‘Conscience’ bills let medical providers opt out of providing a wide range of care
One state will block patients' ability to take legal action against health care providers who refuse to participate in procedures such as abortion or medically assisted death, a move critics say will restrict individuals' rights to essential care.
As temperatures spike, states act to protect residents and workers
Governments geared up protective measures against the dangerously hot weather baking nearly every part of the country this past week. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.
States stiffen penalties for fentanyl, despite public health concerns
Critics argue that harsh penalties could deter those in need of help and worsen societal disparities.
Meet the people deciding how to spend $50 billion in opioid settlement cash
As settlement dollars land at the state level, state councils wield significant power in determining how the windfall gets spent.
CDC to reduce funding for states’ child vaccination programs
Citing the recent debt ceiling deal, the CDC is trimming its funding to child vaccination programs that focus on communities vulnerable to disease outbreaks. The cuts come despite data showing the percentage of children getting vaccinated has dropped in recent years.
Work requirements for SNAP don’t get people into jobs
COMMENTARY | Work requirements for SNAP benefits don't boost employment, a study finds. Instead, they have adverse effects on homeless people.
What happened to the Idaho Health Data Exchange, and can other states learn from it?
The exchange ran into financial troubles after its leadership made funding deals that fell through, leading to a bitter feud over a contract.
Mortality rate for young women grew significantly during the pandemic, report says
As the nation marks the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision, a new report finds an uptick in deaths among young women. Researchers worry the trend will worsen as more states limit access to reproductive health care.
How one city worked to prevent overdoses after large-scale drug trafficking bust
Manchester, New Hampshire, learned that there are consequences to seizures and arrests: a risk of overdose may rise for dependent users.
Many states decline to require water breaks for outdoor workers in extreme heat
Summer is here and so is the heat. But states are doing little to protect outdoor workers. Over the past decade, nearly 400 U.S. workers have died of heat exposure.
Mayors: There’s a Mental Health Crisis in Every City
It is causing drug overdoses and homelessness in cities across America. But with the debt deal to freeze spending, it is uncertain whether federal help is coming.
Chronic Lifeguard Shortage Serves as Springboard to Address Racial Inequities
Cities and towns are again in deep waters this summer trying to hire enough lifeguards to open their public pools. Many are proceeding with sensitivity to issues of race and ethnicity.
How NYC Officials Failed to Prepare for an Air Quality Crisis
"It’s been a lackluster, underwhelming, frankly problematic response."
Virtual Innovation Center Tackles Health Interoperability Challenges
The center will look to break down some of the barriers to sharing data that can make patient care more challenging.
The Potentially Life-Saving Map That Most Can’t See
Across most of the country, officials use a map tracking overdoses to monitor and respond to the spread of deadly drug batches. But not everyone who could access or benefit from it knows about it.
Most People Who Inject Drugs Test Positive for Fentanyl
COMMENTARY | In a yearlong study, researchers found that a significant share of people in New York City who thought they were using heroin or another drug were actually using the illicit synthetic opioid.
Debt Limit Talks Dim Prospects for Addressing Nation’s Housing Crisis
The president has proposed freezing spending, which could impact additional funding for housing, public health and transit projects.
With Summer Coming Fast, Regulator Warns of Electric Reliability Issues
A huge share of the continent could be in for a summer of electricity shortages in the event of severe, long-lasting heat.
One city’s growing opioid crisis brings data-driven solutions to the front lines
Two decades of overdose data helps the Baltimore City Health Department understand drug use trends to shape treatment programs.
How to Ensure Millions of Children Don’t Lose Medicaid Coverage Erroneously
COMMENTARY | More than 5 million children could lose their Medicaid benefits during the public health emergency’s Medicaid “unwinding.” The U.S. has the data and experience to prevent this.
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