Health Care
Both sides of abortion debate criticize Louisiana’s list of exceptions
Few people appear happy with Louisiana’s approach to carving out medical exceptions for the state’s sweeping abortion ban. Doctors and anti-abortion advocates criticized the state’s list of two dozen “medically futile” pregnancy conditions that could still be used to access a legal abortion. They spoke Tuesday at a sparsely attended public hearing held on the […]
Millions of workers are dealing with long COVID. Advocates call for expanding social safety net.
Emily Withnall caught COVID-19 from her teenager in July 2020. In the more than two years since, the 40-year-old has suffered from debilitating fatigue, spinal pain and heart palpitations. In addition to her primary care doctor, she regularly sees a cardiologist and says her acupuncturist and craniosacral therapy help relieve her pain and the trouble […]
Louisiana proposes expanding list of exceptions to abortion ban
Louisiana has proposed adding one new condition to the list of medical diagnoses that permit a person to have an abortion under the state’s strict abortion ban. It comes after a woman complained publicly that she couldn’t terminate her compromised pregnancy. The state Department of Health quietly suggested an update to state abortion regulations in […]
Louisiana panel dives into medical marijuana workplace issues
With medical marijuana now available to Louisiana’s workforce, employees have raised concerns that they could be fired or face other job-related repercussions for testing positive for a legal drug taken on the advice of a physician. A new state panel is searching for solutions to this potential problem that will protect workers and employers. Three […]
In Louisiana, Black men more likely to get monkeypox, white men more likely to be vaccinated
In a small parking lot outside of one of Baton Rouge’s few gay bars, health care workers remained upbeat, even as they admitted they had hoped for a bigger turnout to their monkeypox vaccine drive. Only 13 people showed up during the three hours a mobile vaccine clinic was open a few feet from Provo’s […]
Medical marijuana runs into problems with Louisiana physician, nursing boards
Despite passing new laws designed to give patients easier access to medical marijuana, state legislators continue to run into bureaucratic obstacles with the various regulatory bodies that oversee medicine in Louisiana. The legislature’s Medical Marijuana Commission met Friday to address problems with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and Louisiana State Board of Nursing. […]
Marjorie Taylor Greene leads GOP drive to criminalize gender-affirming care for transgender youth
WASHINGTON — Conservative Republicans gathered outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday to commit to bringing legislation to the floor that would make it a felony to perform gender-affirming care on transgender youth, should the GOP take control of the U.S. House following the November midterm elections. “How on earth can this be happening in America? […]
‘Crisis pregnancy centers’ that oppose abortion questioned by U.S. Senate Democrats
Seven U.S. Senate Democrats questioned a leading Ohio-based antiabortion group Tuesday about its practice of collecting personal information from patients seeking abortions. So-called crisis pregnancy centers—facilities that often mirror abortion provider aesthetics but actually provide services to discourage abortion—collect sensitive data from patients. That presents troubling new complications as states move to increase penalties for […]
Hundreds of Louisiana water and sewer systems seek funding from state
More than 335 local water and sewage systems in Louisiana have asked the state for a total of $954 million in financial assistance – more than twice the amount the state has to give. For the fortunate ones that receive money, their customers could have to pay higher bills. Gov. John Bel Edwards and state […]
Families sue Florida for threatening health care for their transgender children
Jade Ladue spent last weekend celebrating her son’s 13th birthday with him. And despite the stereotype of his age, when children are said to turn into unruly teenagers — he’s actually thriving, she says. “He has so many hobbies. He loves sports, hanging out with friends, fishing, even going to school,” she said. But she […]
Louisiana monkeypox vaccinations surpass 7,770 first doses
Louisiana has given 7,754 first doses of the monkeypox vaccine and fully vaccinated 2,341 people, which requires two shots about a month apart, as of Wednesday. Most of the vaccinations – 4,899 of the doses – have been administered in New Orleans or its surrounding parishes. It’s also the area with the largest number of […]
New fight opens in Congress over VA policy that sidesteps state abortion bans
WASHINGTON — Democrats in the U.S. Senate are confident the Department of Veterans Affairs can implement a new policy that allows its doctors to provide abortions when the pregnancy threatens the patient’s life or health, or when it’s the result of rape or incest. The VA announced the new policy last week to cheers from Democrats […]