the anomalies "are being resolved as expeditiously as possible." Michael Cook, the bureau's chief spokesperson, tells NPR that the agency has deployed more computer servers, developers, testers and subject matter experts to help with processing the census results.
"No shortcuts are being taken when it comes to patching the software to correct these anomalies, or others that may be discovered as data processing continues," the bureau's statement adds.
The House Oversight Committee had asked the bureau to release all of its internal documents related to these anomalies by Nov. 24.
But the bureau missed that deadline and told the committee that the documents were not approved for release in time because of "concerns about ongoing litigation," according to a letter from the committee's chair, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who oversees the bureau.
Maloney, who has also scheduled a hearing on the census for Thursday, has now set Dec. 9 as a new deadline for Ross to produce the documents — or face a subpoena.


npr--2020-12-02--'Substantial Likelihood Of Wrongdoing' By VOA Parent Agency, Government Watchdog Says

'Substantial Likelihood Of Wrongdoing ' By VOA Parent Agency , Government Watchdog Says The U.S. Office of Special Counsel , a federal watchdog , disclosed Wednesday that it had found `` a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing '' at the parent agency of the Voice of America under the leadership of the CEO appointed by President Trump .
Since taking over the U.S. Agency for Global Media , CEO Michael Pack has turned it upside down , sidelining top executives , firing network chiefs , and deep-sixing requests for visa extensions for foreign staffers .
Most notably , Pack had two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-Trump ideological statements investigate journalists for perceived anti-Trump bias and push for sympathetic news coverage of the president during the campaign .
The finding is yet another formal and stinging rebuke to Pack 's actions , though it is not a final determination .
In late November , U.S. Judge Beryl Howell ruled that Pack had acted unconstitutionally in investigating his own journalists on political grounds .
She ordered him to stop intervening inside VOA 's newsrooms .
Suspended executives have separately filed a complaint with the inspector general of the U.S. State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency .
`` It 's a significant step , but far from the last one , '' said David Seide , senior counsel to the Government Accountability Project , a nonprofit public interest law firm representing more than 20 whistleblowers at USAGM , VOA and its sister networks .
`` Our clients have disclosed significant and frankly shocking allegations at this agency .
It 's gratifying that OSC made this independent judgment . ''
Karen Tanenbaum , an attorney in the retaliation and disclosure unit of the Office of Special Counsel , sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the finding .
NPR reviewed two of them to confirm the details .
USAGM did not offer comment by the time of publication .
NPR has learned that among the whistleblowers is Steve Herman , VOA 's White House bureau chief and perhaps its best-known journalist .
Two of Pack 's top political aides investigated Herman , claiming he was unfair to Trump and demanding he be reassigned from covering the presidential campaign .
The two men , neither of whom has a background in journalism , relied in part on tweets relaying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NPR first broke news of that investigation as well as others affecting journalists at the French-to-Africa and the Urdu language services .
In the latter case , the USAGM-driven investigation led to the severing of contracts for four journalists and the suspension of an editor .
VOA and the other federally-financed networks under USAGM serve more than 350 million people overseas each week .
They are intended to model how independent journalism works , to convey American pluralism by fairly depicting political debate , and also , in regions where a free press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide local journalism .
The Office of Special Counsel 's order places Pack in the unusual position of initiating an investigation into allegations of actions that stem from his own directives .
Additionally , the order gives him 60 days - past the inauguration date of President-elect Joe Biden , who has already signaled his intention to replace Pack .
Nonetheless it requires a sweeping review of Pack 's actions .
Tanenbaum said her office had demanded USAGM conduct an investigation of actions since late June of allegations including : * repeated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firewall '' intended to protect the journalistic integrity of the Voice of America 's newsroom ; * `` gross mismanagement '' by USAGM 's Pack in firing the presidents of Radio Free Asia , Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty , the Middle East Broadcasting Networks , the Office of Cuba Broadcasting and the President and CEO of the Open Technology Fund * sidelining senior USAGM executives ; removing the VOA 's top standards editor and the executive editor of Radio Free Asia ; * the removal of the chief standards editor at VOA and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
* the refusal to authorize the extension of specialized visas for staffers who are foreign citizens , some of whom may have to return to live under regimes hostile to the U.S. government .
According to a person with direct knowledge , visas will expire this month for four VOA journalists who are foreign citizens .
Numerous current and former staffers at VOA and USAGM say they fear Pack will take more actions to damage the agency before he departs .
Several senior aides are departing or have already done so , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Frank Wuco , a former radio talk show conspiracy theorist who previously held other roles inside the Trump administration .
Disclosure : This story was reported by NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik and edited by NPR Media and Tech Editor Emily Kopp .
Because of NPR CEO John Lansing 's prior role as CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media , no senior news executive or corporate executive at NPR reviewed this story before it was published .

