Understanding the AI in Healthcare Debate
Background What is Artificial Intelligence? Artificial intelligence, more commonly referred to as AI, encompasses many technologies that enable computers to simulate human intelligence and problem solving abilities. AI includes machine learning, which allows computers to imitate human learning, and deep learning, a subset of machine learning that simulates the decision making processes of the human […]
Understanding the Contraception Regulation Debate: Legal, Moral and Regulatory Implications
Background What is contraception? Reproductive health access has been a consistent topic in American politics since the Supreme Court’s recent Dobbs v. Jackson decision, which overturned the constitutional right to an abortion established in Roe v. Wade. One aspect of this debate is the right to contraception, which was first affirmed through Griswold v. Connecticut […]
Understanding the Rural Hospital Reimbursement Debate: The Medicare Wage Index Dilemma and Budget Neutrality
Background and Introduction In 2021, Medicare accounted for $900 billion, or 21% of U.S. healthcare spending, making it a critical revenue source for hospitals. The way Medicare reimbursements are governed is a contentious issue, particularly due to the significant impact on rural hospitals, which often receive lower payments for their services. A key factor in […]
Pros and Cons of The HOPE Act 2023
What is The HOPE Act 2023 The Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement (HOPE) Act of 2023 is a legislative proposal aimed at addressing the challenges faced by individuals with state cannabis offenses on their criminal records. The HOPE Act authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants to states and local governments to reduce […]
Pros and Cons of the EARN IT Act of 2023-2024
What is the EARN IT Act? The Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act, or the EARN IT Act, seeks to combat the online exploitation of children. The bill replaces various statutory references to “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material,” also known as CSAM. Activists and advocates argue that child sexual abuse […]
Understanding the Reproductive Freedom for All Act
Background on Reproductive Freedom The history of reproductive rights in the United States has been shaped by legal debates, societal perception, and ongoing conversations about autonomy and morality. Roe v. Wade, a landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision, legalized abortion nationwide by establishing a constitutional right to privacy in pregnancy decisions. In 2022, the Supreme Court […]
Pros and Cons of Prison Nursery Expansion in the United States
What are Prison Nurseries? United States prison nurseries are programs within correctional facilities that allow pregnant, incarcerated mothers to keep their infants with them from the child’s birth to the end of their sentence. Located within a separate wing of a prison, the nurseries are subject to decreased security and expanded mobility for inmates. Babies […]
Pros and Cons of the First Step Act
The First Step Act The First Step Act is a bipartisan piece of criminal justice legislation signed into law in 2018, aiming to reduce crime while giving… citizens a chance at redemption.” The First Step Act (FSA) requires the Attorney General (AG) to develop a system for the Bureau of Prisons to assess the recidivism […]
The Medicaid Reentry Act Debate: The Pros and Cons of Healthcare Services for Returning Citizens
What is the Medicaid Reentry Act? The Medicaid Reentry Act is a proposed amendment to Medicaid law, designed to enhance healthcare access for incarcerated individuals, especially during their transition back into society. This legislation addresses healthcare disparities and improves health outcomes for a population often facing socioeconomic vulnerability. For example, despite approximately 58% of incarcerated […]
Understanding the SHIELD Act of 2023: Definitions, Impacts, and Legal Debates
What is nonconsensual pornography? Nonconsensual pornography, image-based sexual abuse, or as it is most commonly called, revenge porn, are all terms that refer to the nonconsensual distribution of sexually explicit imagery. Advocates often argue that the term “revenge porn” implies victim shaming, and therefore they prefer to use the term “nonconsensual pornography” exclusively. While one […]