Health Issues / Public News Service

Public health officials warn unless states like Illinois recruit more primary care doctors, there will be a serious shortage of available health care by 2030.(rocketclips/Adobestock)

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Report: Illinois, US Need More Primary-Care Physicians to Avoid Shortage

Health insurance's ability to help you drops sharply if you cannot find a primary-care doctor, and it is a problem for 100 million Americans…

More than 200 million people in the United States are estimated to currently have unhealthy levels of PFAS in their water. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, March 30, 2023

New EPA Drinking Water Standards Take Aim at PFAS “Forever Chemicals”

At least 20 Colorado municipalities will have to improve their water treatment systems to remove so-called forever chemicals called PFAS from drinking…

Restoration Community Impact provides greens through its market that are inclusive of a variety of cultures. (Marlando and Stephanie Sparks)

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Providing Inclusive Foods Integral Mission for WA Food Pantries

Food assistance is integral for families - but it's also important that the food available makes sense culturally. The American Heart Association …

Federal officials say over-the-counter availability of Naloxone could happen later this summer. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Feds OK Over-the-Counter Sales of Overdose-Reversing Drug

States such as Minnesota continue to grapple with recent spikes in fatal overdoses tied to opioids. Now, a federal agency has taken what aid groups …

There are more than 7,004 certified nurse midwives currently employed in the United States, according to Zippia. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Iowa Midwife Law a Step Closer

The Iowa House has passed a measure to establish a licensing board for midwives. Iowa is one of 15 states currently without such a program, often …

Whether it is due to an increase in using technology or a shift from the typical 9-5<br />workday, around 50-70 million Americans suffer from sleep issues, according to the American Sleep<br />Apnea Association. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

A Good Night’s Sleep Brings Host of Health Benefits

March is National Sleep Awareness Month, and more than 40% of Kentucky adults report getting fewer than seven hours of sleep a night, according to …

A report based on federal data shows New Mexico's rate of homelessness is 12 individuals per 10,000 people, compared with 18 per 10,000 nationwide - lower than neighboring Colorado, also at 18 per 10,000, but higher than Texas at eight per 10,000. (M-SUR/AdobeStock)

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

NM Homelessness Declines, But Rural Folks Face Barriers

In the past two years, homelessness in America has risen only 1%, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - which …

The current rate of species going extinct is estimated to be 100 to 1,000 times higher than natural background extinction rates, and is accelerating because of human activity including unsustainable use of land, water and energy use, and climate change. (Lucaar/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Congress Could Sidestep Endangered Species Act to Delist Grizzlies, Wolves

Congress is considering three bills that would sidestep the Endangered Species Act to de-list the Northern Continental Divide and Yellowstone grizzly …

A report published in late February says children of mothers who are abused or neglected were more likely to demonstrate symptoms and behaviors linked to depression, along with other health issues. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

New Research Links Child Maltreatment to Generational Health Outcomes

New findings suggest health effects stemming from child maltreatment can be passed on to the next generation. In South Dakota, leaders in early-…

Black Americans are the most likely to suffer from insufficient sleep. (ChadBridwell/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Get More Zzz's, Health Experts Say During Sleep Awareness Month

March is Sleep Awareness Month and health experts say Americans are not getting enough of it. United Health Foundation data found more than 32% of …

A new report finds that the number of individuals who face a lack of health-care options has gone up since 2014. (Syda Productions/Adobestock)

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Report: Community Health Centers Work to Address Primary-Care Shortage

Health insurance does not help you if you can't find a primary-care doctor - and that is a problem for 100 million Americans, according to a new …

Fortune magazine reported in January 2022 child care expenses had risen an average of 41% from the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and some families spend 20% of their income on child care. (Ljiljana/Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 27, 2023

MO Legislation Would Help Families Afford Child Care

Like others across the country, many Missouri families struggle with the cost of child care, and state lawmakers are proposing some relief. Rep…

Monday, March 27, 2023

Iowans Mark Affordable Health-Care Anniversary

Iowans are marking the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. Thanks to the health-care plan, Iowans have saved thousands of dollars in …

Since the onset of COVID 19, the average American now spends 13 hours each day looking at some kind of blue light-emitting screen. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 27, 2023

Tips for Limiting Exposure to Blue Light from Screens

The pandemic forced many Americans to work and learn from home, and health experts are increasingly concerned about the potentially harmful impact of …

A new EPA rule will limit inhalable particles with diameters of 10 micrometers and smaller. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 27, 2023

EPA Finalizing New Air Quality Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency is in the process of finalizing a new rule to improve air quality in America. The proposal will lower the amount …

