Colorado news

KFF Health News covers the health issues facing people who live in America’s rural reaches.

Rapid Rise in Syphilis Hits Native Americans Hardest

KFF Health News Original

With U.S. syphilis rates climbing to the worst level in seven decades, public health experts and the federal Indian Health Service are scrambling to detect and treat the disease in Native American communities, where babies are infected at a higher rate than in any other demographic.

California Voters Are Skeptical That More Money Is the Answer to Homelessness

KFF Health News Original

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature ballot measure to address mental illness, addiction, and homelessness with a $6.4 billion bond and other reforms, is barely ahead in the ongoing ballot count. The slim margin reflects a growing unease among Californians over the governor’s homelessness initiatives.

An Arm and a Leg: The Medicare Episode

Podcast

On this episode of “An Arm and a Leg,” host Dan Weissmann breaks down the complicated and expensive world of Medicare with practical tips to pick the right plan and avoid penalties.

California Pushes to Expand the Universe of Abortion Care Providers

KFF Health News Original

A new California law allows trained physician assistants, also called physician associates, to perform first-trimester abortions without the presence of a supervising doctor. The legislation is part of a broader effort by the state to expand access to abortion care, especially in rural areas. Some doctor groups are wary.

Bathroom Bills Are Back — Broader and Stricter — In Several States

KFF Health News Original

State lawmakers are resurrecting and expanding efforts to prohibit transgender people from using public restrooms and other spaces that match their gender. Some have sought to ban trans people from “sex-designated spaces,” including domestic violence shelters and crisis centers, which experts say could violate anti-discrimination laws and jeopardize federal funding.

California Gov. Newsom Wants Voters to Approve Billions More to Help the Homeless. Will It Help?

KFF Health News Original

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.