Reproductive Health / Public News Service

Around 43% of participating voters said that while they are personally against abortion, they do not believe government should be preventing someone from making that decision for themselves. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, May 10, 2024

Poll: Rural AZ voters not a 'cultural monolith'

Arizona's primary election will take place in July, and a new Rural Democracy Initiative poll shows that likely voters from rural areas of the state …

A special session of the Missouri Legislature to complete the budget may be needed if it is not finalized by Friday at 6 p.m.(luzitanija/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Critical child care funding hangs in balance as Missouri budget nears deadline

Child care advocates are pushing for increased funding as the budget deadline approaches this Friday. Robyn Schelp, director of policy and advocacy …

The 340B rule empowers select safety-net providers by providing discounts on outpatient prescription drugs and in reaching more eligible patients to provide comprehensive services. (Banana Images/Adobe Stock)

Big Pharma uses red-meat rhetoric in fight over drug costs

Access to reduced-price medication is a necessity for many rural Missourians with low income. Rep. Cindy O'Laughlin, R-Shelbina, the Senate Floor …

Voters who say abortion is the most important issue to their vote are disproportionately younger, Democratic-leaning, and want abortion to be legal in all cases. (Adobe Stock)

NV pro-choice advocates back emergency abortion law targeted in SCOTUS case

Nevada health-care providers, patients and advocates are responding to the U.S. Supreme Court case that'll determine the future of the Emergency …

Rep. Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, the House Democratic floor leader, called Missouri politicians

Missouri's Medicaid block: denying patients choice in trusted providers

The Missouri Legislature has approved a law to stop its Medicaid program, known as MO HealthNet, from paying Planned Parenthood for medical services …

Hospitals provided 33% of abortions in 2020, according to data from the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

Supreme Court to hear oral arguments on abortion access in emergency rooms

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments today in a case about whether patients have access to emergency room abortions in states banning …

Five of nine full-time maternal-fetal medicine specialists have left Idaho since the state's strict abortion law took effect, according to a report from the Idaho Physician Well-Being Action Collaborative. (Adobe Stock)

Supreme Court hears arguments on Idaho's near-total abortion ban

By Mary Anne Franks for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Northern Rockies News Service reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Idaho's abortion ban will have ramifications for health-care providers in the state. (JudithAnne/Adobe Stock)

ID abortion law before SCOTUS this week

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this week on Idaho's near-total abortion ban. Idaho v. United States is on the docket for Wednesday…

New research from the Episcopal Health Foundation showed the Texas economy could save billions of dollars, simply by breaking the cycle of preventable health disparities. (Colored Lights/Adobe Stock)

New study shows health disparities cost TX billions of dollars

Health disparities in Texas are not only making some people sick, but affecting the state's economy. A new study shows Texas is losing $7 billion a …

During a pregnancy, speak to a health care provider if something doesn't feel right. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

As Black Maternal Health Week ends, health disparities persist

While Black Maternal Health Week is wrapping up, health disparities for pregnant Black women continues to be an issue. From April 11-17 this year…

Women ages 35 and older in Arkansas have the highest mortality rate, which was 3.9 times the rate of women younger than 25. (Andrey Popov)

Arkansas group raising awareness during Black Maternal Health Week

Arkansas is taking critical steps to address its high maternal mortality rate, especially among women of color. In the Natural State, Black women …

The Indiana Department of Health 2022 Pregnancy Termination Report showed March as the month when the most abortions were performed. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Ease of access to contraception could lower accidental pregnancies

Vending machines commonly found in workplace break rooms generally contain soft drinks or snacks but one machine in Indianapolis dispenses unconventio…

Kentucky certified lactation consultant and birth doula Bonnie Logsdon has been vocal in her support for House Bill 10. (Adobe Stock)

Bipartisan KY bill would expand maternal care access

In the final days of the legislative session, Kentucky Senate lawmakers could consider the "Momnibus" bill, which would increase access to critical …

Some 60% of Arizona voters consider themselves pro-choice rather than anti-abortion, according to the grassroots organization Indivisible. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Supreme Court reinstates 160-year-old, near-total abortion ban

On Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court upheld an 1864 ban on nearly all abortions, except in situations when it is necessary to save the life of a …

A majority of women living in states where abortion is banned want abortion to be legal and support laws protecting abortion access, according to KFF. (Adobe Stock)

NV pro-choice advocates break down upcoming SCOTUS cases

Nevada reproductive-rights advocates are breaking down the importance of two looming Supreme Court abortion cases. In Moyle v. United States…

Vasectomy procedures are 99.9% effective and take less than 30 minutes, according to Planned Parenthood Arizona. (Adobe Stock)

AZ sees increased demand for vasectomies post-Roe

Planned Parenthood Arizona is expanding vasectomy services to its Central Phoenix health center, a year after it launched a similar program in Tucson…

