Toxic Gas Adds to a Long History of Pollution in Southwest Memphis
People across the nation claim cancer-causing emissions from local sterilizing plants are making them sick. It鈥檚 an example of environmental racism, say residents of one predominantly Black area in southwest Memphis, Tennessee, where life expectancy is much shorter than county and state averages.
Sign Here? Financial Agreements May Leave Doctors in the Driver鈥檚 Seat
Agreeing to an out-of-network doctor鈥檚 own financial policy 鈥 which generally protects their ability to get paid and may be littered with confusing insurance and legal jargon 鈥 can create a binding contract that leaves a patient owing.
What Florida鈥檚 New 6-Week Abortion Ban Means for the South, and Traveling Patients
Florida has served as a haven for Southern pregnant women with little or no access to abortions. But the Florida Supreme Court upheld a six-week abortion restriction that begins in May 鈥 so now women across much of the South seeking abortions will have to look farther afield.
Journalists Drill Down on Bird Flu Risks, Opioid Settlement Payouts, and Fluoride in Drinking Water
蘑菇影院 Health News and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media over the past two weeks to discuss recent stories. Here鈥檚 a collection of their appearances.
Genetics Studies Have a Diversity Problem That Researchers Struggle To Fix
Researchers in Charleston, South Carolina, are trying to build a DNA database of 100,000 people to better understand how genetics affects health risks. But they鈥檙e struggling to recruit enough Black participants.
Conservative Justices Stir Trouble for Republican Politicians on Abortion
Republicans are learning the admonition 鈥渂e careful what you wish for,鈥 as conservative judges cause them political problems over abortion in a crucial election year.
Lawsuit Alleges Obamacare Plan-Switching Scheme Targeted Low-Income Consumers
The lawsuit filed in federal court alleges that large call centers were used to enroll people into Affordable Care Act plans or to switch their coverage, all without their permission.
When Rogue Brokers Switch People鈥檚 ACA Policies, Tax Surprises Can Follow
Some tax filers鈥 returns are being rejected because they failed to provide information about Affordable Care Act coverage they didn鈥檛 even know they had.
As Bans Spread, Fluoride in Drinking Water Divides Communities Across the US
The broad availability of over-the-counter dental products containing fluoride has some community leaders arguing that its addition to public drinking water is no longer necessary. But public health experts worry that, much like vaccines, fluoridation may be a victim of its own success.
蘑菇影院 Health News' 'What the Health?': Arizona Turns Back the Clock on Abortion Access
A week after the Florida Supreme Court said the state could enforce an abortion ban passed in 2023, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that state could enforce a near-total ban passed in 1864 鈥 over a half-century before Arizona became a state. The move further scrambled the abortion issue for Republicans and posed an immediate quandary for former President Donald Trump, who has been seeking an elusive middle ground in the polarized debate. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat, and Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post join 蘑菇影院 Health News鈥 Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews 蘑菇影院 Health News鈥 Molly Castle Work, who reported and wrote the latest 蘑菇影院 Health News-NPR 鈥淏ill of the Month鈥 feature, about an air-ambulance ride for an infant with RSV that his insurer deemed not medically necessary.
Arkansas Led the Nation in Measuring Obesity in Kids. Did It Help?
For more than 20 years, children in Arkansas have been measured in school as part of a statewide effort to reduce childhood obesity. But the letters have had no impact on weight loss 鈥 and obesity rates have risen. Still, the practice of sending letters has spread to other states.
Becerra Joins the Fray Over Reproductive Rights
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra is racking up frequent-flier miles as he hopscotches the country to highlight health issues the White House hopes will become pivotal for voters this year 鈥 none more so than reproductive rights. 鈥淣o woman today should fear [not having] access to the care that she needs. President Biden […]
City-Country Mortality Gap Widens Amid Persistent Holes in Rural Health Care Access
People in their prime working years living in rural America are 43% more likely to die of natural causes, like diseases, than their urban counterparts, a disparity that grew rapidly in recent decades, according to a new federal report.
Rising Complaints of Unauthorized Obamacare Plan-Switching and Sign-Ups Trigger Concern
Federal and state regulators are mulling what they can do to thwart this growing problem.
蘑菇影院 Health News' 'What the Health?': Florida Limits Abortion 鈥 For Now
The Florida Supreme Court handed down dual abortion rulings this week. One said voters will be allowed to decide in November whether to create a state right to abortion. The other ruling, though, allows a 15-week ban to take effect immediately 鈥 before an even more sweeping, six-week ban replaces it in May. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is doubling down on his administration鈥檚 health care accomplishments as he kicks off his general election campaign. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins University schools of nursing and public health, and Tami Luhby of CNN join 蘑菇影院 Health News鈥 Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews health care analyst Jeff Goldsmith about the growing size and influence of UnitedHealth Group in the wake of the Change Healthcare hack.
Feds Join Ranks of Employers with Generous Fertility Benefits
Starting this year, federal employees can choose plans that cover a broad menu of fertility services, including up to $25,000 annually for in vitro fertilization procedures. At the same time, politics around IVF and reproductive health have become a central issue in the current election-year debate.
The GOP Keeps Pushing Medicaid Work Requirements, Despite Setbacks
Work requirements in Medicaid expansion programs are back on the agenda in many statehouses 鈥 despite their lackluster track record. In Mississippi, the idea has momentum from GOP lawmakers advancing legislation to expand Medicaid. In Kansas, the Democratic governor proposed work requirements to try to soften Republican opposition to expansion. (She鈥檚 had little luck, so […]
ACA Plans Are Being Switched Without Enrollees鈥 OK
Insurance agents say it鈥檚 too easy to access consumer information on the Affordable Care Act federal marketplace. Policyholders can lose their doctors and access to prescriptions. Some end up owing back taxes.
Hospitals Cash In on a Private Equity-Backed Trend: Concierge Physician Care
Hospitals are increasingly stretching a velvet rope, offering 鈥渃oncierge service鈥 to an affluent clientele. Critics say the practice exacerbates primary care shortages.
Journalists Dig Into Measles, Abortion Access, and Medicaid Expansion
蘑菇影院 Health News and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media in recent weeks to discuss their stories. Here鈥檚 a collection of their appearances.