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The long-standing promise of a ban on menthol cigarettes, which has been years in the making, is unlikely to move forward before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. The FDA announced it would begin the process of banning menthol tobacco cigarettes in 2021. Since then, it has done all it is legally authorized to do to put the finalized rule to ban menthol in motion. But it’s politics, not public health, that is likely to keep menthol cigarettes on the market as Biden’s term ends. Murthy deferred questions about whether the Biden administration would push the ban through as one of its final acts.

Persons: Biden, Donald Trump, —, ”, Avenel Joseph, Robert Wood Johnson, Trump, Vivek Murthy, ” Murthy, Avenel joseph, robert, johnson, ” Joseph, Murthy Organizations: and Drug Administration, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, FDA, Public, Biden OKs, Disease Control, White Locations: U.S, United States

Still, Kennedy said that if tapped, he would advise communities on fluoridated water. Major public health groups, including the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC, soon supported the use of fluoridated water. Cavity prevention, experts say, is a major public health coup. “There’s not any evidence that fluoride has lowered the IQ of kids,” said Dr. David Margolius, Cleveland’s director of public health. Experts maintain that there’s no credible evidence proving fluoride has lowered kids’ IQ levels.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy —, ” Kennedy, Kennedy, ”, Meg Lochary, “ There’s, David Margolius, Richard Besser, Robert Wood Johnson, ” Besser Organizations: MSNBC, Centers for Disease Control, American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, CDC, Pediatrics, U.S . Environmental, Agency, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Locations: Waxhaw , North Carolina, U.S, Colorado Springs , Colorado, Grand Rapids , Michigan, California

As rural hospitals continue to struggle financially, a new type of hospital is slowly taking root, especially in the Southeast. Saving rural careThat was the case for Irwin County Hospital in Ocilla, Georgia, which was the second rural emergency hospital established in the U.S. “But ... we felt like we had to try.”Irwin County Hospital became a rural emergency hospital on Feb. 1, 2023. “We might have been closed if we hadn’t (become a rural emergency hospital), so ... something had to be done,” he said. Brock Slabach, the National Rural Health Association's chief operations officer, told the AP that upwards of 30 facilities are interested in converting to rural emergency hospitals this year.

Persons: Carrie Cochran, McClain, George Pink, Weeks, Scott Carver, he’d, ”, Quentin Whitwell, “ We’re, Whitwell, Carver, Traci Harper, Harper’s, “, ‘, Warren, Jared Chaffin, Amy Thimm, they’ll, Ron Te Brink, Chaffin, “ That’s, Kenneth Williams, Williams, Williams isn’t, we’ve, Pink, it’s, Cochran, Brock Slabach, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: National Rural Health Association, U.S, University of North, Sheps, for Health Services Research, Health Research Program, Irwin County Hospital, Hospital, Progressive Health Systems, Warren Memorial Hospital, Alliance Healthcare, Centers, Medicare, Associated Press, National Rural Health Association's, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: Southeast, Rural, Nebraska, Florida, Ocilla , Georgia, U.S, ” Irwin, Jacksonville , Florida, Holly Springs , Mississippi, Memphis

For some people with COVID-19, antiviral pills that can be taken at home can lessen the chances of winding up in the hospital. Here’s how to get the pills in the U.S.:— Take an at-home COVID-19 test and contact your health care provider. Photos You Should See View All 45 Images— Use a test-to-treat site, where pharmacists can check if you have COVID-19, write the prescription and give you the pills all in one stop. Find a test-to-treat site at treatments.hhs.gov. Paxlovid is the most commonly prescribed antiviral pill for COVID-19.

Persons: Paxlovid, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: National Institutes of Health’s, Pfizer, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: U.S, treatments.hhs.gov

And yet, an antiviral treatment proven to lessen the chances of severe outcomes is going underused. The drug, Paxlovid, is lauded by experts as a powerful tool that can prevent hospitalization and death from COVID-19. One Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that Paxlovid can decrease hospitalization risks among adults by 51%. The study by Harvard researchers found that Paxlovid was disproportionately given to Medicare patients with lower risk of severe infection. “There are very few medications and very few patients whose potential medication interaction with Paxlovid is so severe that they’re better off not taking Paxlovid,” he said.

