Good News Headlines 8/19/2024

Michael Bloomberg courtesy Flickr

Bloomberg Gives Away Another $600 Million To Fund Medical Students–This Time, For 5 Historically Black Colleges

by Andy Corbley, Good News Network

American billionaire philanthropist Michael Bloomberg has announced that a series of grants worth $600 million will be presented to five historically Black colleges and universities. The donations are being channeled specifically to the universities’ medical colleges, and Mr. Bloomberg’s philanthropic organization said it hopes they will sprout greater representation in the medical sector, where Black doctors make up just 6% of the national labor force. According to CNN, $175 million will go to Howard University College of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, and Morehouse School of Medicine.

Fresh Produce Deliveries Are Now A Covered Medical Benefit In Tennessee

by Jessica Hullinger, Fast Company

Tennessee’s largest health insurer really wants its members to be proactive about their wellness so they stay healthy for longer. And its newest method of persuasion is all carrot (and tomatoes and apples and maybe some avocados, too). Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee is partnering with Boston-based startup FarmboxRx to deliver monthly boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables to the doors of members as an incentive for undergoing health screenings. The more health screenings they complete, the more produce they receive. The program will specifically target medicaid members who have diabetes or who have young children, and will reward them for attending preventive health care appointments.

How Chicago Is Hosting The Most Accessible Democratic National Convention In History

by Choose Chicago

Chicago prides itself on being an inclusive and welcoming place to live and visit, making it the perfect location to host landmark events like the Democratic National Convention. This year, the DNC is committed to making the 2024 convention the most accessible in history. Discover how the city of Chicago and the DNC are working together to create a positive experience for convention attendees and city residents with disabilities. One of the DNC’s first steps has been tapping into the right experts. An Accessibility Advisory Council, composed of advocates and leaders from key local and city groups, advises the Host Committee on making the DNC accessible to all attendees.

‘New Era Of Affordability’: Historic Medicare Negotiations Slash Drug Prices

by Julia Conley, Common Dreams

After six months of negotiations made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden administration on Thursday announced that Medicare officials had reached agreements with drug companies to lower the prices of 10 widely used drugs promising estimated savings of $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs for millions of Americans with Medicare prescriptions coverage. The negotiations have “ushered in a new era of affordability for patients across the country,” said Merith Basey, executive director of Patients for Affordable Drugs, with patients due to save hundreds and even thousands of dollars per month on medications when the new prices go into effect on January 1, 2026.

Global Food Banks Curbed 1.8 Million Metric Tons Of Carbon Emissions In 2023 By Reducing Food Waste, Report Finds

by Paige Bennett, EcoWatch

In its latest impact report, the Global Foodbanking Network revealed that it provided food and groceries to 40 million people in 45 countries in 2023. The impact of these actions not only helped meet an increase in food relief demand, but it also reduced food waste emissions, avoiding around 1.8 million metric tons of carbon emissions last year. As Grist reported, the organization was able to rescue food from farms and wholesalers and distribute it to those seeking food relief. According to the report, the network distributed 654 million kilograms of food, or around 1.7 billion meals, in 2023, a 25% increase in food distribution compared to the previous year.