They Counted on a Rural Dialysis Unit to Keep Them Alive. Then It Closed
Chadron Hospital, a critical‑access facility in western Nebraska, closed its outpatient dialysis unit after the service lost roughly $1 million annually due to low reimbursement rates. The shutdown affects 17 patients, forcing them to travel up to 1.5 hours each way or relocate to access life‑sustaining care. While the federal Rural Health Transformation Program announced $219 million for rural health, its rules exclude outpatient dialysis, leaving a financing gap. The closure highlights broader challenges for rural hospitals trying to maintain essential specialty services.
Quit a GLP-1? Plan to Start Again? It's Not Recommended, but Plenty of People Do It
GLP‑1 medications such as Ozempic and Zepbound are being prescribed widely for diabetes and obesity, yet adherence is low. A JAMA‑based analysis found fewer than one‑quarter of patients remain on a GLP‑1 after a year, and a Kantar survey shows...
You Can Order Your Own Blood Work Now. Interpreting the Results Is Another Story
Direct‑to‑consumer blood testing is rapidly expanding as wearables and telehealth firms like Oura, Whoop, Hims & Hers, and Function Health partner with Quest Diagnostics and Labcorp to sell panels for as little as $99. Consumers can order labs without a physician, but the...
Can Red Light Therapy Really Deliver a Beauty and Health Glow-Up? Here's the Science
Red light therapy, marketed as a pan‑acea for skin, hair, pain and sleep, is gaining traction among wellness influencers and consumers. Scientific reviews confirm modest benefits for androgenetic alopecia, oral mucositis, certain ulcers and pain relief, while skin‑rejuvenation effects are...
The Real Space Science Behind 'Project Hail Mary'
The sci‑fi blockbuster Project Hail Mary has topped $400 million worldwide and ignited debate over its scientific realism. NASA and university experts explain that a crewed mission to Tau Ceti, 11.9 light‑years away, is far beyond today’s capabilities. They also flag the...
Gut Troubles? This Gastroenterologist Has Tips to Help You Achieve 'Poophoria'
Forty percent of Americans report daily bowel discomfort, according to the American Gastroenterological Association. Harvard‑affiliated gastroenterologist Dr. Trisha Pasricha, director of the Institute for Gut‑Brain Research, released a new book, *You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong*, outlining evidence‑based habits to achieve...
Shortlisted for an Oscar, 'Homebound' Is a Daring Movie About Two Dear Friends
Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and executive‑produced by Martin Scorsese, dramatizes the true story of a Muslim migrant worker and his Dalit friend who died during India’s COVID‑19 migrant exodus. Inspired by a viral 2020 photograph and a New York Times essay,...
'How Are You Using AI?' Your Therapist Should Ask You that Question, Experts Argue
A new JAMA Psychiatry paper urges therapists to ask patients about AI chatbot use for emotional support. Researchers argue AI interactions can reveal hidden stressors, coping strategies, and even suicidal ideation, offering a “treasure trove” of clinical data. The authors...
More Ambulances Are Carrying Blood for Transfusions. Experts Say It Will Save Lives
More U.S. ambulance services are now equipped to carry and administer type O blood in the field, a practice once limited to the military. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports roughly 300 of the 15,000 EMS agencies have pre‑hospital...
How Bad for Humans Is Wildlife Trade? A New Study Has Answers
A new study published in Science quantifies the zoonotic danger of wildlife trade, showing that traded mammals are about 1.5 times more likely to transmit diseases to humans than non‑traded species. Of more than 2,000 traded mammals, 41 % share at least...
How to Make a High-Deductible Health Plan and HSA Work for You
When federal ACA subsidies expired in 2025, many consumers turned to high‑deductible health plans (HDHPs) to keep premiums low, despite facing potentially large out‑of‑pocket costs. The share of workers with HDHPs rose to 30% in 2023, up from just 4%...
Abortion Clinics Are Closing Nationwide. Could Urgent Care Help Fill the Gap?
After Planned Parenthood shut its Upper Peninsula clinic, Marquette Medical Urgent Care in Michigan began providing medication abortions in July. The urgent‑care, run by Dr. Shawn Brown and staffed by former Planned Parenthood physician Viktoria Koskenoja, now sees about four patients...
