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Federal law says Medicaid must cover out-of-state emergency care. But a Florida man got a five-figure bill after a South Dakota hospital declined to charge his state鈥檚 Medicaid program.
The Trump administration鈥檚 鈥淢ake America Healthy Again鈥 platform has boosted the agenda of a conservative think tank that鈥檚 been working for more than a decade to reshape the nation鈥檚 public assistance programs.
Federal law requires states to offer health insurance to many people with low incomes or disabilities. But some states, including California, are far more generous than what鈥檚 required. Budget pressures may force lawmakers to cut benefits that have led to a historic low in the uninsured rate.
Roughly 20 states now have laws permitting families to place cameras in the rooms of loved ones. Facility operators are often opposed.
A 吃瓜不打烊 analysis underscores how the terminations have spared no part of the country, politically or geographically. Of the organizations that had grants cut in the first month, about 40% are in states President Donald Trump won in November.
Consumers who were enrolled fraudulently in Affordable Care Act coverage could receive unexpected tax bills 鈥 the first and possibly only clue they were a victim of fraud. Getting help may become difficult as federal workers are laid off and funding for assistance programs is cut.
Fentanyl overdoses occur from ingesting the synthetic opioid. But popular culture has misrepresented the risks to first responders.
Pharmaceutical companies accused of fueling the nation鈥檚 opioid crisis are paying state and local governments billions of dollars in legal settlements. But how much are victims who suffered addiction and overdoses getting?
In his first term, President Donald Trump granted pardons or clemency to more than 60 convicted fraudsters, including health care executives who defrauded Medicare out of hundreds of millions of dollars, courts and juries found. Now, Trump says cracking down on fraud is a priority.
The anti-fluoride movement has more momentum than ever. In rural counties with few dentists, tooth decay could surge to levels that have not been seen in decades, experts warn.
Since the Trump administration began firing federal workers, they say they feel overwhelmed, have obtained or considered seeking psychiatric care and medication, and are anxious about paying their bills. And soon, their health insurance will run out.
As politicians demand that more Medicaid recipients work, many people with disabilities say their state programs鈥 income and asset caps force them to limit their work hours or turn down promotions.
Enrollment of underrepresented groups at medical schools fell precipitously this academic year after the Supreme Court鈥檚 2023 ban on affirmative action. Education and health experts worry the Trump administration鈥檚 anti-DEI measures will only worsen the situation, even in states like California that have navigated bans on race-conscious admissions for years.
Republicans have proposed legislation in several states to ban the pioneering technology used in covid shots. Many doctors worry a huge medical advance could be rolled back.
At least 20 states have settled disputes with health insurance giant Centene since 2021 over allegations that its pharmacy benefit manager operation overcharged their Medicaid programs. Two holdouts appear to remain: Georgia has not yet settled, and Florida officials won鈥檛 answer questions about its Centene situation.
The Trump administration鈥檚 sudden firings have gutted training programs across the nation that bolstered state and local public health departments.
Amid doctor shortages, several states have stopped requiring foreign-trained providers to repeat residencies before they鈥檙e fully licensed. Critics say patients could be harmed because of the loosened training requirements.
In the waning days of the Biden administration, the Labor Department added ovarian, uterine, cervical, and breast cancer coverage for wildland firefighters. It鈥檚 unclear whether the new protections will stick under Trump.
The town of Havana, Florida, is seeking a family doctor to practice in the rural community. Incentives include rent-free office space with medical equipment owned by the town. With a physician shortage hitting small communities hard, town leaders put want ads in newspapers and on social media.
State legislatures nationwide, including several in the South, are spending millions to improve rural health outcomes and access. For years, though, most Southern states have refused billions of federal dollars to provide public health insurance to more low-income adults. That isn鈥檛 likely to change with Trump back in office.
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