Public News Service

Climate change harms Indigenous people's health. While it causes some health conditions, it is also worsening chronic illnesses to which they are prone. (Adobe Stock)

EPA awards climate grant to CT tribal nation

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation has been awarded a grant to cut climate pollution. It is part of the Environmental Protection Agency's Climate …

By 2029, Connecticut's estimated share of enrollees benefiting from Medicare's out-of-pocket cap will be higher than 30 states and the District of Columbia. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Medicare cap helps reduce CT prescription drug costs

A new report found Connecticut residents will benefit from Medicare's new out-of-pocket cap. An estimated 49,000 people in the state would see …

Para 2029, la proporci�n estimada de afiliados de Connecticut que se beneficiar�n del l�mite de gastos de bolsillo de Medicare ser� superior a la de 30 estados y el Distrito de Columbia. (Adobe Stock)

Límite de Medicare ayuda a reducir costos de medicamentos en CT

Un nuevo informe encuentra que los residentes de Connecticut se beneficiarán del nuevo límite de gastos de bolsillo de Medicare. Se estima …

A University of Michigan survey found 54% of older adults have not completed an advance directive. Some reasons were they had not gotten around to it, they did not know about them or they did not like talking about it. (Adobe Stock)

CT senator’s federal bill could improve end-of-life planning

A new bipartisan federal bill could improve end-of-life care planning. The Compassionate Care Act creates guidelines for advanced care and end-of-…

Mental Health America's 2024 State of Mental Health report found close to 20% (54,000) of Connecticut young people have had at least one major depressive episode. (Adobe Stock)

CT doctors advise best back-to-school health practices

With Connecticut schools starting soon, doctors said healthy practices can help children heading back to the classroom. In the transition from …

More than 425,000 people utilize services at hundreds of community health care centers throughout Connecticut. (Adobe Stock)

CT community health centers fill gaps in affordable, primary care

As Connecticut struggles with a shortage of physicians, community health centers are filling the gap. More than 400,000 state residents, many …

Connecticut voters don't want to repeal all the state's budget controls, but 46% of likely voters want to see

CT budget reserve could bolster much-needed social programs

Connecticut groups want Gov. Ned Lamont to use some of the state's budget reserve to fund social programs. The state has amassed a more than $4 …

Black and Hispanic residents of Connecticut are less likely to both have insurance and a regular health-care provider compared with white residents. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates call proposed CT insurance rate increases too high

Connecticut insurance companies are requesting rate increases. Companies want a more than 8% increase for individuals and an almost 12% increase for …

Connecticut is the top state in the U.S. searching for Ozempic online, according to data from Google Trends. (Adobe Stock)

CT, US see rise in counterfeit medicine sales

Counterfeit medicine sales are on the rise, in Connecticut and nationwide. The state faced trouble with growing sales of counterfeit Xanax pills …

Between 2018 and 2021, more than 1 million kids visited hospital emergency departments due to mental health challenges. (Adobe Stock)

CT '988' hotline services rank high in national report

A new report showed Connecticut's 988 crisis lifeline services rank highly. The report is from Inseparable, a national mental health advocacy group…

An AARP survey found only 9% of adults age 50 and older would not consider a telehealth visit over an in-person one under any circumstance. (Adobe Stock)

CT telehealth law made permanent, helps senior health access

Newly signed Connecticut laws can improve access and the quality of health care for seniors. One significant change is extending a pandemic-era …

Una encuesta de AARP revela que s�lo el 9% de los adultos de 50 a�os o m�s no considerar�a en ning�n caso una visita de telesalud en lugar de una presencial. (Adobe Stock)

Ley de telesalud de CT se hizo permanente y facilita acceso a las personas mayores

Las leyes recientemente aprobadas en Connecticut pueden mejorar el acceso y la calidad de la atención médica para las personas adultas mayor…

Insufficient sleep is up 21% for Connecticut seniors aged 64, at 30.5%, slightly higher than the national average. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT seniors gain access to care but health outcomes worsen