About 92% of surveyed small-business owners say hospitals are unfairly charging high prices leading to high health-care costs and that it is time for price regulation. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 27, 2023

Report: NV Small-Business Owners Want Less Hospital Consolidation

New research shows Nevada's small-business owners say hospital consolidation in the state is exacerbating high health-care costs and want action to be…

People are put in precarious positions when they cannot afford their medical bills. (volgariver/Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 27, 2023

OR Nonprofit Hospitals Fail to Provide Financial Aid to Low-Income Patients

Oregon's nonprofit hospitals are not doing enough to provide assistance on medical bills for low-income patients, but a bill in Salem aims to change …

Graduate workers at the University of Maine say they are required to pay 50% of health insurance costs with large payments due at the beginning of each school year, on plans which do not cover vision or dental care. (UMGWU)

Monday, March 27, 2023

U of Maine Grad Students Join Growing Union Movement

Graduate-student workers throughout the University of Maine System are taking steps to unionize and seek recognition from university officials…

Cancer care costs are expected to top more than $245 billion by 2030, according to the American Association for Cancer Research. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 27, 2023

New Kentucky Law Increases Access to Biomarker Cancer Testing

Beginning next year, more Kentuckians will have expanded access to biomarker testing - which helps doctors customize cancer treatment. Advocates of …

During this year's ACA open-enrollment period, a record high of more than 16 million people signed up, with 4.4 million more enrolled for health insurance coverage since 2021, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Monday, March 27, 2023

As ACA Hits 13th Year, West Virginia Makes Coverage Gains

It's been 13 years since more than 156,000 West Virginians gained health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act. As sweeping and …

Rural hospitals are facilities not located within a metropolitan area as defined by the U.S. Office and Management and Budget and the U.S. Census Bureau, according to the American Hospital Association. (Adobe Stock)

IA Lawmakers Work to Save Rural Hospitals

The Iowa Senate has approved a measure allowing some medical facilities to be licensed as "emergency hospitals." This would be especially important in…

Illinois advocacy groups say they are educating policymakers on the benefits of hospital screening as a solution to prevent medical debt, both for low-income patients and the hospital. (volgariver/Adobe Stock)

IL Legislation Would Help People Avoid Medical Debt

A new report finds thousands of low-income or uninsured people in Illinois face medical debt that is depleting their savings and, in some cases…

According to the World Health Organization's Sodium Scorecard, a quarter of the world's population lives in countries with mandatory policies in place to reduce sodium intake. (Adobe Stock)

New Reports Outline Need for Healthier Eating Habits

Two recent reports take aim at improving health across the United States and the world. A report from the World Health Organization found that the …

Georgia has enrolled more than 2.4 million individuals in Medicaid and CHIP, a net increase of 59.77% since the first Marketplace Open Enrollment Period. (Cherryandbees/Adobe Stock)

GA Group Prepares for End of COVID-19 Emergency

A Georgia health advocacy group is concerned about people's health outcomes as the COVID-19 public health emergency is set to expire on May 11…

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, adopting new standards for soot can help prevent up to 4,200 premature deaths per year and 270,000 lost workdays per year. It can also yield as much as $43 billion in net health benefits in 2032. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Soot Proposal Not Enough, NY Environmentalists Say

A New York environmental group feels the Environmental Protection Agency's latest regulations on soot in the air do not go far enough. The new …

Colorectal polyps (abnormal growths in the colon or rectum that can turn into cancer if not removed) and colorectal cancer don't always cause symptoms, especially at first, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

IA Doctors Use Immunotherapy in Colon Cancer Trial

Colorectal cancer is second only to lung cancer in the number of lives it will take in Iowa this year. Now, doctors at the University of Iowa are …

Wildfire experts plan to use unmanned drones to help improve early detection, battle fires more effectively, and to reseed and restore scarred forests. (Windsong/Adobe Stock)

Report Charts a Course for Mitigating Wildfire Risk

As wildfire seasons in Colorado and across the American West become longer, less predictable and increasingly destructive, a new report aims to …

Smoking prevention groups said because there are thousands of flavored tobacco products on the market, teens are gravitating toward them and picking up health risks along the way. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed Flavored Tobacco Ban for MN Back on Table

Youth advocates continue to sound the alarm over the impact flavored tobacco products have on teenagers, and hope Minnesota lawmakers take another …

The Care 4 All California coalition is pressing for an expansion of Medi-Cal to cover undocumented adults. (Kit Bear/Health Access)

CA Bills Aim to Improve Health-Care Access, Affordability

Health advocates are promoting a package of bills this legislative session to make health care easier to get - and more affordable. The Care 4 All …