Persons: they’ve, ”, Amesh, Paxlovid, Kurt Proctor, Celise Ballow, Ballow, “ I’m, I’m, … I’m, ” Ballow, ’ ”, Sarah George, Michael Barnett, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: Johns Hopkins University, Disease Control, Pfizer, National Community Pharmacists Association, St, Louis University, Harvard, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: COVID, U.S, Junction , Utah, Paxlovid, Harvard

Those heavy lead aprons may be on their way out at the dentist office, depending on where you live. The nation's largest dental association said Thursday it will no longer recommend the use of lead aprons and thyroid collars on patients who are getting dental X-rays. Photos You Should See View All 45 Images“It’s like taking a flight from, let’s say, from Michigan to San Francisco, it gives you the equivalent of one dental X-ray,” Kumar said. True change depends on state dental boards, dentists and patients, Kumar said. It will take advocacy and education to change more minds around the use of the aprons among patients, dentists and policymakers, he said.

Persons: Purnima Kumar, ” Kumar, Kumar, Sanjay Mallya, ”, Mallya, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: American Dental Association, Scientific Affairs, University of California, American Academy of Oral, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: Michigan, San Francisco, California, Los Angeles

“I feel comfortable.”Plaza del Sol is one of two dozen sites run by Urban Health Plan Inc., which is one of nearly 1,400 federally designated community health centers. Sometimes, it’s just that.”Fifty years ago, Dr. Acklema Mohammad started as a medical assistant in Urban Health Plan’s first clinic, San Juan Health Center. About 150 elders get at-home visits, said Dr. Manuel Vazquez, Urban Health Plan’s vice president of medical affairs who oversees the home health program. Building community trustOne of the nation’s first community health centers opened in the rural Mississippi delta in 1967, in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement’s Freedom Summer. Delta Health Center in Mound Bayou, Mississippi today operates the health center has 17 locations in five counties, including free-standing clinics and some in schools.

Persons: Elisa Reyes, ” Reyes, they’ve, Matthew Kusher, ” Kusher, “, ”, Kyu Rhee, Yelisa Sierra, “ It’s, Sierra, Acklema Mohammad, Mo, pediatricians, ” Mohammad, telehealth, Manuel Vazquez, isn’t, ‘, there’s, Temika Simmons, New York City’s, Angelica Flores, DaSilva, they’re, ” Simmons, You've, Kasturi Pananjady, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: del, Family Health, Urban Health, Inc, Associated Press, U.S . Health Resources, Services Administration, —, National Association of Community Health Centers, Urban Health Plan’s, San Juan Health Center, El Nuevo San Juan Health Center, Civil, Delta Health Center, Delta Health Center’s, Staff, Press, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: Queens, Sol, U.S, El Nuevo, Mississippi, Mound Bayou , Mississippi, Leland, Greenville, Jackson, Memphis, del Sol, Corona, New York, In Mississippi

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A new estimate shows hearing loss affects approximately 37.9 million Americans and is more common in rural areas than urban ones and in men than women. The estimates are for 2019 and only include people who have hearing loss in both ears. Experts say rural Americans need better access to hearing screenings and specialists. Audiologist Melanie Buhr-Lawler, a clinical professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said she saw the threats to hearing health growing up on a farm in rural Wisconsin and later researching hearing loss in rural residents. “People who live in rural areas have a hearing health double-whammy," said Buhr-Lawler, who was not involved with the study.

