Health Issues / Public News Service

Residents of rural communities rely on Medicaid more than do their urban counterparts because of lower incomes, fewer private insurance options and higher unemployment rates. (ISKPRODUCTION/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

GOP budget cuts to Medicaid could fray NM's safety net

Medicaid is a lifeline for many of New Mexico's families, making it one of six states that could be severely affected by cuts Congressional …

Advocates from Compassion & Choices attended a hearing for Senate Bill 403 before the State Senate Committee on Health on April 23. (Patricia Portillo/Compassion & Choices)

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Legislative hearing today on bill to extend End of Life Option Act

A bill to make medical aid in dying permanently legal in California goes before the state Senate Judiciary Committee today. The End of Life Option …

According to a study by Harvard University, nearly 25 million Americans live in areas without enough dentists. Dental experts warned taking fluoride out of water in areas with few dentists could lead to more tooth decay. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Some AR communities without fluoridated water also experience dentist shortage

By Brett Kelman for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service Co…

Ohio Department of Children & Youth reports more than 15,000 children are in foster care in Ohio - and nearly a quarter have complex needs that make finding the right placement especially challenging. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Hope and healing in Ohio's foster system

As Ohio approaches National Foster Care Month in May, one family's journey highlights how therapeutic foster care can change lives. A 12-year-old …

Montana lawmakers discussed a bill which would have legalized cigar smoking in designated rooms in bars, despite a 2006 declaration by the U.S. Surgeon General there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. (Marco Mayer/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Indoor cigar smoking bill, unpopular with voters, fails in Montana House

A bill to legalize cigar smoking in designated Montana barrooms has failed a third reading in the state House. Similar legislation is introduced most …

Lawmakers are considering several bills that would impact small farmers, including bills that would require country-of-origin labels and allow the sale of raw milk at farmers markets. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 28, 2025

TX lawmakers consider bills to help small farmers, home food businesses

Members of a Texas House committee this week will consider a bill that would limit the number of permits farmers must have to participate at farmers m…

Reduced federal funding for Medicaid would lead to widespread coverage losses and tens of thousands of avoidable deaths each year, according to the Center for American Progress. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 28, 2025

West Virginia Senators push Medicaid cuts

Many residents of West Virginia are at risk of losing health care under a federal proposal to cut Medicaid funding by $880 billion. Sen. Jim Justice…

The United States has announced investments of more than $150 billion in electric vehicle manufacturing and charging infrastructure since 2021, contributing to a 40% increase in EV sales in 2022, according to the Department of Energy. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 28, 2025

Ohio's EV progress at risk as Congress considers emissions rollback

Congress is preparing to vote Wednesday on whether to roll back Ohio's authority to set tougher vehicle emissions standards. New research from …

Sharla Fisher (center, above) says her cardiac challenges, which led to her having a pacemaker implanted, opened her eyes to women and heart disease. (Sharla Fisher)

Monday, April 28, 2025

AZ mom shares heart journey to encourage others to prioritize their health

Mother's Day is fast approaching and an Arizona mom wants women of all ages to make sure they are prioritizing their heart health. Nearly 45% of …

Medi-Cal pays for a range of health services in schools, including aides and equipment for disabled students. (Ermolaev Alexandr/Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 28, 2025

Advocates warn proposed cuts to Medi-Cal will cripple school budgets

Medicaid is in the crosshairs, as Republicans in Congress are expected to lay out proposals in May to cut $1.5 trillion from the federal budget…

American Heart Association Alaska executive director Kristin George delivers one of hundreds of CPR and first aid kits to a remote village in rural Alaska. (AHA-Alaska)

Heart Association spreads CPR, AED lifesaving skills across rural Alaska

The Alaska branch of the American Heart Association is helping save lives by teaching the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external …

About 9% of Virginians receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (Adobe Stock)

VA students, local economies would suffer from possible SNAP cuts

As lawmakers on Capitol Hill discuss trillions in spending cuts, opponents warned students on SNAP and free school meal programs would suffer…

The Pesticide Action Network said after acquiring Monsanto in 2018, the company Bayer has faced nearly 100,000 lawsuits and was eventually ordered to pay up to $10.9 billion to settle claims alleging its product Roundup, widely used in farm fields, caused cancer. (Adobe Stock)