In November, Florida voters will get to decide on ballot initiatives that would enshrine abortion rights in the state Constitution, and authorize recreational marijuana use for people ages 21 and older. (cottonbro studio/Pexels)

Florida Supreme Court clears abortion amendment for ballot

Reproductive-rights advocates see a silver lining in the Florida Supreme Court's recent decision. The court upheld a 15-week ban, and a six-week …

Almost 50% of Arizona adults believe abortion should be legal

AZ pro-choice advocates secure signatures for 2024 ballot measure

Pro-choice advocates in Arizona said they have surpassed the threshold of required signatures to put a measure on the November ballot which would add …

Most of the USDA produce samples tested in this year's Dirty Dozen list from the Environmental Working Group were within the legal allowance for chemical pesticide residue. (Adobe Stock)

2024 Dirty Dozen lists produce packed with chemical pesticides

Nonorganic fruits and vegetables are loaded with chemical pesticides, including fungicides which can harm male reproductive systems, according to the …

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Missourians anxious over future birth control access

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…

More than six in 10 Americans favor keeping the abortion pill mifepristone available in the U.S. as a prescription drug, while over a third are opposed, according to a Gallup poll. (Adobe Stock)

NV senator pushes to protect access to abortion pill

New research shows more than six in 10 abortions in the U.S. last year were medically induced, and U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto - D-NV - is …

Around 42% of U.S. adults say they or someone they know has used fertility treatments, according to Pew Research Center. (Tatiana Shepeleva / Adobe Stock)

NV leaders discuss future of IVF, abortion in the Silver State

State Rep. Susie Lee - D-Las Vegas - said she wants women in Nevada and across the country to wake up, as she contends far-right extremists are …

Less than half of adults said they consider the right to contraception a

AZ Democrats rally for contraception access

Last week, Gov. Katie Hobbs called on the state Legislature to pass a law to guarantee women the right to contraception. Making birth control a …

Mississippi is one of 14 states that has banned abortion completely. Before the Dobbs decision, the monthly average number of abortions in April and May 2022 was 350 each. (Parilov/AdobeStock)

Group offers abortion travel benefits for Mississippi women

Amid ongoing concerns about reproductive access in the Magnolia State, a Jackson-based organization is offering financial help and other support …

House Bill passed with an overwhelming vote of 94-6, with three abstentions. Its companion, Senate Bill 159, passed unanimously with a vote of 34-0. (Chad Robertson/Adobe Stock)

Alabama passes bills to protect IVF, but concerns remain

The Alabama House and Senate both passed bills this week that would help people resume in vitro fertilization and provide legal protections for provid…

Missouri's Senate Bill 1314, similar to House Bill 2365, prohibits funds from being expended by any state department for interdepartmental programs, staffing or other initiatives associated with

New report reveals high economic risk of anti-DEI laws in Missouri

A new report finds some Missouri laws and prospective laws are perceived as discriminatory regardless of their actual intent - and it outlines some bi…

In 2021, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for White women, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Ohio Black maternal mortality rates continue to spike

The number of Black mothers in Ohio who die during or following pregnancy continues to climb and health advocates said they hope to shine a light on t…

Following the Supreme Court's 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade, Massachusetts lawmakers strengthened legal protections for abortion providers, mandated insurance companies cover abortion services, and expanded stockpiles of medication abortion drugs. (Kulbako) <br /><br />

'Deceptive' tactics by crisis pregnancy centers focus of MA legislation

Legislation in Massachusetts would ban some of the tactics used by "crisis pregnancy centers" to prevent people from having abortions. Many of the …

A bill providing more state oversight of hospital mergers passed the Washington Senate 28-21 earlier this month. (ColleenMichaels/Adobe Stock)

WA bill would add state oversight to hospital mergers

A bill in Olympia aims to protect Washingtonians against restricted health care access and rising costs from hospital mergers. Consolidation in the …

Did Parson's abortion stance prompt historic family, education funding?

State legislators applauded Missouri Gov. Mike Parson's State of the State address last week - although for very different reasons. The governor's …

The Secretary of State has determined Floridians Protecting Freedom has received the requisite number and distribution of valid signatures to obtain a spot on the ballot for a proposed amendment in the 2024 General Election. (Lerone Pieters/Pexels)

FL abortion rights measure to be on Nov. ballot

Florida voters will soon have the opportunity to express their views on abortion rights at the ballot box. After Gov. Ron DeSantis approved a law …

The HPV vaccine is usually divided into two doses. (Sherry Young/Adobe Stock)

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month: HPV vaccine crucial in prevention

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and a vaccine for young people can reduce the risk of developing this disease. Cervical cancer typically …

Around 30% of registered voters say they will only vote for a candidate who shares their views on abortion, according to a KFF poll. (Adobe Stock)

