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Doctors, patients, and hospitals have railed for years about the prior authorization processes that health insurers use to decide whether theyāll pay for patientsā drugs or medical procedures. The Biden administration announced a crackdown in January, but some state lawmakers are looking to go further.
Casinos in several states are fighting efforts to ban smoking, and trying to roll back existing anti-smoking laws. One planned facility even moved outside a cityās limits because of voter-approved smoking restrictions.
Abortion restrictions in 18 states have curtailed access to training in skills that doctors say are critical for OB-GYN specialists and others. A new California law makes it easier for out-of-state doctors to get experience in reproductive medicine.
Delaying cancer treatment can be deadly ā which makes the roadblock-riddled process that health insurers use to approve or deny care particularly daunting for oncology patients.
Being Black has always been dangerous for pregnant women and infants in the South. And researchers say things are continuing to move in the wrong direction.
The Biden administration wants to crack down on deceptive or misleading Medicare Advantage and drug plan sales tactics. Itās counting on beneficiaries to help catch offenders.
Coping with disability ā and the cost of coping with disability ā is an enormously important issue for older adults. Nora Super, an expert on aging, shares her personal story.
Some gubernatorial candidates are sparring over bragging rights for their stateās share of $50 billion in opioid settlement funds. Many of the candidates are attorneys general who pursued the lawsuits that produced the payouts.
State and local governments will receive a windfall of more than $50 billion over 18 years from settlements with companies that made, sold, or distributed opioid painkillers. Using the funds for law enforcement has triggered important questions about what the money was meant for.
A new rule sets specific treatment metrics for suspected sepsis cases in an effort to reduce deaths, but some experts say the measures could add to antibiotic overuse and need to be more flexible.
Republicans in Congress have proposed substantial cuts to the budget of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, taking aim at one of former President Donald Trumpās major health programs: a push to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S.
Where trees are growing ā and who has access to their shade ā affects health and well-being, especially in one of the hottest states in the country.
Patient advocates are tackling the āoverwhelming taskā of connecting people with health insurance as millions lose coverage due to the end of pandemic protections on Medicaid eligibility.
With millions of Americans suffering under relentless heat waves this summer, more people are seeking medical attention for heat-related illnesses. As temperatures get more extreme, hospitals, fire departments, and ambulance crews are preparing to treat more patients for heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
As settlement dollars land at the state level, state councils wield significant power in determining how the windfall gets spent. And, though they will likely include the most knowledgeable voices on addiction, these panels also face concerns about conflicts of interest and other issues.
Last month, Florida joined a growing number of states in banning sales taxes on diapers to make them more affordable for older adults and families with young children. Though diapers are essential for many, they are not covered by food stamps. Nor are incontinence products for older adults typically covered by Medicare. The cost can easily add up on a fixed income.
Physicians and attorneys say itās a question of when ā not if ā a pregnant person dies from lack of care in a state with an abortion ban, potentially setting the stage for a malpractice lawsuit that could pressure providers to reconsider delaying or denying care.
A federal program meant to reduce maternal and infant mortality in rural areas isnāt reaching Black women who are most likely to die from pregnancy-related causes.
Ńī¹óåś“«Ć½Ņīl Health News obtained documents showing the exact dollar amounts ā down to the cent ā that local governments have been allocated in 2022 and 2023 to battle the ongoing opioid crisis.
The number of DOs is surging, and more than half of them practice in primary care, including in rural areas hit hard by doctor shortages.
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