Stateline

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SHUTTERSTOCK

You’ve covered your copayment; now brace yourself for the ‘facility fee’

States are going after the surprise charges tacked on by hospitals that own outpatient centers

Apr 25, 2024

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Dana Williams, top, and Khalyson McDuffie, doulas with Birth in Color, a Virginia group that offers doula services for pregnant patients of color and training for local maternal health care workers to combat racial bias, participate in a doula simulation training session. Some states are mandating implicit bias training. | COURTESY OF KENDA SUTTON-EL/BIRTH IN COLOR

To close racial gap in maternal health, some states take aim at implicit bias

Black, Hispanic and Indigenous pregnant patients often report facing unfair treatment at hospitals and clinics

Apr 11, 2024

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JOZEF MICIC/SHUTTERSTOCK

Facing public backlash, some health care companies are abandoning hospital deals

Some states are questioning whether proposed mergers best serve patients

Mar 12, 2024

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Colorectal cancer is rising among younger adults. Some states want to boost awareness.

Experts say making sure people get screenings is key.

Mar 7, 2024

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ANTONIO GUILLEM/SHUTTERSTOCK

Governments can erase your medical debt for pennies on the dollar — and some are

Some states and cities will use federal money to forgive millions of dollars of their residents’ medical debt

Feb 22, 2024

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Drug-resistant, Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, the pathogen responsible for causing the disease tuberculosis. | CDC/UNSPLASH

Tuberculosis cases rise, but public health agencies say they lack the resources to keep up

U.S. tuberculosis cases rose 5% in 2022, disproportionately affecting communities of color

Feb 8, 2024

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SABINE VAN ERP/PIXABAY

Private equity’s growing footprint in home health care draws scrutiny

Critics say the profit-oriented private equity business model can diminish the quality of care, increase costs and narrow access for patients, particularly in more lightly regulated industries such as home care and hospice care

Feb 6, 2024

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

Wastewater tests show COVID infections surging, but pandemic fatigue limits precautions

Some experts want to maintain and expand wastewater surveillance to stay on top of future waves at state and local levels, even as the public has wearied of COVID-19 mitigation efforts

Jan 24, 2024

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SHUTTERSTOCK

‘Shell game’: When private equity comes to town, hospitals can see cutbacks, closures

In the past couple of years, private equity’s foray into hospital ownership has drawn public outrage and, increasingly, legislative scrutiny

Jan 22, 2024

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PIXABAY

There’s a new pill for postpartum depression, but many at-risk women face hurdles

About 1 in 8 women experience symptoms of postpartum depression, federal data shows, and suicide and drug overdoses are among the leading causes of pregnancy-related death.

Jan 14, 2024