Brigith Rivera News Today

Racial and gender inequities in Massachusetts have contributed to a steep decline in maternal health, according to a new report. The Department of Public Health found that the number of mothers experiencing complications from pregnancy or delivery nearly doubled from 2011 to 2020 with severe morbidity rates for Black, non-Hispanic women now more than two-and-a-half times their white counterparts. Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. ...

Texas is recognizing maternal health care is not just about doctors visits, with a new law taking effect this fall to enhance screening for nonmedical needs. Housing, nutrition, transportation, employment and other factors play a significant role in poor infant and maternal outcomes. Brian Sasser, chief communications officer for the Episcopal Health Foundation, said new legislation will require Texas Medicaid to develop a standardized screening tool to help determine the nonmedical health nee...

Sometimes, patients who call an ambulance end up getting stuck with a big bill because the ambulance company does not have a contract with their health plan. Assembly Bill 716 is designed to prevent surprise out-of-network bills. It passed the California State Assembly and is now making its way through the state Senate committees. ...

A Connecticut group submitted a resolution to Hartfords City Council seeking to create more health equity at the citys hospitals and clinics. Make the Road Connecticuts resolution asks the council to work with community health providers to guide them on how to supply better services for the citys immigrant community. In Connecticut, 22-percent of residents age five and older speak a language other than English, according to U-S Census data. ...

Advocacy groups in West Virginia are working to raise awareness about the end of COVID-19 pandemic-related protections that have triggered a new review of who is on the rolls. Sharon Carte, board president with West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, said according to the state bureau that handles eligibility, it appears that around 30,000 thousand people on Medicaid or CHIP have been retained. Thats a 60% renewal rate. ...

Monday was May Day, known as International Workers’ Day, and Connecticut workers rallied for rights. Several groups joined at the State Capitol, highlighting...

Members of the local immigrant community are raising their voices, demanding better access to health care. About 20 people marched in a rally in downtown...

The academic year is winding down for college students, and in South Dakota, some might notice a more responsive campus in terms of suicide prevention when they return this fall. A new program will help schools evaluate mental-health resources. For nearly 12 years, the group Lost & Found has carried out suicide-prevention programs for young adults in South Dakota. ...

Iowa is considering proposals to address access issues for people seeking mental-health care. And it isnt just lobbyists meeting with lawmakers; more people are choosing to become first-time advocates and share their stories. The pandemic shifted a bigger spotlight onto mental-health issues, and providers around the country report higher demand for services as people speak up about what theyre going through. ...

A bill in the Maine Legislature would keep a law in place that makes it easier for first responders to get workers compensation coverage for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The 2017 law will sunset in October unless this bill extends it. Michael Crouse, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Maine, said public-safety and police officers, firefighters, paramedics and other first responders experience traumatic events throughout their careers. ...