All articles tagged with #access to healthcare
A study from Tufts University highlights that nearly one in three young adults in the US skipped dental visits in the past year, mainly due to cost, lack of insurance, and social factors, emphasizing the urgent need to integrate dental care into overall health systems and address disparities to improve long-term health outcomes.
Florida's upcoming six-week abortion ban has left providers and supporters scrambling to deal with the fallout for patients, with concerns about turning patients away at unprecedented rates and financial pressures on abortion funds. The state's strict requirements for counseling and the potential doubling of costs per patient are expected to further limit access to abortion. Providers and funds are bracing for the impact, with some expecting to run out of money and be unable to fulfill requests for support for travel.
The Florida Supreme Court's decision to uphold a 15-week ban and allow a new six-week ban on abortion has severely limited access to the procedure in the state, leaving many women with few options. This ruling has significant implications for abortion access across the South, as Florida had been a refuge for women seeking abortions. The decision has sparked concerns about the strain on clinics in other states and the potential increase in online abortion pill orders. Advocates are hopeful that voters will secure abortion rights in November, but in the meantime, many women are left facing unwanted pregnancies with limited options for care.
The Supreme Court is considering a challenge to the FDA's approval process for the abortion pill mifepristone, which has widespread availability. The case, brought by anti-abortion doctors, questions the FDA's evaluation of the drug's safety risks. The outcome could have significant practical effects on abortion access, especially in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The court may also consider whether the challengers have legal standing to bring the lawsuit.
Despite bans in some states, a report from the Guttmacher Institute reveals that over a million abortions were provided in the U.S. in 2023, the highest number in over a decade. Medication abortions rose to 63% of all abortions, with increased availability through telemedicine and brick-and-mortar facilities. The Supreme Court's upcoming decision on FDA prescribing rules for medication abortions could impact access, while the increase in abortion access despite restrictions reflects efforts to make it accessible to those in need.
Many people across the UK are struggling to access NHS dentists, with some resorting to emergency treatment or paying for private care. The NHS England's national patient survey found that over half of people had tried to access an NHS dentist in the past two years, with nearly a quarter of them unsuccessful. This has left many individuals without proper dental care, resorting to pulling out their own teeth or enduring significant financial burdens to receive treatment. The government's new plan to offer extra payments to dentists taking on NHS patients is met with skepticism, as the crisis continues to impact people's access to essential dental care.
A new CDC study reveals that discrimination, lack of access to preventative HIV medication, homelessness, and employment discrimination are the main causes behind the disproportionately high rates of HIV among transgender women. The study found that 42% of surveyed transgender women tested positive for HIV, with Black trans women being the most affected. Factors such as homelessness, lack of access to gender-affirming care, and experiences of gender-based violence were linked to increased risk behaviors. The report emphasizes the need for integrated services including housing, behavioral health, employment, and gender-affirming medical care to improve the living circumstances and quality of life for transgender women.
The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for March 26 in a case challenging policies expanding access to the abortion pill, mifepristone. The case could impact healthcare for millions and potentially roll back access to the pill, affecting those in states that protect abortion rights. The Biden administration, medical societies, and pharmaceutical companies argue for the drug's safety, while opponents claim inadequate safety studies. The decision, expected in June, could have far-reaching implications for access to reproductive healthcare.
A new CDC report reveals that transgender women have a disproportionately high rate of HIV infections due to discrimination, lack of access to preventative HIV medication, homelessness, and employment discrimination. The report found that 42% of U.S. transgender women surveyed tested positive for HIV, with Black trans women being the most affected. Factors such as homelessness, unemployment, gender-based violence, and lack of access to gender-affirming care contribute to the higher risk. The report emphasizes the need for integrating housing services, behavioral health services, employment, gender-affirming medical care, and clinical care to improve the living circumstances and quality of life for transgender women.
In Washington state, pharmacists are being trained to prescribe and dispense medication abortion, a move that could greatly expand access to reproductive healthcare. The Pharmacy Abortion Access Project in Washington aims to train pharmacists to provide medication abortion, building on the state's history of allowing pharmacists to expand their scope of practice. While this model is unique to Washington, interest in pharmacist-led provision of medication abortion is growing in other states as well. However, legal challenges to the FDA's approval of mifepristone continue to threaten access to the drug across the country.
The post-Roe v. Wade landscape for American women includes troubling cases such as a Texas woman's struggle to obtain a life-saving exception to the state's strict abortion law, consideration of a Civil War-era abortion law in Arizona, and the US Supreme Court revisiting the issue of abortion rights. While some states like Michigan are expanding abortion rights, others like Kentucky and Arizona are facing legal challenges. The US Supreme Court is also considering restricting access to mifepristone, a medication used in early-term abortions. Abortion opponents argue for stricter laws, while voters in some states are pushing back and seeking care in more liberal states. The issue of abortion rights is expected to be a central pillar in the 2024 election campaign.
The Supreme Court has accepted an appeal from the Biden administration regarding access to abortion, opening a new front in the national controversy over the issue. Since the court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, many states have aggressively restricted abortion rights. The case in question, FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, will determine abortion access and the power of federal regulators to assess the safety and effectiveness of drugs, including mifepristone. The decision, expected by July, will be a significant factor in the 2024 presidential election and political races nationwide. The case also marks the first abortion-related dispute with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on the bench.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case regarding the accessibility of the abortion pill, mifepristone, which is commonly used for medication abortions. The court will review appeals from the Biden administration and drugmaker Danco defending FDA decisions that made it easier to access and use the pill, including by mail. The case raises questions about the court's stance on abortion rights and the FDA's process for approving drugs. The ruling, expected by June, could have significant implications for abortion access in the United States.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving the Biden administration's efforts to maintain access to the abortion pill mifepristone. The case, brought by doctors and medical associations opposed to abortion rights, could have significant consequences for how the drug can be obtained, prescribed, and taken. The court's decision, expected by the end of June, could impact access to the drug nationwide, even in states where abortion is legal. The Biden administration has expressed support for maintaining access to mifepristone, arguing that restrictions would undermine the FDA's scientific judgment and limit access to safe and effective medication abortion.
Black Americans continue to face barriers in accessing PrEP, a medication that can significantly reduce the risk of acquiring HIV. Despite accounting for a significant portion of new HIV diagnoses, only a small percentage of PrEP users are Black. Factors such as a lack of healthcare providers, especially in rural areas, limited insurance coverage, financial burdens associated with lab work and screenings, stigma, and a lack of education contribute to the disparities in PrEP access. Advocates are calling for a nationwide program to address these systemic issues and ensure equitable access to PrEP for all Americans.