Persons: NORC, audiologist Nicholas Reed, ”, David Rein, Audiologist Melanie Buhr, Lawler, Buhr, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: MILWAUKEE, University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins University, University of Wisconsin, “, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: Madison, Wisconsin, Tomah , Wisconsin

NEW YORK (AP) — Ava DuVernay kept hearing she had to read “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.” She had Isabel Wilkerson’s book in galleys before it was published in 2020. “At one point, a high-profile director said to me, ‘I heard you got the book,’” DuVernay says. “That’s what I thought.”Political Cartoons View All 253 Images“Origin,” DuVernay’s new film, isn’t a direct adaptation of Wilkerson’s book. It feels like a miracle.”DuVernay calls “Origin” the film she’s proudest of, partly because of how she made it outside the studio system. To not feel like ‘Oh, I didn’t go to film school and I’m just skating by,'" DuVernay says.

Persons: — Ava DuVernay, Isabel Wilkerson’s, Oprah Winfrey, ‘, ” DuVernay, ’, ”, George Floyd, Wilkerson, ” “ Selma ”, “, DuVernay, Aunjaneu Ellis, Taylor, “ She’s Indiana Jones, She’s, Ellis, Taylor hadn’t, Paul Garnes, Garnes, —, Robert Wood Johnson, Melinda Gates, Chris Paul, Trayvon Martin, Jim Crow, Jon Bernthal, Emily Yancy, ” Ellis, Oscar, “ King Arthur, she’s, Selma ’, I’ve, I’m, Martin, doesn’t, it’s, Jake Coyle Organizations: “, Venice Film, Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, NBA, Suns, LBJ, Venice, Walt Disney Co Locations: “, United States, Venice, Nazi Germany, Mississippi, India, American

The poll found that 55% of Black respondents said they feel like they must be very careful about their appearance to be treated fairly at medical visits. That’s similar to the rate for Hispanic and Alaska Native patients – and nearly double the rate for white patients. Nearly 30% of Black respondents prepare to be insulted, also about double the rate for white patients. Asians and Hispanics were three times more likely to say they’ve been treated badly in a health care setting because of their race than white respondents and Black respondents were 6 times more likely. “The consequences in health care are really striking and very frightening, honestly, to understand what people need to do to be taken seriously, to be seen as a whole person,” she said.

Persons: KFF, Christine Wright, Wright, she’s, “, you’re, ”, Drew Altman, Allison Bryant, Bryant, ” Bryant, Luna Roldán, te, they’ve, Mary Conlon, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: Associated Press, Massachusetts General Hospital, Latina, Indians, Alaska Natives, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: Alaska, U.S, Massachusetts, Lake Worth , Florida

U.S. health officials recalled three more brands of whole and pre-cut cantaloupes Friday as the number of people sickened by salmonella more than doubled this week. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's original recall included Malichita brand whole cantaloupe, Vinyard brand pre-cut cantaloupe and ALDI whole cantaloupe and pre-cut fruit products. Rudy brand whole cantaloupes and Freshness Guaranteed brand and RaceTrac brand pre-cut cantaloupes joined the list Friday. Health officials say anyone who bought the recalled fruits should throw them away and wash surfaces that touched them with hot, soapy water or in a dishwasher. Most people infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps within six hour to six days after consuming food contaminated with the bacteria.

Persons: Rudy, cantaloupes, JoNel Aleccia, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: U.S . Food, ALDI, Health, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: Arizona , Missouri, Minnesota , Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, U.S

Veterinary laboratories in several states are investigating an unusual respiratory illness in dogs, and encouraging people to take basic precautions to keep their pets healthy as veterinarians try to pin down what's making the animals sick. Oregon, Colorado and New Hampshire are among the states that have seen cases of the illness, which has caused lasting respiratory disease and pneumonia and does not respond to antibiotics. Symptoms of respiratory illness in dogs include coughing, sneezing, nasal or eye discharge and lethargy. Some cases of the pneunomia progress quickly, making dogs very sick within 24 to 36 hours. Dogs have died, said Kurt Williams, director of the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University.

