Axios Vitals: Workforce woes

Plus, U.S. birth rate rises | Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Protect the Promise   Axios Vitals By Tina Reed · May 24, 2022 Good morning, Vitals readers. Today's newsletter is 706 words or a 3-minute read. 😴 1 useful thing: America needs sleep. You probably need sleep. Axios' Erica Pandey had the experts break down the magic of catching more Zzzz's.     1 big thing: The health care workforce problem Data: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation; Note: According the WHO's Universal Health Coverage Index; Map: Kavya Beheraj/Axios America's shortfall of health care workers is adding to the obstacles the Biden administration faces in returning the country to normal. Why it matters: The nation entered the pandemic with major health care worker shortages and its workforce was strained to its limits in the emergency response to the COVID pandemic. It drove record levels of burnout and many to leave their roles. It drove record levels of burnout and many to leave their roles. Driving the news: The Biden administration ramped up the urgency around America's health care workforce on Monday, releasing new recommendations for addressing burnout and other factors contributing to shortages. "You do so much to take care of your patients in their time of need," Vice President Kamala Harris told health care workers as she visited Children's National Hospital in Washington on Monday. "Which is why I'm here to say, we need to do a better job of taking care of you." Between the lines: Earlier this month, the administration called for more fair and timely pay for health workers and for creating a more interconnected and sustainable workforce. The White House also is asking Congress for $1 billion to fund a new Global Health Worker Initiative that would better support public health professionals responding to COVID, among other steps.   The big picture: This is part of a global workforce shortfall that experts warn could hinder the global response to future health emergencies. New data published in The Lancet on Monday showed the world had a global shortfall of at least 43 million health care workers before the pandemic even started. Read the rest.     2. Workers with disabilities struggle to get jobs Data: BLS; Note: Not seasonally adjusted; Chart: Axios Visuals Even in a remarkably tight labor market, Americans with disabilities are struggling to land jobs, Axios' Emily Peck writes. The big picture: Individuals with disabilities have always struggled to find employment, in no small part because of employer discrimination and biases in the hiring process. The gap between unemployment rates for people with and without disabilities typically narrows in tight labor markets. Yet now the gap is widening. State of play: In April, 8.3% of disabled Americans were unemployed, compared with 3.1% of those without a disability. Be smart: Discrimination isn't the only factor at play. Americans with disabilities often will only work part-time — or not at all — so they don't lose access to Medicaid or Social Security benefits, which have strict and low limits on how much you can earn.     3. Premature births rise amid uptick in U.S. birth rate Data: CDC; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals The U.S. birth rate rose for the first time in seven years in 2021, while the percentage of premature births hit its highest reported level since representative national data became available, Axios' Adriel Bettelheim writes about newly released CDC data. Why it matters: The rise in preterm birth rates (defined as less than 37 weeks gestation) comes amid an increase in pregnancy-related death and is another sign of health disparities weighing especially hard on communities of color. The overall cesarean delivery rate also increased to 32.1% from 31.8% in 2020. The big picture: There could be multiple reasons for the trend lines, including the underlying health of the mother, access to care, socioeconomic factors and the use of fertility treatments. But the news comes amid a growing shortage of obstetricians that's left millions living in areas with limited care.     A message from Protect the Promise Take Medicare cuts off the table     Seniors and people with disabilities depend on Medicare for access to high-quality, affordable health care. Congress must reject proposals that attempt to take money from Medicare to fund other programs. Protect these vital benefits for millions of Americans. Learn more.     4. Tweet du jour: Davos talks COVID Screenshot: @WEF (Twitter)       5. WHO, CDC warn monkeypox may mimic STDs Monkeypox cases are primarily being spread through sexual contact and symptoms may initially be mistaken for those of sexually transmitted diseases, health officials said Monday. Why it matters: There are now at least five case of monkeypox in the U.S. as part of a worldwide outbreak that has been potentially linked to two raves recently held in Europe, WHO officials told the Associated Press. CDC officials said many of the people who've been infected worldwide are gay or bisexual but emphasized anyone can contract monkeypox through close personal contact regardless of sexual orientation. Details: While the easily recognizable rash of monkeypox typically develops first on other parts of the body such as the face, many of these cases are first appearing around the genitals or anus, CDC officials said. They are advising health professionals to be on the lookout for cases that may initially appear to be sexually transmitted infections. More on monkeypox: Monkeypox symptoms to watch for CDC to release some Jynneos vaccines for monkeypox     A message from Protect the Promise Take Medicare cuts off the table     Seniors and people with disabilities depend on Medicare for access to high-quality, affordable health care. Congress must reject proposals that attempt to take money from Medicare to fund other programs. Protect these vital benefits for millions of Americans. Learn more.   Like this email style and format? It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 200 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. 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