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Better Health Care Access Is Helping People With Down Syndrome Live Longer

Americans with Down syndrome have a critical lifeline in Medicaid insurance, new research confirms.

But the publicly funded insurance program will have to respond to rising numbers of older adults with Down syndrome, researchers say.

“As more people with Down syndrome survive to older ages, the Medicaid system needs to be ready to serve this population with tailored, sensitive, an...

Dementia Diagnosis Takes Huge Toll on a Family's Finances

Dementia can take a big bite out of an American's bank account, robbing 60% of a patient's net worth in the eight years after a diagnosis, a new study says.

The average dementia patient will also see a doubling of out-of-pocket health care expenses in those first eight years, said researchers who studied thousands of seniors with and without the brain disorder.

“We found a pr...

Non-White Kids With Recurrent Ear Infections Less Likely to Get Specialist Care

Which U.S. kids see specialists for ear infections and have tubes placed to drain fluid and improve air flow differs significantly by race.

Asian, Hispanic and Black children are much less likely than white kids to see ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctors, new research shows.

“For the first time, our study found there are significant differences in the rate of ENT office visits for ...

Biden Administration Moves to Boost Health Care to the Homeless

A new rule allows health care providers to be reimbursed for treating homeless people wherever they are, rather than just in hospitals or clinics.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began al...

Rite Aid Pharmacy Chain Files for Bankruptcy

The drugstore chain Rite Aid has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, due largely to competition and thousands of lawsuits for its role in allegedly filling unlawful opioid prescriptions.

The company filed a notice Thursday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission saying it would not be able to file its latest quarterly financial report before filing for bankruptcy on Sunday, CNN<...

Black Patients 42% More Likely to Die After High-Risk Surgery Than White Patients

High-risk surgeries are more deadly for Black and Hispanic Americans than for their white counterparts, new research reveals.

The study, of more than 1 million procedures performed in U.S. hospitals between 2000 and 2020, found that Black patients were 42% more likely than white patients to die within 30 days of surgery. That risk was 21% higher among Hispanic patients.

Had those di...

Kaiser Permanente Reaches Tentative Deal With 75,000 Health Care Workers

A tentative deal has been reached between Kaiser Permanente and its 75,000 health care workers following a three-day strike last week.

"The frontline health care workers of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions are excited to have reached a tentative agreement with Kaiser Permanente," union officials pos...

When Health Care Access Is Equal, Race Gap in Prostate Cancer Survival Vanishes

Men of all races and ethnic groups who have prostate cancer fare equally well when access to care is identical, a new study finds.

The disparity in outcomes from prostate cancer between Black, Hispanic and white men disappears when treatment and care are the same, as it is in U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VA) hospitals. In fact, Black and Hispanic men, on average fared better than...

Over 75,000 Kaiser Permanente Union Workers Go on Strike

Health care workers who serve millions of Americans began a three-day strike on Wednesday after contract negotiations over staffing levels stalled.

More than 75,000 members of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions began walking off their jobs as early as 6 a.m. in Virginia and Washington, D.C., the Washington Post reported. The union, whose contract expired Saturday, represen...

Over 75,000 Kaiser Permanente Union Workers Could Strike on Wednesday

Health care workers who serve millions of Americans could strike Wednesday if Kaiser Permanente and union workers don't reach an agreement.

More than 75,000 members of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions are poised to strike, CNBC reported. The union, whose contract expired Saturday, represents medical assistants, surgical and lab technicians and pharmacists, among other st...

Biden Administration Says Insurance Issues With COVID Shots Mostly Fixed

Despite reports of trouble last week where some people may have been denied insurance coverage while seeking COVID shots at pharmacies, the Biden administration said Thursday those issues have been ironed out.

That issue is "largely, if not completely," resolved after U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Secretary

Childbirth Can Leave New Parents in Serious Medical Debt

New parents bringing home their bundle of joy often carry something else with them as they leave the hospital: medical debt.

That's according to new research from Michigan Medicine that found postpartum women are more likely to have medical debt than those who are pregnant.

The researchers studied this by evaluating collections among a statewide, commercially insured cohort of more ...

Stigma, Even Harm Common When Transgender People Meet With Doctors

Transgender people have a tough time receiving adequate medical care due to issues like voyeurism, being treated as abnormal and even being denied care due to their gender identity, a new study finds.

“I would say what I read was not surprising at all, based on things I have heard from trans members,” said

  • Sarah D. Collins HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 26, 2023
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  • In Mississippi, a Huge Jump in Cases of Babies Born With Syphilis

    The United States is experiencing an alarming wave of congenital syphilis, and one southern state saw a 1,000% rise in babies born with the infection between 2016 and 2022.