New ND law raises bar for pesticide liability lawsuits

North Dakota lawmakers have opted to side with farm chemical manufacturers facing legal challenges about the safety of their products. The state has …

Ohio's tomato growers harvest more than 300,000 tons annually. It is a crop heavily dependent on preserved genetic traits for disease resistance and shelf life. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio crops at risk as federal cuts disrupt seed preservation

A little-known federal program has quietly safeguarded the crops feeding the nation, including key Ohio staples like soybeans, tomatoes, corn and …

A report from the mental health advocacy organization Inseparable found Delaware has met 61.3% of its goal of hiring school psychologists but has fallen far short on hiring school-based social workers. (Adobe Stock)

Report: DE makes strides bolstering school mental health

A new report showed Delaware is making strides in building its school mental health services. The report found the state has expanded its ratio of …

Every dollar invested in SNAP generates between $1.50 to $1.80 in local economic activity. There are currently 3,100 authorized SNAP retailers in Colorado. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Coloradans' hand-written letters on SNAP cuts heading to nation's capital

Two leading Colorado nonprofits working to end hunger are collecting hand-written letters from a wide range of people who would be directly impacted i…

A nationwide poll reveals that mental health is a priority for Americans, regardless of political party, with 90% of voters saying expanding mental-health care should be a priority for elected officials. (JenkoAtaman/Adobe Stock)

Report card: PA making steady improvements in student mental health

Pennsylvania is making progress in supporting youth mental health, according to a new report from Inseparable. The state now has about half the …

One poll finds a vast majority of Americans, regardless of political affiliation, support increased mental health services in schools. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD makes improvements in school mental health services

A new report finds that Maryland has made progress in providing school mental health services to its students but work still remains. The report by …

About 500,000 children in the U.S. are exposed to lead, disproportionately on poor and Black and brown families. (Adobe Stock)

Experts say lead in Milwaukee schools is an environmental justice issue

As the city of Milwaukee continues to grapple with addressing unsafe levels of lead across public schools, experts are calling it an environmental …

According to a 2024 report from Mental Health America, Wyoming ranked 51st in the nation for adult mental health and 28th for youth. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming K-12 mental-health coordination program nears expiration

Wyoming consistently ranks in the bottom 10 of all states on mental health indicators. COVID-era funding has helped provide resources but it is …

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring compound found in more than 200 species of mushrooms that has psychedelic effects, according to research by Oregon State University. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa considers broadening psilocybin use

The Iowa Legislature is weighing a measure to expand the use of psychedelic mushrooms to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental and emo…

Among Nebraska's 93 counties, 88 are designated mental health care provider shortage areas, according to the Nebraska Association of Behavioral Health Organizations. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska mental health advocates push back on funding cuts

Nebraska lawmakers are considering a bill to ensure managed health care companies cannot limit the state reimbursement rate for mental health service …

Colorado's I Matter program can connect students with a therapist for up to six free counseling sessions, which are completely confidential. (Adobe Stock)

Report card: Colorado making improvements in student mental health

Colorado has made significant improvements in connecting young people with the mental health care they need, according to the mental health advocacy …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of all serious mental health conditions begin by the age of 14 and 75% by age 24. (Adobe Stock)

Alaska lawmakers work to improve in-school mental health care

A new report card on in-school mental health services found some states, including Alaska, are making significant progress toward meeting policy …

Illinois was one of the first states to implement annual mental health screenings in schools. (Adobe Stock)

IL school mental health investments leave gaps in provider ratios

Despite making major policy strides to strengthen school-based mental health services for Illinois students, a national report card showed the state …

Utah is meeting the nationally recommended standard for minimum number of school mental health staff, according to the mental health policy advocacy organization Inseparable. (Adobe Stock)

Report: UT fares well in offering school mental health resources

Utah has made investments in mental health resources for school-age children a priority and they appear to be working to help more kids in crisis…

In Cleveland, more than 90% of homes were built before 1978, the year lead-based paint was banned for residential use. (Adobe Stock)

Cleveland Health Dept says cleaner air starts at home

As Cleveland tightens its air quality standards for the first time since 1977, health officials are urging residents to take simple steps at home to …