Connecticut ranks high for helping seniors access care in a new report. The America's Health Ranking Senior report found Connecticut lost ground in …

More than 80,000 people in Connecticut have Alzheimer's disease and research shows the number will grow 14% by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

Summer safety tips for CT people with dementia, Alzheimer’s

This Memorial Day, Connecticut health experts are guiding caregivers on how to keep people with Alzheimer's safe. People with the various forms of …

The Nurse Licensure Compact now includes 41 states and territories. Legislation to join is pending in seven other states and the District of Columbia. (Adobe Stock)

CT to join national nurses' compact; other workforce solutions sought

Connecticut is slated to join a national nursing compact. House Bill 5058 got the General Assembly's approval and awaits Gov. Ned Lamont's signature…

United Way of Connecticut's latest ALICE report found 39% of residents live below the ALICE income threshold necessary to live and work in the state. (Adobe Stock)

CT group helps residents with pandemic’s lingering impacts

Connecticut groups are still addressing the pandemic's aftermath. Along with connecting residents to vital services, United Way of Connecticut is …

Despite many Connecticut counties ranking poorly for air quality, Hartford was the only city to improve enough to move off the list of the worst 25 cities. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT counties rank poorly for air quality

Several Connecticut counties rank poorly in the latest State of the Air report by the American Lung Association. Four counties measured for ozone …

Connecticut's 2011 paid sick leave law was the first in the nation to require private-sector employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave. (Adobe Stock)

CT paid sick days bill passes House, heads to Senate

A Connecticut bill would expand the state's paid sick leave law. The initial 2011 law requires 40 hours of paid sick leave for workers at employers …

Though Connecticut's benefits cliff persists, there are other programs helping people maintain benefits of some kind when their income pushes them over the limit. (Adobe Stock)

CT Day of Action raises awareness on 'benefits cliff'

Today, groups working with lower-income families in Connecticut are raising awareness about the state's "benefits cliff" with a day of action…

People should consider finding someone to be their spokesperson in health-care decision planning. This would help someone ensure their care wishes are carried out if or when they cannot speak for themselves. (Adobe Stock)

Health care decision planning important for CT residents

With Alzheimer's cases on the rise in Connecticut, experts say people should consider early health care planning. A new report shows around 77,000 …

Nearly 60% of Connecticut's almost 113,000 undocumented immigrants do not have access to any form of health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Day of action focuses on CT undocumented residents' health care needs

Today, Connecticut health care advocates are holding a student day of action. They will speak to state lawmakers about raising the age limit for …

Research shows inpatient emergency services drop by 70% after a stay in a peer-run respite center. (Adobe Stock)

CT bill creates mental health peer-run respite centers

A Connecticut bill under consideration in the Legislature would establish peer-run respite centers to help people with mental illness. Senate Bill 37…

Insurance rates on plans offered in the Connecticut Affordable Care Act Exchange rose on average around 9.4%, reduced from the requested 12.4%. Small-group plan rates increased on average 7.4%, reduced from a requested increase of 14.8%. (Adobe Stock)

CT insurance committee fails to advance legislation

Connecticut's Insurance and Real Estate Committee failed to advance any bills by its legislative deadline. Almost 40 bills were brought before the …

In Connecticut, Alzheimer's caregivers provide 201 million hours of unpaid care, which is valued at $4.2 billion. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates for Alzheimer's patients seek more help from CT lawmakers

People who support those with Alzheimer's disease are in Hartford today, asking Connecticut lawmakers to do more for families facing the brain …

Religion is an important part of Black LGBTQ+ youth's lives, with 77% being raised with religious values. But the report notes most respondents said their religion was

Report finds Black LGBTQ+ youth hardships easing a bit

A new report said Black LGBTQ+ youth are seeing more equality, in Connecticut and the U.S. but it does not always mean greater opportunity. The …

The CDC reported kids ages 5-19 from low-income families are twice as likely to have cavities as kids living in higher-income households. (Adobe Stock)

