The Nation鈥檚 911 System Is on the Brink of Its Own Emergency
911 outages have hit at least eight states this year. They鈥檙e emblematic of problems plaguing emergency response communications due in part to wide disparities in capabilities and funding.
Mountain States Bureau
吃瓜不打烊 tells the stories of Colorado, Montana, and the rest of the region.
301-320 of 916 results
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Colorado Poultry Workers Battle Bird Flu in Heat Wave as US Struggles to Contain Outbreak
So far, all 10 cases reported nationally this year at dairy and poultry farms have been mild, consisting of respiratory symptoms and eye irritation. Scientists have warned that the virus could mutate to spread from person to person, like the seasonal flu, and spark a pandemic.
By Amy Maxmen -
Finland Is Offering Farmworkers Bird Flu Shots. Some Experts Say the US Should, Too.
Even with a stockpile of bird flu vaccinations, the federal government is not offering them to those at high risk. Along with testing and measures to prevent spread, vaccinations may protect people and stop the outbreak from becoming a pandemic.
By Amy Maxmen and Arthur Allen -
Colorado Dropped Medicaid Enrollees as Red States Have, Alarming Advocates for the Poor
Colorado defended its high disenrollment rates following the covid crisis by saying that what goes up must come down. Advocates and researchers disagree.
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GOP鈥檚 Tim Sheehy Revives Discredited Abortion Claims in Pivotal Senate Race
In Montana鈥檚 U.S. Senate race, Republican Tim Sheehy made the false claim that his Democratic opponent, incumbent Sen. Jon Tester, supports abortion 鈥渦p to and including the moment of birth.鈥
By Matt Volz -
Planned Parenthood to Blitz GOP Seats, Betting Abortion Fears Can Sway Voters
The reproductive rights organization hopes to oust GOP incumbents from key California congressional seats by highlighting the possibility of a national abortion ban. A state Republican official calls it a swing and a miss, noting that, under Democrats, hospitals have closed maternity wards and filed for bankruptcy.
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Beyond PMS: A Poorly Understood Disorder Means Periods of Despair for Some Women
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is estimated to affect around 5% of people who menstruate, but a lack of research and limited awareness of menstrual disorders 鈥 even among health care providers 鈥 can make getting care difficult.
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Idaho鈥檚 OB-GYN Exodus Throws Women in Rural Towns Into a Care Void
Idaho鈥檚 law criminalizing abortion drove a high-profile exodus of OB-GYNs from the state more than a year ago. Now, two years after the U.S. Supreme Court rolled back abortion protections enshrined by Roe v. Wade, patients in rural Idaho are forced to leave their community for gynecological care.
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Republicans Are Downplaying Abortion, but It Keeps Coming Up
Torn between a base that wants more restrictions on reproductive health care and a moderate majority that does not, it seems many Republicans would rather take an off-ramp than a victory lap when it comes to abortion. But they can鈥檛 escape talking about it.
By Julie Rovner -
Rate of Young Women Getting Sterilized Doubled After 鈥楻oe鈥 Was Overturned
A recent study found that the rate of women 18 to 30 getting tubal ligations doubled in the 16 months following the Dobbs decision. The number of young men getting vasectomies also shot up, but men still get sterilized much less often than women.
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Medicaid for Millions in America Hinges on Deloitte-Run Systems Plagued by Errors
The technology has generated notices with errors, sent Medicaid paperwork to the wrong addresses, and been frozen for hours at a time, according to state audits, court documents, and interviews. While it can take months to fix problems, America鈥檚 poorest residents pay the price.
By Rachana Pradhan and Samantha Liss -
A Tale of Two States: Arizona and Florida Diverge on How To Expand Kids鈥 Health Insurance
Both Florida and Arizona want to expand eligibility for the Children鈥檚 Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP, but their approaches to charging low-income families premiums for the coverage showcase the nation鈥檚 ideological divide on helping the disadvantaged.
By Daniel Chang -
Montana Creates Emergency 鈥楧rive-Thru鈥 Blood Pickup Service for Rural Ambulances
The network is aimed at helping rural patients, who face higher rates of traumatic injuries and death but may not live near a hospital with a stockpile of blood.
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Many Young Adults Who Began Vaping as Teens Can鈥檛 Shake the Habit
New data on substance use among young adults suggests that many former teen e-cigarette users are continuing the habit.
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Nursing Homes Are Left in the Dark as More Utilities Cut Power To Prevent Wildfires
A nursing home in Colorado had 75 minutes to prepare for a power outage that lasted 28 hours. Such public safety power shut-offs are being used more often as a fire prevention tool, but not all health facilities are prepared.
By Kate Ruder -
Heat Rules for California Workers Would Also Help Keep Schoolchildren Cool
Proposed state standards to protect indoor workers from extreme heat would extend to schools. The rules come as climate change is bringing more frequent and intense heat waves, causing schools nationwide to cancel instruction.
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End of Pandemic Internet Subsidies Threatens a Health Care Lifeline for Rural America
As the Affordable Connectivity Program runs out of money, millions of people face a jump in internet costs or lost connections if federal lawmakers don't pass a funding extension.
Waiting for SCOTUS
Episode 349June is when the Supreme Court typically issues rulings in the major cases it hears during that year鈥檚 term. This year, those interested in health policy are awaiting decisions in two abortion-related cases and one that could reshuffle the way health policies (and all other federal policies) are made. In this special episode, KFF鈥檚 Laurie Sobel, associate director for women鈥檚 health policy, joins Julie Rovner for a review of the cases and a preview of how the court might rule.
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Safety-Net Health Clinics Cut Services and Staff Amid Medicaid 鈥楿nwinding鈥
One of Montana鈥檚 largest safety-net health centers announced it will lay off nearly 10% of its workforce because of revenue losses it attributes to vast Medicaid disenrollments. Such cuts are happening elsewhere too.
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FDA Urged To Relax Decades-Old Tissue Donation Restrictions for Gay and Bisexual Men
Federal regulations prevent gay and bisexual men from donating tissue, such as corneas, ligaments, and blood vessels. Similar restrictions have been relaxed or lifted for donated blood and organs in recent years.