Pregnancy Archives - Page 7 of 12

Congress Is Out. The Presidential Campaign Is In.

Episode 308

Aug. 3, 2023

Congress is in recess until after Labor Day, and lawmakers won’t have much time when they return to get the government funded before the next fiscal year. Meanwhile, the Republican campaign for president has begun in earnest, and while repealing the Affordable Care Act is no longer the top promise, some candidates have lively ideas about what to do with federal health programs. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KFF Health News’ chief Washington correspondent, Julie Rovner, to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Phil Galewitz, who reported the latest KFF Health News-NPR “Bill of the Month,” about how a bill that should never have been sent created headaches for one patient.

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A woman in a hospital bed and gown is holding her stomach. The photo is cropped so only her stomach and hands are visible.

To Protect a Mother’s Health: How Abortion Ban Exemptions Play Out in a Post-‘Roe’ World

Florida’s six-week abortion law allows exemptions in cases of rape, incest, and human trafficking, and to save the health or life of the mother. But the recent history of such exemptions in other states suggests that very few women will be able to take advantage of them.

By Christopher O’Donnell, Tampa Bay Times

July 31, 2023

POSTCARD FROM GREEN BAY

In Wisconsin, Women’s Health Care Is Constricted by an 1849 Law. These Doctors Are Aghast.

From the front lines of Wisconsin’s abortion battle, obstetricians describe patients who cannot comprehend having to carry nonviable pregnancies. And only one pharmacist in town can be found who will fill prescriptions for abortion pills.

By Sarah Varney

July 28, 2023

Primary Care Disrupted

Doctors Created a Primary Care Clinic as Their Former Hospital Struggled

With the community’s help, former co-workers came together to fill gaps in care left by the loss of doctors and departments at a Gallup, New Mexico, hospital.

By Cecilia Nowell

July 21, 2023

What the Health? From KFF Health News

Let’s Talk About the Weather

Episode 306

July 20, 2023

It’s been the summer of broken weather records around the world — for heat, rain, and wildfire smoke — advertising the risks of climate change in a big way. But, apparently, it’s not enough to break the logjam in Washington over how to address the growing climate crisis. Meanwhile, in Texas, women who were unable to get care for pregnancy complications took their stories to court, and Congress gears up to — maybe — do something about prescription drug prices. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join Julie Rovner, KFF Health News’ chief Washington correspondent, to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Meena Seshamani, the top administrator for the federal Medicare program.

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What the Health? From KFF Health News

The Long Road to Reining In Short-Term Plans

Episode 305

July 13, 2023

President Biden made good on a campaign promise this week with a proposal that would limit short-term health insurance plans that boast low premiums but also few benefits. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s decision to outlaw affirmative action programs could set back efforts to diversify the nation’s medical workforce. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Amy Goldstein of the Washington Post, and Rachel Cohrs of Stat News join KFF Health News’ chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Bram Sable-Smith, who reported the latest KFF Health News-NPR “Bill of the Month” about how a hospital couldn’t track down a patient, but a debt collector could.

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A close up photograph of a pregnant woman's belly. There are orange tulips blurred in the foreground.

With More People Giving Birth at Home, Montana Passed a Pair of Laws to Make It Easier

The state now requires Medicaid to cover midwife services and has expanded the list of prescription drugs midwives can administer.

By Keely Larson

July 12, 2023

Idaho Drops Panel Investigating Pregnancy-Related Deaths as US Maternal Mortality Surges

Amid a years-long rise in maternal mortality rates in the United States, Idaho lawmakers decided to disband a committee created to investigate pregnancy-related deaths.

By Natalie Schachar

July 7, 2023

The torso of a pregnant person cradling their belly.

A New Law Is Supposed to Protect Pregnant Workers — But What If We Don’t Know How?

During pregnancy, workers often face hazardous circumstances, including breathing toxic chemicals. On June 27, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act began requiring employers to provide “reasonable accommodations.” But the new law has a big hole: Not nearly enough is known about which chemical exposures are dangerous for pregnant workers.

By Gina Jiménez

June 30, 2023

A view from behind of a woman wearing a bra and holding a baby to her cheek.