    The number of babies born with the infection in Mississippi rose from 10 in 2016 to 110 in 2022. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection. Congenital syphilis occurs when an infected mother passes the dis...

    Helping Undocumented Immigrants Find a Primary Care Doc Lowers ER Costs: Study

    Helping undocumented immigrants in the United States connect with primary care doctors could be a money-saver, substantially reducing emergency department use and lowering health costs, a new study finds.

    The findings are from a New York City program that helped arrange medical appointments from May 2016 to June 2017 for undocumented immigrants with limited incomes.

    The data showed ...

    Few Doctors, Spotty Internet: Finding Mental Health Care Tough for Many Americans

    Nearly one in five counties across the United States lack psychiatrists or internet service, making it difficult for around 10.5 million Americans to find mental health care, a new study shows.

    The counties examined in the study were more likely to be in rural areas, have higher unemployment rates, and have populations that were more likely to be uninsured and lack a bachelor's degree. W...

    In Public Spaces, Women Less Likely to Get CPR If Cardiac Arrest Strikes

    CPR could save your life if you suffer cardiac arrest in a public place, but you're less likely to receive it if you're a woman, a new study finds.

    The findings were presented Monday at the European Emergency Medicine Congress, in Barcelona.

    “In an emergency when someone is unconscious and not breathing properly, in addition to calling an ambulance, bystanders should give CPR. Thi...

    Most Folks Who Need Colon Cancer Screening Aren't Reminded by Doctors

    Many Americans are behind on recommended colon cancer screenings -- and their doctors often fail to remind them, a new study suggests.

    The study, by the American Cancer Society, focused on a nationwide sample of more 5,000 Americans who were overdue for colon cancer screening. All had been to a routine checkup in the past year, but only about one-quarter said their provider had advised th...

    Cancer Care Tougher to Access in U.S. If English Second Language

    Much has been made of how a lack of English proficiency can interfere with a patient's ability to interact with their doctor and get the best health care possible.

    But language barriers can prevent cancer patients from even getting in the door for a first visit with a specialist, a new study reports.

    English speakers calling a general information line at U.S. hospitals succeeded nea...

    U.S. Heart Deaths Linked to Obesity Have Tripled in 20 Years

    Obesity taxes many parts of the body, but new research suggests the heart might take the hardest hit of all.

    Between 1999 and 2020, deaths from heart disease linked to obesity tripled in the United States, and some groups were more vulnerable than others.

    Specifically, Black adults had some of the highest rates of obesity-related heart disease deaths, with the highest percentag...

    Telehealth Services Can Help Women Access, Understand Medical Abortion

    Even before Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, many U.S. women lived far from a clinic where they could get abortion pills. Now, a new study suggests that telemedicine can help fill that gap.

    The study focused on one reproductive health clinic in Washington state, where abortion was legal at the time of the study and remains so. But even in states where abortion is available, ex...

    Too Much Paperwork Is Delaying Cancer Patients' Care, Study Finds

    Red tape is getting in the way of cancer patients receiving the treatment they crucially require, a new study has found.

    Patients were 18% more likely to experience cancer care delays or be unable to stick to a treatment plan if they had to fill out a lot of paperwork, compared to patients who faced less red tape, the researchers found.

    Results also showed that the more paperwork a ...

    When Parent Is in Prison, Kids' Heart Risks Rise

    Along with having to deal with the social stigma of having a parent who is incarcerated, young adults in that situation may be more likely to develop signs of heart trouble, a new study finds.

    The health impacts of having a parent who spent time in jail have been understudied, the researchers noted.

    "There was very little data on its association with cardiovascular risks,” said le...

    Segregation Has Close Ties With Lead Poisoning in Black American Kids

    Young Black children living in racially segregated U.S. neighborhoods are at heightened risk of potentially brain-damaging lead exposure, a new study warns.

    The study, of nearly 321,000 North Carolina children under the age of 7, found that those living in predominantly Black neighborhoods had higher blood levels of lead than those living in more integrated areas.

    Experts said the f...

    Heart, Diabetes, Cancer Drugs on List for Medicare Price Negotiations, White House Says

    The Biden administration on Tuesday named the first 10 medicines that will be subject to price negotiations between Medicare and participating drug companies.

    The list represents the first step in a landmark program aimed at reducing the government's drug spending, and potentially U.S. drug prices in general. However, six major drug companies are already challenging the program in court.<...

