Public Health
Republican governors on international pandemic plan: We will not comply
Republican leaders have expressed their disinterest in complying with an international push for a coordinated, global pandemic response.
Annual naloxone distribution day expands to at least 32 states this year
The event is about 'second chances for communities, not just individuals,' one organizer says.
States weigh how to protect older adults from HIV-related discrimination in health care
More than half of Americans living with HIV are over 50. For this growing population, discrimination can compound health challenges.
Philly residents with opioid addiction get medication from the ‘bupe bus’—creating a path for treatment
COMMENTARY | As an addiction medicine physician and researcher, I think a lot about how to get effective treatment to the patients who need it most.
$62M available for state, local health agencies to offer free vaccines
A federal program that offered uninsured Americans COVID-19 vaccines for free just ended. But officials say more money is coming to help state and local governments fill the gap.
Trees aren't just pretty to look at. They're also good for yew.
More U.S. cities are planting trees as a way to improve public health and reduce climate threats. New data shows they might be on the right track.
More studies won’t solve the masking debate
COMMENTARY | Policymakers should communicate how science informs their values and priorities in weighing policy trade-offs.
How states can tackle vaccine hesitancy with data
From school safety to 'Tis the Sneezin’ public health campaigns, states are using public, local vaccination data to help people make better choices.
Public voices often ignored in states’ opioid settlement money decisions
People, including those who have lost loved ones to the opioid crisis or are dealing with it daily, are routinely shut out of having a meaningful say in how the settlement windfall can be best used to address the damage.
As vaccine hesitancy rises, so could claims of religious exemptions
A rise in religious exemptions to vaccine mandates could pose public health risks as more Americans forego immunizations.
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HIV infection rates are down everywhere but the South
A new federal grant program looks to improve health equity in Southern states for vulnerable populations like individuals of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
A new report ranks the best and worst states for women’s health
State policies shape women’s health and reproductive care, and researchers say there is a growing geographic divide where some women are dying at greater rates from preventable causes.
Bird flu cases are going undetected, new study suggests. It’s a problem for all of us.
As cases go underreported, public health officials risk being slow to notice if the virus were to become more contagious.
As bike and scooter ridership soars, safety challenges grow
Injuries and deaths are also soaring. Observers say helmet mandates are a good place to start.
New York City's public health vending machine program ends up with just 4 installed out of 10 announced
Thousands of free harm-reduction and sanitary supplies have been dispensed by the devices, but the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene quietly halted new installations in May.
Montana looks to become latest state to boost nonprofit hospital oversight
Montana’s proposal to increase oversight is part of a national trend by states to ensure nonprofit hospitals act as charitable organizations as they claim tax-exempt status.
The fittest cities in America: See how yours compares
City officials have an important role to play in ensuring the well-being of their communities. Here’s how they can address resident health through policy and resources.
New $255M federal grant will help state, local public health agencies modernize data systems
The program looks to improve data sharing infrastructure and processes for public health agencies to better detect and manage health threats.
Stigma is hindering treatment of opioid addictions. States can change that.
The health care workforce is key to treating patients' opioid use disorders, but experts say stigma toward drug use and treatment among medical professionals remains a barrier to treatment access and positive outcomes.
Missouri is getting more people to the dentist—for more than a pretty smile
Missouri Medicaid plan just started covering routine dental exams for adults, almost a decade after adding coverage for cleanings. Health experts believe the change will help more people get preventative dental care.