'Substantial Likelihood Of Wrongdoing' By VOA Parent Agency, Government Watchdog Says
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Harnik/AP Andrew Harnik/AP
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, a federal watchdog, disclosed Wednesday that it had found "a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing" at the parent agency of the Voice of America under the leadership of the CEO appointed by President Trump.
Since taking over the U.S. Agency for Global Media, CEO Michael Pack has turned it upside down, sidelining top executives, firing network chiefs, and deep-sixing requests for visa extensions for foreign staffers. Most notably, Pack had two senior political aides with records of strongly pro-Trump ideological statements investigate journalists for perceived anti-Trump bias and push for sympathetic news coverage of the president during the campaign.
The finding is yet another formal and stinging rebuke to Pack's actions, though it is not a final determination. In late November, U.S. Judge Beryl Howell ruled that Pack had acted unconstitutionally in investigating his own journalists on political grounds. She ordered him to stop intervening inside VOA's newsrooms. Suspended executives have separately filed a complaint with the inspector general of the U.S. State Department, which has jurisdiction over the agency.
"It's a significant step, but far from the last one," said David Seide, senior counsel to the Government Accountability Project, a nonprofit public interest law firm representing more than 20 whistleblowers at USAGM, VOA and its sister networks. "Our clients have disclosed significant and frankly shocking allegations at this agency. It's gratifying that OSC made this independent judgment."
Karen Tanenbaum, an attorney in the retaliation and disclosure unit of the Office of Special Counsel, sent letters to the whistleblowers informing them of the finding. NPR reviewed two of them to confirm the details. USAGM did not offer comment by the time of publication.
NPR has learned that among the whistleblowers is Steve Herman, VOA's White House bureau chief and perhaps its best-known journalist. Two of Pack's top political aides investigated Herman, claiming he was unfair to Trump and demanding he be reassigned from covering the presidential campaign. The two men, neither of whom has a background in journalism, relied in part on tweets relaying statements from the president's critics. NPR first broke news of that investigation as well as others affecting journalists at the French-to-Africa and the Urdu language services. In the latter case, the USAGM-driven investigation led to the severing of contracts for four journalists and the suspension of an editor.
VOA and the other federally-financed networks under USAGM serve more than 350 million people overseas each week. They are intended to model how independent journalism works, to convey American pluralism by fairly depicting political debate, and also, in regions where a free press is repressed or not financially viable, to provide local journalism.
The Office of Special Counsel's order places Pack in the unusual position of initiating an investigation into allegations of actions that stem from his own directives. Additionally, the order gives him 60 days - past the inauguration date of President-elect Joe Biden, who has already signaled his intention to replace Pack. Nonetheless it requires a sweeping review of Pack's actions.
Tanenbaum said her office had demanded USAGM conduct an investigation of actions since late June of allegations including:
* repeated violations of the statutory and regulatory "firewall" intended to protect the journalistic integrity of the Voice of America's newsroom;
* "gross mismanagement" by USAGM's Pack in firing the presidents of Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting and the President and CEO of the Open Technology Fund
* sidelining senior USAGM executives; removing the VOA's top standards editor and the executive editor of Radio Free Asia;
* the removal of the chief standards editor at VOA and the executive editor of Radio Free Asia.
* the refusal to authorize the extension of specialized visas for staffers who are foreign citizens, some of whom may have to return to live under regimes hostile to the U.S. government.
According to a person with direct knowledge, visas will expire this month for four VOA journalists who are foreign citizens.
Numerous current and former staffers at VOA and USAGM say they fear Pack will take more actions to damage the agency before he departs. Several senior aides are departing or have already done so, including his chief of staff Emily Newman and Frank Wuco, a former radio talk show conspiracy theorist who previously held other roles inside the Trump administration.
Disclosure: This story was reported by NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik and edited by NPR Media and Tech Editor Emily Kopp. Because of NPR CEO John Lansing's prior role as CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, no senior news executive or corporate executive at NPR reviewed this story before it was published.