Maine lawmakers consider constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights

Lawmakers in Maine will hear hours of emotional public testimony today regarding a potential constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights…

A police officer stands in the doorway of the Washington Surgi-Center during the clinic blockade on Oct. 22, 2020. (We Engage)

On Roe v. Wade anniversary, investigation into abortion clinic violence

By Amanda Robb for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service Collaboration At 9:05 a.m. on Thursday…

Black children in immigrant families are more than twice as likely to live in two-parent families <br />than Black children in U.S.-born families (69% vs. 33%, respectively). (Adobe Stock)

Report: Black births more likely to be premature in AR

Arkansas ranks near the bottom among states in the latest Annie E. Casey Foundation report on children's well-being. "Race for Results" focuses on …

Six states have passed laws requiring state-regulated private health plans to cover certain over-the-counter forms of contraception, without the need for a prescription and without cost-sharing. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Mississippi 'Right to Contraception Act' to be filed in 2024

Amid ongoing concerns about reproductive access in the Magnolia State, Mississippi's Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups are slated to introduce …

If the new defamation bill becomes law, it is unlikely to survive a legal challenge due to what critics say are its clear violations of free speech and anti-discrimination laws. (Pixabay)

FL lawmakers back in Tallahassee to debate limits on abortion, free speech

Within hours of the start of Florida's legislative session, newly filed bills are set to test the limits on hot-button topics such as abortion and …

By the end of 2023, an estimated 13,960 women in the United States will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,310 will die from it, according to the American Cancer Society. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky leads nation in advanced cervical cancer fatalities

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and health experts said they are concerned about the growing number of cervical cancer diagnoses nationwide…

Oil and natural gas operations are the source of nearly 30% of all methane emissions in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

New methane rule promises public health benefits

Methane, the primary component of natural gas, has become a global target in efforts to blunt the worst impacts of climate change. The Biden …

Gov. Eric Holcomb on Aug. 4 signed into law an abortion ban, making Indiana the first state to pass the restrictive law after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. (Adobe Stock)

IU Prof: SCOTUS taking up abortion pill a 'momentous occurrence'

As the United States Supreme Court decides whether the abortion pill is safe, some legal scholars predict the decision may backfire on anti-abortion …

Planned Parenthood employees and the union representing them have been unable to reach a contract agreement despite dozens of bargaining sessions over more than a year. (Adobe Stock)

Planned Parenthood workers file complaint amid stalled negotiations

Planned Parenthood Workers in Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota have filed an Unfair Labor Practices complaint with the National Labor Relations Board as …

Around 33% of registered voters who identify as pro-choice versus 23% of pro-life voters say they will only vote for a candidate who agrees with them on abortion, according to Gallup. (Adobe Stock)

Poll findings worsen for Biden; what does that mean for 2024?

Recent polling from The New York Times and Siena College found President Joe Biden trailing former President Donald Trump in five of the six most cruc…

28% of registered voters say they will only vote for candidates for major offices who share their position on abortion, according to Gallup. (Matt Gush / Adobe Stock)

Are polls and the President's approval rating true indicators for 2024?

Recent polling from The New York Times and Siena College found President Biden trailing former President Donald Trump in five of the six most crucial …

After her doctor retired in 2020, Albuquerque's Anne Withrow faced a long waiting list for transgender health care. (photo courtesy of Cecilia Nowell)<br />

NM's gender-affirming policy generates waitlists for health care

By Cecilia Nowell for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for New Mexico News Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Serv…

Midwives and other health staff are looking to unionize at 10 Legacy Health locations. (honcharr/Adobe Stock)

OR women's health clinic staff seek to unionize to improve conditions

Workers at Legacy's women's health clinics have announced their intention to unionize. About 60 nurse midwives and other health staff at clinics in …

Abortions have increased in states bordering Idaho since the beginning of the year. (Fitz/Adobe Stock)

Federal judge puts ID abortion travel ban on hold

A federal judge has temporarily blocked an anti-abortion law in Idaho restricting people's ability to travel to other states for the procedure…

Last year, Kansas voters overwhelmingly rejected efforts to eliminate the right to abortion under the state Constitution. Missouri's total abortion ban went into effect in June 2022. (trac1/Adobe Stock)

KS ruling broadens access to abortion, reproductive healthcare

A Kansas state court judge has blocked several abortion-related restrictions, in a decision which is bound to have an effect in neighboring Missouri…

The United Health Foundation's 2023 Health of Women and Children report cited some strengths in Pennsylvania, including a low rate of foster-care placement instability, a high childhood immunization rate and low percentage of uninsured women ages 19-44. (Adobe Stock)

Report shows uptick in maternal mortality for PA women of color

Pennsylvania ranks 23rd among states for the overall health of women and children in a new America's Health Rankings report by the United Health Found…

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