Rural Dispatch: February 2024

A Government Video Would Explain When Abortion Is Legal in South Dakota
By Arielle Zionts South Dakota allows doctors to terminate a pregnancy only if a patient’s life is in jeopardy. Lawmakers say a government-created video would clarify what that exception actually means.

Without Medicare Part B’s Shield, Patient’s Family Owes $81,000 for a Single Air-Ambulance Flight
By Tony Leys Sky-high bills from air-ambulance providers have sparked complaints and federal action in recent years. But a rural Tennessee resident fell through the cracks of billing protections — and a single helicopter ride could cost much of her estate's value.

California Gov. Newsom Wants Voters to Approve Billions More to Help the Homeless. Will It Help?
By Angela Hart A March 5 ballot initiative seeks $6.4 billion to build thousands of new housing units and provide mental health treatment for homeless people — on top of the billions already being spent to address the public health crisis. Despite significant support from health and law enforcement officials, many front-line workers are skeptical that more money is the answer.

The Powerful Constraints on Medical Care in Catholic Hospitals Across America
By Rachana Pradhan and Hannah Recht The expansion of Catholic hospitals nationwide leaves patients at the mercy of the church’s religious directives, which are often at odds with accepted medical standards.

Southern Lawmakers Rethink Long-Standing Opposition to Medicaid Expansion
By Daniel Chang and Andy Miller While many Republican state lawmakers remain firmly against Medicaid expansion, some key leaders in holdout states are showing a willingness to reconsider. Public opinion, financial incentives, and widening health care needs make resistance harder.

Early Detection May Help Kentucky Tamp Down Its Lung Cancer Crisis
By Charlotte Huff After a decade of work, a Kentucky program launched to diagnose lung cancer earlier is beginning to change the prognosis for residents by catching tumors when they’re more treatable.

In Fight Over Medicare Payments, the Hospital Lobby Shows Its Strength
By Phil Galewitz and Colleen DeGuzman Medicare pays hospitals about double what it pays other providers for the same services. The hospital lobby is fighting hard to make sure a switch to "site-neutral payments” doesn't become law.

Colorado Moves to Connect Agricultural Workers With Mental Health Resources
By Vignesh Ramachandran Advocates say two bills under consideration could help migrant communities but that more needs to be done.

Back From COP28, California Climate Leaders Talk Health Impacts of Warming
By Samantha Young Three leading California officials who represented the state at the United Nations climate talks late last year reflect on climate change’s growing threat to human health — and explain what the state is trying to do about it.

Possibility of Wildlife-to-Human Crossover Heightens Concern About Chronic Wasting Disease
By Jim Robbins A response is ramping up to a potential spillover of the neurological disease to humans from deer, elk, and other animals.

More ‘Navigators’ Are Helping Women Travel to Have Abortions
By Lillian Mongeau Hughes After the U.S. Supreme Court ended the federal right to an abortion and many states banned the procedure, reproductive health care organizations hired dozens of people to help patients arrange travel and pay for care.

Surge in Syphilis Cases Leads Some Providers to Ration Penicillin
By Catherine Sweeney, WPLN Injectable penicillin is the go-to treatment for syphilis and the only treatment considered safe for pregnant people with the disease. But as rates of syphilis increase across the U.S., a shortage of the injectable has prompted some public health agencies to ration it.

Montana Vows Changes to Avoid Delayed Contracts. Some Health Providers Still Await Back Pay.
By Katheryn Houghton The head of Montana’s health department said the agency is catching up on a months-long backlog of contracts with organizations that connect people to medical care that left organizations without pay, halted some services, and triggered job cuts.