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Health News Roundup: Fertility, Insurance, and More
Developing
In Short: Zach Dyer and Katheryn Houghton discuss the week's health news, including the high cost of fertility treatments and efforts to support hospital workers.
The high cost of fertility treatments is making some Americans look abroad for help getting pregnant, according to reports. Additionally, a nonprofit in Austin, Texas, is trying to keep its city’s music scenes going by helping artists pay for health insurance. The federal government is also pulling funding for test strips that can help users detect fentanyl in drugs, in favor of other public health approaches.
Violence against hospital workers is fueling calls for mandatory staffing rules. Some older adults are seeking roommates to help them age in place, while health insurance companies are still struggling to make it easier for patients to get doctor-ordered care. Patients are still waiting despite promises.
More states are shaming employers that use tax dollars to cover health costs for their low-income workers. Some health plans are pocketing their enrollees’ drug discounts, while many Affordable Care Act insurers want to raise rates by double digits next year. More Americans than ever are surviving cancer and face lingering mental health issues.
What's still developing
- Zach Dyer [DYE-er] reads the week’s news: The U.S. is getting its first new sunscreen ingredient in decades.
- Sam Whitehead reads the week’s news: More Americans are getting access to physician-assisted suicide as states legalize the practice.
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- Jackie Fortiér [FOR-tee-ay] reads the week’s news: Laser cataract surgery, which can be pricier, may not be worth the extra cost.
- Katheryn Houghton [CATH-er-in HOW-tun] reads the week’s news: A wristband with the words “I Gave Birth” could be a lifesaving tool for new moms, and many homeless people will have to prove they’re working to stay on Medicaid.
- Arielle Zionts [arr-ee-ELL ZY-ence] reads the week’s news: Pediatricians try to persuade more parents to vaccinate their kids amid measles outbreaks.
Sources
- Kffhealthnewslink