Category: states

The Rate of Older Californians Dying of Malnutrition Has Accelerated

Californians 85 and older are especially susceptible to malnutrition. They accounted for almost three in five malnutrition deaths in the state last year.

California Bill Would Mandate HPV Vaccine for Incoming College Students

A state lawmaker wants all incoming college students to get an HPV vaccine, as part of a push to drive up vaccination rates and prevent cervical cancer. At least four other states have enacted a similar mandate.

As Montana’s Mental Health Crisis Care Crumbles, Politicians Promise Aid

One of Montana’s largest mental health providers has ratcheted back services amid financial troubles, leaving a vacuum. State policymakers have promised more money to aid behavioral health care, but lasting change could be years out.

Doctor Shortages Distress Rural America, Where Few Residency Programs Exist

Patients in rural northeastern Nevada soon will have fewer providers and resources, after a local hospital decided to close its medical residency program. Nationally, the number of rural residency slots has grown during the past few years but still makes up just 2% of programs and residents nationwide.

Special Medicaid Funds Help Most States, but Prompt Oversight Concerns

Georgia is among 35-plus states that have used an under-the-radar federal funding mechanism to boost payments for hospitals and other providers under Medicaid. But a government watchdog and a congressional advisory commission say sparse oversight makes it hard to tell if the “directed payments” program is meeting its goals.

Montana May Require Insurers to Cover Monitoring Devices for Diabetes

Montana is one of several states considering expanding coverage of continuous glucose monitors, but insurance companies and some providers argue that not all people with diabetes need them.

High Inflation and Housing Costs Force Many Americans to Delay Needed Care

A recent Gallup Poll suggests that Americans are putting off medical care because of costs. Inflation and rising rents make it harder for people to make ends meet.

‘Hard to Get Sober Young’: Inside One of the Country’s Few Recovery High Schools

A few dozen high schools across the U.S. combine education with recovery treatment for substance use disorders to keep kids sober and in school.

‘Hard to Get Sober Young’: Inside One of the Country’s Few Recovery High Schools

A few dozen high schools across the U.S. combine education with recovery treatment for substance use disorders to keep kids sober and in school.

States Step In as Telehealth and Clinic Patients Get Blindsided by Hospital Fees

At least eight states have implemented or are considering limits on what patients can be billed for the use of a hospital’s facilities even without having stepped foot in the building.