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Tending To Patients As Her New Home Burns

ICU nurse Julayne Smithson had only a few minutes to grab some things from her recently purchased home a block from the Santa Rosa hospital. Then she rushed back to help evacuate patients and has scarcely stopped working since.

Patients, Health Insurers Challenge Iowa’s Privatized Medicaid

Complaints are rising against for-profit insurance companies that manage Medicaid for about 600,000 Iowans. The privatization of Medicaid is a national trend affecting more than half of the 74 million Americans who get their health care through the state-federal program.

Eyes Fixed On California As Governor Ponders Inking Drug Price Transparency Bill

“If it gets signed by this governor, it’s going to send shock waves throughout the country,” one legislator says. Pharma has spent $16.8 million lobbying against this bill and other drug laws in California.

A Tale Of Two States: California, Texas And The Latest ACA Repeal Bid

In the GOP’s attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act, California would lose a lot of federal funding. Texas would gain a lot in the short term, but experts worry Texas would not use the money well.

Uncertainty Over Health Care’s Future Hobbles Entrepreneurs

The Affordable Care Act gave some Americans the chance to strike out on their own in new business ventures because they didn’t have to worry about keeping a job just for health insurance. But the repeal-and-replace efforts reignited this week create uncertainty about whether they can count on that insurance option in the future.

‘Bureaucratic Ninjas’ Slice Red-Tape To Battle Health Disparities

A person’s ZIP code can be as important to her health as her genetic code. One large health system has begun to tackle the social challenges that influence a person’s health by asking questions and giving extra help to people in need.

To Grow Market Share, A Drugmaker Pitches Its Product To Judges

Some drug courts offer participants a full range of evidence-based treatment, including medication-assisted treatment. Others don’t allow addiction medications at all. And some permit just one: Vivitrol.

Opioid Treatment Funds In Senate Bill Would Fall Far Short Of Needs

The $45 billion for opioid treatment in the Senate bill sounds like a lot of money, but an advocate estimates it would provide $1,000 to $2,000 per year for each person in Pennsylvania who might need treatment. Meanwhile, one year of methadone treatment for opioid addiction costs about $4,700 per year,

In Texas, People With Mental Illness Find Work Helping Peers

Peer support, well-known in addiction treatment, is gaining ground for people with serious mental illness. Texas and 35 other states are training and paying peer support specialists to help bridge a gap in mental health treatment.