Abortion Bans Are Driving Off Doctors and Closing Clinics, Putting Basic Health Care at Risk

Doctors say they are reluctant to practice in abortion-banned states, where making the best decision for a patient could run afoul of the law. Even former President Donald Trump’s surgeon general is concerned about the repercussions for women’s health, writes KFF Health News’ chief Washington correspondent, Julie Rovner.

By Julie Rovner

May 24, 2023

A photo of a black doctor showing a black pregnant woman an image of her ultrasound.

A Striking Gap Between Deaths of Black and White Babies Plagues the South

Infant mortality rates across the South are by far the worst in the U.S. A look at South Carolina — where multimillion-dollar programs aimed at improving rates over the past 10 years have failed to move the needle — drives home the challenge of finding solutions, especially in rural communities.

By Lauren Sausser

May 22, 2023

Cloie Davila, her daughter, Amelia, her husband, Joshua, and her son, Noah, stand outside their home in Clayton, New Mexico. Cloie is visibly pregnant.

New Mexico Program to Reduce Maternity Care Deserts in Rural Areas Fights for Survival

A federally funded program in remote New Mexico has helped hundreds of pregnant mothers stay healthy, but it’s running out of time and money despite a growing national maternity care crisis. The four-year, nearly $3 million grant has provided telehealth, coordinated care, and social services to mothers in need.

By Sarah Jane Tribble

May 15, 2023

A photo of a woman wearing a floral tiara smiling inside her car.

Drive-Thru Baby Showers Serve Express Needs of Pregnant Veterans in Atlanta

Women are the fastest-growing group among U.S. veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs says it is working to meet their health needs, including pregnancy care.

By Jess Mador, WABE

May 11, 2023

A woman with dark blonde hair wearing glasses and a black shirt sits in a chair and speaks. A lower third reads "Dr. Amelia Huntsberger" and "OB-GYN, Bonner General Health".

Primary Care Disrupted

After Idaho’s Strict Abortion Ban, OB-GYNs Stage a Quick Exodus

At least two Idaho hospitals are ending labor and delivery services, with one citing the state’s “legal and political climate” and noting that “recruiting replacements will be extraordinarily difficult” as doctors leave.

By Sarah Varney

May 2, 2023

A photo of a woman and her husband sitting at home.

Bill Of The Month

Expectant Mom Needed $15,000 Overnight to Save Her Twins

Doctors rushed a pregnant woman to a surgeon who charged thousands upfront just to see her. The case reveals a gap in medical billing protections for those with rare, specialized conditions.

By Renuka Rayasam

April 27, 2023

In Texas, Medicaid Coverage Ends Soon After Childbirth. Will Lawmakers Allow More Time?

Pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage ends just two months after childbirth in Texas — some advocates and researchers say that cutoff contributes to maternal deaths and illnesses in the state.

By Elena Rivera, KERA

March 31, 2023

The US Remains a Grim Leader in Preterm Births. Why? And Can We Fix It?

American women are more likely to deliver their babies prematurely than women in most developed countries. It’s a distinction that coincides with high rates of maternal and infant death, billions of dollars in costs, and even lifelong disabilities for the children who survive.

By Sarah Varney

March 16, 2023

Carolina Morga Tapia stands outside in a park with her five children. Two of the youngest are sitting in a green wagon.

Faces of Medi-Cal

California’s Massive Medicaid Program Works for Some, but Fails Many Others

Medi-Cal serves more than one-third of the state’s population — offering a dizzying range of care to a diverse population. In the new “Faces of Medi-Cal” series, California Healthline will assess the program’s strengths and weaknesses through the lives and experiences of its enrollees.

By Angela Hart and Bernard J. Wolfson

March 2, 2023

Montana State Capitol Building in Helena, Montana.

Republican Lawmakers Shy Away From Changing Montana’s Constitutional Right to Abortion

Lawmakers in 14 states have passed near-total bans on abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. But in some conservative-led states where court rulings determined their constitutions protect abortion, including Montana, politicians haven’t asked voters to weigh in.

By Katheryn Houghton

Feb. 16, 2023

Trump 2.0

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