Reproductive Health / Public News Service

In 2020, Alabama had the third-highest maternal mortality rate in the nation, at 36.4 deaths per 100,000 live births. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 10, 2025

New health toolkit aims to bridge AL’s care gap for expecting mothers

Alabama has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country and access to care remains a serious issue, especially in rural areas. Now…

2023 research shows U.S. maternal mortality rates are on the rise. (Adobe Stock)

Will Kentucky lift restrictions on freestanding birth centers?

Next week, Kentucky lawmakers are expected to consider a bill that would lift legal red tape that backers say makes it difficult to open up …

Rural communities, low-income people and BIPOC people have the least access to health care in Arkansas. (onephoto/Adobe Stock)

Work requirements could be coming for AR Medicaid recipients

Changes could be coming for Arkansans who are on Medicaid. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is proposing to add work requirements for some Medicaid …

The Episcopal Health Foundation in Texas wants to change the conversation and reshape the debate around health care to focus on the nonmedical drivers of health. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)

TX lawmakers urged to make healthy living a priority during legislative session

The Episcopal Health Foundation wants Texas lawmakers to make health a priority during this legislative session. The nonprofit focuses on the …

Michigan's new Maternal Health Equity Package laws, authored in part by Rep. Julie Rogers, D-Kalamazoo, further prioritize the health of new parents and their children in a variety of ways, including implementing mental health screenings for new mothers. (Rep. Julie Rogers)

New MI laws tackle disparities in maternal health care

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently signed landmark legislation to expand access to essential OB/GYN services across Michigan. Between 2018 and 2022…

In 2022, 52% of rural hospitals no longer had maternity wards, compared to 36% of urban hospitals. Cuts to Medicaid funding would affect already struggling rural medical facilities. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed Medicaid cuts threaten rural PA residents, hospitals

Federal safety net programs face major potential cuts as the Trump administration pursues budget reductions, with a House GOP proposal suggesting $2.5…

More than 400,000 people are enrolled in MaineCare, the state's Medicaid program, according to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. At least 40,000 recipients continue in an

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Rural ME braces for Medicaid cuts as lawmakers eye corporate tax breaks

Children and families in rural Maine would face the greatest harm should proposed funding cuts to the federal Medicaid program be implemented…

The PoliChic Engagement Fund helps Texas women get involved through civic engagement to impact public policy. (Jesse B/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

TX women encouraged to honor MLK Jr. by exercising their rights

As the second week of the Texas legislative session gets underway, advocates want women and young girls to pay attention to bills that could impact …

Among adults younger than 65, about 18% of those in small towns and rural America get their coverage through Medicaid, compared with about 16% in metro areas. (AndriiKoval/Adobe Stock)

Possible cuts to Medicaid would hurt many AR families

A study by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families shows most people who live in small towns and rural areas use Medicaid for healt…

Policy experts said rural residents tend to have lower incomes and less access to employer-sponsored health coverage, making programs such as Medicaid a more prominent option for health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Report: If Congress guts Medicaid, rural America would notice

Congressional Republicans are taking a hard look at Medicaid as they pursue spending cuts and a new report shows how the public health program is prev…

In Pennsylvania, abortions are legal up to the 23rd week of pregnancy and beyond if the woman's health is at risk. (Parilov/Adobe Stock)

Researcher warns about Christian nationalism's influence on reproductive rights

There are growing concerns about the prevalence of Christian Nationalism, an ideology that seeks to establish a theocracy rooted in Christian …

Toxic PFAS chemicals have been detected in the blood of 99% of Americans, including infants, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Rising risks of toxic PFAS chemicals in CO drinking water

More than 143 million Americans are at risk of toxic PFAS, so-called forever chemicals, in their drinking water, according to new test results …

According to the National Council of Urban Indian Health, the average age of Indian Health Service facilities is over 37 years and the maintenance backlog was about $515 million in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

SD’s Native population sees 'double whammy' of health barriers

Funding for the Indian Health Service has increased over the past decade but the agency remains underfunded, which affects both the health and …

According to the March of Dimes, 15.4% of Wyoming women did not have a birthing hospital within 30 minutes of home last year, compared to a U.S. average of 9.7%. (MANUEL/Adobe Stock)<br />

Another birthing center closes, WY maternal health struggles continue

Evanston Regional Hospital is discontinuing its labor and delivery services next week, citing a "steady decline of demand." It is the fourth Wyoming …

The work of GreenLatinos Texas, centers around empowering frontline environmental justice and conservation advocates. Members are actively engaging with local communities to understand their campaign goals and identify areas where support is needed. (Photo courtesy of Green Latinos)

TX group works to give Latinos seat at table in fight against methane

Members of the environmental nonprofit GreenLatinos are involved in a push to get more Latinos across Texas involved in the fight against methane gas…

The Doula Alliance of Arkansas (DAR) was formed with help from a $250,000 grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a group seeking to improve maternal health. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

Doula Alliance of AR works to improve maternal health

Birth doulas across Arkansas have formed a new organization to improve maternal health care across the state and help pass legislation they hope will …

