Maternity Care in Rural Areas Is in Crisis. Can More Doulas Help?
By Jess Mador, WABE
Rural communities are losing access to maternity care, raising the risk of pregnancy complications, especially for Black women, who face higher rates of maternal mortality. Now, a Georgia medical school is trying to help by training doulas, practitioners who offer patients extra support before, during, and after childbirth.
Daily Edition for Friday, July 26, 2024
Governor Issues Executive Order For Removal Of Homeless Encampments: Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered state officials to dismantle thousands of homeless encampments. The move comes on the heels of a recent Supreme Court decision that gave local and state governments more latitude to remove people from their streets. Read more from the Palm Springs Desert Sun, Los Angeles Times, and The Sacramento Bee.
The CDC’s Test for Bird Flu Works, but It Has Issues
By Arthur Allen and Amy Maxmen
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention promises better tests are being developed, but the episode points to vulnerabilities in the country’s defense against emerging outbreaks.
Union With Labor Dispute of Its Own Threatened To Cut Off Workers’ Health Benefits
By Phil Galewitz
The National Education Association, the nation’s largest union, told striking workers that their health coverage would be cut off Aug. 1 absent a deal on a new contract. Tensions have mounted after staff disrupted the union’s convention, at which President Joe Biden had been scheduled to speak.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Harris in the Spotlight
For the 2024 campaign, Joe Biden is out, and Kamala Harris is in. As the vice president makes moves toward the top of the Democratic presidential ticket, health policy is resurging as a campaign issue. Meanwhile, Congress tries — and again fails — to make timely progress on the annual government spending bills as abortion issues cause delays. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Stephanie Armour of KFF Health News, and Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Anthony Wright, the new executive director of Families USA, about his plans for the organization and his history working with Harris on health topics.
Daily Edition for Thursday, July 25, 2024
Covered California Premiums Are Going Up: Premiums for health insurance sold through the state’s marketplace will increase by nearly 8% in 2025, Covered California officials announced Wednesday. That’s a smaller increase than this year’s 10% hike, which was the biggest jump in Covered California insurance costs since 2018. Read more from CalMatters.
Montana Looks To Become Latest State To Boost Nonprofit Hospital Oversight
By Katheryn Houghton
Montana’s proposal to increase oversight is part of a national trend by states to ensure nonprofit hospitals act as charitable organizations as they claim tax-exempt status. But the state has yet to set standards for how much the hospitals must do.
California Speeds Up Indoor Heat Protections Amid Sweltering Summer Weather
By Samantha Young
Indoor workers who toil in hot jobsites in California gain immediate protection from this summer’s extreme heat. The state’s worker safety chief announced finalized rules Wednesday, capping a years-long push by workers.
En medio de un verano abrasador, California acelera protecciones contra el calor extremo en interiores
By Samantha Young
California ha tenido estándares para proteger a los trabajadores al aire libre del calor desde 2005, pero el estado anunció el miércoles 24 de julio que ya había acelerado la revisión de un conjunto de reglas para los trabajadores en interiores.
