Category: states

A Runner Was Hit by a Car, Then by a Surprise Ambulance Bill

A San Francisco man had friends drive him to the hospital after he was hit by a car. Doctors checked him out, then sent him by ambulance to a trauma center — which released him with no further treatment. The ambulance bill? Almost $13,000.

Future of Cancer Coverage for Women Federal Firefighters Uncertain Under Trump

In the waning days of the Biden administration, the Labor Department added ovarian, uterine, cervical, and breast cancer coverage for wildland firefighters. It’s unclear whether the new protections will stick under Trump.

Health Clinic Workers Brush Up on Constitutional Protections as Immigration Raids Loom

Clinic administrators describe anxiety about President Donald Trump’s move to allow immigration arrests inside health centers.

Los Angeles County Has Cut Homelessness, but Wildfires Threaten To Erase That Gain

As Los Angeles recovers from historic wildfires, both previously unsheltered and chronically homeless people are facing even greater instability. Some lawmakers and providers argue now is the time to put in even more resources to maintain the progress the county and state have made in fighting the crisis.

Opioid Cash Grab: As Federal Funding Dries Up, States Turn to Settlement Money

Nevada’s budget debate highlights how uncertainty over funding for federal safety net programs may lead some officials to turn to opioid settlement dollars to make up the difference.

Montana’s Medicaid Expansion Conundrum

State lawmakers appear ready to preserve the state’s Medicaid expansion program without knowing what federal changes might be in store.

Montana’s Medicaid Expansion Conundrum

State lawmakers appear ready to preserve the state’s Medicaid expansion program without knowing what federal changes might be in store.

Texas Measles Outbreak Nears 100 Cases, Raising Concerns About Undetected Spread

Health officials expect a measles outbreak in West Texas to exceed 100 cases because of low vaccination rates and undetected infections. Vaccine misinformation and new laws may make such situations more common and harder to contain.

An Ice Rink To Fight Opioid Crisis: Drug-Free Fun vs. Misuse of Settlement Cash

A decision about how to spend settlement funds in Carter County, Kentucky, which was hit hard by the opioid epidemic, offers a window into the choices that surround this windfall.

Deny and Delay? California Seeks Penalties for Insurers That Repeatedly Get It Wrong

A state lawmaker wants health insurers to disclose denial rates and explain those denials as anger grows over rising costs and uncovered medical care. If the bill is signed into law, health experts say, it could be one of the boldest attempts in the nation to rein in denials.