Being ‘Socially Frail’ Comes With Health Risks for Older Adults
By Judith Graham
Researchers are identifying new ways to assess older adults’ social circumstances and identify risks that can compromise their health. “It’s a more complete picture of older adults’ circumstances than any one factor alone,” one expert said.
Daily Edition for Wednesday, March 22, 2023
A single-payer bill, youth hunger, hospital workers, overdoses, housing, HIV, covid origins, vaccines, and more are in the news.
End of Covid Emergency Will Usher in Changes Across the US Health System
By Rachana Pradhan
The May 11 expiration of the federal government’s pandemic emergency declaration will affect patient care across a broad range of settings, including telemedicine, hospitals, and nursing homes.
Daily Edition for Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Housing issues, a pharmacy court case, CalOptima, student hunger, the mental health crisis, a deadly fungus, and more are in the news.
Some Roadblocks to Lifesaving Addiction Treatment Are Gone. Now What?
By Martha Bebinger, WBUR
The federal government has lifted restrictions on one of the most effective opioid addiction treatment medications. The change sets up a “truth serum moment”: Will mainstream doctors and nurses now treat addiction as a common disease?
Mental Health Care by Video Fills Gaps in Rural Nursing Homes
By Tony Leys
In-person mental health care is hard to arrange in rural nursing homes, so video chats with faraway professionals are filling the gap.
Prescription for Housing? California Wants Medicaid to Cover 6 Months of Rent
By Angela Hart
Gov. Gavin Newsom is making a bold push for Medicaid health plans to provide more housing support. He argues it’s cheaper to pay for rent than to allow homeless people to fall into crisis, which requires costly care in hospitals, nursing homes, and jails.
Daily Edition for Monday, March 20, 2023
California’s plan for making insulin and naloxone, mental health, homelessness, veteran health, fentanyl, covid, and more are in the news.
Judge Signals He Could Rule to Halt Sales of Common Abortion Pill
By Sarah Varney
A U.S. District Court case is being widely followed because the judge’s decision could overturn the FDA’s approval of mifepristone two decades ago. With abortion rights polling well even in red states, anti-abortion activists are increasingly turning to the courts to achieve their aims.
Mobile Clinics Got Rolling in the Pandemic. A New Law Will Help Them Cast a Wider Safety Net.
By Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez
Mobile clinics that provided covid-19 testing and vaccines at the peak of the pandemic are now being used to provide a range of health services in hard-to-reach communities. A law passed late last year allows qualified health care centers to use federal grants to expand the fleets.
