Medical News Roundup: Key Health Highlights and Evaluations from KFF Health News Minute

Medical News Roundup: Key Health Highlights and Evaluations from KFF Health News Minute

Reviving Psychiatric Hospitals and Aiding Patient Utility Bills

Community groups are spearheading initiatives to repair deserted psychiatric hospitals’ graveyards. Simultaneously, hospitals are exploring innovative strategies to assist patients in keeping up with their utility bills.

Addressing Racial Health Discrepancies

Alas, leaders frequently fall short when it comes to addressing racial health disparities, despite having access to data proving their existence. Meanwhile, state initiatives attempting to import lower-cost drugs from Canada are having a hard time getting started due to challenges.

Rethinking Hospital Procedures Amid Shortages

With the nationwide shortage of IV fluids, some healthcare facilities are reconsidering the provisions of IV hydration. Concurrently, they bring to light that rattlesnake antivenom is relatively cheap to produce but burdensomely expensive for patients who need it.

Expanding Abortion Care and Delivery Pre-payments

In states where abortion prohibitions are not in place, various programs strive to train more medical personnel to provide abortion care. Additionally, a rising number of OB-GYNs are asking their expecting patients to foot their delivery bills in advance.

Impacting Medicaid Recipients During the Opioid Unwinding

It’s disheartening that some Medicaid recipients suffering from opioid use disorder lost access to life-saving treatments during the opioid “unwinding”. Moreover, certain physicians are imposing extra charges for mammograms that include heart disease screening.

Health Plans for DACA Recipients and Ride Services for Patients

For the first time, DACA recipients can now access health plans under the Affordable Care Act. At the same time, some insurance providers and healthcare facilities are stepping up, funding ride-hailing services to ensure that patients reach them for their appointments.

Mobile Clinics and Unwashed Poppy Seeds Concerns

Mobile health clinics are making a significant difference in rural areas as they provide easier access to long-acting forms of birth control. But on a cautionary note, it has been reported that people are developing opioid addictions from ingesting tea brewed with unwashed poppy seeds.

Healthcare Workers’ Struggles and Aging Alone

Low-wage health care workers grapple with post-traumatic stress developed during the daunting times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Parallelly, living alone in old age is garnering scrutiny due to associated potential harmful effects on physical health.

Funding for Rural Hospitals and COVID Misinformation

Federal government partnerships with health care companies aim to financially bolster hospitals in rural areas, a commendable gesture of support. Conversely, Florida’s surgeon general faces scrutiny for disseminating misleading guidelines about this year’s COVID-19 vaccinations.

Rising HPB in Mothers and Making Public Spaces Disability Friendly

An alarming trend shows doctors spotting an increase in life-threatening high blood pressure amongst pregnant and postpartum women. Thankfully, on the bright side, new mandates call for more adult-sized changing tables in public buildings, significantly improving accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

Our health sector faces plenty of challenges, such as racial health disparities, utility bill assistance difficulties, and alarming opioid addiction trends. Nonetheless, numerous laudable initiatives – like mobile health clinics, Affordable Care Act adoption for DACA recipients, and partnerships to fund rural hospitals – denote progress. The key takeaway is that all stakeholders need to continuously work on creating equitable and accessible healthcare for all.

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