Latest News On Women’s Health

Latest Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Stories

As US Birth Rate Falls, Feds’ Response May Make Pregnancy More Dangerous

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

A funding notice for Title X shifts the program’s emphasis from contraception to fertility, family formation, and addressing conditions that could cause infertility, including endometriosis. Experts say these priorities overlook key demographic trends, epidemiology, prevention of unwanted pregnancies, and the nation’s high maternal mortality.

What the Health? From Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News: Abortion Pills, the Budget, and RFK Jr.

Podcast

This week, the Trump administration won a court battle to delay a ruling on access to the abortion pill mifepristone, angering its own anti-abortion allies. Meanwhile, the president’s budget arrived on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers are unlikely to agree to its proposed cuts to Health and Human Services programs. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Maya Goldman of Axios join Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.

Urgent Care Clinics Move To Fill Abortion Care Gaps in Rural Areas

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

When the only clinic that offered abortions in Michigan’s rural Upper Peninsula closed, an urgent care facility stepped in to fill the gap. Now, others are considering similar moves as brick-and-mortar clinics close in blue states.

This Northern Cheyenne Doula Was About To Start Getting Paid — Then Medicaid Cuts Hit

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

Montana was on track to start reimbursing doulas, who support new and expectant parents, through Medicaid this year. But state officials halted that plan amid a budget shortfall. Other such services deemed optional under Medicaid are at risk nationwide as states brace for federal cuts.

These Women Had Their Breasts Removed To Thwart Cancer. Then Came the Pain.

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

Post-mastectomy pain syndrome, or PMPS, is estimated to afflict tens of thousands of U.S. women each year. And yet it is not well understood and is inconsistently treated.

What the Health? From Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News: A Headless CDC

Podcast

The Trump administration faces the challenge of naming a new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who can both satisfy the Make America Healthy Again movement and get confirmed by the Senate. Meanwhile, a new Senate bill to rescind the approval of the abortion pill mifepristone is again elevating the abortion debate, which some Republicans would prefer to stay on the back burner until after the midterms. Shefali Luthra of The 19th, Lizzy Lawrence of Stat, and Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Bloomberg News join Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss the news. Also this week, Rovner interviews Georgetown University Law Center’s Katie Keith about the state of the Affordable Care Act on its 16th anniversary.

What the Health? From Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News: RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Schedule Changes Blocked — For Now

Podcast

A federal judge in Massachusetts this week sided with public health groups to block changes to the federally recommended schedule of childhood vaccines, dealing at least a temporary setback to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s efforts to remake the schedule. Meanwhile, Congress has put its debate over the future of the Affordable Care Act on the back burner, but the issue of rising health care costs is still front and center for the voting public. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF President and CEO Drew Altman to kick off a new series looking at health care solutions, called “How Would You Fix It?â€

Lawmakers Seek To Protect Crisis Pregnancy Centers as Abortion Clinic Numbers Shrink

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

Some states have tried to crack down on crisis pregnancy centers, accusing them of deceptive practices. But now conservative lawmakers are pushing legislation to increase protections for the organizations, which work to dissuade women from abortions.

Birth Control Skepticism, Teen Fertility Take Center Stage at Trump’s Women’s Health Summit

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

Amid falling birth rates and presidential approval numbers, the Department of Health and Human Services convened doctors, tech executives, and influencers to discuss women’s health. Panelists criticized reliance on birth control pills to treat health problems and encouraged doctors to talk with girls about whether they want to have babies.

What the Health? From Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News: RFK Jr.’s Very Bad Week

Podcast

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had another tough week. In addition to Kennedy having rotator cuff surgery, the nomination of his ally to become surgeon general is teetering, the controversial head of the FDA’s vaccine center is resigning next month, and a new survey shows Americans trust government health officials less than they do former Biden official Anthony Fauci. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Shefali Luthra of The 19th join Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.

Cosmetic Surgery Investigation Prompts Warnings for Patients, and a Push for Tighter Safety Standards

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

A national plastic surgeons group is warning people to “do their homework†before having liposuctions, Brazilian butt lifts, or other cosmetic procedures after an investigation into cosmetic surgery chains by Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News and NBC News.

What the Health? From Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News: 40 Years of Health Policy

Podcast

This month is 40 years since host Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News, began reporting on health policy in Washington. To mark the anniversary, Rovner is joined by two longtime sources to discuss what has — and has not — changed since 1986.

What the Health? From Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News: What About the State of Health?

Podcast

Health care got barely a mention in President Trump’s State of the Union address. Ahead of the midterms, the Trump administration has presented few concrete plans to address what Americans say is the biggest problem with health care: its skyrocketing costs. Meanwhile, Trump’s pick for surgeon general, Casey Means, got her long-delayed nomination hearing in the Senate, where she faced skeptical questions from Democrats and Republicans alike. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sheryl Gay Stolberg of The New York Times, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more.

New Orleans Brings Back the House Call, Sending Nurses To Visit Newborns and Moms

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

Louisiana is one of the worst-performing states when it comes to health outcomes of mothers and infants. New Orleans is trying to catch health issues early and get families off to an easier start by adding health visits during the crucial first months of life.

If You’re Pregnant and Uninsured, Medicaid Might Be Your Answer

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

Prenatal care can make a huge difference to the long-term health of both the parent and baby. Every state offers health coverage to lower-income pregnant women who might otherwise go uninsured.

NIH Grant Disruptions Slow Down Breast Cancer Research

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

The Trump administration has made the future of federal funding for cancer research uncertain. At one groundbreaking breast cancer research lab, work that could save lives has slowed significantly.

Why Medication Abortion Is the Top Target for Anti-Abortion Groups in 2026

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

With abortions still on the rise nationwide despite widespread bans, curtailing the use of pregnancy-terminating medication is a top priority for abortion opponents — and they’re frustrated that the Trump administration isn’t doing more to limit its use.