Seasonal allergies are getting worse in part because increased CO2 in the air triggers plants to produce more pollen. (gamelover/Adobe Stock)

WA's advanced pollen tracking tool can help allergy sufferers

Washington's pollen season is starting earlier and lasting longer, thanks to climate change, with research showing airborne pollen levels across the …

Facilities are required to inform patients or residents that they may designate an advocate. (Adobe Stock)

'Never Alone Act' seeks to ensure patients have in-person advocates

By Lauren Cohen / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. When Derek Calkins …

Florida is one of 16 states not requiring annual mental health screenings in schools, according to the advocacy group Inseparable. (Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio)

Report: FL schools face mental-health staffing shortfalls

Florida schools still face critical mental health staffing shortages with less than 25% of needed psychologists in place, despite expanding …

In the state and local government sector in Kentucky, 6,400 injury and illness cases were reported in 2023, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Adobe Stock)

Unions: NIOSH cuts will harm Kentucky workers

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to cut a cut a majority of jobs at the federal agency responsible for worker …

Seasonal allergies are expensive when they result in missed work and school days along with high medical costs. (WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Coping with OR's climate change-fueled pollen season

Oregon's pollen season is starting earlier and lasting longer, thanks to climate change, with research showing airborne pollen levels increasing more …

The Environmental Protection Agency said exemptions to clean air regulations will

Pollution exemptions granted to AR coal plants

Two coal plants in Arkansas have received an exemption from the Trump administration and will have two additional years to comply with updated clean a…

Family caregivers face higher risks of heart attack, stroke and mental health issues, but research shows having just four hours of respite each month can significantly improve their health and well-being. (zinkevych/Adobe Stock)

Proposed Medicaid cuts threaten lifeline for TN caregivers

A Tennessee nonprofit is warning that potential Medicaid cuts could threaten crucial support for the state's nearly 1 million family caregivers…

Mushrooms and other psychotropic plants have been used in healing, spiritual and ceremonial contexts by cultures around the world for thousands of years. (Adobe Stock)

Psychedelic mushroom therapy has arrived in Colorado

By Kate Ruder for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service…

The National Library of Medicine reports that many schools are incorporating mental health awareness into their curricula to reduce stigma and help students recognize and manage emotions. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

School mental health report card highlights Michigan’s strengths and gaps

A national report card finds that even with a $150 million budget threat last year, Michigan still made solid progress in staffing up its school …

Drug overdose is the leading cause of death among adults aged 18-44 in Missouri. (JAVA/ADOBE STOCK)

'Drug Take Back Day' helps clear out unwanted meds in Missouri, nation

Law enforcement officers and drug prevention advocates in Missouri are joining forces to tackle prescription drug misuse. As part of the Drug …

Iowa's individual income tax rate ranges from 4.40% to 5.70%, according to the Tax Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa rights activists plan to fight social service cuts

Groups working for human rights causes in Iowa warn proposed cuts being debated in Congress would trickle down to the people least able to sustain the…

The U.S. has one of the highest maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the developed world, with more than 50,000 women experience life-threatening complications due to labor and delivery each year. (Adobe Stock)

Maternal death outcomes drop, except for Black women

Today marks the last day of Black Maternal Health Week, a nationally and internationally recognized observance that serves to build community …

The 2025 Allergy Capitals report ranks Toledo, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati as some of the worst cities for allergy sufferers. (Adobe Stock)

Ohioans brace for the allergy season, seek relief

April showers bring May flowers. These signs of spring also mean a boost in pollen production from trees, grass, and weeds. Ohioans preparing for the …

Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants are authorized to work in 22 states, but not in Tennessee.<br />(Svitlana/Adobe Stock)

Could new legislation solve rural TN anesthesiologist shortage?

