Health

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Legislature is sending a bill to the governor that will allow women with low incomes to get Medicaid coverage earlier in pregnancy, in an effort to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies in a state with abysmal rates of maternal and infant mortality. The state Senate approved a House proposal that allows up …

A national LGBTQ+ advocacy group is suing the Texas Attorney General’s office rather than hand over information about its support of transgender children receiving gender-confirming medical care. According to the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Texas court, PFLAG National says Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office is demanding “documents and communications” related to a sworn statement the group’s CEO Brian Bond …

Fast-food wrappers and packaging that contain so-called forever chemicals are no longer being sold in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday. It’s the result of a voluntary effort with U.S. food manufacturers to phase out food contact packaging made with PFAS, the acronym for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which do not degrade and can harm human health. …

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The Maryland House approved a measure on Friday to enable people to buy health insurance through the state’s health care exchange regardless of their immigration status, with the approval of a federal waiver. The House voted 101-34 for the bill, which now goes to the Senate, where similar legislation is under consideration. The measure would require …

Funcionarios de la región central de Oregon informaron esta semana sobre un caso de peste bubónica en un residente que probablemente fue contagiado por su gato. El paciente y sus contactos cercanos ya reciben atención médica, aseguran las autoridades de salud pública, y se cree que no existe riesgo para el resto de la comunidad. El gato también recibió tratamiento, …

NEW YORK (AP) — The flu virus is hanging on in the U.S., intensifying in some areas of the country after weeks of an apparent national decline. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data released Friday showed a continued national drop in flu hospitalizations, but other indicators were up — including the number of states with high or very high …

ATLANTA (AP) — The death of a Georgia couple’s baby that was decapitated during delivery has been classified by a medical examiner as a homicide, their attorneys announced Wednesday. Treveon Taylor Jr.’s parents have sued the hospital and the doctor who delivered the baby in July. Both have denied wrongdoing. The Clayton County Medical Examiner’s Office found the immediate cause …

Money is pouring into the fledgling psychedelic medicine industry, with dozens of startup companies vying to be among the first to sell mind-expanding drugs for depression, addiction and other mental health conditions. While psychedelics are still illegal under federal law, companies are jostling to try and patent key ingredients found in magic mushrooms, ayahuasca and other substances that have been …