Lawmakers and experts on Wednesday discussed the crucial role technological advancements are playing in providing health care, particularly for diabetes patients.

Despite medical innovations like blood glucose monitors, many Americans still have trouble accessing the proper tools for living with diabetes. Greater access to those technologies, lawmakers said, could improve the quality of life for the tens of millions of Americans who have diabetes.

Rep. Michael BurgessMichael Clifton BurgessLawmakers push for improved diabetes care through tech advancements Overnight Health Care: Schumer, Pelosi want Heroes Act as ‘starting point’ in new COVID-19 relief talks | Labs warn of possible delays in test results amid surge in demand | Federal government partners with pharmacies for coronavirus vaccine distribution Overnight Health Care: COVID-19 cases rising in every state | Wisconsin health official warns state nearing ‘tipping point’ | Fauci predicts data from Moderna vaccine within a week MORE (R-Texas), a medical doctor and member of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, said federal agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should be working to get some of those technologies to market faster.

ADVERTISEMENT

“You don’t want to sacrifice speed for safety, but I have gotten uncomfortable or anxious because of the length of time it seems to be taking the agency to get through with the regulatory process,” he said at The Hill’s “Innovation Forward: Technology and Diabetes Care” event.

Burgess also criticized the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), calling it an obstacle to increasing health care accessibility. He told The Hill’s Steve Clemons that the CBO, which provides lawmakers with cost estimates of legislation, only looks at the immediate cost and not the long-term benefit that patients will gain from more affordable health care.

ADVERTISEMENT

He added that there needs to be a more nimble way for the government’s budgeting process to address the “upfront” cost of preventive care.

Rep. Robin KellyRobin Lynne KellyLawmakers push for improved diabetes care through tech advancements Senate passes bill to secure internet-connected devices against cyber vulnerabilities Nominated for another Speaker term, Pelosi says it’s her last MORE (D-Ill.), the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, followed Burgess at Wednesday’s event by stressing the importance of other tech advancements in the health field like telemedicine.

She said expanding broadband access to more rural areas would bolster telemedicine, which she noted has made it easier for patients to attend doctor’s appointments because they don’t have to worry about transportation or missing other commitments, such as work or school.

Click Here: Fjallraven Kanken Art Spring Landscape Backpacks

“Telemedicine can be a great equalizer, if done properly,” she said at the event sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company.

Former Democratic presidential candidate Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegButtigieg: Denying Biden intelligence briefings is about protecting Trump’s ‘ego’ Biden’s win is not a policy mandate — he should govern accordingly Pavlich: Hollow calls for unity MORE called on the federal government to grant President-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenRomney on Trump election tactics: ‘Difficult to imagine a worse, more undemocratic action’ by president Biden promises federal government will pay for National Guard coronavirus work: ‘That should be paid for’ House committee chairs demand briefing from GSA head on presidential transition MORE access to intelligence briefings, arguing the current delay is about protecting President Trump’s “ego.”

“This just seems to be an exercise in trying to somehow protect the outgoing president’s ego and that’s not worth undermining national security,” Buttigieg told MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle.

The former South Bend, Ind., mayor and former Navy officer said it was a “huge concern” that Biden was not receiving classified intelligence briefings roughly two months out from Inauguration Day, noting there are likely some intelligence briefings Biden “needs some advanced planning on” before entering office.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Because you need to be able to prepare for the threat streams that the country faces,” Buttigieg said. “The intelligence community and the military, with no regard for politics, is out there doing the work of making sure day-by-day that the president is briefed on everything we’re going to face.”

Click Here: Fjallraven Kanken Art Spring Landscape Backpacks

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has not interacted with the Biden campaign yet because the General Services Administration (GSA) has not certified Biden as the winner of the election, despite him maintaining leads in multiple swing states. News outlets projected him as the winner Nov. 7.

Biden earlier this week called on the GSA to recognize him as president-elect, a move that would open up critical transition resources. The former vice president said the GSA should not have to wait until states or Congress certify the election results before resources are allowed to be used.

ADVERTISEMENT

“One of the problems we’re having now is the failure of the administration to recognize,” Biden said. “The law says that the General Services Administration has a person who recognizes who the winner is, and then they have access to all the data and information the government possesses to be prepared. It doesn’t require there to be an absolute winner. It says the apparent winner.”

Democrats and a growing number of Republicans have said Biden should receive intelligence briefings, even as the Trump campaign carries on its legal challenges in several states.