The Maternity Care Coalition connects families seeking doula services with providers from its doula network and offers free childbirth workshops to educate and empower those giving birth and their families. (Maternity Care Coalition)

Advocate: Doulas essential to birth justice in Pennsylvania

Nationwide, Black women face a maternal mortality rate three times higher than white women. To address the disparity, the Maternity Care Coalition …

Nationwide, more than 9,700 abortions per month were provided via telehealth under shield law protections in the second quarter of 2024, a 5% increase since the first quarter of 2024, according to WeCount. (Adobe Stock)

Wisconsinites seeking abortion telemedicine via shield laws face risks

Wisconsin law bans telemedicine abortion care, yet new data show an increasing number of Wisconsinites have been getting abortion pills through …

If the STORK Act is passed, Ohio would join states such as Georgia, which already allow tax deductions for unborn children, a policy enacted in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio’s STORK Act: Tax relief for parents or a push against abortion rights?

By Vanessa Davidson / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Ohio Rep. Gary …

The orange bag inside the Safe Haven Baby Boxes includes information on trafficking and Safe Haven registry resources. The mothers also have the option to send back identity, ethnicity and medical information for the child if they wish. (Save Haven Baby Boxes)

Expansion of Safe Haven Baby Boxes across Mississippi counties underway

Advocates said Mississippi is taking a big step toward infant safety with the expansion of Safe Haven Baby Boxes in the state. Nationwide, more than …

In 2020, Pennsylvania reported more than 32,000 abortions, with providers documenting only 239 cases that involved medical complications. (Longfin Media/Adobe Stock) <br />

PA advocates stand firm on reproductive health access

President-elect Donald Trump's second term has some Pennsylvania health care providers and legal experts voicing concern about potential changes to ab…

So far, the Safe Haven Baby Box hotline has handled more than 9,000 calls, supporting parents across all 50 states, including referring more than 500 women to crisis pregnancy centers, assisting with 10 adoption referrals, and facilitating more than 150 legal Safe Haven surrenders. (Tsado/Adobe)

Tennessee offers new Safe Haven Baby Boxes for parents

Advocates say Tennessee is taking a big step toward infant safety by installing new Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Chattanooga and Atoka. Nationwide…

Jobs in community and social services fields are expected to grow by nearly 8% over the next 10 years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Continuing education opportunities for KY’s social and health workers

Medicaid renewals and steps the state is taking to improve maternal health are all topics experts will cover at the upcoming Kentucky Voices for Healt…

Ballot measures to ensure access to abortion won in the 2024 election in red states like Arizona, Missouri and Montana. (tilialucida/Adobe Stock)

Pro-choice wins in election signal promise for potential ID initiative

Voters across the country approved a majority of measures in November to affirm abortion rights and supporters of an initiative to legalize abortion i…

According to the Great Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center, one in 40 Native American and Alaska Native babies born in the Great Plains region in 2022 had a syphilis infection. (Adobe Stock)

Tribal leaders call syphilis outbreak 'public health emergency'

By Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the KFF Health News…

The UMB program is self-paced and includes a two-day in-person simulation training. (Adobe Stock / AI)

Maryland trains more health workers to offer abortion care

By Sarah Varney for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Maryland News Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Servi…

On the day after the Nov. 5th election, Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide reported a 1200% increase in scheduled vasectomy appointments and a 350% increase in birth control implant appointments. (Adobe Stock) <br />

New England clinics see post-election spike in contraceptive requests

Health clinics in New England and elsewhere are coping with a sharp uptick in requests for long-acting contraceptives in the wake of the election…

Following the Nov. 5th election, Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide reported a 760% increase in IUD appointments scheduled and a 350% increase in birth control implant appointments. (Adobe Stock)

Post-election contraceptive requests increase at ME clinics

Health clinics in Maine and elsewhere are coping with a sharp uptick in requests for long-acting contraceptives in the wake of the election. …

The Wyoming Family Alliance Action's 2024 school board candidate questionnaire asked candidates how much they agree with this statement:

Some WY school board elections echoed national politics

School boards are nonpartisan, but a recent trend in Wyoming shows far-right candidates are bringing national politics to local elections. Public …

Ohio's inadequate family leave policies and systemic gaps contribute to high rates of infant mortality (7.06 per 1,000 births) and maternal mortality (18.8 per 100,000 births) both above the U.S. average). (Best/Adobe Stock)

Report: Paid family leave and what it could mean for Ohio

Ohio is among the many states where a majority of workers lack access to paid family leave. A new report by Groundwork Ohio finds three in four …

Five of its six neighboring states have fewer restrictive laws on reproductive care than South Dakota. (Adobe Stock)

SD keeps abortion ban, but 'the landscape is changing'

A majority of South Dakotans have voted to maintain a strict abortion ban but other factors are shifting the landscape for reproductive care in the st…

More than 2 million votes were cast for the Democratic ticket in Ohio, although more than 55% of Ohio voters supported the Republican ticket. (Wikimedia Commons)