A bill in the Tennessee General Assembly is reigniting debate over how rural hospitals can staff anesthesia providers. House Bill 979 would address …

Bumblebee colonies have annual life cycles, according to the ZYWang Lab at the University of Washington, where researchers study natural social behavior changes in aging bees. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Impact of solitary confinement goes beyond psychological trauma

Imagine being locked in a cell for 23 hours a day, under constant artificial light, with no human contact for months or even years. This is the …

As of October 2024, approximately 37 million children in the United States were enrolled in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This represents about 49% of all U.S. children.<br />(Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Michigan policy expert unpacks impact of proposed Medicaid cuts

According to state data, as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, face cuts, Michigan's most vulnerable stand to lose …

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Mining Research Division in Pittsburgh collaborates with the institute's broader mining program to prevent fatalities, injuries and illnesses in every area of the mining industry. (Lost_in_the_Midwest/Adobe Stock)

NIOSH job cuts threaten PA black lung research, safety labs

A union representing Pittsburgh-based workers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is fighting job cuts proposed by the Trump …

Tree pollen is among the biggest triggers for Iowans who suffer from seasonal allergies. (Adobe Stock)

Health experts take on Iowans' seasonal allergies

The pollen count in Iowa is approaching high levels over the next few weeks. Unusually warm spring weather means allergy triggers like pollen and …

California ranks 42nd in the country for utilization of hospice services. (David Pereiras/Adobe Stock)

On 'National Healthcare Decisions Day,' patients should explore options

Wednesday is National Healthcare Decisions Day, a time to educate health care providers and consumers about advanced care planning. People are …

So far, climate change has extended allergy season in Colorado by two additional weeks over historical averages. (Adobe Stock)

Experts offer tips to cope with longer allergy seasons in Colorado

With warming temperatures, allergy season is underway in Colorado and experts are offering tips on how to cope with congestion, inflammation and …

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MAHA movement aims to reverse American farming policy

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabo…

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Health

GOP budget cuts to Medicaid could fray NM's safety net

Legislative hearing today on bill to extend End of Life Option Act

Some AR communities without fluoridated water also experience dentist shortage

Hope and healing in Ohio's foster system

Indoor cigar smoking bill, unpopular with voters, fails in Montana House

TX lawmakers consider bills to help small farmers, home food businesses

West Virginia Senators push Medicaid cuts

Ohio's EV progress at risk as Congress considers emissions rollback

AZ mom shares heart journey to encourage others to prioritize their health

Advocates warn proposed cuts to Medi-Cal will cripple school budgets

Heart Association spreads CPR, AED lifesaving skills across rural Alaska

VA students, local economies would suffer from possible SNAP cuts

New ND law raises bar for pesticide liability lawsuits

Ohio crops at risk as federal cuts disrupt seed preservation

Report: DE makes strides bolstering school mental health

Coloradans' hand-written letters on SNAP cuts heading to nation's capital

Report card: PA making steady improvements in student mental health

Report: MD makes improvements in school mental health services

Experts say lead in Milwaukee schools is an environmental justice issue

Wyoming K-12 mental-health coordination program nears expiration

Iowa considers broadening psilocybin use

Nebraska mental health advocates push back on funding cuts

Report card: Colorado making improvements in student mental health

Alaska lawmakers work to improve in-school mental health care

IL school mental health investments leave gaps in provider ratios

Report: UT fares well in offering school mental health resources

Cleveland Health Dept says cleaner air starts at home

WA's advanced pollen tracking tool can help allergy sufferers

'Never Alone Act' seeks to ensure patients have in-person advocates

Report: FL schools face mental-health staffing shortfalls

Unions: NIOSH cuts will harm Kentucky workers

Coping with OR's climate change-fueled pollen season

Pollution exemptions granted to AR coal plants

Proposed Medicaid cuts threaten lifeline for TN caregivers

Psychedelic mushroom therapy has arrived in Colorado

School mental health report card highlights Michigan’s strengths and gaps

'Drug Take Back Day' helps clear out unwanted meds in Missouri, nation

Iowa rights activists plan to fight social service cuts

Maternal death outcomes drop, except for Black women

Ohioans brace for the allergy season, seek relief

Could new legislation solve rural TN anesthesiologist shortage?

Impact of solitary confinement goes beyond psychological trauma

Michigan policy expert unpacks impact of proposed Medicaid cuts

NIOSH job cuts threaten PA black lung research, safety labs

Health experts take on Iowans' seasonal allergies

On 'National Healthcare Decisions Day,' patients should explore options

Experts offer tips to cope with longer allergy seasons in Colorado

MAHA movement aims to reverse American farming policy