In 2020, 35% of Idaho mothers had Medicaid at the time of their child's birth. (WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

ID Lawmakers Fail to Address Health Concerns for Pregnant Women

With concerning trends emerging for pregnant and postpartum women, frustration is growing that Idaho lawmakers could end the session without …

Some 37.3 million Americans, or about one in 10 people, have diabetes. About one in five don't know they have it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Insulin Price Cap Doesn't Apply to All Iowans Who Need It

Drug-maker Sanofi has joined two other large manufacturers in capping monthly insulin prices at $35. In Iowa, advocates for more affordable health …

Kids can grow accustomed to foods like vegetables and fruits even if they're picky eaters. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

50th Nutrition Month: Introducing Healthy Foods to Picky Eaters

This March marks the 50th anniversary of National Nutrition Month. Making sure children eat healthy can be tricky. Chuck Larimer, an elementary …

At a rally in Harlem, members of Citizen Action of New York call for a bevy of changes to public money in Albany. They want taxes raised on the wealthiest New Yorkers, to increase the state's minimum wage, and to end 'pay-for-play' by reducing state subsidies for corporations. (Citizen Action New York)

NYC Group Calls for Significant Community Investments

Community leaders in Harlem are calling on local and state elected officials to make significant community investments. As part of their 2023 …

The Williams Institute estimates that 1.3 million U.S. adults identify as transgender. (Adobe Stock)

MD House and Senate Approve Trans Health Equity Act

Both chambers of the Maryland legislature have passed a bill that would require the state's Medicaid program to cover gender affirming care. While …

Across the 398 women surveyed, 57.8% occupied no marginalized social category, while 22.6% occupied at least one marginalized category and almost 20% occupied more than one. (Adobe Stock)

Report Eyes Health Impacts of Social Belonging in UT Women

Research from The University of Utah explores the physical- and mental-health implications of social belonging in women. Study author Lisa Diamond …

According to a report from the Appalachian Citizens Law Center, the black lung benefit rate for a miner with no dependents is now 738-dollars a month. (Adobe Stock)

Black Lung Benefits Not Keeping Up with Miners’ Health Needs Amid Inflation

As the cost of food, medicine and rent continues to climb, new data shows the benefits miners receive are now 40% less than what they received in 1969…

In 2023, community college completion rates are 44% for first-time, full-time students in Georgia, according to the Community College Review. (KDavis/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Online, Community Colleges Offer Flexibility for Non-Traditional Students

Many Georgia college students have to balance family and work responsibilities with academics. Some are finding non-traditional higher education is …

Research suggests without community health centers, 15 million additional patients would be at risk of not having access to primary care. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Nearly 2 Million in MO are Medically Disenfranchised

A new report looking at access to primary-care doctors found nearly 2 million Missourians are medically disenfranchised. The report from the …

In 2021, the U.S. maternal mortality rate was 33%. That compares to 24% in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. Sees Major Spike in Pregnancy-Linked Deaths

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show another increase in the nation's maternal mortality rate, and a Minnesota expert …

Just 18% of premature deaths from air pollution from coal-fired power plants occur in the states where facilities are located. (Tomas/Adobe Stock)

Report Counts Deadly Impacts of Coal-Fired Power Plants

Thousands of lives are cut short every year because of air pollution from coal-fired power plants in Wyoming and across the United States, according …

According to 2022 data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21.3% of people with a disability were employed, which has increased from 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Urge Age Cap Removal on NY Medicaid Buy-In Program

New York disability-rights advocates are calling for the age cap on the state's Medicaid Buy In Program to be raised or eliminated. The program is …

New Mexico's Human Rights Modernization Act now includes language to prohibit discriminatory practices from publicly funded entities. (ajr_images/AdobeStock)

NM Approves Expansion of LGBTQ+ Rights, Reproductive Protections

New Mexico's LGBTQ community will soon have additional protections after existing language in state law was updated by the Legislature. Sen…

At least 124 bills have been introduced nationwide this year targeting LGBTQ rights in schools and educational settings, freedom of speech and expression, and access to medically necessary health care for transgender people, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. (Adobe Stock)

Educators: NH 'Parental Bill of Rights' Endangers Students, Penalizes Teachers

Educators in New Hampshire say a proposed "parental bill of rights" before lawmakers discriminates against LGBTQ students. The legislation requires …

A report from the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation found children and young adults will be disproportionately affected by the loss of pandemic-era Medicaid coverage protections. About 4.6 million of those who could lose coverage are Latino. (Adobe Stock)

CT Hispanic Population Faces Risk of Medicaid Coverage Loss

When the pandemic ends this spring, Medicaid's "continuous coverage" requirement will end with it. In Connecticut, the state will start checking …

