Tracking State Rural Health Transformation Plans
Ńī¹óåś“«Ć½Ņīl Health News is working to collect and post approved plans as more states respond to emails and public records requests for their documents.
Rural Health
Ńī¹óåś“«Ć½Ņīl Health News covers the health issues facing people who live in Americaās rural reaches.
261 - 280 of 801 Results
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How America Lost Control of the Bird Flu, Setting the Stage for Another Pandemic
Exclusive reporting reveals how the United States lost track of a virus that could cause the next pandemic. Problems like the sluggish pace of federal action, deference to industry, and neglect for the safety of low-wage workers put the country at risk of another health emergency.
By Amy Maxmen -
Helicopters Rescued Patients in āApocalypticā Flood. Other Hospitals Are at Risk, Too.
The helicopter evacuation of 70 people from a Tennessee hospital during Hurricane Helene is considered a success story. The building was destroyed by floodwaters, but no one died. In hindsight, why was it built next to a river?
By Lauren Sausser and Holly K. Hacker -
Native American Patients Are Sent to Collections for Debts the Government Owes
Federal law says Native Americans arenāt liable for medical bills the Indian Health Service promises to pay. Some are billed anyway as a result of backlogs or mistakes from the agency, financial middlemen, or health systems.
By Katheryn Houghton and Arielle Zionts -
More Californians Are Freezing to Death. Experts Point to More Older Homeless People.
Hypothermia deaths have risen in California and across the nation. Experts point to the growing number of older, unsheltered homeless people as a key factor in the trend.
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Toxic āForever Chemicalsā Taint Rural California Drinking Water, Far From Known Sources
Researchers found toxic āforever chemicalsā in drinking water wells dotting Californiaās rural farming regions, far from known contamination sources. The discovery complicates the stateās drinking water problem, which disproportionately affects farmworkers and communities of color.
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Former Montana Health Staffer Rebukes Oversight Rules as a Hospital ‘Wish List’
The push-pull in Montana reflects a national tension as states try to decide what counts as fair checks on tax-exempt hospitals and industry players weigh in. The debate centers on whether nonprofit hospitals do enough good to earn their charitable status.
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Federal Judge Halts Dreamersā Brand-New Access to ACA Enrollment in 19 States
A federal judge sided with 19 states seeking an injunction against a Biden administration rule allowing recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals to enroll in Affordable Care Act coverage and qualify for subsidies amid the annual open enrollment period.
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Rural Governments Often Fail To Communicate With Residents Who Arenāt Proficient in English
Access to information in languages other than English is protected by various federal, state, and local policies. But researchers tracking them say that as rural America grows more diverse, people not proficient in English face added barriers to critical public health information and services.
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Six Years Into an Appalachia Hospital Monopoly, Patients Are Fearful and Furious
Ballad Health, with the largest state-sanctioned hospital monopoly in the nation, has failed for years to meet many quality-of-care goals, leaving some patients afraid of their local hospitals but with no other nearby options.
By Brett Kelman -
How Potential Medicaid Cuts Could Play Out in California
As Donald Trump prepares to reenter the White House with a Republican-controlled Congress, health officials and community advocates in California worry that large-scale Medicaid cuts could be enacted as soon as next year. More than 60% of Californiaās $161 billion Medi-Cal budget comes from Washington.
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Nursing Homes Fell Behind on Vaccinating Patients for Covid
Last winter, only 4 in 10 nursing home residents got an updated covid vaccine. The low uptake leaves a fragile population vulnerable. Some industry watchdogs say it could be a sign of eroding trust between nursing home residents and providers.
By Sarah Boden -
Nursing Home Industry Wants Trump To Rescind Staffing Mandate
A Biden administration rule that imposed minimum rules on nursing levels may not survive, even though many homes lack enough workers to maintain residentsā care.
By Jordan Rau -
Indiana Hospitals Pull Merger Application After Pushback Over Monopoly Concerns
Two Indiana hospital rivals withdrew their application to merge after facing pushback from the Federal Trade Commission and the public.
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California Sets 15% Target for Primary Care Spending Over Next Decade
The state Office of Health Care Affordability has set a goal for insurers to direct 15% of their spending to primary care by 2034, part of a push to expand preventive care services. Health plans say itās unclear how the policy will mesh with the stateās overarching goal to slow spending growth.
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After Institutions for People With Disabilities Close, Graves Are at Risk of Being Forgotten
Thousands of people with disabilities lived and died in state institutions. Now, decades after the facilities began closing, the cemeteries left behind are at risk of falling into disrepair.
By Tony Leys -
Watch: Why the US Has Made Little Progress Improving Black Americansā Health
Ńī¹óåś“«Ć½Ņīl Health News senior correspondents Fred Clasen-Kelly and Renuka Rayasam discuss how government decisions undermine Black health.
By Fred Clasen-Kelly and Renuka Rayasam -
As California Taps Pandemic Stockpile for Bird Flu, Officials Keep Close Eye on Spending
California health officials began providing protective clothing to farmworkers months before the stateās first bird flu transmission to humans was announced in October. Itās a reminder of the stateās struggle to remain prepared for health threats amid multibillion-dollar deficits.
By Don Thompson -
After Congress Ended Extra Cash Aid for Families, Communities Tackle Child Poverty Alone
The child tax credit passed by Congress at the height of covid has expired, but states and localities are trying to fill the gap with their own programs and funding. In Michigan, Rx Kids already covers every family with a new baby in Flint. Now, other communities aim to follow.
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Maryland Is Training More Health Workers To Offer Abortion Care
After the fall of āRoe v. Wade,ā thousands of out-of-state patients traveled to Maryland for abortion care. The state is trying to diversify who can offer that care. Providers in the first training class say their new skills are especially needed in rural areas.
By Sarah Varney