Telehealth Abortion Will Remain Available for Now, After a Federal Judge's Ruling
A federal judge in Louisiana granted a stay on a lawsuit challenging the FDA's 2023 rule that permits telehealth prescribing of the abortion pill mifepristone. The decision keeps medication abortions available nationwide while the agency completes a safety review, which...
AI in the Mental Health Care Workforce Is Met with Fear, Pushback — and Enthusiasm
Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering mental‑health care, prompting both enthusiasm and alarm. At Kaiser Permanente, staff cuts and the use of lay operators sparked a 24‑hour strike as clinicians fear AI could replace triage jobs. Today, AI tools are primarily...
Bracing for Federal Cuts, some States Are Already Paring Back Medicaid Services
Montana postponed adding doula services to its Medicaid program after lawmakers approved up to $1,600 per pregnancy, citing a projected $146.3 million shortfall in federal Medicaid funds. The delay comes as the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, expected to trim nearly $1 trillion from...
Over-the-Counter Medication Abortion? These Researchers Say It Would Be Safe
Researchers at UCSF surveyed 168 patients about a prototype over‑the‑counter medication abortion kit, finding 88% concordance between self‑assessment and clinician eligibility. The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, suggests patients can reliably determine suitability for mifepristone‑misoprostol regimens without a prescriber....
Covering Global Health as Billions of Dollars of Aid Are Cut From Programs
U.S. foreign aid is being slashed by billions of dollars, prompting NPR correspondent Fatma Tanis to investigate the fallout in Uganda. On the ground, locals still see American aid symbols, but Chinese-built infrastructure and new “small and beautiful” projects are...
How Much Protein Do You Need? Here's How to Personalize Your Optimal Intake
Protein intake has surged in public discourse, prompting the latest Dietary Guidelines to recommend 1.2‑1.6 g per kilogram of body weight daily. The article explains how to calculate personal needs, adjusting for activity level, age, and muscle‑preserving goals. It also compares...
How to Navigate the Maze of Drug Discounts to Get the Best Price
The article breaks down how patients can cut prescription costs amid a growing maze of discount options, from brand‑name sites like TrumpRx to coupon‑heavy platforms such as GoodRx and Cost Plus Drugs. It highlights the stark price gap between brand drugs—e.g., Protonix...
There's a Massive Measles Vaccine Campaign in Mexico. Is the Public on Board?
Mexico has launched an emergency measles vaccination drive that aims to administer up to 2.5 million doses each week after more than 36,000 suspected cases and 15,000 confirmed infections have been reported. The campaign places pop‑up stations in public venues and...
Her Dad's Dementia Inspired Her to Create a Guide for Family Caregivers
Wambūi Karanja turned her father's early‑onset dementia into a catalyst for change, creating a practical guide and training program for family caregivers in Kenya. She highlighted pervasive myths that label dementia as normal aging or a spiritual curse, which delay...
Do You Lean Optimistic or Pessimistic? Take This Quiz and Find Out
Behavioral scientist Deepika Chopra argues optimism is a trainable skill, not a fixed trait, and introduces a quiz based on Martin Seligman’s optimism scale. Her new book, *The Power of Real Optimism*, outlines three evidence‑backed practices: a daily “ta‑da” list,...
These Families Help Scientists Find Alzheimer's Treatments. Their Network Is at Risk
An international consortium of more than 200 families carrying dominantly inherited Alzheimer’s mutations, the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network (DIAN), has been pivotal in uncovering the disease’s pre‑clinical brain changes and accelerating amyloid‑targeting drug trials. Researchers leveraged the certainty of genetic...
The Search for a New CDC Director Nears a Deadline
The federal Vacancies Act triggers a 210‑day deadline tomorrow for naming a permanent CDC director, ending the acting tenure of Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. The Trump administration has been rotating temporary leaders since Susan Monarez’s dismissal in August, and now must...
When Health Insurance Costs $2,500 per Month, Families Make Tough Choices
The article follows Ken Warner and Parveen Vohra, a self‑employed couple who saw their ACA marketplace premium jump from $630 to $2,531 per month after the enhanced federal subsidies expired. With no legislative fix, they have been forced to slash...
FDA Backs Off Stricter Tanning Bed Rules with RFK Jr.'s Support
The FDA withdrew its long‑standing proposal to ban anyone under 18 from using indoor tanning beds, a rule first introduced in 2015. The decision came after Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly advocated for less government suppression of "sunshine," aligning with...