    1 in 5 U.S. Women Say They've Been Mistreated During Maternity Care

    From receiving no response to cries for help to being verbally abused, 1 in 5 U.S. mothers say they were mistreated by a health care professional during pregnancy and delivery.

    Rates of mistreatment during maternity care were higher among Black, Hispanic and multiracial women, according to a survey of more than 2,400 new moms published in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventio...

    Race, Income Big Factors in Deaths After U.S. Hurricanes

    Death rates skyrocket during extreme weather events among the most vulnerable Americans, especially those from minority groups.

    A study looking at hurricanes over more than three decades showed that their impacts varied and were driven by differences in social, economic and demographic factors such as race.

    “Really, we wanted to understand what the comparative impact was over tim...

    Just 1 in 5 Americans Struggling With Opioid Misuse Gets Meds That Can Help

    The U.S. opioid abuse epidemic wages on, and overdose deaths continue to rise, yet just 1 in 5 people receives potentially lifesaving medication such as methadone, buprenorphine or naltrexone to treat their addiction, a new study finds.

    “These medications are effective for prescription opioids like hydrocodone [Vicodin] and oxycodone [OxyContin] and all those medications we rely on for ...

    When Cancer Strikes Twice, Black Americans Face Higher Death Rates

    Black Americans diagnosed with a second primary cancer after their first one are more likely to die than their white peers.

    That's the takeaway from a new study by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

    Specifically, it found that these Black patient...

    Memory Troubles? Your Race Could Affect How Soon You Get Diagnosis, Treatment

    Black Americans are less likely to be seen at a memory clinic than their white peers. So too are folks from neighborhoods that are poor and lack educational and job opportunities, according to a new study.

    That could mean later diagnosis and treatment for dementias like Alzheimer's disease.

    The research, published online Aug. 2 in Neurology, involved data from more than 4...

    Maternity Care 'Deserts' Common Throughout America, Report Finds

    More U.S. women are living in areas with little or no maternity care, raising concern about their ability to have a healthy pregnancy and birth.

    New research from the March of Dimes shows a 4% drop in birthing hospitals throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, and decreased access to maternity care in 369 counties since 2018.

    More than 32 million women lack access to reproducti...

    Minorities Miss Out on Brain-Imaging Studies for Alzheimer's

    Americans in ethnic and racial minority groups are underrepresented in Alzheimer's research, a new study finds.

    Still, the review of U.S.-based Alzheimer's disease brain imaging studies found the gap is closing.

    Compared with white patients, Hispanic Americans are nearly two times more likely to develop Alzheimer's as are Black Americans.

    For the study, researchers analyzed ...

    Minorities, Women Are Shortchanged When It Comes to Statins

    In yet another example of inequities in U.S. health care, new research indicates that many women and minority men who need statins to protect their heart aren't getting them.

    “The recommendation to use statins to treat and prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has been supported by guidelines from major clinical societies for decades,” said study author

  • Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 26, 2023
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  • Women With Severe Stroke Less Likely Than Men to Be Sent to Stroke Centers

    Despite worse symptoms and living about the same distance from comprehensive stroke centers, women with a severe type of stroke are less likely to be sent to these facilities than men, a new study reveals.

    Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston found women with what's called a large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke were about 9% less likely than men...

    Got Arthritis Pain? What State You Live In May Matter

    If you live in West Virginia you're more likely to experience joint pain due to arthritis, according to a new study that looked at the differences in pain across states.

    “The risk of joint pain is over three times higher in some states compared to others, with states in the South, especially the lower Mississippi Valley and southern Appalachia, having particularly high prevalence of joi...

    Biden Moves to Lower Health Care Costs, Limit Insurance Junk Fees

    When they need health care, Americans can be slapped with surprise medical costs because of loopholes in the law and “junk fees,” according to the White House.

    The Biden administration is taking action on several fronts to deal with these unexpected costs.

    “Evading the law and playing games to charge crazy, outrageous prices has to end,” President Joe Biden said in remarks o...

    Biden Announces Measures Aimed at Limiting Health Care Costs

    New federal initiatives could help save Americans money on health care costs.

    President Joe Biden announced plans Friday to target surprise medical bills, scam insurance and third-party credit cards and loans that carry high interest charges, the Associated Press reported.

    Limiting “junk” insurance plans is a key initiative. These are short-term policies that people som...

    More Cancer Patients Got Palliative Care After Obamacare

    New research finds that Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act -- also known as Obamacare -- brought an unexpected benefit: increases in how many patients got palliative care.

