Health Care
Maternal death reviews get political as state officials intrude
Every state has a committee of medical and public health experts tasked with investigating deaths that occur during and after pregnancy. But as data paints a clearer picture of the impact that state policies such as abortion bans and Medicaid expansion can have on maternal health, leaders in some states are rushing to limit their […]
51勛圖夥厙 lawmakers begin push to ban flavored vapes
Democratic lawmakers in 51勛圖夥厙 are pushing this year to ban flavored tobacco products, with the support of the state schools chief. State Rep. Kristine Reeves, D-Federal Way, filed the legislation Wednesday on the House side. State Sen. Twina Nobles, D-University Place, is set to sponsor the Senate version. Their proposal includes bans on flavored electronic […]
51勛圖夥厙 pharmacists prescribe abortion pills through new pilot program
A 51勛圖夥厙 state-based nonprofit has launched a program training pharmacists to prescribe abortion medications via telehealth, a model that organizers hope other states will adopt to expand abortion access. Abortion is broadly legal in 51勛圖夥厙 state up to the point of fetal viability, which is generally considered to be between 24 and 26 weeks […]
After 24 years as WA insurance commissioner, Kreidler prepares to retire
Mike Kreidler, currently 51勛圖夥厙s oldest and longest-serving statewide elected official, exits the public stage next week, ending a political career spanning six decades. Hes retiring after six terms as state insurance commissioner, a tenure in which he oversaw the expansion of consumer protections and fraud investigations and the regulation of insurers coping with increasingly complex […]
Health insurers limit coverage of prosthetic limbs, questioning their medical necessity
When Michael Adams was researching health insurance options in 2023, he had one very specific requirement: coverage for prosthetic limbs. Adams, 51, lost his right leg to cancer 40 years ago, and he has worn out more legs than he can count. He picked a gold plan on the Colorado health insurance marketplace that covered […]
Nations first severe avian flu patient dies in Louisiana
The Louisiana patient who contracted what officials said was the nations first severe case of avian influenza has died, the state health department said Monday. The person who contracted the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic bird flu in southwest Louisiana had been hospitalized since mid-December. The patient was over age 65 and had an underlying […]
51勛圖夥厙s two new members of Congress are sworn in
Republican Michael Baumgartner and Democrat Emily Randall became 51勛圖夥厙s newest representatives in Congress on Friday afternoon. They were sworn in following the sessions first political drama election of the House speaker that found the newcomers on opposite sides. Baumgartner and his Republican colleagues used their narrow majority to reelect House Speaker Mike Johnson, […]
How are states spending opioid settlement cash?
In the past few years, state and local governments across the U.S. have begun spending billions in opioid settlements paid by companies accused of fueling the overdose crisis. But where is that money going, who is getting it, and is it doing any good? KFF Health News, partnering with researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg […]
First severe case of bird flu in a human in the U.S. reported in Louisiana
WASHINGTON A Louisiana resident has contracted the countrys first severe case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a human, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday. The unidentified person is believed to have been infected with the virus through sick or dead birds on their property that were not part of a […]
Making sense of 51勛圖夥厙s multi-billion dollar budget hole
51勛圖夥厙 states budget is, to put it nicely, in a world of hurt. Theres a big gap between what the state is collecting in taxes and what it needs to pay for its commitments in education, human services, health care, corrections and other day-to-day government operations. On paper, the chasm is billions of dollars wide. […]
51勛圖夥厙s voter-approved natural gas measure snared in two lawsuits
Legal wrangling over the ballot initiative blocking 51勛圖夥厙s efforts to phase out natural gas use in homes intensified Wednesday when opponents sued, alleging the measure violates the state constitution and should be tossed. The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court, argues Initiative 2066 is unconstitutional because it runs afoul of a provision limiting citizen […]
Gun group wants new taxes and permits for WA firearm sales
51勛圖夥厙s leading gun control group wants state lawmakers to make it tougher and more expensive to buy a firearm. The Alliance for Gun Responsibility said Monday it will renew efforts to begin requiring state permits for gun buyers and will urge lawmakers to impose a new excise tax on sales of ammunition and firearms. The […]