CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A new report says expanding Medicaid is really paying off for rural West Virginians.

Rural areas typically have real disadvantages – higher unemployment and poverty, fewer doctors and in some cases, financially strapped hospitals.

But Kelli Caseman, director of Child Health with West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, says the report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families shows good news.

It found expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act has cut the rate of low-income, rural West Virginia adults without health coverage by 60 percent.

"We've virtually eliminated the gap in rural health insurance rates with the metro, because normally folks living in metro areas are more apt to be insured,” Caseman points out. “So, this is something that we're doing well in West Virginia. This is something that isn't broken, so let's keep it as it is."

Caseman says this has also helped cut the rate of West Virginia children without access to health care to 1.8 percent – among the lowest in the country.

By portion of the population living outside cities, West Virginia is one of the most rural states in the nation.

The state expanded Medicaid to cover folks up to one-and-one-third times the federal poverty line – an income of about $28,000 a year for a family of three.

It also reached out to households in that category to connect them to primary care providers.

Study co-author Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, says that's a big deal.

"Having health insurance, having this Medicaid coverage, is really important in these rural areas, which are already struggling with higher rates of unemployment and poverty,” she stats. “If you layer on top of that a higher uninsured rate, it really puts these folks in rural areas and small towns at a disadvantage."

Nationally, the study found that small towns and rural areas in expansion states saw three times the decline in low-income adults without coverage than in states that did not expand Medicaid. And some states that didn't opt to expand saw their uninsured rate increase.


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A new study from Michigan State University researchers revealed lasting PFAS effects in a Michigan community's drinking water near an old paper mill landfill.

PFAS are "forever chemicals" which enter the body and do not break down easily, often found in products like nonstick pans and waterproof gear.

The study focused on a southwest Michigan city where PFAS contamination in drinking water was first identified in 2018. It is the first study to examine PFAS in both tap water and blood in a community exposed to the chemicals.

Courtney Carignan, assistant professor of food science and human nutrition at Michigan State University and the study's lead author, shared key findings from the study.

"The levels that we see in blood, being elevated and for some people were above what the national academies have recommended in terms of where you would start to need additional medical screening for certain PFAS related health effects," Carignan explained. "It's good that this community got that intervention."

The study found PFAS compounds lingered in the body, even three years after switching to clean water. The findings give a starting point for understanding PFAS risks and how well intervention strategies work.

Study participants who drank contaminated water were divided into two groups: those with high exposure from city water and those with lower exposure from private wells. Blood PFAS levels rose with each year of exposure for both groups. Women in the low-exposure group had lower levels than men, likely due to biological factors. Carignan noted a separate study identified key sources of PFAS contamination.

"We found that closer proximity to airports, military fire training cites, wastewater treatment plants, were more likely to have PFAS contamination in those public water systems," Carignan pointed out.

Research shows PFAS compounds are found in the blood of most Americans. Those with the highest levels were people exposed at work or via contaminated drinking water.


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At least two people have tested positive for measles in Illinois and public health officials are working to combat misinformation surrounding vaccines in an effort to curb the spread.

Health officials said the measles virus is highly infectious and especially concerning for babies and young children, as well as people who are pregnant or have compromised immune systems. It can cause pneumonia, brain damage and even be fatal in some cases.

Dr. Kiran Joshi, interim chief operating officer at the Cook County Department of Public Health, said it is also preventable through vaccination, with two doses of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine providing nearly 100% lifelong protection.

"Ninety-seven percent of people who got measles this year happened to be unvaccinated," Joshi pointed out. "Vaccination is incredibly protective."

Joshi added over the past 50 years, the measles vaccine has saved more than 150 million lives across the world. He noted the department has launched a campaign to counter some of the misinformation that is circulating.

Public health officials are focusing campaign efforts on unvaccinated people. Joshi explained it includes having multiple conversations with hesitant patients and providing evidence-backed information. He stressed misinformation about preventive measures like taking vitamin A is concerning and not scientifically proven.

"There are a lot of myths out there, such as 'vaccines can cause autism,'" Joshi pointed out. "I want to state categorically that is incorrect, that there's no credible evidence to support that, yet these myths continue to perpetuate."

Joshi added the myths have potentially contributed to more than 900 measles cases reported across the country.

"When you look at the research, when you look at the evidence, all of that has been subjected to pretty rigorous standards," Joshi outlined. "We also go to the nature of science, that you have to be able to repeat studies. You have to look at the research as a whole, instead of sort of cherry-picking."

He advised anyone with questions to speak with their primary care provider about their vaccine records and ensure they are getting any health information from reputable sources.

May is American Stroke Month and the American Heart Association wants Missourians to know the signs and take action.

Stroke is the sixth leading cause of death in the state, and across the U.S., nearly 800,000 people suffer from one each year. In 2021, heart disease and stroke took more lives in the U.S. than all types of cancer and chronic lung diseases combined.

Lana Wilhelm, a registered nurse and caregiver advocate, was named the 2025 Caregiver Hero by the American Stroke Association after helping her husband recover from a stroke. She shared tips on how people can manage their risk.

"If you're diabetic, making sure that you are well-managed and you're following your physician's orders," Wilhelm outlined. "High blood pressure: Are you taking your medicine? Are you watching your diet? Are you making sure that you're checking your blood pressure on a regular basis? Exercise, good nutrition."

The Heart Association said to remember the "FAST" acronym when looking for warning signs: face drooping, arm weakness, speech trouble, and "time to call 911." According to the American Stroke Association, about one in four people who survive a stroke end up having another one.

Wilhelm stressed entire families are affected when a loved one suffers a stroke. She urged caregivers of stroke survivors to seek out support groups and other resources to help them navigate those challenges.

"Sometimes as a caregiver, you just want to throw in the towel," Wilhelm acknowledged. "You're exhausted, you're tired, you're worried, and it's just nice to be able to talk to other men and women that get it, and can kind of help you through that whole process."

Data from the American Stroke Association show more than 53 million Americans serve as caregivers, including those caring for stroke survivors.