Health Care
Lawmakers weigh expanding Pa.’s indoor smoking ban to protect casino workers
Fifteen years after Pennsylvania banned smoking in most public places, a Pennsylvania lawmaker wants to close the loopholes that allow patrons to smoke in casinos and some other establishments, to protect workers’ health. State House Health Committee Chairman Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), held a hearing on Wednesday where casino dealers, gaming and health experts testified about […]
Fetterman, Dean introduce bill to let sexual violence survivors defer student loan payments
Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. John Fetterman and U.S. Rep Madeleine Dean on Wednesday introduced legislation that would defer student loan payments for survivors of sexual violence who withdraw from school to seek treatment. “After going through horrific trauma like harassment, stalking, or assault, survivors deserve the time to heal — and if they’re in school and […]
A new COVID-19 booster is here. Will those at greatest risk get it?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends new COVID-19 booster vaccines for all — but many who need them most won’t get them. About 75% of people in the United States appear to have skipped last year’s bivalent booster, and nothing suggests uptake will be better this time around. “Urging people to get boosters […]
Not all states see ambulance service as ‘essential’
When someone with a medical emergency calls 911, they expect an ambulance to show up. But sometimes, there simply isn’t one available. Most states don’t declare emergency medical services (EMS) to be an “essential service,” meaning the state government isn’t required to provide or fund them. Now, though, a growing number of states are taking […]
Hospitals plead with Congress to avert $8 billion in cuts in Medicaid funding
WASHINGTON — Health care representatives from across the United States are urging Congress to halt cuts to funding that helps hospitals care for uninsured or low-income patients who rely on Medicaid. More than 250 hospitals and health systems, including many in Pennsylvania, appealed to House and Senate leadership in a letter Thursday asking the lawmakers […]
U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean and her son discuss substance use, recovery in Harrisburg
Dean and her son Harry Cunnane, who struggled with substance use disorder as a teenager and young adult, joined Department of Drug and Alcohol Secretary Latisha Jones for a discussion about substance use disorder and addiction during a National Recovery Month event at the Capitol on Monday night.
Opinion: The value of life-saving emergency services is worth the price tag
By Lisa Schaefer We live in a world of monthly subscriptions. Whether it’s your two or three favorite movie streaming services, an online TV package or a gaming product, it’s likely that you receive a number of autopay notifications between $6 to $15 every month. And it’s no secret; those rates are climbing at a […]
New round of COVID-19 booster shots on the way after CDC recommendation
WASHINGTON — Americans older than six months should get an updated COVID-19 booster this fall, according to a recommendation the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued Tuesday. The vaccine should be available by later this week, the CDC said in a statement. “We have more tools than ever to prevent the worst outcomes from […]
Battles over spending, farm bill, Ukraine and more loom over divided Congress
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House and Senate are both back in D.C. on Tuesday following a long summer recess, facing an overwhelming agenda of unfinished work — funding the federal government and reauthorizing major programs set to expire at the end of the month. Congressional leaders and President Joe Biden have only a few weeks […]
Food and Drug Administration approves COVID boosters for upcoming season
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved the latest round of COVID-19 boosters, as public health officials brace for another cold and flu season. An advisory panel at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is scheduled to vote on recommendations Tuesday, the final step in the process before people will […]
Dangers and deaths around Black pregnancies ‘completely preventable’ health crisis
By Sandy West HOUSTON — Tonjanic Hill was overjoyed in 2017 when she learned she was 14 weeks pregnant. Despite a history of uterine fibroids, she never lost faith that she would someday have a child. But, just five weeks after confirming her pregnancy, and the day after a gender-reveal party where she announced she […]
Suicide prevention is a priority for me now
If you or someone you know is in a crisis, call, text or chat the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. In Colorado, you can contact Colorado Crisis Services at 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255. If you need help with grief and loss, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers advice and resources. […]