Health & Safety

Close-up of an unrecognisable sad patient talking about her problems with her therapist in a psychology session.

Insurers can restrict mental health care. What laws protect patients in your state?

7:00am August 27, 2024

It can be really hard to get mental health care in the U.S. Even if you find a therapist in network, your insurer can refuse to cover the prescribed treatment. Here are the laws protecting patients.

Health & Safety

Exploring concerns around users building emotional dependence on AI chatbots

4:05am August 27, 2024

When people form relationships with artificial intelligence, that could help to get work done. But a problem arises when those relationships start to replace human connections.

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Health & Safety

Long overlooked, menstrual blood is a treasure trove for science

4:51pm August 26, 2024

by Ailsa Chang

NPR’s Ailsa Chang talks to Mother Jones’ Maddie Oatman about her recent reporting revealing how menstrual blood has long been an overlooked source of key medical information.

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Health & Safety

How yeast infection treatments can backfire

4:48pm August 26, 2024

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

The 1-day over-the-counter treatment for vaginal yeast infections contains about 12-times the active ingredient of the 7-day treatment, which can cause some people a lot of pain and irritation.

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The rape and murder of a female doctor in India sets off an outcry over women's safety

12:58pm August 26, 2024

The young woman was raped and murdered while on break from a 36-hour hospital shift. Women who work in health care — and other fields — are calling for changes to protect them from sexual violence.

Australia is the latest country to give workers the 'right to disconnect' after hours

11:26am August 26, 2024

Australia is the latest country to protect workers who ignore work calls and messages after hours, under certain circumstances. The "right to disconnect" hasn't caught on in the U.S. just yet.

Millions of North Carolinians could see their medical debt forgiven now that many of the state's largest hospitals have committed to a new medical debt relief program. JACQUELYN MARTIN/AP

Health & Safety

Hospitals across the state have signed up for North Carolina's new medical debt relief program

6:30am August 26, 2024

by Santiago Ochoa

The state's new medical debt relief program has succeeded in getting all eligible hospitals on board. In exchange for relieving medical debt for millions of North Carolinians, the hospitals will receive increased Medicaid reimbursements.

Milwaukee Prepares For The Republican National Convention

Insurance refused to pay for her abortion, even when her life was at stake

5:00am August 26, 2024

Insurance coverage for abortion care in the U.S. is a hodgepodge. And the proliferation of abortion bans in various states has exacerbated the confusion.

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A Massachusetts town closes its parks to stop a mosquito-borne disease from spreading

4:44am August 26, 2024

The town is closing its parks from dusk to dawn as it tries to contain the disease. It has also been detected in nearby counties in Massachusetts.

The first commercial spacewalk will be conducted later this week

3:53am August 26, 2024

by Geoff Brumfiel

Four astronauts aboard a SpaceX capsule will attempt the historic private spacewalk. It's a high-risk operation with lots that could go wrong, but with a potentially great view.

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