CT dentists share new trends in kids' oral health

During Children's Dental Health Month, Connecticut pediatric dentists are advising the best habits for their young patients. The Centers for Disease …

Legislation will be brought before Connecticut's legislation to provide financial aid to immigrants seeking healthcare in Connecticut. A 2022 Universal Healthcare Foundation of Connecticut survey found 57% of respondents support expanding the state's Medicaid program to all immigrants. (Adobe Stock)

CT group fights deadly disparity in healthcare

A Connecticut group wants to work with the General Assembly on improving health equity. A 2023 Health Equity report from the nonprofit group …

The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness finds, as of Jan. 15, 801 people are outside, unsheltered in cold temperatures, despite Connecticut recently implementing the Severe Cold Weather Protocol due to extremely low temperatures. (Adobe Stock)

CT takes action to keep homeless people safe in winter

Connecticut organizations are working to protect homeless people from winter's biting chill. This time of year poses severe health challenges for …

Too much political news can cause stress, which has been linked to a series of physical health impacts, including inflammation, a compromised immune system, digestive issues, heart disease and weight gain. (Adobe Stock)

Research: Too much political news can affect your health

As beneficial as it is to keep up with current events, too much political news can be detrimental to a person's mental health. Numerous studies are …

In the last three months of 2022, healthcare providers wrote more than 9 million prescriptions for Ozempic and other similar weight loss drugs, according to a Trillian Health analysis. (Adobe Stock)

Ozempic scams increase with weight loss drug’s popularity

High-demand products are usually big targets for scammers, and weight-loss drug Ozempic is no exception. Scams across the U.S. are being reported …

A Forbes Health survey found almost half of all respondents said improving fitness was their primary New Year's resolution. (Adobe Stock)

Making New Year's resolutions realistic helps you keep them

If history is any indicator, many people are giving up on their resolutions even though 2024 is only one week old. Studies show 23% of adults in the …

The American Health Professionals Association has recommended a series of strategic measures to aid the public health community in improving civic participation, including adding voting and civic participation to the Healthy People framework, educating public health professionals and partners about the importance of inclusive voting policies, and advocating for policies to make voting easier. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Voting critical to improving U.S. health care

A new report concluded voting benefits your health as much as democracy. The American College of Physicians study showed poor election practices …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds loneliness costs the U.S. economy around $406 billion a year, along with an estimated $6.7 billion a year in Medicare costs for socially isolated older adults. (Adobe Stock)

Loneliness, isolation on the rise around the holidays

As festive as the holidays can be, isolation and loneliness peak at this time of year. A 2022 survey finds 55% of Americans experience increased …

A report by DataHaven showed health inequities have led to around 14,000 deaths in Connecticut, predominantly among the state's Black population. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Discrimination rampant in CT, US health care

Despite efforts to the contrary, people across Connecticut and the U.S. experienced discrimination in health care. A DataHaven report found between 1…

About 60% of adults with medical debt said they have cut back on necessities such as food or clothing, while more than half of adults from households with incomes below $40,000 reported they have used up their savings to pay for their medical debt. (Adobe Stock)

CT residents struggle with medical debt despite available financial aid

Health care advocates said too often medical patients in Connecticut who are eligible for financial aid to help cover the cost of their care are not i…

Only 4% of adults feel the government is functioning properly, a Pew Research Center poll found. Discontent for both political parties is only growing, and most people equate negative sentiments with modern political debates. (Adobe Stock)

Tips for navigating difficult conversations this holiday season

As political divisiveness grows, holiday gatherings at home and work can lead to increased arguments and severe relationship damage. National …

The University of Connecticut is offering a program to prepare students to become licensed professional counselors. It combines a 600-hour internship where students combine clinical work with what they learn in class, as part of a move to develop a better pipeline into the behavioral health system. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT needs to bolster child behavioral health system

A report has found Connecticut could do more to strengthen its youth behavioral health system. Connecticut and the U.S. are facing an increasing …

