Heather Dimeris News Today

Following the coronavirus pandemic, the use of telehealth for kids has gone up significantly.

More Missourians should be able to get routine dental care, with a recent change in the way providers are paid by the state. MO HealthNet is paying higher rates to providers who see patients in the states version of Medicaid, which should encourage more of them to accept MO HealthNet patients. Gary Harbison, executive director of the Missouri Coalition for Oral Health, said it is an important change because people may put off treating dental health issues if they are worried about the cost, bu...

Bleeding gums may seem like a minor annoyance, but experts warn they could indicate underlying health problems, which should not be taken lightly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of adults ages 30 and older in the U.S. suffer from some form of gum disease. ...

More than 20% of nursing positions in the Commonwealth remain vacant, according to the Kentucky Hospital Association - and combined with workforce shortages in other medical professions, the state is facing a massive health-care workforce crisis that could have crippling effects. Ben Chandler, CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, said the shortages are both straining overworked existing providers and making it more difficult for residents to access quality care. "Were seein...

In rural Arkansas, access to healthcare can be a distant dream - literally - as almost 60 counties in the state do not have enough providers to serve their populations. A new initiative with the Health Resources and Services Administration is working to improve access in these areas, through telehealth. Heather Dimeris, director, Office for the Advancement of Telehealth at the Health Resources and Services Administration, said delivering care remotely online fills a crucial gap. ...

Virtual abortion groups are strengthening their privacy protections, fearing states could crack down on access by using their data to surveil people who had an abortion.