    “Our findings are encouraging, especially with growing evidence of the important benefits of palliative care for patients with cancer,” said lead study author

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 6, 2023
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  • U.S. Maternal Mortality Rates Have More Than Doubled in Two Decades

    The number of pregnant and postpartum women who die in the United States has more than doubled in two decades, hitting particular racial groups especially hard.

    New research found sharp increases in maternal death rates between 1999 and 2019, especially among Black, American Indian and Alaskan Native women. Those who live in the South, the Mountain States and the Midwest were also at grea...

    'Like She Was Not Even There': Children With Disabilities Face Discrimination in Health Care

    Children with disabilities are discriminated against in health care settings -- to the detriment of their health, according to their parents.

    Thirty in-depth interviews with parents of children with disabilities revealed a disturbingly common thread.

    “They mistreated her and treated her like a robot. Every single time a nurse walked in the room, they treated her like she was not ...

    Reversing a Trend, Sicker Americans Are Staying With Medicare Managed Care Plans

    A new study shows that older Americans with health issues are now staying with their Medicare Advantage managed plans, rather than swapping them for traditional plans through a health insurer.

    Although Medicare Advantage has been criticized in the past for “cherry-picking” healthy patients, that's no longer the case, according to the research.

    "This is not what a lot of people w...

    Tori Bowie's Death Highlights Race Gap in Maternal Death Rates

    Having a baby in the United States continues to be a risky proposition, particularly for Black women, according to a pair of new reports.

    The number of U.S. deliveries that resulted in severe, potentially life-threatening complications for the mother increased between 2008 and 2021, according to a new analysis led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

    Further, ...

    How Does Your State Rank for Health Care?

    Folks living in Massachusetts, Hawaii and New Hampshire may be among the nation's healthiest, according to a new scorecard that ranks how well the health care system in each U.S. state is working.

    By contrast, people in Mississippi, West Virginia and Oklahoma fare the worst when it comes to access to quality care and overall health and well-being.

    Released each year by the Commonwea...

    Judge Overturns Arkansas Law Banning Gender Transition Care for Minors

    An Arkansas law banning gender transition care for minors, which has been on pause since 2021, was struck down on Tuesday after a U.S. federal judge ruled that it discriminated against transgender people.

    The ruling applies only in Arkansas, but it is the first of what legal scholars expect will be addressed in courts nationwide for years to come.

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • June 21, 2023
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  • Study of Former NFL Players Shows Race Differences in Chronic Pain

    A pro football career can mean chronic pain after retirement, but Black players are especially hard-hit, a new study finds.

    The study, of nearly 4,000 former National Football League (NFL) players, found that Black men reported more intense, more debilitating pain than their white counterparts. They were also more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety or fatigue -- and those problems ...

    More Hospitalizations, ER Visits in Nursing Homes With Higher Levels of Black Residents

    A new study finds that nursing homes that serve Black residents have more hospitalizations and emergency room visits.

    This may be driven by differences in staffing levels from home to home, according to researchers.

    For the study, they examined 2019 data from more than 14,000 U.S. nursing homes.

    Nursing homes with at least 50% Black residents had lower daily per-patient ratios...

    Black Patients Face Greater Risks From Leg Artery Blockages

    A new study has unearthed significant racial disparities in both treatment and outcomes for peripheral artery disease (PAD).

    Black patients with this condition, where plaque builds up in the arteries of the legs, were more likely to have a stroke, heart attack or amputation than white patients, according to researchers from Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los An...

    Most Americans Face Hassles With Their Insurance Plans, and It's Harming Care: Poll

    A majority of insured Americans have struggled with a wide array of stumbling blocks when trying to get coverage for their health care needs, a new national survey shows.

    All told, the KFF report uncovered numerous obstacles to coverage with all types...

    Black Americans' Risk for MS May Be Higher Than Thought

    For years, multiple sclerosis was seen as a disease that largely affects white people. But a new study finds that it's much more common among Black Americans than previously believed.

    Researchers found that in 2010, an estimated 3 out of every 1,000 Black Americans were living with multiple sclerosis (MS). That was less than the prevalence among white Americans, at 4 out of every 1,000, b...

    Burdened by Medical Bills, Many Americans With Diabetes Turn to Crowdfunding for Help

    How prohibitive is the cost of diabetes care?

    For American patients, including those with insurance, the full scope of related expenses is often so onerous that some have turned to crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe as a way to raise cash for care, new research shows.

    Despite the fact that insulin is largely free or low-cost for many, the price of many other basics of diabet...