Despite every county being a full access county, 1.8% of Connecticut women do not have a birthing hospital within 30 minutes of where they live, much lower than the national average of 9.7%. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT women, children’s health care lagging

Despite Connecticut doing a lot to bolster child health, a new report found plenty more needs to be done. The state ranked 8th in the latest …

As part of a new strategic plan, the Connecticut Health Foundation is looking to address maternal health equity for women of color. A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report points to maternal health disparities for women of color across the United States. (Adobe Stock)

A new plan for advancing health equity in Connecticut

A Connecticut group has developed a new plan to bolster health equity in the state. The Connecticut Health Foundation's strategic plan tackles …

A Center for Disease Control and Prevention Report finds 45% of women didn't ask questions or share concerns during their maternity care. Reasons included being told by family or friends what they felt was normal, feeling embarrassed, not confident to talk about it, or thinking their doctor would consider them difficult. (Adobe Stock)

CT Takes Action to Improve Maternal Health

Connecticut is taking steps to bolster maternal health. The March of Dimes organization finds maternal health in the state improved through some …

The United Way of Connecticut found 89% of 988 callers in crisis reported their feelings of crisis declined during a call. In the state, fewer than 1% of callers required active rescue from emergency responders, while the national average is 2%. (Adobe Stock)

A Year of 988: CT Mental Health Advocates Cite Benefits

A little more than a year ago, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline adopted the shorter number 988. Since then, mental-health advocates in …

A medida que empeora el cambio clim�tico, la National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration encuentra que cada a�o desde 2013 hasta 2021 fue el a�o m�s c�lido registrado. 2021 fue el 45� a�o consecutivo con temperaturas globales por encima del promedio del siglo XX. (Adobe Stock)

CT proporciona seguridad a personas mayores contra las altas temperaturas

A medida que el verano llega a su temperatura máxima, Connecticut está trabajando para mantener a las personas mayores a salvo del calor …

As climate change worsens, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported every year from 2013 through 2021 was the warmest year on record. 2021 was the 45th year in a row with global temperatures above the 20th-century average. (Adobe Stock)

CT Provides Heat Safety for Seniors

As summer reaches its peak, Connecticut is working to keep seniors safe from intensifying heat. Although summer can be fun, the rising temperatures …

A report from the Rand Corporation finds raising the age limit for immigrants on HUSKY, the state's Medicaid program to 26 would have only cost the state 1% ($15 million) of its Medicaid budget. (Adobe Stock)

CT Group Submits Resolution for Immigrant Health Equity

A Connecticut group submitted a resolution to Hartford's City Council seeking to create more health equity at the city's hospitals and clinics…

Since continuous Medicaid renewals were terminated, more than 1.6 million people have been disenrolled from Medicaid so far, according to data from 28 states and the District of Columbia. (Adobe Stock)

CT Works on Post-Pandemic Medicaid Redeterminations

Like other states, Connecticut is in the middle of a yearlong process of re-determining people's eligibility for Medicaid. When the Covid-19 public …

A 2023 Gallup poll found adults younger than 30 and those earning less than $24,000 per year suffer higher levels of daily loneliness. (Adobe Stock)

CT Group Aims to Address Growing Trend of Loneliness

A Connecticut group is working to reduce the growing trend of loneliness. The Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness, a part of For All Ages…

In Connecticut, 128,000 family caregivers provide 201 million hours of unpaid care to people affected by Alzheimer's disease, estimated to be worth $4.2 billion. (Adobe Stock)

CT Group Aims to Expand Access to Alzheimer’s Treatment

During Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, experts are seeking better access to Alzheimer's treatment drugs. In Connecticut, 80,000 people age 65 …

Although Connecticut's rankings in most health-related areas declined in the latest Kids Count Data Book, the state saw minor improvement in the number of children with health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT Children Need Health, Education Investments

Investments in education and health are needed to bolster Connecticut's children, a new annual report found. In the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids …

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