Persons: Kurt Williams, Williams, David Needle, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: Oregon Department of Agriculture, U.S . Department of, National Veterinary Services Laboratory, Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic, Oregon State University, University of New, Diagnostic, Hubbard, for Genome Research, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: Oregon , Colorado, New Hampshire, Oregon, University of New Hampshire's New Hampshire, Rhode Island , New Hampshire, Massachusetts

NEW YORK (AP) — RSV infections are rising sharply in some parts of the country, nearly filling hospital emergency departments in Georgia, Texas and some other states. To help counter the surge, federal officials on Thursday announced they were releasing 77,000 doses of a new RSV shot for newborns that have been in short supply. In Virginia, 20 kids are currently hospitalized with RSV at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU Health, with about half of them in the intensive care unit, said spokesperson Shira Pollard. “Our emergency departments, our urgent cares are extremely busy. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common cause of mild cold-like symptoms such as runny nose, cough and fever.

Persons: Meredith McMorrow, Shira Pollard, Jim Fortenberry, ” Fortenberry, ___ Hunter, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, Children’s Hospital of Richmond, VCU Health, Children’s Healthcare, CDC, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: Georgia , Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Atlanta, Children’s

Political Cartoons View All 1244 Images“They ask questions but they don’t tell us what is going on,” Hawkins said of CMS. If trends continue, as many as 30 million people could end up being dropped from Medicaid once states finish reviewing their Medicaid rolls, according to Avalere's projections. The numbers dwarf the Biden administration’s initial projections that only 15 million people would lose coverage throughout the process. “We have to say it’s going poorly,” Massey Whorley, a principal at Avalere, said of the Medicaid redeterminations. Some Texas lawmakers have asked CMS to investigate issues in the state, where nearly 1 million have lost Medicaid.

Persons: Biden, Avalere, ”, Trevor Hawkins, Hawkins, “, ” Hawkins, they’ve, Xavier Becerra, Daniel Tsai, Tsai, Lily Mezquita, Mezquita, ” Massey Whorley, I’ve, Gavin Lesnick, Lesnick, Lynn Hearn, Hearn, We’ve, we’ve, ” Hearn, Mallory McManus, Cassidy Estes, Rogers, didn't, Estes, Graciela Camarena, Camarena, Jennifer Ruffcorn, Jennifer Wagner, ___ Hunter, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: WASHINGTON, Medicaid, Legal Aid, Centers, Medicare, Services, CMS, Democratic, Human Services, HHS, CMS Center, Children’s Health Insurance, Biden, AP, state's Department of Human Services, Florida Health Justice, Florida Department of Children, Charlotte Center, Legal, Children's Defense Fund, Texas, Texas Health, Center, Budget, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Locations: Florida, Arkansas, Texas, Miami , Florida, Avalere, North Carolina, Atlanta

More than 3,700 babies were born with congenital syphilis in 2022 — 10 times more than a decade ago and a 32% increase from 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. The 2022 count was the most in more than 30 years, CDC officials said, and in more than half of the congenital syphilis cases, the mothers tested positive during pregnancy but did not get properly treated. The rise in congenital syphilis comes despite repeated warnings by public health agencies and it’s tied to the surge in primary and secondary cases of syphilis in adults, CDC officials said. It’s also been increasingly difficult for medical providers to get benzathine penicillin injections — the main medical weapon against congenital syphilis — because of supply shortages. Nearly 40% of last year’s congenital syphilis cases involved mothers who didn't have prenatal care, the CDC said.

Persons: it’s, It’s, Laura Bachmann, “, Mike Saag, ”, Nina Ragunanthan, ___ Hunter, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, Federal, Associated, University of Alabama, OB, Delta Health Center, Pfizer, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: U.S, Illinois, Birmingham, Mound Bayou , Mississippi, Atlanta

These student doctors, nurses and physician assistants are the front line of health care for asylum-seekers in the nation’s third-largest city, filling a gap in Chicago’s haphazard response. “My team is a team that shouldn’t have to exist, but it does out of necessity,” said Sara Izquierdo, a University of Illinois Chicago medical student who helped found the group. Political Cartoons View All 1230 ImagesIzquierdo noted the medical care gap months ago, consulted experienced doctors and designed a street-medicine model tailored to migrants' medical needs. The migrants’ health problems tend to be related to their journey or living in crowded conditions. “You’re not going to tell a person who has gone through this journey to stop smoking,” said Ruben Santos, a Rush University medical student.

