@howellben
General Internist, Addiction Medicine specialist - faculty SEICHE Center for Health & Justice; Yale Program in Addiction Medicine, Yale School of Medicine. Fan of decarceration & harm reduction & New Haven https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/benjamin-howell/
A long-used medical test underestimated the severity of kidney disease in Black patients. New study says with the bias removed, transplant rates are up. www.statnews.com/2026/03/10/k...
After Medicaid eligibility reviews resumed post-COVID, nearly 1 in 7 #DualEligibles lost Medicaid coverage for at least 1 month.
Fewer than one-third re-enrolled within six months. Read more: https://ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/medicaid-reviews-may-disenroll-vulnerable-dual-eligibles/
Hi all! Tomorrow is the Gov. Oversight Committee Public Hearing.
Numbers 5 & 8 on the agenda
www.cga.ct.gov/2026/GOSdata...
To testify in person or via zoom tomorrow, you need to register by *3pm today! *
zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Graph titled the most vulnerable people in prison often do not receive the medical care they need. 42% of people in severe psychological distress while incarcerated have not had mental health treatment.
Prison is a dangerous place. Its horrific conditions can be triggering for anyone. Yet more than 40% of people behind bars in severe psychological distress have not had mental health treatment
The carceral system is no place for people who need health care
Over this time period, the administration’s new tariffs will increase taxes on New Haven’s 140,000 residents by >$900 million, and the “Big Beautiful Bill” will cut taxes for the wealthiest 25% of CT residents by $24 billion ($3.4B/yr), while eliminating healthcare and SNAP for >15% of New Haveners
The decline in skilled nursing facility/rehab beds is a huge problem for US hospitals, contributing to longer stays and operating losses. It’s probably going to get worse as deportations ramp up and private equity runs more rehabs into the ground
Though not sure the status of those projects - www.newhavenindependent.org/2024/01/02/c...
Housing Authority focused on that plot - www.newhavenindependent.org/2026/03/06/c...
Parking Authority(Doug H) working on other developments near train station (north along union)
The job market is weakening as work requirements are poised to go into effect for Medicaid and ACA premium assistance is decreasing.
Yale will make voluntary payments to New Haven totaling >$230 million through fiscal year 2033, by far the largest contribution of any US university to its host city. A 2021 plan had provided >$135 million over a similar period.
news.yale.edu/2026/03/06/y...
I have been a bike commuter in the past but currently have to rely on a car & cross state st during my morning. Getting across downtown right now is really a hassle.
I’m pro this project and know the disruption is temporary but currently it is a mess. Esp getting from east to west side of towns across state st right now at either Grove or Chapel via car. It’s a better look to acknowledge that (Elicker & Zinn do here) than the pithy “car drivers are annoying”
NIH funding is back in limbo, and it’s a mess. Between a 90% drop in new funding notices and White House spending blocks, only about 800 new awards have been made, less than a third of the usual rate.
If these "spend plans" don't clear soon, we’re looking at a major gap in biomedical research.
It is so damning of US news media that so many outlets refuse to just straight up say that Senator Tim Sheehy assaulted an activist.
He did not "help" Capitol police. They did not need his help. He wanted to assault the guy and did. He should resign.
Good to see - budgets reflect values and priorities. If hospitals want to increase care for OUD in inpatient settings they have to provide resources (time, $$, staffing) to make it happen.
A new study from E. Jen Edelman et al tested an adaptive, team-based strategy to better integrate tobacco treatment into HIV clinics. Says Edelman, smoking must become a higher priority in HIV care + novel strategies can help patients live longer, healthier lives. medicine.yale.edu/internal-med...
Scouting is a place where youth should be allowed to be themselves and not face discrimination.
Man, as an Eagle Scout, I wanted Scouting to hold the line, but alas, they bent the knee to Hegseth here re: discriminating against youth who want to be part of scouting and may identify as trans. Disappointing.
Citing my reporting for @propublica.org, 4 House Dems have formally asked the head of the federal prison system to explain how the agency will fix severe staffing shortages affecting safety and operations.
My latest:
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
"One way we as a nation have managed to 'reduce homelessness' is by defining entire segments of the homeless population out of existence."
I spoke with the Miami Herald about There Is No Place for Us — and about the staggering number of homeless families and individuals who literally don't count.
Map showing Washington Heights and East Harlem with highlighted areas: Washington Heights BID and 125th Street BID in red, 5-min walking buffer in orange, and 10-min walking buffer in blue, with OnPoint Washington Heights and OnPoint East Harlem.
Opening of overdose prevention centers in New York City was not associated with significant changes in neighborhood foot traffic or consumer spending, suggesting no observed economic harms near these #HarmReduction sites.
ja.ma/403HXgS
This is making me so frustrated I might run for office purely on a “shovel the damn sidewalks” platform
THIS! The State and Cities of CT have not pulled their weight in clearing pedestrian routes (& bus stops!) this winter. We dont need volunteerism and “shovel teams” we need to gov’t to do its job. #NewHaven. ctmirror.org/2026/02/27/s...
"a city cannot run on neighborliness alone"
ctmirror.org/2026/02/27/s...
Chart showing that the term "Halfway House" can refer to facilities that differ in function, purpose, and level of carcerality. This includes sober living homes, restitution centers, residential correctional facilities, and more.
Thousands stay in halfway houses daily, yet there are TONS we don’t know about these facilities.
Why? Lack of transparency, privatization, poor data collection…the list goes on.
Halfway houses are an extension of the carceral experience and should be under the same scrutiny.
Frustrating quote from this Republican rep - the upside? We build more housing in a state that desperately needs housing. That’s a good idea because w modern buildings single stairs are safe.
Asylum Avenue sidewalk obstructed by snow. Street plowed for cars.
City of Hartford has not removed snow from sidewalks, and by snow, I mean that which fell during storm that ended on Monday. This is across from a school.
Out of my own ignorance - what's driving the fire marshalls to have such strong opposition & not engage with good faith discussions/evidence? Are they being pushed by other interests or is really just "change is bad" for fire fighters?
This is bigotry, pure and simple.
open.substack.com/pub/erininth...