Oregon nurses at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center in Gresham filed a petition to have their union voluntarily recognized but were denied. (Oregon Nurses Association)

Nurses Fear Fallout from Closure of OR Birth Center

Nurses are concerned about the closure of a Portland-area birth center set to go through today. The Family Birth Center at Legacy Mount Hood …

The Illinois Poison Center urges parents to store household cleaning chemicals and other toxic substances on high shelves and out of sight of young children. (Pixel Image/Adobe Stock)

IL Poison Center Urges Families to Identify Household Toxins, Save Lives

National Poison Prevention Week is coming up, and the staff at the Illinois Poison Center is getting the word out to be aware of toxic substances …

In the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 federal legislation provided states with significant funding to ensure continuous Medicaid coverage of individuals enrolled in the program. But that is ending. (Pixabay)

FL Group Works to Keep Eligible People on Medicaid

As Florida "unwinds" from the COVID-19 public health emergency and returns its Medicaid program to pre-pandemic rules, there's a possibility that …

More than 65 million people in Colorado and across the United States depend on Medicare coverage, but the fund's trustees warn that cuts to benefits will be necessary by 2028 without increased revenues. (Adobe Stock)

Millionaires: Medicare Tax Proposal Just What the Doctor Ordered

President Joe Biden's proposal to increase taxes on Americans earning more than $400,000 a year from 3.8% to 5% in order to shore up Medicare is being…

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Health

Report: Illinois, US Need More Primary-Care Physicians to Avoid Shortage

New EPA Drinking Water Standards Take Aim at PFAS “Forever Chemicals”

Providing Inclusive Foods Integral Mission for WA Food Pantries

Feds OK Over-the-Counter Sales of Overdose-Reversing Drug

Iowa Midwife Law a Step Closer

A Good Night’s Sleep Brings Host of Health Benefits

NM Homelessness Declines, But Rural Folks Face Barriers

Congress Could Sidestep Endangered Species Act to Delist Grizzlies, Wolves

New Research Links Child Maltreatment to Generational Health Outcomes

Get More Zzz's, Health Experts Say During Sleep Awareness Month

Report: Community Health Centers Work to Address Primary-Care Shortage

MO Legislation Would Help Families Afford Child Care

Iowans Mark Affordable Health-Care Anniversary

Tips for Limiting Exposure to Blue Light from Screens

EPA Finalizing New Air Quality Rule

Report: NV Small-Business Owners Want Less Hospital Consolidation

OR Nonprofit Hospitals Fail to Provide Financial Aid to Low-Income Patients

U of Maine Grad Students Join Growing Union Movement

New Kentucky Law Increases Access to Biomarker Cancer Testing

As ACA Hits 13th Year, West Virginia Makes Coverage Gains

IA Lawmakers Work to Save Rural Hospitals

IL Legislation Would Help People Avoid Medical Debt

New Reports Outline Need for Healthier Eating Habits

GA Group Prepares for End of COVID-19 Emergency

EPA Soot Proposal Not Enough, NY Environmentalists Say

IA Doctors Use Immunotherapy in Colon Cancer Trial

Report Charts a Course for Mitigating Wildfire Risk

Proposed Flavored Tobacco Ban for MN Back on Table

CA Bills Aim to Improve Health-Care Access, Affordability

ID Lawmakers Fail to Address Health Concerns for Pregnant Women

Insulin Price Cap Doesn't Apply to All Iowans Who Need It

50th Nutrition Month: Introducing Healthy Foods to Picky Eaters

NYC Group Calls for Significant Community Investments

MD House and Senate Approve Trans Health Equity Act

Report Eyes Health Impacts of Social Belonging in UT Women

Black Lung Benefits Not Keeping Up with Miners’ Health Needs Amid Inflation

Online, Community Colleges Offer Flexibility for Non-Traditional Students

Report: Nearly 2 Million in MO are Medically Disenfranchised

U.S. Sees Major Spike in Pregnancy-Linked Deaths

Report Counts Deadly Impacts of Coal-Fired Power Plants

Advocates Urge Age Cap Removal on NY Medicaid Buy-In Program

NM Approves Expansion of LGBTQ+ Rights, Reproductive Protections

Educators: NH 'Parental Bill of Rights' Endangers Students, Penalizes Teachers

CT Hispanic Population Faces Risk of Medicaid Coverage Loss

Nurses Fear Fallout from Closure of OR Birth Center

IL Poison Center Urges Families to Identify Household Toxins, Save Lives

FL Group Works to Keep Eligible People on Medicaid

Millionaires: Medicare Tax Proposal Just What the Doctor Ordered