Persons: “, ”, Sara Izquierdo, we’re, I’m, Greg Abbott, Izquierdo, Abrahan Balizario, wasn’t, Miriam Guzman, Brandon Johnson, Rey Wences Najera, “ You’re, Ruben Santos, Moises Hidalgo, He’s, “ I’ve, Muftawu, Deen Iddrisu, Melissa Perez Winder, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: CHICAGO, University of Illinois Chicago, Texas Gov, Hygiene, UIC, Rush University, Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Press, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: Chicago, Peru, Venezuela, U.S, Hidalgo, Illinois, Ghana, Cuba

Doctors across the country say it’s rare that migrants receive medical screenings or anything beyond care for medical emergencies when they arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border, and there’s no overarching national system to track the care, either. You have these little islands of shelter,” said Deliana Garcia, of the nonprofit Migrant Clinicians Network, which supported more than 1,000 migrants in need of medical care in the first 10 months of this year. The challenges of careMigrants face a lack of access to steady medical care in the U.S., as well as healthy food and stable housing. Some avoid asking for help entirely out of fear of a large bill or longstanding distrust of the medical system. The shelter system in Massachusetts is so full that the governor brought in the National Guard in August to assist.

Persons: Julio Figuera, he’d, Figuera, ”, Deliana Garcia, “, anyone’s, Craig Williams, Cook, we’ve, Steve Federico, they’re, Federico, ” Federico, Jon Ewing, Ewing, Doctors, they’ve, Garcia, Ted Long, Stephanie Lee, who'd, Lee, ” Lee, Fiona Danaher, Danaher, Brigham, Sophia Tareen, Jesse Bedayn, Shastri, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: International, Network, Border Patrol, Associated Press, Denver, New York City Health, Denver Health, New York, Penn State, National Institutes of Health, National Guard, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: Cook County, Chicago, Venezuela, United States, U.S, Mexico, New York, Los Angeles, Boston, New York City, Denver, Massachusetts, Milwaukee

The fallout was quick: Nevada, which saw a 44 percentage-point jump in congenital syphilis from 2021 to 2022, was supposed to get more than $10 million to bolster its STD program budget. In 2021, there were 77.9 cases of congenital syphilis per 100,000 live births. Doing so in a timely manner can prevent congenital syphilis. Mississippi is also seeing an uptick in congenital syphilis cases, which a recently published study showed rose tenfold between 2016 and 2022. Agency head Dr. Dan Edney said one of his top priorities now is finding money from other parts of the state's health budget.

Persons: they’d, Dawn Cribb, ”, Sam Burgess, Deneshun Graves, Lupita Thornton, Graves, Thornton, “, Dan Edney, Rebecca Scranton, ” Scranton, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: Nevada Division of Public, Behavioral, Associated Press, Louisiana Department of Health, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Houston Health Department, Health, Mississippi State Department of Health, Agency, of Health Services, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: U.S, Nevada, . Mississippi, Arizona

ATLANTA (AP) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering a ban on certain hair-straightening chemicals that have been used by Black women for years and that research shows may increase the risk of uterine cancer. But Black hair stylists say such products — specifically the ones being looked at by the FDA, which contain formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals — have fallen out of favor, especially among younger generations. The possible rule would apply to both salon-grade and at-home products, FDA spokesperson Courtney Rhodes said. Pressley said in an Oct. 6 statement that the FDA's possible action is “a win for public health — especially the health of Black women." The risks for Black women could shift with better regulation of chemical hair straighteners, said Dr. Kimberly Bertrand, an author of the Boston University study.