Middletown looks to JD Vance to help improve local economy

Ohio Republicans will soon have stronger representation in Washington, D.C., as Buckeye State native and Vice President-Elect J.D. Vance is set to …

President-elect Donald Trump said during his campaign the issue of abortion access should be left to states. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has said he hopes Trump sticks to his viewpoint. (Adobe Stock)

WI Supreme Court hears case on 1849 abortion law

It is now up to Wisconsin Supreme Court justices to decide the fate of an abortion law from the mid-1800s. A circuit court determined last year an 18…

Four in ten women under the age of 30 said abortion was the number one most important issue this election cycle, according to the health policy nonprofit group KFF. (Feng Yu / Adobe Stock)

AZ passes abortion measure, advocates still concerned about a Trump presidency

Voters in Arizona overwhelmingly supported and approved Proposition 139 last week, which enshrines abortion rights into the state's constitution…

Nevada was one of seven states last week that passed pro-abortion ballot initiatives. (Adobe Stock)

Nevada, called for Trump, also passes abortion rights ballot measure

Nevada voters supported Question 6, which will protect abortion rights in the Silver State. The proposal will add language to the state …

While Amendment 3 protects the right to abortion in Missouri, it does not mandate state funding for abortion procedures, so Medicaid and state funds are not used for most abortions. (Bits and Splits/Adobe Stock)

Both sides react as Missouri reverses near-total abortion ban

Strong reactions are pouring in from both sides as Missouri voters made history by adding abortion rights to the state constitution. The decision to …

Following Roe vs. Wade's overturn, over 40,000 people in restrictive states obtained medication abortions through shielded providers in the second half of 2023, reflecting a sharp rise in use. (NanSan/Adobe Stock)

Election Day raises new fears over Comstock Act, reproductive rights

By Lauren Rankin for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Yes! Media-Public News Service …

More than one-third of Iowa voters live in rural areas. Research shows them highly engaged in this year's election. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa's rural voters show historic engagement, passion

Poll results indicate Iowa's rural voters say the economy, jobs, and inflation top the list of critical issues for them in tomorrow's election…

Early voting turnout outpaced 2020 and 2016 in elections across the state. (driftwood/Adobe Stock)

Texas election officials: Expect long lines on Election Day

Millions of Texans stood in long lines to cast ballots during early voting. In addition to picking the next president, Texans are voting in the …

Many Gen Z Americans get their news through social, media according to the Pew Research Center. <br />(Llstock/Adobe Stock)

How social media strategies are shaping Ohio's vote in 2024 elections

By Hevin Wilkey / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Kamala Harris has …

Abbey Hall, the daughter of a former Delaware County Sheriff, said the experience of having to cross state lines for medical care made her feel like a fugitive. (Adobe stock)

Indiana’s restrictive abortion laws force mother to seek care in Illinois

A Carmel, Ind., mother of two is sharing a very personal story hoping it affects Hoosiers ahead of Election Day. Abbey Hall was forced to travel to …

Since 2010, eight rural hospitals have closed in North Carolina. (Adobe Stock)

New federal program offers hope to revive Martin County Hospital

By Taylor Sisk for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for North Carolina News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News …

The survey shows that because of Texas abortion laws many OB/GYN physicians and resident physicians are considering or have made changes to their practices that reduce the availability of OB/GYN care in the state. (Laura/Adobe Stock)

Abortion ban prompts concern among TX doctors

A recent survey of OB/GYNs in the state shows that doctors are concerned and confused by Texas' abortion ban. 76% of doctors surveyed say they feel …

A 2021 study found that social isolation and loneliness may increase cardiovascular disease risk by 29% in post-menopausal women. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

MO doctor discusses link between menopause, heart health

Research shows menopause can impact heart health, and the American Heart Association in Missouri is urging women to stay informed and take preventive …

Nearly eight in ten likely rural voters are against banning abortion. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Rural voters want candidates to put workers first

Rural voters in Colorado and across the U.S. tend to be swing voters, and may decide the outcome of this year's presidential election. Their …

Republican lawmakers in New Hampshire regularly introduce legislation to restrict access to abortion services, including previous bills to enact 15-week and 15-day abortion bans. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Reproductive freedom on ballot in NH governor’s race

In the race for New Hampshire governor, the candidates' positions on reproductive rights could be a deciding factor. Pollsters have said it is a …

The economy, jobs and inflation are the top concerns for likely rural voters. (Esteban Martinena/Adobe Stock)

Rural voters want worker-centered policies, poll says

Rural voters in Oregon and across the U.S. tend to be swing voters, and may decide the outcome of this year's presidential election. Their biggest …

Around 42% of female survivors experienced their first rape prior to age 18; 28% of male survivors were first raped prior to age 11. One in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually victimized before age 18. (motortion/Adobe Stock)

Improving Ohio's sexual violence response teams

Sexual violence remains a significant concern in Ohio, and specialized teams, such as Sexual Assault Response Teams and Coordinated Community …

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