Biden has already been congratulated by a number of U.S. allies and has held phone calls with several world leaders, including the heads of Israel, India, France, Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom, among others.

“Each passing day that the [government] holds this [transition] up is a day when lives and livelihoods are at risk,” Buttigieg said.

He later reiterated his argument about granting access to briefings, tweeting, “Protecting the outgoing president’s ego is not worth undermining national security.”

Illinois state officials have launched an investigation into a COVID-19 outbreak at a local veterans nursing home after nearly 200 residents and staff members became infected and 27 veterans died from the virus, according to The Associated Press.

On Tuesday, the Illinois Department of Veteran’s Affairs asked for an independent investigation of the LaSalle Veterans’ Home, the AP reported, noting that Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s (D) office is also attempting to track down the source of the outbreak.

“The tragedy of what has unfolded at the veterans’ home cannot be understated,” state Sen. Sue Rezin (R), who represents the district where LaSalle Veterans’ Home is located, said, according to AP. “I’m glad that the director has called for an independent investigation and agree that there are lesson to be learned from this terrible outbreak that has claimed the lives of 27 of our nation’s heroes.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Back in October, a routine test of a staff member came back positive, marking the beginning of the outbreak, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Nearly two-thirds of employees and residents at the facility have reportedly tested positive for the virus this month.

In an effort to combat the outbreak, state officials increased staff testing and Pritzker said that he has sent in an infection control team, according to the AP.

“I expect all facilities to follow all the public health guidance that we give, and if there are instances in which that’s not happening, I expect answers about why,” Pritzker said, according to the Tribune.

On Tuesday morning, a total of 40 residents and 24 staffers reportedly tested positive for the virus; 101 people are currently living in the facility, the AP noted.

Click Here: crusaders rugby jerseys

Aaron Varble of StillRealToUs.com recently interviewed Chris Jericho and asked him about his upcoming match with The Undertaker, his status with New Japan Pro Wrestling, and his thoughts on possibly being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame someday.

When he found out about his Casket Match with The Undertaker: “3 days ago. I mean that’s kinda how it is when you work in WWE and the wrestling business. The entertainment is all — you learn to roll with the punches and sometimes things that are planned for six-months fall apart. Sometimes things that you never expect to happen with a week’s notice.”

Being the King of the Casket Match: “So I’m excited about it, I think it’s going to be fun,” Jericho continued regarding his upcoming Casket Match with The Undertaker. “I’m the King Of The Casket Match, I’m undefeated in a Casket Match and to go to Saudi Arabia for it, it’s a pretty interesting setting […] and I think and we’re going to have a great time and there’s an opportunity of a big financial commitment on both ends from the WWE and the Saudi Arabian government. So hopefully it’s a long and fruitful relationship for years to come.”

If he’ll be at SummerSlam: “No man, I don’t work that way as you can see just dropping in. If I’m going to work something it needs to be something special.”

His match with Kenny Omega and future with NJPW: “Yeah you know it was a good idea. It was good when it happened — we had a blast but sometimes things just don’t work out. You know, so New Japan was a lot of fun… not to say that I wouldn’t go back there again but as of right now our relationship is pretty much finished at this point.”

Possibly being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame: “I find Hall Of Fame is more for the fans than it is or anybody else. I’ve never been that focused on the Hall Of Fame. I kinda thought it was cool when Axl Rose didn’t show up or Van Halen didn’t show up or being super snotty and kinda being a d-ck. Like when the Sex Pistols sent in a letter saying they didn’t want to be there, they refused to be mentioned or whatever.”

“But I think for the fans it’s kind of a cool buttoning of the whole career. But I just watched the Hall Of Fame and Bon Jovi was up there with all the members and it was cool and then the guy from Dire Straits didn’t show up so it’s kind of an embarrassment. There’s so much drama behind the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame because you’re talking about bands — the good thing about the WWE Hall Of Fame is it’s just you.”

“So I imagine I’ll probably show up if I’m ever invited. But I don’t really feel like I’m at that point in my career where I should be in the Hall Of Fame. To me, that’s kinda the end of the road not kind of when you’re at your peak — like what people are saying about the Kenny Omega match and the quality of the match. ‘It’s the best match of Jericho’s career’ — well jeez if that’s the case then I got nowhere near the Hall Of Fame yet I still have a bunch of great matches left in me it’s not like that was my last ditch one and then I’ll explode into a puff of dust.”