Persons: “, ”, Kayleigh Butler, Courtney Rhodes, Jasmine Garcia, Jasmine Nicole Xclusives, —, Ayanna Pressley, Shontel Brown, Pressley, Kimberly Bertrand, Dr, Yolanda Lenzy, cosmetologist, there's, who’ve, Lenzy, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: ATLANTA, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, FDA, Associated Press, Reps, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, National Institutes of Health, Boston University, Environmental Research, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: U.S, Atlanta, Ayanna Pressley of, Ohio

It's the end of an era for a once-critical pandemic document: The ubiquitous white COVID-19 vaccination cards are being phased out. Now that COVID-19 vaccines are not being distributed by the federal government, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stopped printing new cards. Otherwise, people who need their COVID-19 immunization records will need to request them just like any other vaccine. Many states offer digital vaccination records for individuals either online or through an app. You should save it like any other health record, Wyoming Department of Health nurse consultant Heidi Gurov said.

Persons: you’ve, it’s, David Andres Alegria, ”, Jeff Chorath, Heidi Gurov, “ It's, Mandy Cohen, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: U.S . Centers for Disease Control, CDC, Federal, San Antonio Metropolitan Health, Washington, Wyoming Department of Health, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: Texas, San Antonio, Wyoming, Philadelphia's, Washington, U.S

Medicaid, the federal and state health insurance program for the poor, requires states to provide dental coverage for children but not adults. While dental care often is seen as routine, the poor often go without any care for years or even decades. In New Hampshire, the state is spending $33.4 million over 12 months to provide dental care to its 88,000 Medicaid recipients. Andy Beshear pressed ahead with emergency regulations ensuring that about 900,000 Kentuckians would continue having access to dental care after the Republican-led legislature rejected his proposal. A mother of five, she figured dental care would take away from spending on her children.

Persons: Carlton Clemons, ”, Cindy, Victor Wu, don’t, Rhonda Switzer, ” Switzer, Nadasdi, Joe Schapiro, can’t, Andy Beshear, Heather Taylor, Richard M, “, Ryan O’Neill, ” O'Neill, Danielle Wilkes, Renee Pentecost, Wilkes, I’m, Jasmine Webb, Pentecost, “ I’m, Bruce Schreiner, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: Social Security, Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, M University, for Disease Control, Interfaith Dental, CareQuest Institute, Oral Health, New Hampshire Democratic, Democratic, Republican, Rhode, American Dental Association . Illinois, Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University, Tennessee Family Dental, Medicaid, ”, Associated Press, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: Tenn, Nashville , Tennessee, Tennessee, Texas, United States, Nashville, Murfreesboro , Tennessee, Hawaii , Tennessee , Kentucky, Michigan, Maryland, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Virginia, Kansas, Texas , Alabama , Mississippi , Utah, Louisiana, New Jersey, American Dental Association . Illinois , New York , Ohio, Oregon, Alaska, North Dakota, Delaware, Ashland , Tennessee, Frankfort , Kentucky

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Some people seeking the newest COVID-19 vaccine are running into high demand, insurance headaches and supply delays coast to coast. But some people have had to cancel appointments because their insurance hasn’t updated the billing codes to cover the vaccines. And in some places, there are no available nearby vaccines: A search in Juneau, Alaska, through the federal government’s website shows no available appointments within 100 miles. For others, the shots were covered by insurance without issue, but appointments were canceled by their pharmacy due to supply delays. Walgreens and CVS confirmed that delivery delays to some stores across the country had led to canceled appointments.

Persons: Cases, Alex Huseman, ” Huseman, Matt Blanchette, “, Pfizer spokespeople, Chris Ridley, Marwa Bakr, ” Bakr, Karen Ramos, ” Ramos, ”, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: MILWAUKEE, for Disease Control, Prevention, Alaska Department of Health, CVS, Walgreens, ” Moderna, Pfizer, Associated Press, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: Juneau , Alaska, Moderna, Temecula , California, Caribbean, San Diego, Temecula

Fewer than half of rural hospitals now have maternity units, prompting government officials and families to scramble for answers. The closures have worsened so-called “maternity care deserts" — counties with no hospitals or birth centers that offer obstetric care and no OB providers. Ultimately, doctors and researchers say, having fewer hospital maternity units makes having babies less safe. “It feels like you’re held in a way.”Some states and communities are taking steps to create more freestanding birth centers. It was a novel and “innovative” idea to request federal nurses to boost staffing at a rural maternity unit, Wyden’s office said.