Kick Your Tiredness with These 7 Natural Energy Boosters
Dr. Amy Shah, author of *I’m So Effing Tired*, outlines seven natural strategies to combat chronic fatigue, focusing on gut‑friendly nutrition, circadian alignment, and emotional recharge. She recommends high‑fiber, nutrient‑dense foods, eliminating sugary or caffeinated drinks, and choosing lean, plant‑based...
Former Federal Advisers on Autism Who Were Let Go by RFK Jr. Form a New Committee
Former federal autism advisers dismissed by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have launched the Independent Autism Coordinating Committee, a science‑based alternative to the reconstituted Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee. The new group, comprising five former federal members, leading scientists and...
Red States Move to Protect Crisis Pregnancy Centers Using Model Legislation
Conservative lawmakers in Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma are advancing the Alliance Defending Freedom’s model CARE Act, which shields crisis pregnancy centers from state mandates to provide abortion referrals, information or contraception. The bill also grants centers the right to sue...
I'm Concerned About My Blood Pressure. Can I Check It at Home?
Hypertension affects about 31 % of adults worldwide, and a single office reading often fails to capture true blood‑pressure trends due to stress and white‑coat effects. The American College of Cardiology now recommends home monitoring to supplement annual screenings, providing multiple...
Reproductive Health Clinics Scramble as Title X Funding Cliff Approaches
A coalition of 128 Democratic lawmakers has urged the Health and Human Services Department to grant a one‑year extension for Title X funding as the program faces a March 31 deadline. HHS missed its Dec 31 guidance deadline, opening grant applications with only...
As Parents Clamor for a Treatment Touted for Autism, Doctors Hesitate to Prescribe It
Federal officials promoted leucovorin, a vitamin B9 derivative, as a potential autism treatment, prompting a surge in parental demand and online communities. The FDA later clarified that the drug is only approved for the ultra‑rare FOLR1‑related cerebral folate deficiency, not...
In South Carolina, Measles Shows How Far Apart Neighbors Can Be on Vaccines
Spartanburg County, South Carolina, has become the epicenter of the largest U.S. measles outbreak in decades, with nearly 1,000 confirmed cases. School vaccination rates have slipped to just under 89%, well below the 95% herd‑immunity threshold needed to block transmission....
Medicaid Can Share Data with ICE. Here's How that 180-Degree Change Spreads Fear
A December 2025 federal court ruling allows Medicaid to share enrollee names, addresses and immigration status with ICE, overturning long‑standing privacy assurances. The change, initiated by the Trump administration, removes the guarantee that health data would not be used for...
After Firings, Funding Cuts and a Shooting, Can a Demoralized CDC Workforce Recover?
After a wave of firings that cut roughly 3,000 positions—about a quarter of its staff—and ongoing funding reductions, the CDC remains leaderless, with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya named interim director while also overseeing the NIH. The agency also grapples with the...
Saunas' Health Benefits Draw Enthusiasts and Researchers
Sauna culture is booming, highlighted by the inaugural Seattle Sauna Festival where enthusiasts gather for heat‑based rituals. Researchers cite repeated sauna sessions—four to seven times weekly—as linked to lower cardiovascular mortality, reduced blood pressure, and improved cholesterol. Emerging studies also...
A Dose of Psilocybin Helps Smokers Quit in New Study
Researchers at Johns Hopkins found a single dose of psilocybin dramatically increased smoking cessation rates compared with nicotine patches. In a randomized trial of 82 smokers, 17 of 41 participants who received psilocybin remained abstinent after six months versus four...
Under Financial Strain, Primary Care Doctors Unite
Primary care physicians are feeling the squeeze from projected Medicaid cuts and low insurer reimbursement rates, prompting practices like Valley Medical Group in western Massachusetts to lay off 40 staff members, roughly 10% of its workforce. To regain bargaining power...
Taking the Heat. Scientists Explore Sauna's Health Benefits
Sauna use has surged as a wellness trend, prompting scientific scrutiny of its health impacts. Large Finnish cohort studies show that bathing 4‑7 times weekly cuts cardiovascular disease risk by up to 60% and improves blood pressure, cholesterol, and arterial...