Persons: Alisha Alderson, ”, Alderson, “, Eric Scott Palmer, It’s, —, Peiyin Hung, Saint Alphonsus, Odette Bolano, Dina Ellwanger, John Tucker, Tucker, we’ve, ’, Lacy Kee, she’ll, She’s, Kee, Henry, Pamela Evans, Evans, she’s, Katie O’Brien, Paris, Bennett —, O’Brien, Corina Fitch, Fitch, Betsy Baarspul, you’re, Ned Lamont, Alecia McGregor, ” McGregor, Tina Kotek, Sen, Ron Wyden, Shane Alderson, Alisha's, ” ___ Rush, Kuna , Idaho . Ungar, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: OB, Henry County Medical Center, American Hospital Association, University of South, University of South Carolina’s Rural, Minority Health Research Center, Saint, Henry County Medical, Associated Press, Medicaid, Midwifery, Connecticut Gov, Harvard, of Public Health, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, AP, Oregon Gov, U.S . Public Health Service, Corps, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Locations: Oregon, Boise , Idaho, U.S, Tennessee, University of South Carolina’s, Baker City, Paris , Tennessee, Kentucky, Henry County, Summertown , Tennessee, Connecticut, Chan, “, Baker, Baker City , Oregon, Kuna , Idaho

Local public health officials say the potential loss of funding could severely impact several essential services, including vaccines, cancer screening and testing for sexually transmitted infections. A national public health expert said the situation is unique in the U.S. and a threat to the entire public health field — especially going into an election year when health officials and their department could again become political targets. “I’m hoping this isn’t the start of a new trend of retroactive punishment against public health departments.”More than than 300,000 people live in Ottawa County, making it Michigan's seventh largest county. “You should not be at war with your health providers.”The Network for Public Health Law and the National Association of County and City Health Officials filed amicus briefs in support of Hambley’s lawsuit last month. And Freeman said her organization is keeping a close eye on Ottawa County: “This isn't something we want on the books for other county commissioners to consider in the future."

Persons: COVID, they’ve, ”, Lori Freeman, “ I’m, Herman Miller, Joe Moss, Sylvia Rhodea, — Moss, Rhodea, John Gibbs, Adeline Hambley, Jacob Bonnema, it's, Hambley, “, ” Hambley, Gibbs, Moss, —, Freeman, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: National Association of County, City Health, Ottawa, Republican, Diversity, Equity, Associated Press, AP, Hambley, Grand Haven, Public Health Law, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Locations: Mich, Michigan, U.S, Ottawa County, Ottawa, Grand

“This is hugely important, both practically and symbolically,” said Tim Franklin, director of the Local News Initiative at Northwestern University's Medill journalism school. The Carnegie Corp., the Democracy Fund, the Ford Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and MacArthur are among a group of 20 initial funders. Philanthropies that recognize the need to strengthen democracy are beginning to see that progress on many different issues depends on the public's understanding of facts, said John Palfrey, MacArthur Foundation president. He said he expected other funding will be added in the coming months to boost the commitment beyond $500 million. Struggling local news sources have also attracted the attention of state governments, where things like tax breaks for advertisers or subscribers are being discussed, he said.

Persons: ”, Tim Franklin, Robert Wood Johnson, John Palfrey, Franklin, there's, “, Alberto Ibarguen, John S, James L, Ibarguen, wasn’t, ” Ibarguen, he's, Tom Rosenstiel Organizations: MacArthur Foundation, Foundation, Press, Local, Initiative, Northwestern University's Medill, Carnegie Corp, Democracy Fund, Ford Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, MacArthur, Associated Press, Knight Foundation, Texas Tribune, Shawnee Mission, University of Maryland Locations: United States, Northwestern, Shawnee, Kansas, Richland, Ohio, Chicago, Dallas , Texas, Pennsylvania, Minneapolis, Boston, Dallas, Seattle, Philadelphia

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